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
232 reports, newest first.
Engine, Feb 6, 2020, fire
ENGINE BURNED IN FRONT YARD HUSBAND DROVE CAR TO POST OFFICE RETURNED WITH CAR AND ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT FIRE OUT. HUSBAND MADE IT HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE AT FRONT DOOR HUSBAND THOUGHT CAR WAS STEAMING BUT CAR WAS ON FIRE
Air bags, Feb 5, 2020
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON; THEREFORE, IT HAS ME CONCERNED IF I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION.
Engine, Feb 3, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A TICKING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT STARTED. NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER HOLLY KIA, 13175 S DUPONT HWY, FELTON, DE 19943, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 31, 2020
MY CAR INTERIOR LIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, AND MY STEREO BLUETOOTH SYSTEM IS TOTALLY OUT AS WELL. MY SIGNAL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. SIGNALING IS A BIG ISSUE BECAUSE IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW I AM COMING OVER IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, AS A RESULT OF MY HANDS FREE CAPABILITIES BEING GONE I AM FORCED TO WAIT FOR IMPORTANT COMMUNICATIONS AT TIMES BECAUSE MY COMMUTE IS LONG.
Engine, Jan 27, 2020
AFTER AN OIL CHANGE MY ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK. OIL CHANGE WAS NOT OVERDUE BY MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILES. OIL LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO BE CHANGED THE NEXT DAY. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, OIL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER AND BY THE TIME I GOT HOME (10 MILES) IT WAS STEADY. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE OIL PLACE. THEY INFORMED ME MY OIL WAS OVERLY SLUDGY AND WERE WORRIED IT MIGHT BE AN ENGINE ISSUE. THEY ALSO FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPENING WITH THE 2011 RECALLS. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME MY CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND I NEED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. KIA TOLD ME IT WOULD BE ALMOST 6000 OUT OF POCKET. THIS ENGINE NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER ISSUE WITH THIS CAR.
Air bags, Dec 23, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA STORE RAINBOW CITY GADSDEN (950 W GRAND AVE, RAINBOW CITY, AL 35906, (256) 442-3232) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATED COST OF $400. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. *DT*JB
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.
Air bags, Nov 15, 2019
MY LOCAL KIA STORE DIAGNOSED MY CAR WITH HAVING A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING IN MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AIR BAG AND I WOULD LIKE A RECALL ON IT DUE TO THE FACT IF I WAS IN A WRECK IT WOULD KILL BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT DEPLOY TO KEEP ME SAFE.
Electrical system, Nov 6, 2019
2010 KIA FORTE EX HAS ELECTRIC PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHT SHUT OFF AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TRIES TO SHUT OFF. PUT ALMOST $1000 INTO THIS AT THE GARAGE AND STILL NO RESULT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS . WHY WAIT TILL SOMEONE GETS HURT OR EVEN WORSE. BUT THEN AGAIN WE'LL YOU KNOW .
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 4, 2019
UPDATE TO CLAIM 11277949 KIA DEALER CLAIMS SHIFTER BUSHING AND THE TRANSMISSION SWITCH. STRANGE THAT SUCH A DANGEROUS WAS TREATED WITH MORE CONCERN. 5 MORE SECONDS OF THAT MALFUNCTION AND I WOULD HAVE WOUNDED OR KILLED A INNOCENT PEDESTRIAN
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
Engine, Oct 8, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, A NOISE WAS DETECTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF THE ENGINE LIFTERS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ABNORMAL TAPPING NOISE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 21, 2019
ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY TRACTION CONTROL IS SHOWING TO BE OFF AND MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATING EVEN WHEN MY CAR IS OFF. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE DRIVING ANY DIFFERENTLY OR BRAKING ANY DIFFERENTLY. HOWEVER, MY 2 YEAR OLD WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND SHIFT IT INTO REVERSE WITHOUT HAVING TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN HE GOT IN THE CAR WHILE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF BECAUSE IT IS KILLING MY BATTERY. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. I SEE THAT THERE IS RECALL 17V773000 ON 2012 MODELS WHICH SEEMS TO EXPLAIN MY ISSUE EXACTLY. WHY IS MY 2010 NOT INCLUDED?
Tires, Sep 6, 2019
EXTREME DRY ROT TO A 3.5 YEAR OLD TIRE. TIRE LEAKS AIR. YOKOHAMA ALSO REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING.
Electrical system, Jul 17, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER DAUGHTER WHO OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOE MYERS KIA (LOCATED AT 16484 NORTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77040, (713) 587-9940) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE RESULTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,400.
Engine, Jul 9, 2019, fire
🚗 CAR CAUGHT ON 🔥 FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON I 285..
Air bags, Jun 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUFFINES KIA MCKINNEY (1201 N CENTRAL EXPY, MCKINNEY, TX 75070, (469) 525-4400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Engine, Jun 12, 2019
MY ENGINE HAD 85,000 MILES ON IT AND I REGULARLY DID OIL CHANGES AND THE ENGINE BLEW RANDOMLY AND COSTS OVER $5,000 TO REPLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING FINE WHEN I PARKED IT ON MY LUNCH AND WHEN I CAME OUT TO LEAVE WORK IT WOULD NO LONGER START.
Seats, May 25, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BOTTOM HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER WHEN AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ILLUMINATED. THERE HAS BEEN NO ALTERATION OF THE SEATS OR INVOLVEMENT IN ANY SITUATION THAT WOULD CAUSE DAMAGE, SO IT SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THIS REQUIRES A $1350 REPAIR.
Wheels, May 6, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 77 IN CHARLOTTE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. WHILE DRIVING, MY WHEEL HAD A STRUCTURAL FAILURE. I RETRACED MY ROUTE AND DO NOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROUTE (I.E. MAJOR OBSTACLE). REGARDLESS, THIS FAILURE IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE HAD OTHER CARS IN THE PAST AND HAVE RUN OVER SUBSTANTIAL ROAD DEBRIS AND NEVER HAD THE WHEEL ALMOST COME OFF OF THE CAR.
Air bags, Engine, Apr 12, 2019
MY AIRBAG HAS BEEN ON FOR OVR A YR. TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO GET REPAIRED. THE LIGHT WAS OFF FOR 4 DAYS AND CANE BACK ON AND STAYS ON. BACK AGAIN. AND STILL HAD TO PAY ANOTHER DIAG. FEE. BUT THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED. NOW MY CAR SOUNDS REALLY LOUD...KNOCKING THATS ANNOYING. EVERYTIME I START MY CAR AND DRIVE IT MAKES THAT NOISE. JUST FOUND OUT. ITS AN AIRBAG MODULE THAT WASNT COVERED IN THE RECALL. WHY CLDNT THEY FIND THAT AT 1ST. SMH. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA. GOING TO A DIFFERENT MFG...LIKE TOYOTA
Engine, Apr 1, 2019
KNOCKING IN ENGINE NOTICED WHITE STARTING AND DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED LEAVING OIL CHANGE AT 86K MILES (12/27/2018). MOMENTS LATER, VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO ABOVE 60MPH ENTERING HIGHWAY. ALL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, PULLED OVER ON RAMP AND TURN VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AND WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC GOT VEHICLE TO START AND HEARD KNOCKING. IDENTIFIED COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. MECHANIC ADVISED VEHICLE TO BE TOWED TO DEALER DUE TO RECENT ENGINE RECALLS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IS PENDING DIAGNOSTIC. I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE "10 YEAR/100,000 MILE" WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY TO ME. HOPEFULLY THEY ARE HONEST AND HONOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT.
Engine, Mar 29, 2019
SINCE IVE BOUGHT MY CAR ITS HAD A TICKING/KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. REALLY LOUD IN THE MORNING AND IT USED TO GO AWAY AFTER DRIVING NOW ITS CONSISTENTLY MAKING NOISE. IVE BEEN TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS AND ALL SAY THAT ITS NORMAL FOR THESE ENGINES. THE NOISE KEEPS GETTING LOUDER AND I ONLY HAVE 118,200 MILES ON THIS CAR. THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND I BABY IT. BESIDES SOME MINOR SCRATCHES IT LOOKS AND RUNS BRAND NEW BESIDES THE [XXX] KNOCKING SOUND. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Engine, Mar 21, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EVERGREEN KIA (LOCATED AT 9205 S WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60643, (800) 671-8069) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE SIGNS OF PISTON SLAP AND CYLINDER WALL DAMAGE. THERE WERE ALSO METAL SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,173.
Wheels, Mar 6, 2019
I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL ON 03/01/2019, THEY CHANGED TIRE VALVE STEMS AND ACU EXTENSION. WHEN THEY FINALLY FINISHED WORKING ON MY CAR. I LEFT AND WAS DRIVING HOME SO I TOOK THE 60 FREEWAY AND WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND A CAR ALMOST HIT ME BECAUSE OF THAT. I COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED TO MY CAR. THE MANAGER LATER COMES TO ME AND TELLS ME THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO CRACKED TIRES AND THAT'S WHY MY TIRE WENT FLAT BUT I TOLD THE MANAGER THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE SINCE MY TIRES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND ALSO IF MY TIRES WERE ALL CRACKED THEN WHY DID ONLY ONE TIRE LOSE AIR AND NOT ALL OF THEM? ALSO THE SERVICE ADVISOR MENTIONED TO ME THAT SAME MORNING THAT THE TECHNICIAN WASN'T ABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD TO MY CAR AND I FOUND THAT VERY WEIRD SINCE A WEEK PRIOR TO THAT I HAD OPENED THE HOOD TO MY CAR WITH NO PROBLEM AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I WENT TO THE MECHANIC TODAY AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE TIRE THEY GAVE ME WAS A CHEAP BRAND TIRE AND MY TIRES WERE NOT CRACKED AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY HOOD, WHEN THE MECHANIC OPENED THE HOOD HE FOUND THAT THE MOTOR COVER WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED IN HALF. I BELIEVE THE TECHNICIAN SOMEHOW CRACKED IT IN HALF WHILE CHECKING MY CAR AND LIED AFTERWARDS AND MADE THAT STATEMENT ABOUT THE HOOD NOT OPENING, I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW MOTOR COVER. THE MANAGER WAS LYING AND COVERING FOR THE MISTAKES HIS TECHNICIAN MADE. THE MECHANIC MADE A NOTATION ON MY RECEIPT AND AGREED WITH ME ABOUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS LYING TO COVER FOR THE MISTAKES THE TECHNICIAN MADE. I WAS VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE LIES THEY MADE UP ABOUT MY CAR TO COVER UP THEIR MISTAKES, THE POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE GIVEN TO ME AND THE NEGLIGENCE THEY SHOWED ME ESPECIALLY SINCE MY SAFETY WAS AT JEOPARDY SINCE I ALMOST CRASHED AFTER THEY WORKED ON MY CAR.