2018 Kia Forte
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 136 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 16 Forte model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 13 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 9 people were injured.
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
61 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 27, 2021
On 12/12/2021 my car stalled while driving. I started it up got to my destination, when leaving just a few minutes later it stalled again. On 12/13/2021 I was almost rear-ended when my car stalled while turning a corner on my way to work. On 12/14/2021 my car stalled two more times while driving. I have not driven it since. I had two different mechanics come and look at the car, both told me that the engine has failed. One mechanic found the engine recall on line. I contacted the dealership 3 times that week (twice via live chat and one direct phone call) each time directed to leave my information and someone would get back to me. I was finally able to speak to someone on 12/20. I explained what happened and was told that my VIN doesn't have a recall because my car was made in Mexico. I contacted a second dealership and was told the same thing.
Engine, Mar 25, 2021, crash
I GOT MY 18 KIA WAS PURCHASED WITH 25K MILES ON IT AND WHEN IT GOT AROUND 72,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED TO SHUT OFF, MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AT TIMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO KIA AND GAVE THEM ALL MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. THEY SAID I WAS MISSING 1 MAYBE 2 SO IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED. SO PICKED THE VEHICLE UP TOOK IT BY O RILEY'S WHERE THEY TESTED IT AND SAID IT WAS A CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WE REPLACED THAT AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WE'VE BEEN DRIVING IT BECAUSE IT'S OUR ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION SO TODAY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT AND THANKFULLY NOT GOING VERY FAST WHEN IT CUT OFF, MY HUSBAND TRIED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART AND ENDED UP GOING DOWN A HILL AND HIT A TREE. KIA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE! MY HUSBAND COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY HURT AND THANK GOD I WAS NOT IN IT I'M PREGNANT NOR MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN. THIS HAS REALLY MADE ME NOT EVER WANT ANOTHER KIA OR WILL I EVER RECOMMEND ONE TO A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER! WHAT'S KIA WAITING FOR TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? SOMEONE TO DIE FIRST BECAUSE THE CAR CUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC AND YOU GET SLAMMED!!! WHAT IF THIS WAS A TEENAGE IN THEIR FIRST CAR THEY WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO I BARLEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN IT STALLS I'M TRAFFIC. JUST RIDICULOUS!*DT
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jan 18, 2021, crash
NOTE: THE INDIVIDUAL SUBMITTING THIS STATEMENT OF FACTS IS PREPARED AND WILLING TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS OR ANY COURT OF LAW THAT ALL OF WHICH THAT IS CONTAINED WITHIN THIS SUBMISSION IS BASED ON FACTS AND TRUTH . ALSO LET IT BE KNOWN A DEGREE IN "APPLIED SCIENCE IN AUTOMOTIVE & DIESEL TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCED DRILL FLUIDS TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING" IS HELD BY THIS INDIVIDUAL AND THE LATER DEGREE DEALS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING OF NEWTONIAN AND NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS (I.E.> WATER BASED AND OIL BASED FLUIDS SUCH AS A ENGINE OIL ) IS WELL WITHIN THE INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOLECULAR CONSTRUCTION AND DECONSTRUCTION OF ELEMENTS . I WAS APPROACHED BY A FRIEND WHO HAD A SITUATION THAT REQUIRED QUICK ACTION IF ANY HOPES OF A REMEDY WERE TO PREVAIL , AND THE END RESULT FOR MYSELF WOULD BE OWNING A 2018 KIA FORTE . THE SAID VEHICLE HAD A TOTAL OF 41,117 MILES CALCULATED AND DISPLAYED ON THE INFORMATION DISPLAY ATTACHED TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER . THE VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED BY THE KIA DEALERSHIP AS PROMISED UP TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD OF 12000 MILES AS PROMISED BY KIA , AT NO EXTRA CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. AFTERWARDS THE 1ST ORIGINAL OWNER WOULD CONTINUE THE SCHEDULES SERVICE AS OUTLINED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL . THIS MAINTENANCE SERVICE WOULD ALWAYS BE PERFORMED AT THE OWNERS USUAL TRUSTED REPAIR SHOP AND IF NOT WITHIN THE AREA AT THE TIME SERVICE WAS NEEDED , A REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP WOULD BE THE CHOICE . WITH A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE IN MY POSSESSION I SOON EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS CAUSING POOR OIL CIRCULATION AND PAIRED WITH SEVERAL OTHER FACTORS CAUSING SLUDGE BUILD UP WHICH RENDERED MY VEHICLE GARBAGE . THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO NEGLIGENCE AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE . THE FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE DURING A THUNDERSTORM WITH FLASH FLOODING . "SATISFACTION GUARANTEE" IS A LIE !
Engine, Dec 4, 2020
53,000 NO WARNING WAS DRIVING ALONG A HIGHWAY CAR STARTED TO KNOCK. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN CAR SHUTS OFF AND I PULL OVER. COME TO FIND OUT ENGINE THROUGH A ROD IN THE BLOCK AND WAS NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY SAID I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PROOF OIL WAS NEVER CHANGE EVEN THOUGH I GAVE THEM ALL MY RECEIPTS.
Engine, Sep 21, 2020
GOT MY CAR AT 60 MILES. THAT WAS A LIL OVER TWO YEARS AGO AND NOW MY CAR IS AT 68000. THE ENGINE IS STALLING AND IT'S NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY. WHEN I HAVE TO BREAK OR EVEN BREAK PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT THE CAR CUTS OFF. NO LIGHTS ARE POPPING UP AND I'VE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE BEFORE. I SEE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ON HERE WHO ARE ALSO HAVING THESE PROBLEMS.
Engine, Aug 26, 2020
VEHICLE REPEATEDLY STALLS AND MUST BE RESTARTED WHEN TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEEDS. MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP BOTH RECOMMENDED REPLACING AFTERMARKET AUTOMATIC STARTER AND PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.
Engine, Apr 13, 2020
WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, THEN THE MOTOR STOPPED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION, EVER, OF AN ENGINE ISSUE. NO LIGHTS, WARNINGS, TEMPERATURE, NOTHING EVER ALERTED HER. WE TOOK IT TO TWO MECHANICS WHO DIAGNOSED AS TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. ALL FLUIDS WERE LOW, NO OIL. WE NEVER SAW OIL SPOTS. SHE HAD THE OIL CHANGED IN FEBRUARY. WE HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE AS HER WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 60,000 MILES. HOW CONVENIENT FOR KIA. SHE HAS 67,000 MILES. NONE OF THE SENSORS ALERTED HER TO ANY ENGINE ISSUES! THE MECHANICS NOTED A THICK STICKY COVERING OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. WE KNOW KIA HAS HAD SEVERAL MOTOR RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS. THIS MODEL SHOULD BE INCLUDED. I NOTICED ONLINE SEVERAL OTHER KIA FORTE OWNERS WITH ENGINE ISSUES. PLEASE ADVISE.
Engine, Aug 1, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO POMONA KIA (8 RIO RANCHO ROAD, POMONA, CA 91766, (909) 664-2200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13235167. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 8, 2019
THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE #11186351... AS INDICATED IN THAT ORIGINAL COMPLAINT I TOOK MY FORTE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT SERVICED (OIL & FILTER CHANGE, TIRE ROTATION) AND HAD THEM CHECK OUT THE ISSUE I WAS EXPERIENCING; THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING (NOT SURPRISED) HOWEVER THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF KIA SERVICE ALERT TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS 'AGAIN'... I HAVE HAD THIS 2018 FORTE EXACTLY ONE YEAR NOW AND I AM ON THE SECOND SET OF SPARK PLUGS WHICH I FIND QUITE UNUSUAL TO PUT IT POLITELY.. I HAVE OWNED MANY, MANY NEW CARS AND I'VE NEVER HAD SPARK PLUGS REPLACED AT THIS RATE SO IMO THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO DO THE WAIT AND SEE.. AS FAR AS THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM I STILL HAVE IT DRIVING ALONG AND IT FEELS LIKE I RAN OUT OF GAS WHICH IS NOT TRUE I HAVE ALMOST A FULL TANK OF GAS AND I KEEP AN ELECTRONIC FUEL LOG TO MONITOR GAS USAGE AND THE VEHICLE IS GETTING ABOUT 29 MPH AROUND TOWN ON REGULAR GAS..
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 26, 2019
WHEN ACCELERATING THERE IS NO POWER AND IT IS GOING TO CAUSE THE ACCIDENT I WAS ON THE FREEWAY I WENT TO SWITCH LANES I HIT THE GAS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE JUST STOOD THERE AND RP M'S GOING UP
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 5, 2019
I HAVE HAD MY BRAND NEW KIA FORTE FOR 8 MONTHS STARTING IN APRIL. I CURRENTLY HAVE 16,581 MILES ON THE CAR. ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY ECO LIGHT CAME ON BY ITSELF AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO TURN IT OFF SO I HAD TO TAKE IT TO KIA WHERE THEY UNSCREWED MY BATTERY AND IT WENT OFF. NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT WANTING TO TURN ON AND AFTER TAKING A TRIP TO AUTO ZONE WE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE 'CRANK SHAFT'. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A BRAND NEW CAR THAT I HAVE ONLY HAD FOR EIGHT MONTHS. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I BECAME REALLY CONCERNED AND THAT'S WHAT FORCED ME TO HAVE TO GO TO AUTO ZONE TO SEE WHY MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON.