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: service brakes
20 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Apr 21, 2026
My check engine light came on and I got it checked out and had a c1053 code show up. The repair shop told me I had a recall but my car is 2010 so it’s not falling within the recall year range.
Service brakes, Jan 5, 2025
Brake light switch outage keeps happening
Service brakes, Jul 24, 2024
My car was sitting in the driveway went out of park. I was able to get it stopped and pull emergency brake before any crash occurred. I seen that the brake switch was on recall and thought I should see if I can get it fixed.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting, May 11, 2023
The contact owns a 2010 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving and while at a complete stop, she noticed an abnormal burning odor. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the third brake light assembly had melted. The mechanic replaced the third brake light assembly; however, the burning odor persisted. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the valve cover gasket was replaced; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle made abnormal rattling sounds. The dealer diagnosed that the belt tensioner needed to be replaced. The part was replaced by AAA. The contact stated that the rattling sounds were reduced; however, the burning odor persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that she was concerned for her safety. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
Wheels, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, May 12, 2021
PULLING OUT DRIVE WAY GOING TO THE LEFT FELT LIKE PASSENGER WHEEL WAS LOCKING UP AND DOES IT QUITE A BIT. ALSO NTB IN CLEVELAND, TN SAID THERE WAS LOTS WRONG WITH UNDER NEATH , ALSO IT STILL FEELS LIKE IT'S RUNNING AFTER BEING CUT OFF. AND IT HAS A RIM THAT IS CRACKED AND WHEN I GOT IT I THOUGHT IT NEEDED TIRES CAUSE I HAD TO AIR TIRE EVERY DAY OR SO BUT NOW IT'S MORE THAN A FEW TIMES DAILY AND I JUST LEARNED HOW UNSAFE THAT IS TO BE DRIVING FOR MY KIDS AND I BUT FOR OTHERS AS WELL
Service brakes, Engine, May 2, 2021
THESE VEHICLES ARE ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS! I'VE BEEN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS MY ENTIRE CAREER FOR 15 YEARS WITH A LEVEL CERTIFICATIONS AND ASE'S. I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SIMPLE MATTER OF ANY ACCELERATION OVER 2900 RPM IT STARTS KNOCKING. I WILL NOT PUT MY FAMILY OR MYSELF IN THE DANGER OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ANY LONGER. IF SOMETHING WERE TO BREAK WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE RESULTS COULD BE DEVASTATING! I'VE CONTACTED KIA MANY TIMES REGARDING THIS MATTER YET I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT KNOCKING HIS NORMAL THEY CALL IT A PING. I TOLD THEM I USE 91 OCTANE EVERY TIME I FILL SO THERE'S NO WAY OF PINGING FROM PRE DETONATION. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS MAINTAINED AND OIL CHANGES ARE ALWAYS DONE EARLY. AFTER BEING TOLD MANY TIMES THAT THE KIA 2010 IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL I HAVE TAKEN MY OWN ACTION TO FIXING THE PROBLEM. UPON TEARDOWN I HAVE DISCOVERED ROD BEARING DAMAGE AND A OIL PAN FULL OF MINOR FLAKES FROM ROD MATERIAL. DUE TO ME KEEPING RPM SLOW I WILL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO REPLACE THE ROD BEARINGS WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEMS BUT WHO KNOWS ON THIS MOTOR. I JUST WORRY ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT DRIVE NORMALLY AND COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A MOTOR FAILURE AND POSSIBLE FIRE FROM A ROD BREAKING THROUGH THE BLOCK. I SURE HOPE KIA DOES SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED!
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Dec 6, 2020, crash
MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK. ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT DOESN'T WORK/ASIC IS DAMAGED. TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE KEEPS LEAKING FLUID THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING A CRASH.
Service brakes, Nov 16, 2019, crash
AFTER BRAKING TO STOP AT RED LIGHT ON A HIGHWAY ON A HILL, KIA FORTE 2010 KEPT MOVING UPHILL AT LOW SPEED (5MPH OR LESS). BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. CAR STOPPED AFTER HITTING BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY AFTER THAT, BUT CAR SOMETIMES ROCKS AFTER BEING PUT IN PARK.
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, Nov 4, 2019
CAR DID NOT STOP WHEN PLACED IN PARK , SHIFTERS GETS STUCK. WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN REVERSE PARK , THE CAR MOVED FORWARD INSTEAD OF REVERSE , NOT STOPING ,HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AS THE CAR WAS MOVING FORWARD ( WHILE ON REVERSE) KEPT MOVING FWD AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES WITHOUT PRESSING THE FAS PEDAL . HAD TO STOP BY USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. TURNED OFF THE CAR TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN REVERSE THE CAR KEPT MOVING DANGEROUSLY FORWARD
Service brakes, Oct 29, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE PROGRESSING WITH NO WARNING. AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE SO THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE BRAKE PEDAL EACH TIME THE FAILURE HAPPENED. A DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAD NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 23, 2018
LEFT REAR CALIPER STUCK AT 73,000 MILES AROUND 7/3/15, OVERHEATING AND RUINING THE PAD AND ROTOR. RIGHT REAR CALIPER STUCK AT 111,500 MILES AROUND 9/20/18, OVERHEATING AND RUINING THE PAD AND ROTOR. WHILE ONE DID NOT OCCUR IN THIS CASE, A STUCK CALIPER IS A FIRE RISK AND TWICE IN THREE YEARS SEEMS TOO FREQUENT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
Service brakes, Engine, Mar 17, 2018
TOOK MY KIA FORTE IN TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE. I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY JUST AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE, AND JUST HAD IT CHANGED LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AGO. THE SHOP SAID THE ENGINE HAS MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT. THEY SAID I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I CALLED THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE RECALLS ON KIA MOTORS AND THEY SAID THAT MY ENGINE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST BUT THAT THERE ARE MANY OF THE SAME MOTORS THAT ARE FAILING AND I WOULD HAVE TO CALL KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO FIND OUT IF MAYBE THEY WILL ADD MY ENGINE. I SEE NOTHING BUT WHERE OTHER KIA OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH BOTH THE 2L & 2.4L ENGINE AND KIA IS BEING NASTY ABOUT REPLACING THEM. I AM VERY UPSET AS MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THEIR RECALL AND KNOW THAT IT SHOULD BE.
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Nov 29, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE BULB FAILED, WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED WITHIN THE HOLSTER, AND HAD FALLEN INTO THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MADE THE CONTACT AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MANEUVER FROM THE PARK POSITION. A TOW COMPANY WAS CALLED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE TOW DRIVER SHOWED THE CONTACT A TRICK TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT THEN NOTIFIED UNIVERSAL KIA HICKORY HOLLOW (5406 TARGET DR, ANTIOCH, TN, 37013) AND UNIVERSAL KIA RIVERGATE (1536 GALLATIN PIKE N, MADISON, TN, 37115) OF THE FAILURES. THE DEALERS CONFIRMED THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Aug 3, 2015, crash
I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT VERTICALLY WHEN I NEEDED TO GIVE THE CAR SOME GAS RATHER THAN JUST LIFT FOOT OFF BRAKE TO GET OUT OF SPOT. THE CAR DELAYED--WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I TRIED AGAIN AND IT SHOT OUT RAPIDLY UNCONTROLLABLY OUT OF THE SPOT, SIDE SWIPING THE CAR NEXT TO ME AND GOING INTO A REVERSE FIGURE EIGHT SWERVING OVER PARKING LOT AND WOULD NOT BRAKE. THE CAR ENDED UP SWERVING INTO THE BACK OF A PARKED RANGE ROVER AS I THREW MY CAR INTO PARK SINCE IT WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WAS ANOTHER COMPLAINT LIKE MINE ON LINE ABOUT SOMEONE WITH THE SAME MODEL AND ABOUT 38 K ON CAR WHOSE CAR ACCELERATION DID THIS MOVING GOING FORWARD. I ENDED UP WITH SUSTAINED INJURIES WITH BODY OUT OF ALIGNMENT, HIP, AND BACK PAIN. NO ONE ELSE WAS HURT BECAUSE NO ONE WAS IN PARKING LOT OR CARS.
Service brakes, Oct 5, 2014
I RECENTLY HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS ON MY 2010 KIA FORTE. IT WAS NOT DUE TO BRAKE WEAR OR ANY OF THE NORMAL BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM WAS ALL MY BRAKES SEIZED UP AND THE REAR ONES IN PARTICULAR HEATED UP TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE CLOSE TO FAILING. THE DEALER SAID IT MAY HAVE NOT OCCURRED, IF THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN MORE MILES DAILY YET NO FURTHER INFORMATION COULD BE PROVIDED ON THE BRAKE ISSUE. I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT HAS MANY CLASSIC CARS AND MY WIFE?S OWN AUNT OWNED A CAR EVEN THOUGH SHE COULD NOT DRIVE IT IN HER LATER YEARS, SO IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO WOULD DRIVE HER TO APPOINTMENTS AND ELSEWHERE. AS LONG AS A VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN DAILY, WHICH THIS WAS, I DON?T BELIEVE THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED. KIA MOTORS ALSO DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED AND COULD PROVIDE NO EXPLANATION. I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE OF MY CONCERNS OF POSSIBLE BRAKE FAILURE AND THAT THE BRAKE PARTS SUPPLIED ON THE KIA APPARENTLY DO NOT CONTAIN ANY ANTI-CORROSIVE MATERIALS OF ANY TYPE AND THE INTENSE HEAT CAUSED MY BRAKE FLUID TO BECOME CONTAMINATED. FROM SERVICE ORDER: CUSTOMER STATES WHEN DRIVING SOMETIMES RIGHT AND LEFT WHEEL BREAKS GET VERY HOT; INSPECTED FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FOUND PADS ARE STUCK IN THE ANCHORS AND NEEDS SLIDE SERVICE WHILE PERFORMING SERVICE FOUND REAR PADS GOT SO HOT THEY ARE SEPARATING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED; PERFORMED FRONT AND REAR CALIPER SLIDE SERVICE AND REPLACED REAR PADS ALL WORKING AS INTENDED AT THIS TIME. FLUSH OLD FLUID FROM SYSTEM, CHECK LINKAGE AND HOSES, BLEED AIR FROM SYSTEM, ROAD TEST; PERFORMED BRAKE FLUID FLUSH AS NEEDED, FLUSH CONTAMINATED FLUID, INSTALLED FRESH FLUID AND BLED SYSTEM AS REQUIRED, ROAD TESTED OK *TR
Service brakes, Dec 10, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. *TR
Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Oct 14, 2013
ESC LIGHT STAYS ON, BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK, AND CRUISE CONTROL WORKS SPORADICALLY, ALL FUSES ARE WORKING, A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH REFLECTS THAT THE A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MIGHT BE THE CAUSE, WHICH IN FACT IT WAS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jul 31, 2013
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND A MAN FLAGGED ME DOWN AT A RED LIGHT TO LET ME KNOW THAT NONE OF MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL AS WELL AS TRACTION CONTROL BUTTONS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY ISSUE WITH THE FUSES. IF I CAN NOT FIND A FIX TO THIS PROBLEM IT MAY RESULT IN MYSELF GETTING REAR ENDED. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, May 20, 2013
UPON PARKING MY VEHICLE, I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE OR NEUTRAL, RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND REMOVE MY KEYS. AS I WAS UNABLE TO DO THIS, I COULD NOT LEAVE MY VEHICLE AND FEARED IT COULD ROLL FROM ITS PARKING SPOT. AT THIS TIME, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT COMING ON WHEN I WOULD PRESS THE BRAKES. ALSO, MY ESC CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING THIS FUNCTION WAS NO LONGER WORKING. WHEN TALKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I LEARNED THERE IS AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH OTHER MODELS THAT HAS RESULTED IN A RECALL. HOWEVER, MY FORTE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO RESTART MY VEHICLE OVER FIFTEEN MINUTES, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. HOWEVER, MY ESC LIGHT REMAINED ON AFTER THIS. *TR
Service brakes, Dec 12, 2012
WHILE DRIVING FROM MY KIDS PEDIATRICIAN OFFICE. I NOTICED THE TRACTION CONTROL STAYED OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. THAT AFFECTED MY BRAKE LIGHTS. I NOTICED THAT SAME PART IS PUT AS A RECALL FOR THE SORENTO AND SOUL BUT NOT FOR THE FORTE. IF IT IS THE SAME RECALL THE FORTE SHOULD BE INCLUDED. FOR THE VEHICLE BEING ONLY TWO YEARS OLD IT SHOULD BE COVERED AS A RECALL AND DUE TO THE SAFETY IMPACT THAT IT MAY CAUSE REAR END COLLISION DUE TO THE DRIVER NOT NOTICING THAT THE TCS AFFECTS THE BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR