2014 KIA Forte transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

The systems affected appear to be engine, powertrain, and vehicle speed control. My 2014 Kia Forte, VIN [XXX] has approximately 118,000 miles. Since purchase in November2025 from Wondries Toyota, the vehicle has had repeated high RPM, poor acceleration, and loss of power when entering freeway on-ramps and driving uphill. It struggles to accelerate while merging into faster traffic, creating a safety risk as vehicles behind approach at higher speeds. Two different mechanics verbally advised that there may be an oil leak or oil consumption issue affecting the catalytic converter. I replaced the catalytic converter a couple months ago, but it became clogged again and the power loss continues. The vehicle is available for inspection. The problem has not been inspected by the manufacturer yet, and I don’t have a written diagnostic report at this time. There was no crash, fire, injury, or fatality, and no police report. Warning lights are unknown. The exact incident date is approximate. The issue has been ongoing since after purchase and occurs multiple times, especially during freeway merging and uphill driving. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11756624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Slow to shift and accelerate

NHTSA complaint #11687901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

My Kia Forte is from Puerto Rico, and I am currently having engine issues. The codes for the engine issues (and light) are P0014 and P0300. It can be inspected upon request. Kia America refuses to honor or attempt to look up the possible recalls for the engine, which is currently burning oil, and I've been advised that it's a safety hazard. I've been told that the engine is at risk of catching on fire, or exploding. This problem has been confirmed by an independent service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. I have not had to get my car inspected as I am originally from Texas, living in New York, and can update my registration via online as long as the car is inspected as soon as I return to Texas. I have spoken to Kia Puerto Rico and have been told that it's the job of Kia America to transfer the VIN number over so that it may be looked up in the warranty and recall system. The warning lamps first appeared in August. I'm the third owner of the vehicle, and was not made aware of the Puerto Rican VIN number prior to purchase, but Kia Puerto Rico insists that it IS Kia America's job to fix recall items.

NHTSA complaint #11551662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Transmission going out

NHTSA complaint #11527835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Bought a used 2014 Kia Forte from Ourisman Kia in Chantilly, VA in November, 2021. Had 116k miles. 2/20/22, traveling on 55 MPH three lane road, the car suddenly lost all power as I was driving in the left lane. Engine light was flashing. I put on hazards and was able to pull off the highway. On 2/21/22 Ourisman Kia service added oil, cleared error codes, and told us to drive 1000 miles and bring it back. We did not make it to 1000 miles. Car again suddenly went into limp mode and flashing engine light while teenage son was driving on 3/15. Code Po302 was detected. Ourisman Kia service replaced ignition coil and spark plugs 3/17. On 3/23, car again suddenly went into limp mode and engine light started flashing again while on highway. Returned car to Ourisman Kia service 3/24/22 where it still sits. Code P1326 is detected. At any of these three times the car went into limp mode while driving on highway, me or my family could have been in serious accident. Car completely loses power to nothing and then slowly rebuilds to max 2000 RPM / approx 40 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #11464764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The engine on my Kia Forte failed just 12k miles after a recall service that was intended to ensure an additional 80k miles of engine use. Either the recall work to ensure that additional range was defective, or the process that designed the work was defective. Recall # 20v750 was to check for engine damage, and install a knock sensor update that would PREVENT engine failure. At the time of service the dealership ignored reported oil problems and did not perform the inspection as described in the recall notice. The eventual sensor alert that was supposed to PREVENT damage is instead being treated by the dealer as a catastrophic result that requires replacement. On two fronts the work performed was not as described- there was no legitimate inspection (note the reported oil burn reported by the dealership), and the prevention-enabling sensor update failed to prevent anything.

NHTSA complaint #11460441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR MY ENGINE TELLING ME TO BRING IN MY VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT TO BE INSPECTED AND IF NECESSARY, REPAIRED OR REPLACED AT NO COST. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING THIS LETTER WHICH PROMPTED ME TO BRING MY VEHICLE IN TO VAN NUYS KIA. LONG STORY SHORT MY SERVICE ADVISOR CAME BACK EVENTUALLY, TELLING ME THAT KIA DECLINED MY CLAIM FOR HAVING TOO MANY MILES AND ALSO THAT I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR BRINGING IN THE VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH THE LETTER EXPLICITLY SAID WOULD NOT BE. MY MAIN PROBLEM HERE IS THAT ANOTHER CUSTOMER, WITH THE EXACT SAME CAR, 2014 FORTE, TOOK HIS CAR IN WITH OVER 200,000 THOUSAND MILES AND GOT IT REPLACED WITH NO PROBLEM. NO MENTION ABOUT MILEAGE OR ANYTHING BUT THE MAIN REASON I WAS DECLINED WAS FOR HAVING 170,000 MILES WHEN THE CUT OFF WAS AT 150,000 AND I HAVE TO PAY AROUND 7,000 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE RECALL LETTER MENTIONS NOTHING ABOUT NOT BEING ALLOWED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN AFTER 150,000 AND EVEN IF IT DID, DOES KIA GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHO THEY HELP?

NHTSA complaint #11413459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

MY VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME UNDER A WARRANTY. UPON DRIVING THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. WOULD NOT RESTART. ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY KIA. AS WELL AS A REPLACEMENT OIL PAN RANDOMLY. MY LONG TIME MECHANIC SAID THE OIL PAN WASN'T NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 1ST REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. IN TOTAL THE CAR HAS HAD 3 ENGINES. EMISSIONS PROBLEM EVER SINCE. LIGHT ON AND KIA HAS BILLED AND USED ALL OF THE WARRANTY COVERAGE. ALL DOCUMENTATION PROVIDABLE. ALL OIL CHANGES PROVIDABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11377904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES, A LOUD TICKING NOISE BECOMES EVIDENT. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING AND IN DRIVE, IT DOES NOT MAKE A NOISE WHEN GIVEN GAS IN PARK. AFTER MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2014 FORTE GDI ENGINES AND THE FACT THAT THE 2014 FORTES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, I DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT FOR FEAR THAT MY ENGINE WILL SOON SEIZE LIKE THE MANY THAT I'VE READ ONLINE. MY CAR ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT AND IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #11301908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR, MY CAR SHUT OFF AND ALL THE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD WENT OUT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I TRY TO RESTART MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AS I GOT IT OFF THE ROAD, I TRY TO RESTART THE CAR WITH NO LUCK AND WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. THE SMOKE SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE.

NHTSA complaint #11281391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

CAR HAD BEGAN BURNING THROUGH OIL RAPIDLY BUT UPON INSPECTION AT OIL CHANGES, NO LEAK OR CAUSE COULD BE DETECTED. THE OIL LIGHT INDICATOR NEVER CAME ON EITHER. THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TICKING WHILE DRIVING, AND NOTICEABLY DROVE DIFFERENTLY BUT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER CAME ON. ON A CLEAR DAY WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE GAVE A LOUD AND FORCEFUL JERK AND POPPING SOUND, AND PROMPTLY LOST POWER AND SPEED, AND THE BRAKES QUIT WORKING. I WAS FORTUNATE TO PULL OFF AND USE EBRAKE TO STOP CAR ONCE COASTED TO A SAFER SPOT. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. THE CAR HAD ONCE AGAIN BURNED THROUGH ALL OIL WITH NO INDICATION FROM THE PANEL, AND I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, THIS MAKE AND MODEL, WITH NO RECALL BEING DONE; HOWEVER, THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BECAUSE OF SAME ISSUE WITH THIS ENGINE IN OTHER KIA MODELS.

NHTSA complaint #11279583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

CAR CONSUMING OIL WITHIN SHORT TIMEFRAME. NO LEAKS AND HAVE TO ADD A QUART EVERY FEW DAYS. CAR IS NOW COMPLETELY UNDRIVEABLE, CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO AND NO CODES ARE FLASHING AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CAR HESITATES TO ACCELERATE AND IS VERY NOISY. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND COIL PACK AND PROBLEM PERSISTS, THIS CAR IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND CONSUMES UNHEALTHY AMOUNTS OF OIL.

NHTSA complaint #11234448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

CAR NEEDS OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES OR SO WITH NO LEAKS. ENGINE EATS OIL AND IS ALWAYS SEVERAL QUARTS LOW. DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING CAR AND IT STOPPED EXCELLERATING. CATALYTIC CONVERTER JUST HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 82,000 MILES. ENGINE NOISE WITH VIBRATIONS. MY DAUGHER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. KIA SAYS WARRANTY EXPIRED 2,000 MILES AGO AND WON'T FIX CAR. CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE!

NHTSA complaint #11228424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

IT STARTED WITH A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE LIKE IT NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE BUT IT HAD JUST HAD ONE. I TOOK IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ENGINE. THEY SAID THAT THE ROD BEARINGS WERE WEARING DOWN AND RESULTING IN METAL CONTAMINATION IN THE ENGINE. THEY SAID I NEEDED MY ENGINE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY OR RISK IT LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING. AFTER RESEARCH I FOUND OTHER MODELS FROM THE SAME YEAR AND THE SAME TYPE OF ENGINE HAVE BEEN RECALLED DO TO THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE ATTACHED THE INVOICE FOR THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #11193851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

2014 KIA FORTE 63000 MILES SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM SPEEDS AND WHEN STOPING OR TURNING THIS IS A EXTREAM SAFETY ISSUE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS DEALER CANT FIGURE IT OUT AND WONT WORK ON IT ANYMORE ITS HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE 4 TIMES A WEEK WITH NO HELP

NHTSA complaint #10885161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.