2017 Kia Forte
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 302 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 16 Forte model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 23 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 21 people were injured and 4 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bagsJan 25, 2022
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Campaign 22V031000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, trunk lid, latchAug 9, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
Campaign 21V622000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, oil/lubrication, pumpApr 13, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
Campaign 21V260000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
158 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 13, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUNTSVILLE KIA (6519 UNIVERSITY DR NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35806 (256) 217-1700) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND A NEW ENGINE SPRING AND IGNITION CORD NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 90,000.
Exterior lighting, Engine, Apr 30, 2019
LEAKING OIL IN THE IN THE OIL PAN GASKET, ALSO A NOTORIOUS CORROSION IN THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK, THE KIA HAVE LESS THAN YEAR, WHEN I TAKE INTO THE OIL CHANGE, THE DEALER DID A INSPECTION IN THE CAR, BUT NEVER MENTIONED THE LEAKING OIL FROM THE OIL GASKET PAN. THE SECOND PROBLEMS THE BREAK LIGHTS BULBS CONSTANTLY KEEP BURNING IN THE BACK DRIVER SIDE A THE PASSENGERS SIDE. IN ONE YEAR I REPLACED 5 LIGHT BULBS.
Engine, Dec 31, 2018
WHILE SITTING IDLE FOR OVER 45 MINUTES THE CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE. WHEN I BEGAN TO DRIVE IT SHOOK AND DID NOT PICK UP AS IT SHOULD WHEN DRIVING. WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IT VIBRATES WORSE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SCHEFULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR JANUARY 4,2019 BUT RECEIVED A CALL TODAY (DECEMBER 31, 3018)TO RESCHEDULE FOR JANUARY 18,2019. I'VE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM A LITTLE LEERY IN DRIVING THE CAR SINCE THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T HAVE LOANERS AND I MUST CONTINUE WITH MY DAY TO DAY LIVING. I AM NOT DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THIS PROBLEM. STATED EARLIER
Engine, Dec 7, 2018
2017 KIA FORTE I BUY THIS CAR BRAND NEW BACK IN DECEMBER 22, 2017 AND LAST MONTH THE CAR START TO SHAKE WHILE I'M DRIVING THEN IT START TO JERK AS IF ITS GETTING READY TO TURN OFF. 3 DAYS A GO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR TO WORK CHURCH NO LONG DISTANCE TRIPS OR ANYTHING I HAVE BEEN GETTING MY OIL CHANGE AND EVERYTHING THAT TO HELP WITH UP KEEP OF MY CAR SO WAS THINKING MY CAR IS A LEMON.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 28, 2018, fire
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, SMELLED SOMETHING "OFF", WITHIN SECONDS ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. ENTIRE VEHICLE GUTTED. KIA LITERALLY JUST INSTALLED A NEW ENGINE, STARTER, BATTERY, AND INTAKE 2 DAYS PRIOR DUE TO ENGINE LOCKING UP - WITH 22000 MILES.
Engine, Jul 14, 2018
IGNITION RECOIL PROBLEMS THE ENGINE HAS LOW POWER. HAD IT SERVICED AND IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM
Power train, Engine, Jun 22, 2018
MY CAR BEGINS RANDOMLY SHAKING. I HAVE HAD ALL MAINTENANCE DONE AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP AS PER MY WARRANTY SPECIFIES. THE LAST 4 WEEKS, MY CAR WILL RANDOMLY SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHILE IDLE, ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE IN THE DIFFERENT DRIVE MODES. YESTERDAY, JUNE 21ST, 2018, MY CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AS I WAS PARKED AT THE FOOD CITY IN CHATTANOOGA ON OOLTEWAH RINGGOLD ROAD.I WAS ON FACEBOOK VIDEO MESSENGER WITH MY FRIEND EATING A MCCHICKEN. I DROPPED MY SANDWICH AND IMMEDIATELY POPPED THE HOOD. UPON OPENING, I SEE THE ENGINE SHAKING VIOLENTLY AS BEFORE. MY FRIEND WITNESSED IT AS WELL. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED KIA MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY CALLED ROADSIDE SERVICE TO TOW THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN CLEVELAND, TN. TODAY, 6/22/2018, KIA CLAIMED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND BLAMED BAD GAS. EVEN THOUGH THE SHAKING HAPPENED UPON RETURNING HOME. MY CAR HAS CONTINUALLY DONE THIS EVEN WITH ME USING SHELL, BP, OR 100%GASOLINE. KIA REFUSES TO GIVE ME A FAIR PRICE FOR TRADING TO ANOTHER CAR. THE ENGINE ALSO TICKS. I ASKED ABOUT THIS AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE ON JAN 13TH, 2017 BY THE SALES ASSOCIATE MATT HAKE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL, EVEN THOUGH THE TICKING AS INTENSIFIED.
Steering, Power train, Engine, Jul 10, 2017
THE VEHICLE IS THE S MODEL, NEW FOR 2017, I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 2,000 MILES SINCE LEASING IT IN SEPTEMBER 2016. THE CAR HAS POOR ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY GOING UP HILLS AND MERGING INTO TRAFFIC (MOVING, CITY). IT HESITATES AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS (FROM A DEAD STOP). THE VEHICLE TENDS TO SWAY SIDE TO SIDE FROM TIME TO TIME (MOVING, CITY), THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY TWO DIFFERENT KIA DEALERS. A TECHNICIAN HAS RODE ALONG WITH ME; FELT MY CONCERNS, BUT CANNOT DUPLICATE IT. I WAS TOLD IN MARCH 2017 THAT THE COMPUTER HAD BEEN "TWEAKED", BUT NO FURTHER INFORMATION.