The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte Koup. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, white smoke was coming from under the hood. While the independent mechanic was starting the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The mechanic turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that prior to the smoke on a separate occasion, while the contact's daughter was driving 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine had caused the battery, starter, and knock sensor to fail. The vehicle was repaired for the prior failures. The contact stated that after the most recent failure, the independent mechanic diagnosed that the engine had failed and damaged the battery, starter, and knock sensor. The independent mechanic replaced the battery, starter, and knock sensor. Additionally, the engine needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11665926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In December after getting letter in the mail saying I needed an upgrade to my car's knock sensor I took it to a Kia dealership. I received word from the dealership that my car had suffered a lower crank shaft failure and would need to be replaced. The dealership told me that this was a known issue and gave me a number to call to file a claim. After months of trying to get follow-up from the Kia claim office, they denied the claim. They said my engine had suffered failure before I had the knock sensor update and if it would have occurred after they would have replaced the engine. Kia knows that there is a severe issue with the engines they put in these vehicles and they are failing to fix the problem.
NHTSA complaint #11647234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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!
NHTSA complaint #11414806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE KOUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY KIA OF FONTANA (16272 S. HIGHLAND AVE, FONTANA, CA 92336) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF AN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC CODE THAT WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONSUMPTION VALVE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,800.
NHTSA complaint #11403758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE RPMS DROPPED TO ZERO. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT ON THE SHOULDER WITHOUT ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THE ENGINE SEIZED UP BUT THE OIL LOOKED FINE. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD. THE CAR HAD 101,000 MILES IN IT.
NHTSA complaint #11229662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THETA II ENGINE RECALL. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO GUIDE IT OFF THE INTERSTATE TO A SAFE SPOT ON THE SIDE. THE CAR WOULDNT STARY BACK AT ALL. COME TO FIND OUT, THE RODS FAILED AND LOCKED THE ENGINE UP. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WAS CHECK EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD INCLUDING THE OIL. THE OIL WAS FULL. AFTER READING ALOT ON THIS ISSUE, THERE IS ALOT OF KIA FORTE AND FORTE KOUP THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE BUT YET THEY WONT INCLUDE THEM IN THE RECALL. IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE IN IT AS THE OTHER KIA'S THAT GOT RECALLED SO WHAT MAKES THEM ANY DIFFERENT. I REPLACED THE FIRST ENGINE WITH A USED ONE AND I PUT 4K MIKES ON IT AND IT DID THE SAME THING SO ANOTHER $4,000 LATER, I PURCHASED A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. IT'S BEEN AN EXPENSIVE FIX OUT OF MY OWN POCKET WHEN IT SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN.
NHTSA complaint #11217999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ONE MORNING I STARTED THE CAR AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR ALSO MADE A KNOCKING/TICKING SOUND THAT WAS NOT USUAL AND THE ENGINE HAD AN ABNORMAL SOUND TO IT WHEN STATIONED AND IN MOTION. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, ESPECIALLY AS IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER RIGHT AFTER THE LIGHT CAME ON. WE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM AND FOUND OUT THAT THE LIGHT WAS FOR A CODE ABOUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (BUTTERFLY) VALVES NOT OPENING/CLOSING PROPERLY. IT LATER ENDED UP BEING COMPLETE INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE CONNECTING ROD BEARING FAILING. THE CAR REQUIRED A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF THIS. IT ONLY HAD 82,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. IT ALSO HAD PROBLEMS STARTING OCCASIONALLY BEFORE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE CONTROL MODULE (VCM) WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AT THE SAME TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #11183518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY MOTOR SLUNG A ROD WITHOUT REASON AT 90K MILES. I HAVE THE SAME 2.4 LITER MOTOR IN MY KIA FORTE AS THE MOTORS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED IN THE OPTIMAS. THE JUST FOUND THAT THIS ENGINE FAILURE IS HAPPENING IN THE 1.6 LITER SOULS AS WELL YET THEY REFUSE TO FIX MY CAR BECAUSE THE CAR ITSELF ISN'T LISTED UNDER THE RECALL. PLEASE HELP! I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH DOWN THE HWY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD "THUNK" AND A LIGHT TAPPING FROM THE ENGINE. NO DASH LIGHTS EVER CAME ON, THE CAR NEVER RAN HOT, AND I HAD PLENTY OF OIL BUT JUST TO BE SAFE I PULLED OVER ANYWAYS. I HAD A MECHANIC COME MEET ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT TO BE SRE IT WAS OK TO DRIVE AND WHEN HE JACKED THE CAR UP OIL CAME POURING OUT AND HE COULD SEE A VISIBLE 4 INCH HOLE IN THE BLOCK WHERE A ROD HAD SEEMINGLY SLUNG WITHOUT REASON. I TOOK IT UP TO KIA TO GET IT REPLACED AS THE MOTOR WAS UNDER RECALL AND NOT ONLY DID THEY NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS A "DIFFERENT MODEL # OF THE 2.4 LITER MOTOR" BUT THEY ALSO CHARGED ME $125 BUCKS JUST TO LOOK AT IT AND TELL ME THEY WEREN'T GOING TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #11183098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR STARTED DRIVING SLUGGISH OUT OF NOWHERE AND I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC WHO TOOK IT OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE WHERE IT ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED SMOKING AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP WHILE IN MOTION. THE CAR HAD ITS OIL CHANGE AND WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #11174951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY KIA FORTE KOUP 2013 SX HAS ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO NOTICE. MY SON WAS DRIVING 73MPH ON THE INTERSTATE AND ALMOST LOST HIS LIFE TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AFTER SAID FAILURE. MY CAR HAS 92K MILES AND I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I HAVE HAD ALL MAINTENANCE DONE AT KIA ON TIME AND AS RECOMMENDED. DEALER TELLS ME THAT CONNECTING ROD PIERCED A WHOLE IN MY ENGINE BLOCK AND WANT $4800.00 + TAX TO INSTALL A USED ENGINE WITH 76K MILES ON IT. I AM GUESSING THAT IS KIA IS NOW DOING A 200K WARRENTY AS THEIR PRODUCTS ARE JUNK.
NHTSA complaint #11165530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY HEARD A TAPPING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE CONNECTING ROD BEARING FAILED, RUINING THE ENGINE (2.4L). QUOTED $6,000 FOR REPAIR. 82,000 MILES. ALL MAINTENANCE DONE ON TIME. DEALER AND KIA CORPORATE DENIED ANY HELP OR THAT THE 2.4L WAS DEFECTIVE AT MANUFACTURE.
NHTSA complaint #11162833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD A 2010 KIA FORTE KOUP THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE 5/29/18 WHILE GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES/HR. BEFORE THE FIRE BEGAN, THERE WAS SOME KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE AND ALL POWER WENT OUT, INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POPPED THE HOOD TO SEE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT IN TIME, AND THE WHOLE CAR WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH THE OIL CHANGES AND HAVING ALL FLUIDS CHECKED AND FILLED AS NEEDED. I HAVE HAD ALL RECALLS DONE AS THEY BECAME AVAILABLE. THE FIRE WAS IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND GAVE NO WARNING BEFORE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUT. ALL WE COULD DO IS EVACUATE THE CAR, GET AS FAR AWAY FROM IT AS POSSIBLE, AND CALL 911. IT WAS DEVOURED WITHIN MINUTES WITH FLAMES, AND IS NOW A COMPLETE LOSS. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA INTERNATIONAL (CASE #12745414) WHO TOLD ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, SO THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM CNA NATIONAL, BUT THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR MECHANICAL ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #11151192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HEARD A KNOCK COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND SUDDENLY THE CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT START UP AGAIN BUT THE POWER WAS STILL ON FOR LIGHTS, ETC. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE IS SHOT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE KIA FORTE I FOUND A LOT OF REVIEWS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING ON THE 2012 FORTE. NOW WITH THE RECALLS FOR THE OTHER KIA ENGINES WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR ENGINE TYPES, THIS MAKE AND MODEL NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED!!!
NHTSA complaint #11140289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE MADE A SOUND LIKE A TICKING NOISE THEN JUST BLEW. OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE BAY AND GROUND. A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WOULD NOT START OR DO ANYTHING. GLAD IT DIDN'T CATCH FIRE WITH ALL THE OIL EVERYWHERE. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC, COME TO FIND OUT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP. THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. SPEED LIMIT 70. IT WAS LIKE THE ENGINE WENT BOOM. GLAD I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE TO BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE. LOST ALL POWER AND UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR. MECHANIC HAD TO ORDER AND WAITING ON USED ENGINE COMING FROM CALIFORNIA TO PUT INTO CAR. WILL COST 4000.00 FOR THIS REPAIR. STILL OWE ON THIS CAR TOO.
NHTSA complaint #11140398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BACK IN JUNE 2018, I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE, RUNNING ABOUT 75 AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A FLAPPING NOISE THEN ALL THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED. HAD TO GET IT TOWED BACK HOME. COME TO FIND OUT THE MOTOR HAD SEIZED UP. I'VE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE 2.4 ENGINE IN THE KIA'S BUT NONE HAVE MADE IT TO THE RECALL LIST WHEN THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THING THAT THE MOTORS IN THE OPTIMAS, SORENTO AND SPORTAGE. HOW IS THE FORTE ANY DIFFERENT WHEN THEY HAVE THE SAME MOTOR. FOUND A USED MOTOR OUT OF A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP SX THAT HAD 39,000 MILES ON IT. BOUGHT AND INSTALLED IT. PUT RIGHT AT 4,100 MILES ON IT AND LOW AND BEHOLD, IT DID THE SAME THING. EXCEPT THIS TIME I WAS COMING OFF THE INTERSTATE ON A CURVE OFF RAMP WITH THE CAR STALLED ON ME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED THIS TIME TO MAKE IT HOME. SO NOW I HAVE ANOTHER BAD ENGINE AND MY CAR IS JUST SITTING UNTIL I CAN SAVE UP AND FIND ANOTHER ENGINE. THIS TIME, I'LL PROBABLY PAY EXTRA TO HAVE A COMPLETELY REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. TIRED OF PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH THESE USED KIA ENGINES.
NHTSA complaint #11130879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR, I HEARD A KNOCK COMING FROM THE ENGINE!! I HAD IT TOWED TO A KIA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR CAR THAT IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD AND ALL MAINTENANCE KEPT UP TO DATE!! I DID SOME CHECKING AND OTHER KIA ENGINES WITH SIMILAR OR SAME ENGINE TYPES HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THIS MAKE AND MODEL NEEDS TO INCLUDED!!
NHTSA complaint #11124222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 7/23/2016(MILAGE 108000) I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 KIA FORTE SX KOUP TO WORK TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. 2 MILES FROM WORK I BEGAN TO HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND . ARRIVING AT WORK I DID A QUICK ENGINE INSPECTION BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING VISUALLY WRONG (LEAKS, SMOKE, LOOSE PARTS) LATER THAT MORNING I RETURNED TO MY CAR TO TEST THE ENGINE AND COULD HEAR THE SAME NOISE. I DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED UNTIL 07/25/16. MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER DISCOVERING A BAD ROD. MECHANIC ALSO CONTACTED KIA TO SEE IF BY CHANCE THEY WOULD OFFER AND EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT KIA WOULD NOT REPAIR ENGINE SINCE IT HAD PASSED THE 100000 MILE WARRANTY. (JUST 8000 MILES OVER WARRANTY !!!!!!) MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO BITE THE BULLET AND HAVE THE ENGINE REPAIRED. $4300 AND ONE WEEK LATER MY VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME. I NOW SEE ALL OF THESE NEWS STORIES ABOUT KIA CATCHING FIRE AND OTHER HORROR STORIES ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE ABOUT THE SAME EXPERIENCE OTHERS HAVE GONE THROUGH . I AM EVEN MORE OUTRAGED THAT IT COULD STILL HAPPEN TO ME AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL FOR THE AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELTS BUT NOT THE ENGINE!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE DO SOMETHING!!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #11120443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS TURNING LEFT AND CAR CHUGGED BACK AND FORTH AND BURNING SMELL WITH A TON OF GRAY AND WHITE SMOKE POURING OUT OF BACK OF CAR. FOUGHT WITH KIA GOT A REBUILT ENGINE. 2 WEEKS LATER SAME PROBLEM. TOOK BACK TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND FAULTY VALVE WAS NEVER REPLACED. HAPPENED AGAIN 3 WEEKS LATER. CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HAPPENED AGAIN 3 WEEKS LATER AND THIS TIME SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL WAS SO INTENSE YOU COULDN'T SEE IN BACK OF CAR. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I JUST NEED TO DRIVE IT MORE. I AM A MOTHER TO 3 YOUNG KIDS. THE CAR SMELLS LIKE IT'S GOING TO EXPLODE AND THE SMOKE ALONE IS DANGEROUS TO WHO IS BEHIND ME.
NHTSA complaint #11120500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP UP AN ON-RAMP TO THE MAIN BRIDGE, GOING ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE KILLED SUDDENLY. THE CAR HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT, AND I TAKE PHENOMENAL CARE OF IT (REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE). I HAD IT TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY, MAY 25, AND IT'S BEEN SITTING ON THE LOT COMPLETELY UNTOUCHED EVER SINCE. TODAY IS DAY 46 OF KIA GIVING ME THE RUNAROUND. NEVER AGAIN WILL I PURCHASE THEIR CARS.
NHTSA complaint #11110664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.