2012 Kia Forte
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 292 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 16 Forte model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 20 involved a crash and 23 involved a fire. 16 people were injured and 3 people 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
EngineDec 2, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Campaign 20V750000 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
Service brakes, hydraulic, pedals and linkagesDec 1, 2017
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC158.
Campaign 17V773000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
37 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 10, 2018, crash
I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A CORNER STORE PARKING LOT. AS I WAS TURNING THE ACCELERATER DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. I PUSHED THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY AND IT STILL PULLED FORWARD. I IMPACTED THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE STORE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WALL OF THE STORE. ALSO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR HEADLIGHTS, FENDER, TIRE WELL LINING AND MORE. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON OR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I JUST RECEIVED A LETTER TODAY IN THE MAIL ABOUT RECALL ISSUES. KIA HAS NOT WARNED ME OF ANYTHING AND I TAKE MY CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED I'M TRYING GET HELP WITH THIS. I'M LOOKING FOR LAWYER NOW BECAUSE I JUST GOT THIS INFORMATION. AFTER OWNING THIS CAR SINCE 2012. I'M WORKING ON THE CLAIM NOW SO THE FULL REPORT IS NOT DONE.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jul 9, 2018, crash
NOV 7 2016 WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT ON A MAIN STREET WITH TWO CAR LENGTHS BETWEEN ME AND PERSON IN FRONT, DUE TO THE HEAVY VOLUME OF TRAFFIC. I WAS HIT IN THE REAR, END BY AN SUV, THEN SLAMMED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND SENT BACK AGAIN AND SLAMMED THE CAR THAT INITIALLY HIT ME. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN CRASH WITH LONG TERM EFFECTS.
Air bags, Seat belts, May 31, 2018, crash
FATAL MVA INVOLVING FRONT-END COLLISION. AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER.
Air bags, Mar 20, 2018, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUFFERED CONTUSIONS, A BRAIN INJURY, AND WAS IN A COMA FOR TWO WEEKS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Air bags, Engine, Oct 17, 2017
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON RIGHT AFTER HITTING 108K MILES. CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AMY ACCIDENT. NO AIRBAGS HAVE EVER DEPLOYED. THE LIGHT JUST CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF.ALSO CAR MAKES HUMMING SOUND WHILE IDLING WITH THE FOOT OFF THE GAS. BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW AND I'M BEING INFORMED THAT OTHER MODELS THAT ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE ARE BEING RECALLED.
Air bags, Dec 22, 2016
ON 12/20/16, MY OLDEST DAUGHTER WAS FOLLOWING MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER TO HAVE BREAKFAST. MY OLDEST DAUGHTER DRIVES A 2012 KIA FORTE. MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WAS AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY KIA-DRIVING DAUGHTER DIRECTLY BEHIND. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, AND FOR SOME REASON THE YOUNGEST DID NOT GO. MY OLDEST TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND "TAPPED" THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THE KIA'S DRIVE SIDE AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED INJURING MY DAUGHTER'S HAND SLIGHTLY. SHE IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT HOME (WITH INOPERABLE SEAT BELTS DUE TO DEPLOYMENT) AND CALLED ME. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY REFERRED US TO A BODY SHOP WHERE WE WERE GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF ~$2,000 FOR REPAIR. I INSPECTED BOTH VEHICLES AND COULD NOT SEE ANY EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE (NOT EVEN A PAINT SMUDGE). THIS WAS VERY UPSETTING AS I AM NOW CONCERNED WITH SPURIOUS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. KIA CLAIMED THAT BOTH IMPACT AND DECELERATION ARE REQUIRED TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG, MY QUESTION IS WHY DID IT ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOY ? THIS INCIDENT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO PARKING A CAR AND TOUCHING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. SEE PHOTOS FOR DEPLOYMENT, AND NO DAMAGE TO FRONT OF VEHICLE. *TR
Air bags, Oct 11, 2015, crash
THIS IS A CORRECTION TO A COMPLAINT FILED LAST WEEK. I CHECKED NO ON THE FATALITIES QUESTION. THE KIA WAS IN A SERIOUS FATAL FRONTAL IMPACT BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. KIA TESTED THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE AND IT HAD NO FAULT CODES AND DID NOT RECORD ANY CRASH DATA. KIA HAS THE MODULE NOW. THE OTHER CARS AIRBAGS WORKED AND THE DRUNK DRIVER SURVIVED...UPDATED 10/15/15 *BF ...UPDATED 12/29/15 *BF THE DATA SHOWED THAT THERE WERE NO STORED OR DIAGNOSTIC FAULT CODES. THERE WAS NO CRASH RECORD RECORDED BY THE ACU. UPDATED 4/18/18*JB *JS *JS
Air bags, Oct 9, 2015, crash
THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS FRONTAL IMPACT AND THE FRONT SEAT AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THE PASSENGER WAS KILLED AND THE DRIVER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. KIA WAS INFORMED AND THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE WAS TESTED AND FOUND TO BE NOT WORKING.
Air bags, Apr 13, 2015, crash
MY DAUGHTER WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS HIT FROM BEHIND CAUSING HER TO HIT THE TRUCK IN FRONT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.............
Air bags, Dec 30, 2014, crash
THE CAR GOT A FLAT TIRE WHILE TAKING A CURVE AND HIT A CONCRETE POLE. THE CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS AND ALL THE FRONT PART WAS SMASHED. THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG WAS THE ONLY TO DEPLOY BUT DID NOT DEPLOY ALL THE WAY, SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOYED. DRIVER GOT A CLAVICLE FRACTURE. ....UPDATED 01/23/15 *BF UPDATED 2/11/16 *JS
Air bags, Sep 18, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE MOUTH, CHIN, LIP, AND SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT WAS HOSPITALIZED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Air bags, Structure, Engine, Oct 17, 2012, fire
WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2012 KIA FORTE EX (SEDAN) WHICH WE HAD PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN DECEMBER 2011 TO THE STORE TO GET BREAD AND WERE ON OUR WAY HOME (ONLY ABOUT 2 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE) WHEN WE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. WE PULLED OVER WITHIN ABOUT 50 FEET OF SEEING IT, PUT IT IN PARK- WHICH BY THE TIME WE DID SO, WE LOST ALL POWER AND COULDN'T EVEN GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. WE GOT OUT AND MY BOYFRIEND TRIED TO POP THE HOOD BUT IT WAS ALREADY SO HOT HE COULDN'T DO IT... I RAN ABOUT 20 FEET AWAY FOR SAFETY REASONS, SO I AM NOT SURE WHERE IT STARTED, BUT WITHIN ABOUT 30 SECONDS, THE FLAMES CAME OUT OF THE SIDES AND FRONT OF THE HOOD. MY BOYFRIEND THINKS IT WAS ABOUT WHERE THE FUSE BOX IS, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE HE NOTICED THE PAINT START TO BUBBLE OFF. HE IS A MECHANIC AND HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR, THROUGH THE DASH IS DISINTEGRATED. MY AIRBAGS MELTED AND POURED OUT OF THE DASH AND ROOF, UPHOLSTERY MELTED OFF THE SEATS, AND DOOR PANELS BUBBLED UP. ALL THE SPEAKERS BLEW AND MELTED. IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY, IF I HAD KIDS IN THE BACK OR COULDN'T HAVE PULLED OVER IN TIME, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS. I AM VERY THANKFUL IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON MY WAY TO WORK, AS I DRIVE IN TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY WITH NO SHOULDER. I HAD NO ELECTRONIC MODIFICATIONS. IT WAS ENTIRELY STOCK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WINDOW TINT, EXHAUST, A LOWERING KIT, AND AFTERMARKET TIRES AND WHEELS--ALL WHICH WERE INSTALLED BY PROFESSIONALS. THE CAR HAD 8900 MILES ON IT AND ALL MAINTENANCE WORK HAD BEEN DONE. EVEN 3 OIL CHANGES- EVEN THOUGH KIA CLAIMS THE CAR CAN GO 7K WITHOUT ONE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS GOING TO TREAT IT AS A TOTAL LOSS AND DO AN INVESTIGATION ON IT. KIA HAS A CASE GOING BUT HAVE NOT YET SENT AN ENGINEER OUT. *TR