2010 Kia Forte
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 232 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 16 Forte model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 21 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 14 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleJun 1, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Campaign 18V363000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Campaign 13V114000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
87 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Nov 9, 2014
WHEN AT STOPPED POSITION I STEP ON FOOTFEED AND RPMS DO NOT INCREASE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. THE RPMS AS SHOWN ON THE GAUGE SHOW THAT IT IS IN THE IDLE STATE UNTIL THE SUDDEN SURGE. THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN TRYING TO ADVANCE SLOWLY. THIS HAPPENS INFREQUENTLY BUT PRESENTS A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN IT HAPPENS IN CLOSE FACILITY OR WHEN IN TRAFFIC. THE DELAY IN VEHICLE MOVEMENT MAY BE AS LONG AS 10 SECONDS AND THEN IT JUST JUMPS TO CURRENT DEMAND FROM THE FOOTFEED. THIS HAPPENS RARELY BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS IT REALLY ALARMS THE DRIVER. *TR
Engine, Jul 7, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 18, 2014
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A REDUCED SPEED ZONE OF 35 MPH AND WENT TO SET MY CRUISE CONTROL, ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS LATER I FELT THE CAR GO DEAD. I LOST POWER STEERING AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. MY INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON AND FLICKERING AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN WANING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. ONCE MY CAR CAME TO A STOP I PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. I TRIED STARTING IT AND THE ENGINE TURNED A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT WENT DEAD SO I TURNED IT OFF. I TRIED ONE MORE TIME TO START THE IGNITION AND WAS ONLY BARELY ABLE TO GET THE ENGINE TO START AND MAINTAIN. I WENT OFF ON MY WAY AND LATER ON MY WAY HOME I STOPPED TO GET FOOD AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY CAR I TRIED STARTING IT AND IT STRUGGLED TO START. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR 1.5 YEARS AND ONLY IN THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL NOT ACTIVATING AND SETTING TO MY CURRENT SPEED. *TR
Engine, Mar 25, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOAD KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A ROD KNOCK AND RECOMMENDED HAVING THE ENGINE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Dec 18, 2013
THE AC CONDENSER FROZE UP THEREFORE I COULD NOT START VEHICLE . IT WAS SNOWING AND FREEZING AND I WAS STRANDED FOR 2 HOURS. THE AC SHOULD NOT BE GOING BAD ON A 2010 VEHICLE . I READ MANY REPORTS ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IN THE KIA FORTES ALL YEARS. WELL SOMEONE COULD GET HURT WHEN THERE VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY!!! THIS IS A PROBLEM!!! MECHANIC TOLD ME I COULD OF BEEN DRIVING FAST AND THIS COULD OF HAPPENED!! SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT!! *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Engine, Oct 28, 2013
OUR 2010 KIA FORTE EX LOST 90% OF POWER REPEATEDLY (RPMS DROP TO IDLE, REGARDLESS OF THROTTLE POSITION) AT SPEEDS FROM 0-35MPH. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, BUT I THINK IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE MAKING A LEFT TURN AND YOU LOSE ACCELERATION, YOU CAN BE IN THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC BY LOSING POWER. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO (25,000 MILES OR SO) THE TPS (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR) WENT OUT. KIA COULD NOT DIAGNOSE IT UNTIL IT THREW A CODE (LAME). NOW WE GET THE SAME ISSUE, THE VEHICLE IS STALLING, OR "STUMBLING" WHEN THE SPEED SHOULD BE CONSTANT OR ACCELERATING, BUT THERE IS NO ENGINE CODE FOR THE CODE READER TO PICKUP YET, SO THE MECHANICS CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM ON MANY MODELS OF KIA/HYUNDAI AND THE MECHANICS DON'T RECOGNIZE IT SO THEY CAN'T FIX IT, AND YOU ARE STUCK WITH A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF THESE FAULTY TPS SENSORS. KIA/HYUNDAI SHOULD AT LEAST ISSUE A SAFETY TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) TO CLUE IN THEIR MECHANICS AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. HERE'S A GREAT ARTICLE SHOWING THE PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.KIA-FORUMS.COM/KIA-CARNIVAL-SEDONA-2006/80251-TPS-SENSOR-SYMPTOMS-TPS-FAILURE-CEL.HTML THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR
Engine, Aug 31, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Oct 3, 2011
THE VEHICLE WILL SPORADICALLY JERK HARD WHEN CHANGING GEARS. I HAVE ONLY EVER EXPERIENCED THIS SAME FEELING WHEN A TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW ON 06/24/11 FROM A DEALERS LOT, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN USED AS A DEMO. THE VEHICLE HARD JERKED WHEN CHANGING GEARS, FOUR SEPARATE TIMES BETWEEN 06/25/11 AND 07/05/11. PER THIS WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.KIA-FORUMS.COM/KIA-FORTE-CERATO-TD-KOUP-DISCUSSION/55002-SX-2-4L-W-AUTO-TRANS-2.HTML I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 31, 2010
WHILE DRIVING MY KIA FORTE THE ENGINE STALLED. IT HAPPENED TWO TIMES IN THE LAST PAST TWO MONTHS. AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TWICE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE THEY DO NOT FIND ANY CODE ON THE COMPUTER. THEY KEEP SENDING ME HOME AND TELLING ME THAT THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 17, 2010
SECOND INCIDENT OF STALLING WHILE OPERATING A 2010 KIA FORTE EX W/ AUTO TRAN AND THE "FUEL ECONOMY" PACKAGE. IN BOTH INSTANCES I HAD COME TO A STOP -- THE FIRST TIME (ABOUT 2 MOS. AGO) WAS UPON EXECUTING A HARD STOP, BUT TODAY I HAD SLOWED GRADUALLY AND THEN STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. BOTH TIMES, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND RADIO REMAINED ON BUT THE ENGINE SIMPLY CUT OUT. CAR WAS IN "DRIVE" AND IN BOTH INSTANCES WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH PRIOR TO STOPPING. THE STEERING DID NOT LOCK. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AFTER PUTTING IT IN "PARK." I WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM ONCE I HAD A CHANCE TO SAFELY TRY DOING SO. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 5,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT I COULD BRING THE CAR IN BUT THAT IF THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM, THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE/FIX IT. THEY DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. TODAY'S INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER THE DEALERSHIP HAD CLOSED BUT I WILL CALL THEM IN THE MORNING TO REPORT IT. THIS TIME I INTEND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AS I HAVE A LONG DAILY COMMUTE WITH A SMALL CHILD AND AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 2, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER DID A TEST DRIVE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BUT DID NOT PRODUCE ANY FAILURE CODES. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,246.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Nov 13, 2009
2010 KIA FORTE PURCHASED BRAND NEW ON 10/17/09. 1ST TIME TAKEN IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON (10/27/09) DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS CODE PO304--MISFIRE #4 THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER. DIAGNOSTIC BEING CLEARED. 2ND TIME TAKEN IN ON 11/11/09 FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON ONCE AGAIN AND THE SAME CODE COMING UP PO304. ALSO 8 DIFFERENT RECALLS ON THE CAR INCLUDING GAS CAP, CRUISE CONTROL, TRANSMISSION, COMPUTER SYSTEM AND OTHERS OF THE SAME NATURE. ALSO THE CAR IS ACCELERATING BY IT SELF. THEY ARE GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH KIA CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS AND THEY STILL DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX ANY OF THE PROBLEMS. KIA AGREED TO PUT ME IN A RENTAL CAR AND THAT IS WHAT I AM REMAINING TO DRIVE AT THE PRESENT TIME. *TR