general problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Forte - part 1

The contact owns a 2016 kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed and then stalled. The contact stated that the "battery" symbol was illuminated on the instrument cluster. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine connecting rod bearings had failed and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

I purchased the 2016 kia Forte on [xxx] from bald hill kia in warwick, ri. Within the first 30 days, there was a knocking noise which turned out to be the knocking sensor. I took the car to be checked on 11/1/2022 and paid to replace the knock sensor. On [xxx], the knock sensor acted up again so the knock sensor had to be replaced again. They also found a small evap leak and the charcoal canister was cracked and replaced. On 12/9/2022, the engine assembly was replaced. On [xxx], the check engine light came on and the O2 sensor was replaced. On 1/5/2023, the catalytic converter had to be replaced. On 1/16/2023, the canister purge valved was replaced. On 8/29/2023, the catalytic converter had to be replaced again. On 6/11/2024, the catalytic converter had to be replaced a third time! over a year passed and on Saturday afternoon on [xxx] the check engine light turned on again and kia was closed on Sunday so I took the car to firestone for a diagnostic test and it turned out that it was the catalytic converter for the 4th time. I dropped off the car in 8/4/2025 and I'm waiting to see if the car can get looked at this week to confirm the problem for a 4th time. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

1. Nhtsa safety complaint draft vehicle info: make: kia model: Forte5 sx year: 2016 VIN: [xxx] engine: 1. 6l gdi (g4fj nu engine) issue: this vehicle uses the 1. 6l gdi nu engine (engine code g4fj), which is the same engine involved in kia’s engine defect recalls and class action settlements related to connecting rod bearing failure and engine seizure risks. However, kia is refusing to provide the knock sensor detection system (ksds) update, and no internal campaigns or recalls are listed for my VIN despite the identical mechanical risk. I purchased the vehicle in 2017 and was unaware of the extended warranty and safety campaigns until now. I am experiencing symptoms of rough idle and pre-knock concerns, and yet kia and my local dealership are unwilling to escalate my case or even verify warranty eligibility. This defect poses a risk of sudden engine failure and should be addressed under expanded recall coverage. I am requesting NHTSA investigate inclusion of later-production 2016 vehicles like mine, which clearly share the same defective power train. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2016 kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 mph, and as he depressed the accelerator pedal to merge on a highway, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle went into limp mode. The contact stated that he was not able to accelerate past 15 mph. The contact had taken the vehicle to a auto parts store and had the vehicle scanned. The contact stated that code p1326 was shown on the hand held scanner. The code was for a fault with the knock sensor detection. The contact then had the vehicle towed to a dealer and he had also contacted the manufacturer. The dealer had not diagnosed the vehicle and advised the contact that the manufacturer had advised them not diagnose the vehicle due to lack of complete oil change history. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

I had diagnostic ran because of a knocking sound and stalling and the oil pressure warning light. I was informed by the technician that the oil pressure was extremely low. Upon further inspection they found metal shards in the oil filter blocking oil flow. They told me this is a known defect and that kia should be responsible. Contacted kia and they said it’s not covered. It has 98,289 miles.

We have a 2016 kia Forte 5 that did not meet the criteria when the other 2016 kia Forte's were recalled due to engine failure as it has a 2. 0l engine. On or about [xxx], while driving this vehicle, the car lost all power and came to a stop on a busy highway. It still had electrical power, but failed to accelerate and we lost the ability to steer or control the car. We were able to get it off the road and called for a tow. The car was towed to a repair shop and we were informed that the engine failed, and needed to be replaced. This is the same situation that is occurring with the current kia engine recalls. The garage attempted to contact kia and we were told that due to the car not selling well in the us, it was considered a niche vehicle, and therefore no recalls were made. The car was in perfect running order with no signs of failure, no lights on the dashboard to warn of a malfunctioning component, and no audible sounds of a failing engine. Our safety, as well as others, was put at risk due to the car losing all power on a 55mph road that is heavily travelled and could cause an accident. The engine was inspected by a certified mechanic and all they can determine is that the engine failed and it needs to be replaced. This placed my wife in a dangerous situation that could have ended badly. To date, the car has been towed back to our home and sits in our driveway as there is no current fix to it, but the reason for the original recall on the 1. 6l engines, and the current recall on kia engines, is the same that occurred with this vehicle. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving our 2016 kia Forte 5 the engine completely failed and lost all power while on a busy highway. The engine in this vehicle was not part of the original 2016 Forte recalls for the same issue and is not part of any current recalls for the same issue. It could have led to very severe injuries or even death due to the failure and complete loss of engine power only. Battery power remained on the car.

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.

I was two states away at conference for my side job. My car turned off without warning. No lights no nothing. I couldn't use my hazards or anything. It was dark outside already. I called aaa and the person with me called 911. Someone stopped and jumped me off. We got back to the hotel. The next day another consultants husband looked at my car and we discovered there was no oil in the engine. I had driven more than 450 miles to get to conference the day before by myself. The oil light had never came on during my trip. It only came on when my entire instrument panel lit up when the car cutoff. I am a female and was traveling by myself and put over 1100 miles on my car that trip. If it had turned off at any point on my trip before I had gotten to my destination I would have been alone and not known what to do. If I had not had aaa I would have possible had to pay a tow truck that night. I am disappointed that the light didn't give me a warning something was wrong or going wrong. Luckily, I didn't blow my engine.

Vehicle issued dtc's p1326 and car failed completely in the middle of a very busy expressway.

Vehicle is having same symptoms as recalled kia’s with nu engine. My engine is consuming oil. I brought it to kia dealership to have it diagnost and piston rings are not working as they should. This will lead to engine failure. This problem is what is occurring on the recalled kia’s. I have not had the vehicle for long & am very disappointed in what is going on. I want something done & to have this reported for the other kia’s who are experiencing the symptoms that don’t have their VIN called. I had my vehicle looked at cartown kia in florence, SC. My tech was robert & service rep was kelcey.

I was attempting to park in a parking spot that I use regularly at dollar general. As it was coming to a stop, the brakes failed. I was pushing the brake pedal down. The car started to rev up and speed forward on it's own. It lunged forward jumping the curb and into the pillar. It wouldn't stop going forward. So I had to put it in reverse. As I did that, I put the brakes on as well as the ebrake. It was wanting to speed in reverse for a second. So I threw it into park and turned it off. My family and I went into the store to let the car settle down. Then we was able to drive it home and park it. So it's currently sittling in our driveway here at home.

While driving my 2016 kia Forte with my [xxx] daughter in the car, the engine began making loud knocking noises and quickly deteriorated until it became unsafe and undriveable. This failure occurred without warning lights, oil pressure issues, or prior symptoms. We were nearly stranded in an unsafe location and had to immediately pull over and arrange alternate transportation. I later learned this issue aligns with a known defect in kia’s theta ii engines, which have been recalled or covered under extended warranty in many cases. However, kia has denied any support, stating my vehicle is “outside the factory warranty” and disqualified due to not completing a knock sensor software update I was never notified about. How safety was put at risk: my daughter was in the vehicle at the time, and we were placed in a vulnerable position with a failing engine, unable to safely continue driving. A sudden loss of power could have resulted in an accident if we had been in traffic or on the highway. This defect is a serious safety hazard, especially for families with young children. The vehicle has not been inspected by kia directly since they declined to assist once they determined the factory warranty had expired. I am happy to make the vehicle available for inspection upon request. Warning lamps or messages: there were no warning lights or indicators prior to the onset of the knocking and failure. The symptoms began suddenly and escalated rapidly. My request: I am requesting an investigation into kia’s handling of these failures, particularly in cases where families were not properly notified about knock detection software updates and are now being denied support for what is clearly a known and widespread engine defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Was fixing to head and get my oil changed even though I still had about 570 miles left before I absolutely had to change the oil, my 2016 kia Forte lx with the 1. 8l engine with 79996 as of currently; lost power at around 15mph and started lugging after leaving my neighborhood gas station, luckily I was about 1/8 mile away from a kia service center so I drove it to the service dealer so I could hear, "we only have lube technicians because all the maintenance technicians quit so we cant check your vehicle for mechanical failure, and we are booked until March 2024. " so I parked my car and called kia customer service where they told me that the recall is only applicable to the 1. 6l and the 2. 0l engine, the 1. 8l is only warrantable to 60k miles being I am the second owner and the car is passed the 60k mile marker I was told "we would be happy to take a look at it but it will be an out of pocket expense being insurance doesnt cover an engine. This is the second time this year this specific incident has happened to me and I will not be buying another kia or Hyundai vehicle ever again. Let this be known to all kia buyers these are cheap cars you get what you pay for.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 40 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the accelerator pedal made an abnormal grinding sound, and the vehicle failed to respond. Additionally, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact also stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine rod was knocking, and the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

We used to have a 2016 kia Forte5 lx hatchback we been having problems with this vehicle the car would stall and it was having electrical problems like my turn signals not working even when the bulbs were replaced and same thing to the brake lights prior after I noticed the problem with the car was going to take it in to get ot looked at and serviced when exiting my home with the car and turning left the vehicle stalled while in drive I did have my emergency flash on but the other cars didn’t seem to notice the vehicle got t boned and we got in to a accident when trying to get this issue resolved.

Always had correct maintenance and the engine just randomly blew coming home from work and kia corp is not wanting to replace motor. I’m out thousands of dollars now.

A portion of the air intake system was rubbing against the front driver side wheel and wore a hole causing damage to the engine and is knocking at very low rpm. The car was in one of kia’s dealerships for a headlight repair and a reference was made about a strange noise coming from the wheel but they did not advise of a problem and said the brake pad life is fine.

Wednesday night I departed work, I was in the 4th lane of the 10fwy when my car shut down. All dashboard lights came on. I turned on my 4ways and managed to change lanes to the service lane on the right. I attempted to restart the vehicle. . Nothing. I started looking through my insurance papers for the tow service and thought to try and restart the vehicle one last time. It started I departed the freeway and used the streets instead of the fwy to make it home. The next morning I drove the car to autozone for spark plugs and a diagnostic check. The clerk printed it out and it said no issues. I drove back to the house and as I was pulling into my driveway it shut down again, no clicking sounds this time. Friday I had it towed to pepboys. They were replacing faulty shocks that were under warranty new brakes and rotors all the way around and a full oil change all items were inside the vehicle I pretty much only had to pay for maintenance except for the faulty shocks the manager called me as I was on my way to work. My engine is blown. I saw my engine check light come on Wednesday night when the car stalled no oil light ever came on in the car except when you initially started and then it disappeared. My complaint is why wasn't I notified by the vehicle that there was no oil in the pan that's the whole purpose of the oil light indicator. Now am stuck with a 3500. 00 engine repair bill which was the cheapest I found online for a used 1. 8 liter engine. I want my dashboards computer checked. I have the autozone diagnostic paper the attendant gave me.

Was driving and car lost power and shut off while in traffic car would not restart.

On may 25th 2023 I was driving on the highway when I experienced extreme loss of power and the infotainment screen displayed "possible engine condition". Considering I was driving 70 mph on the highway it was super dangerous because there were several 18 wheelers driving on the highway alongside me it could have been deadly for many of us. Thankfully I was able to get to the shoulder to assess the situation. I have been unable to get my vehicle to a dealership since I was traveling and had to leave my vehicle 150 mi from where I live. If kia knew there was some sort of issue with engine failure and extreme loss of power they should have issued notification before other than have people possibly die on the highway from engine failure.

I have a 2016 kia Forte that I bought 6 months ago. I'm a subsequent owner. The dealership where we brought it from told me that it's in good condition. My partner was driving it when it started making knocking noises and would not accelerate past 20 mph. The engine failure happened 5 months of using it (the car only has 92000 miles). I had a mechanic came to check it, even changed the oil again to see if the problem is in connection with the oil. We never had the oil light prior to the knocking noises, not even the engine light. The engine light only came on with the knocking noises. It was completely out of nowhere. Changing the oil did not solve the issue at all. My mechanic found metallic shards in the oil and was also just as confused as we were. He said that it's possible that the connecting rods under the engine have been worn out. My mechanic said that it could've blown up, and thankfully, my partner and his friend were not harmed when the incident happened. There were no recalls regarding my car. I wasn't informed of the ksds update either because I'm a second owner. We're still paying for it and its insurance even when we cannot use it.

I am writing to express serious concerns about the safety and performance of my kia vehicle. Over the past few months, my car has been exhibiting abnormal behavior, jeopardizing the safety of myself and other road users. One of the most alarming issues is the unpredictable acceleration and deceleration of my vehicle, especially on the highway. There have been numerous instances where it failed to respond to acceleration while changing lanes, putting me in stressful situations where I feared a potential collision. Even more troubling, my car has shut off unexpectedly multiple times during both city driving and while navigating driveways and hills. This sudden engine shutdown has exposed me to hazardous situations and increased the risk of accidents. There is also a loud knocking sound coming from the car, accompanied by sluggish driving. To my dismay, the vehicle now starts and immediately cuts off, forcing me to wait for a period of time and multiple attempts to restart the engine before it finally starts. Seeking a resolution, I took my vehicle to the kia service center, where they advised me that I needed a new engine, attributing the problem to sludge build-up. However, I maintain a diligent oil change schedule every three months and can provide evidence of this fact. Despite filing a claim with kia of America, they regrettably denied my request for assistance in obtaining a new engine, placing the financial burden solely on my shoulders. This not only presents a financial hardship for me but also underscores a broader issue with kia vehicles' quality and reliability. I am deeply concerned about the safety of kia vehicles, and I believe that they should be subject to a thorough investigation and, if necessary, a recall. I understand that kia has experienced problems with design of this or similar engines, causing recalls of those products, and I request NHTSA to investigate these concerns regarding the 2016 kia Forte. My car is available to inspect once more.

When driving slow speeds such as driving through a parking lot my car stalls the radio plays without interruption and would not know it stalls except for the oil pan light and unable to accelerate because the car stalled all the leads me to believe the engine is at fault. When stalled at that point I pull over turn the key off then on starting the car back up (immediately starts without issue). I have searched for error codes and it is like the car doesn't know there is a problem. Below is one of the many forums complaining about the same issue. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Engine failed due to rod knock at 127,000 miles, this is a known defect with the car. Kia is refusing to replace the engine even though they know they are designed poorly and fail. Knock sensor and flashing engine light came on, had all the qualifications for the replacement but kia is making excuses and denying it. I have all the paperwork and maintences done on time and they still won’t cover it. My corroded brake lines were supposed to be fixed under the recall and they have had them on back order since September of 2022. Dealership has no loaner cars to provide.

Pulling out into traffic, without warning my car lost power and shut down! the car had to be towed to the dealership who advised that the engine had a catastrophic failure and needed to be replaced. I was told by the dealership that kia would not cover the repair for two reasons: 1) I was beyond the warranty period (the car has 60,264 miles on it and apparently as the second owner I am only covered up to 60,000 miles not the 100,000 that comes with the car), and 2) despite acknowledging that they engine had a defect, kia did not issue a recall to fix the problem. Instead, they issued a performance improvement notice. Kia also acknowledged via a phone call on 3/10/23 that they have mailed these notifications to the previous owner rather than to me. . Read more...

My car has had 2 engine failures in the last 2 years. The first time the repair was performed by jeff wyler superior kia in cincinnati, ohio a little over a year ago. Currently it's at jeff wyler kia in fairfield, ohio awaiting repair. There diagnosis is another engine failure. There were no warning lamps before either engine failure. The first time the engine made noises so I stopped driving it and had it towed to the dealer. The second time it wouldn't start when I came out in the morning to go to work.

After slowing and making a right turn onto another street, I tried to accelerate but the vehicle would not speed up in heavy traffic. After driving downhill 0. 2 miles, I made another right turn and the vehicle would not accelerate uphill and was making a loud noise from the engine. I managed to limp home and parked the vehicle as the engine is now always making a loud knocking sound.

Engine blew twice on the vehicle, kia replaced the first blown engine. Then that engine blew again at 160k miles. First engine blew at a 105k miles.

The car is unable to receive fuel adequately. Car was sold in an intermittently undriveable condition.

Driving 8 miles to work my engine started making noise and then car started slowing down. I pulled over on to the side road and seen oil everywhere and my car wouldn’t start again and I had to get it towed.

When driving on a divided four lane highway, after about one hour and at about 60 mph, vehicle would not accepperate to pass. Loss of power in traffic. Felt like transmission slipping, but the check engine light came on. P0240 code. It got progressively worse. An experienced mechanic diagnosed it as the engine, and was not sure I could drive to dealership. I had it towed. The warranty (10 year, 100,000 mile), covers engine, as agreed by delar. First, the dealer said it was catalytic converter $2200. When questioned, price was "corrected" to $1,200. Most for part and less than one hour labor. On a differen phone call, repair cost increased to $3300, saying the tech mistakenly thought it was the cat near muffler, but its the cat near engine, and comes as one pice with exhaust manifold. I am waiting on written estimate that I requested, and the dealer assurance there are no other problems with the car. I suggested they drive the car, and see that the problems are the same ones they used to have to video tape and send to kia to get repairs approved on other engines. Still waiting on the written estimate and the assurance from dealer there is no safety risk in me driving it home. I can buy the kia part they say it needs for about $500.

Car shakes a lot with ac in setting 1 & 2. Kia official has checked and rechecked and stated to be “normal”. Car getting average of 17mpg and 250 miles per tank average. Despite being up to date. Car shakes excessively at idle.

2016 kia Forte had the oil changed ~15 miles ago and now there’s no oil in it. There’s no leaks either. Mechanic said that the car is just using it up and exhausting it. It has happened twice. The check engine light has been coming on and blinking.

On June 16 2022 at 9:15 am I was driving my kia Forte 18 miles from my home to the airport. I was taking my 8 year old granddaughter to meet her grandfather for a flight. There were no indicator lights that ever showed up. My car started making a banging sound. I got off the interstate into a parking lot immediately. I shut the car off and checked the tires. . And underneath the car. I didn’t see any damage or anything leaking. I parked the car and had it towed home. There is only 64,900 miles on it. The oil and fluids are checked and changed according to manufacturer. I have not had a diagnostic test run. I had it towed home because I don’t have the funds to leave it at a shop. I still owe three payments on it.