Electrical System Problems of Kia Motor Forte - part 1

The headlights and dashboard lose power intermittently while driving at highway speeds, specifically triggered by using the turn signal. This is ongoing since January when I started having to take it for a recalls. More things kept happening. I kept having to have more repairs. Every time I went, I told them about this and it just keeps going on. Today I took a huge list of things they should check to see why it’s doing this. This is the following list that I gave them -2017 kia Forte - service request: •issue: headlights/dash icons flicker specifically when using turn signals. •issue: average mpg keeps resetting (computer brownout). •mandatory checks: 1multi-function switch (internal short). 2manual voltage drop test on the g01 ground point. 3alternator ripple test (check for "dirty" power). Last night on my way home from my daughter’s house which is a 50 minute drive, it was in the dark pouring rain and no longer than I had got started going home, I used the turn signal and my lights flickered a little which that’s what they’ve done before. Then the icon inside the car for headlights flashed on and off, lights inside got very dim and then my headlights got so dim that I had to follow other cars that had led headlights down an interstate at 65 mph or less safely just to get to my exit to get home for over 45 minutes. I have mentioned this to them repeatedly, but I gave this list to them this morning. I called a little bit ago just to check on things and I was told “well we’ve been driving it for over an hour and we can’t seem to get it to act up”. I said are you not going to do the things that I stated and actually physically touch and look and not just sticking it on a computer. He rudely asked- what are you talking about? it’s all computer. That’s what we do. I’ve had to deal with this since pretty much the middle of January 2026. We are now here at may 7 and it got at its worst last night and horrified me and my safety. When I have car will upload docs.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

Exposed electric wires, airbag system failure codes, breaks non resistance in functional limitation of human safety. Voltage malfunction involves hazardous crash impact results.

See all problems of the 2024 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

My low beam headlights seem to burn out at an unusually high rate. Multiple times per year, and this is much higher than any other vehicle that I've owned. I believe there may be some type of electrical issue.

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

The centered high mounted brake light overheated during normal vehicle operation. The plastic bulb socket and housing melted, causing the bulb to dislodge and fall into the interior of the vehicle. The bulb was extremely hot and burned holes through an interior fabric item that was stored in the rear cargo area for less than 15 minutes. There was no collision or modification involved. This created a potential fire hazard inside the vehicle. No warning lights or dashboard messages appeared prior to the incident. The cause of overheating is unknown. The damaged bulb, socket, and surrounding components were available for inspection at the time of the incident.

See all problems of the 2011 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

Engine started screeching out of nowhere, sounded like something fell through, there was no warning of any kind, car was running seemingly fine prior to this, car was jolting and not going anymore and something also sounded as if it had popped, it started knocking and caught fire and was smoking, breaking down on the side of the road and has been in another state since this occurred just sitting at a hotel because we had to get a rental car. We did call kia in georgia to have this issue rectified as we had recently bought this vehicle and were unaware there was a recall on it, however we did some checking and the previous owner also let us know there is a recall for engine fire. I do have the papers for that. Kia advised us they would not be responsible, but panama city FL kia where we live were willing to look at that car prior to this incident and take care of the recall, the previous owner never went but now the car has caught fire whilst we were driving in it 7. 5 hours away from our house out of town with our children in the car. We had to pull over off of the interstate because the car was on fire and get out on the side of the road and all of had to evacuate. I do believe that if we had been going any faster, we may have even became fatalities because the car locked up. It turned off actually as I was turning to to the exit and just coasted far enough to not be hit in the middle of the road. It was terrifying and we had to move fast and smoke was starting to come through, it started dropping oil everywhere just spilling out lv its almost like the entire underneath of the motor just dropped or something. I’m not quite sure but it was sudden and it has been absolutely miserable.

See all problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

I have 2 problems with my 2017 kia Forte sedan: 1) they have put an "environmentally friendly" coating on the wire harnesses under the front hood of the engine which emits a vanilla scent when warm and attracts rats that eat the wire harness when the vehicle is parked. They need to revert back to the original jacket material on the wire harnesses that don't attract rodents. I've spent hundreds of dollars repairing the wire harness, and it's an ongoing problem on wires I haven't replaced. The ones I've already replaced were with "original" materials that don't have the environmentally-friendly coating. 2) paint (or clear coat?) peeling on the roof and door handles in less than 100,000 miles. I'm told this could be due to a faulty primer, but kia won't do anything about it, as they say their paint warranty is only for 3 years or 36,000 miles, which is subpar.

Was traveling on interstate inside lane in heavy traffic and all of a sudden lost power,no throttle response, no warning lights,no priors,wasn't able to move to shoulder. . Very close to being rear ended. . All of a sudden power returned. . Happened 8-12 times trying to get home. . No warning lights . . After got home hooked up my diagnostic scanner and ecu had code p050400 and bcm had no codes but in pids list under stop lamp fuse pid read broken. Checked fuses non were bad. Tested brake switch and tested ok and adjusted correctly. Wiring and connectors appeared undamaged. . .

The system that is failing are the brakes and the tail lights. They used to be an open recall for the brake pedal stopper pad, however I’m not sure if that part is able to break again because in October I remember hitting the break and something I heard a crack down by the pedal, but I wasn’t able to see if anything had broken. I can’t check after that. I’ve have had continuous issues with my tail lights. The tail lights won’t turn on. They’ll turn on sometimes sometimes they won’t. The tail lights will stay on. I won’t blink when I break. They’ll just stay on one of them will be on the others will be off.

See all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

The contact owns a 2019 kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, there was smoke coming from the front driver’s side headlamp, prompting the contact to have her son disconnect the headlamp wiring harness. After a visual inspection, the contact observed that the wiring harness showed signs of burn damage. The headlamp warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 18v771000 (exterior lighting), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 105,000.

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

Electrical issues since 44k miles I’m at 50 k miles. I’ve complained multiple times and they kept saying electrician wasn’t available. Then they lie about it being a waitlist for a loaner car. All the lights on the dashboard goes on and all the dealership couldn’t diagnose the problem. The second time the check engine lights went out the back up camera. They said it was the back up camera the backup camera was replaced the backup camera now messes up all the time and does not cut on when backing up randomly cut on when driving kia issue was flashing lights, but they decided to worry about the check engine light, which was the careless converter, they fixed the careless converter and didn’t fix the flashing lights problem. They tried to say the car electrical reason was physical damage, which was false and now the electrical problems are getting worse the gear shifter license to work on the prnd the right brake light in the front and back goes in and out. I don’t know what the mileage is while driving I got a ticket from the cops because of that, the mileage randomly changes and I never know how much gas is in the car when I put in gas.

Steering column is broken and keeps falling. Hard to replace entire steering column. While driving the entire steering wheel will fall into lap, makes the car nearly un-drivable. I have fixed before but the entire part is now failing and is extremely dangerous.

See all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

I am submitting this formal complaint regarding a serious safety issue I experienced with my 2017 kia Forte. While driving, my steering wheel suddenly locked up & I was unable to turn left or right. This failure occurred in the middle of the road & put my life at serious risk. Thankfully, I was not involved in an accident. I was able to activate my hazard lights & safely maneuver to a stop before calling for assistance. My vehicle had to be towed to a repair shop, where I was informed that this is a known issue related to the mdps (motor driven power steering) & ecu (electronic control unit). The technician noted that kia has issued a product improvement campaign for some 2017–2018 kia Forte models equipped with the 2. 0l engine due to this very defect. However, my vehicle’s VIN was not included in the campaign, & the dealer has refused to provide assistance, stating that it is not their responsibility regardless of any service bulletins or improvement campaigns issued. This is deeply concerning, as it shows a clear disconnect between known safety issues and the manufacturer's accountability. There are numerous reports from other consumers experiencing the exact same failure outside the limited VIN range, indicating this issue may be much more widespread than kia is acknowledging. It is unacceptable that a potentially fatal defect is being selectively addressed, especially when the manufacturer is aware of the problem. How many more incidents or near-accidents need to occur before a full recall is issued? this is not just a matter of inconvenience—it's a critical safety issue. The fact that kia has already acknowledged the defect by issuing a product improvement campaign proves the problem exists. It is the responsibility of both the manufacturer and its dealerships to protect consumers by ensuring that all affected vehicles are repaired, not just those within an arbitrarily limited VIN range. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter further. Thank you.

Airbag system unit, airbag sensor, voltage cronic malfunctioning power supply.

I own a 2016 kia Forte lx and have been experiencing repeated and dangerous electrical failures with the headlight and lighting system. When I turn on the headlights, they sometimes do not come on at all, or they shut off unexpectedly while driving. In some cases, using the turn signal causes the headlights to cut out completely. The interior dash lights flicker between dim and bright, and the tail lights are also affected. This is a serious safety hazard because it results in sudden and complete loss of exterior lighting (headlights and tail lights) while the vehicle is in motion at night. It significantly increases the risk of an accident. Online owner forums and repair shops confirm this issue is widespread in kia vehicles, often traced to a failing multifunction headlight/turn signal switch. Despite the frequency of these failures, there has been no recall issued by kia. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this defect in the 2016 kia Forte and related models, as it directly compromises driver and passenger safety.

See all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

In Forte koups installed with a factory wing allows for water to collect in taillights causeing a no start issue for my vehicle.

I am writing to report a recurring and potentially dangerous issue with my kia Forte. My vehicle has randomly failed to start on multiple occasions, requiring a jump start. More concerning, it has also shut off while I was driving, which is extremely alarming and could have resulted in a serious accident. These incidents have happened several times, and I no longer feel safe driving the vehicle. I suspect this may be related to an electrical issue, as I am also experiencing:     •    intermittent failure of the backup camera     •    headlights, brake lights, fog lights, and daytime running lights failing to operate correctly     •    general electrical irregularities throughout the vehicle I have checked for recalls related to kia Fortes and found that other vehicles of the same make and model have had similar issues. However, there are no active recalls for my VIN, despite experiencing the same or more severe symptoms described in those recalls. This situation is extremely concerning and I believe it warrants further investigation. I am requesting that NHTSA review this issue and consider whether additional recalls or safety investigations may be necessary for other kia Forte owners experiencing similar electrical and engine issues. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I would appreciate any guidance on next steps or how to ensure my vehicle is properly inspected for these safety concerns.

Dealership refused to fix my safety system unint failure alont with proof of voltage malfunction.

The electric side mirror/s controls not working correctly. The motor is buzzing and unable to set the mirrors accurately. This could drain the cars battery. The electric mirror had to be disconnect until gets repaired.

Summary: unintended full brake engagement at highway speeds caused by electronic parking brake/auto hold button defect. Extreme risk of collision. Details: on [xxx], my wife was driving our 2023 kia Forte gt line when the auto hold and electronic parking brake system malfunctioned. The system fully engaged the brakes without warning while traveling at highway speed, scraping the brake rotors and creating an immediate risk of being rear-ended. This occurred multiple times. The following day ([xxx], the brake pedal would not depress at all, rendering the vehicle undrivable. The dealership (mcfarland kia, north hampton, nh) diagnosed “a sticky substance” inside the electronic parking brake button, located next to the cupholder. There have never been any liquid spills in this vehicle. The more likely cause is a combination of factory lubrication and normal dust/debris accumulation over time. If such a small amount of dust or residue can trigger unintended full braking while driving, it is a dangerous design flaw that poses a life-threatening hazard to drivers and passengers. The vehicle was repaired after I paid $284. 99 out-of-pocket, but I am pursuing reimbursement through my zurich vehicle service contract. I have also requested an independent third-party brake and rotor inspection, as this defect may have caused further damage. Why this is a safety issue: sudden, uncommanded braking at highway speeds can cause high-speed rear-end collisions. The defect can occur without visible warning and without any driver action. The defect can be triggered by minimal non-liquid debris, which is unavoidable over the life of a vehicle. I am requesting NHTSA investigate whether this is an isolated case or part of a larger design defect in the kia Forte’s electronic parking brake/auto hold system. This condition should not be possible in a vehicle that meets federal safety standards. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Instrument panel lighting and radio lighting flicker constantly while driving. When the headlights are on, the headlights will also turn and off on their own, constantly. Because of this, I can not drive this car at night, in the early morning, in the rain, or whenever my headlights are needed. From what I've surmised, the issue seems to be the multifunction switch, which, coincidentally, kia has an active recall on for one of their other models.

Abs light, parking break light, tire pressure light, esc light, and outdoor temperature and climate control all flicker and the speedometer stops working. Multiple cars with same make and model have same issue and are constantly in and out of the dealer with the issue unresolved.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

Unknown. Fire was located under in the engine compartment area and fire was visible from below the engine under the car. When it happened I was driving on the freeway when noticed my car seemed to be struggling stay at the current speend and to loose speed then a it suddenly l no longer would accerlatoed so I pulled over to call 911 a passing vehicle stopped and informed me there was flames under my car. I safetly exited and called for emergency services. The safety risk of major bodily harm by fire to myself or risk of harm to the environment around me a risk. The check engine light had come on before the fire. Reached out to manufacturer for a fire investigation and was instructed to take car to dealership to for service department to inspect. Was told a eta of 2 weeks before they will check out my car.

Timing, vvt sensor. Oil pressure.

I own a 2015 kia Forte (VIN: [xxx] ) that experienced complete engine failure. The vehicle had been running normally until it began stalling and sputtering while driving. Shortly after, the engine would only run for 1–2 seconds before shutting off entirely. This exact issue mirrors those documented in previous recalls and class-action lawsuits involving kia's 2011–2015 models with 2. 0l and 2. 4l engines. However, despite having the same failure and engine type, my VIN was excluded from the existing recall/warranty extension campaigns. Kia confirmed this is a known issue, but will not cover repairs. This failure occurred at approx. 180,000 miles. Engine failure without warning is a serious safety risk and financial burden. I am filing this complaint so NHTSA can review this issue and evaluate whether additional vins — like mine — should be included in a broader investigation or recall. A case has been opened with kia (case #xxx), and full diagnostic documentation from a certified mechanic is available. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

Hvac blower motor connector got so hot it has melted the plactic.

See all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

Kia denied repair and replacement of components damaged by a known safety recall (hydraulic electronic control unit) on my 2012 kia Forte coupe, VIN# knafw6a32c5562569. There was also a recall on the “knock sensor”, but I was unaware of the recall and paid for the repair out of pocket. Specifically, I was seeking repair or replacement of the starter and battery, as well as any other component that I wasn’t aware of, which was compromised as a direct result of the defective hecu system covered under the recall. They denied the repair because they said that the warranty was voided because the car had a salvage title, but the request to repair was not a warranty issue. The recall involves the hecu potentially causing electrical shorts and engine compartment fires, which can damage surrounding electrical components — including the battery and starter. These are not wear-and-tear items in this case, but parts affected by the consequences of a manufacturer-recognized safety defect. The internal electrical short circuit condition of the hecu fuse caused an overcurrent, which resulted in the wire from the solenoid cable of the starter burning and damaging the starter. As well as the wire of the negative battery terminal, which also resulted in the battery being damaged. I even left the battery and the starter on the floor of the car to show proof that these occurrences happened due to the defect of the hecu fused because when I purchased a new battery and starter the overcurrent of the hecu caused white smoke to appear and was about to catch fire and burn out the replacement parts as well. Kia has declined to perform these recall-related repairs, citing that the vehicle holds a salvage title, which was issued due to hail damage only. I respectfully contended that the cosmetic damage had no connection to the mechanical or electrical condition of the vehicle and in no way contributed to the failure of the battery or starter.

On [xxx] at [xxx], I was driving on [xxx] , when I noticed smoke come from the left side of the interior of the car near the fuse box. Within seconds, the fuse box exploded, and a fire developed. The fire engulfed the entire left side of the interior of the car. The car shut down and I was able to pull over to the side of the road. I tried to put the fire out with my left foot, but couldn't stop the fire. Luckily, I had 5 bottles of water with me in the car. I put all of the 5 water bottles on the fire and eventually put out the fire. But the smoke was so severe that it filled the entire car. I couldn't breath. I fell out of the car and hurt my knees. I noticed that my left toes were burnt and my new shoes that I had bought were ruined. I tried to call 911 but my phone was not working. Again I tried to call 911 and succeeded. The NJ state police arrive 15 minutes later. I was towed to a kia dealership in burlington NJ. They declared the car a total loss with over $18,000 worth of damage. Every wire in the car was destroyed information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I am reporting a serious and ongoing safety issue involving my 2023 kia Forte gt. The vehicle has experienced persistent mechanical problems, including a check engine light and multiple diagnostic trouble codes, including p0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold – bank 1), p0300 (random/multiple cylinder misfire), p0304 (cylinder 4 misfire), and p0301 (cylinder 1 misfire). These codes have appeared as stored, pending, and permanent, indicating ongoing and unresolved engine and emissions system issues. In addition to these mechanical problems, the vehicle is emitting strong and concerning chemical fumes into the cabin during operation. These fumes are noticeable while driving and create a hazardous environment for occupants, raising concerns of toxic exposure and making the vehicle unsafe to operate. The vehicle also exhibits drivability issues, including jerking and performance irregularities when accelerating. Despite multiple attempts to have the vehicle diagnosed and repaired under warranty at authorized kia dealerships, including all star kia east and all star kia seigen lane, the dealerships have refused to properly diagnose or repair the vehicle. I have been informed that my vehicle or account is “flagged in all systems,” and service has been denied on that basis. The refusal to address an emissions-related defect, combined with active misfires and the presence of chemical fumes entering the cabin, presents a serious safety risk. I am requesting that this issue be investigated as a potential safety defect affecting this vehicle.

Unknown, can’t see the road at night due to the headlights not aimed towards the right direction they seem to be pointed down and at different angles. I have ran into a ditch because of this safety hazard I also have to use my high beam in order to drive which is unsafe for other drivers on the road I am very concerned and frustrated because I have tried to adjust the lights, but they just don’t seem to be able to be corrected.

I have currently been avoiding driving my car because it goes in limp mode when I’m stopped at red lights I smell oil burning sometimes ive seen small amounts of smoke coming from the engine as well as just receiving an oil change less than a month ago and it already being bad , I checked the mail the other day and I received a recall letter from kia stating my car needs to be serviced and that I can take it in for a free engine test and inspection free of cost as well as a system update free of cost , I schedule an appointment today for 11 I was told it will take half a day I receive a text to pick it back up 1 hour later I ask if an engine test was also done I received no response so I came in and was told that I would have to pay 270 for a diagnosis despite the engine inspection being different they refused to do one stating the previous owners warranty is up so the system update was done without any inspection or test to see if the damage was already which it is based off the state of my car , when trying to leave my car was not starting up and when it finally did it went into limp mode completely and wouldn’t drive at that point I reach out to kia costumer care center and they let me know that I should have gotten a inspection free of charge along side the update and to go somewhere else online also states regardless of warranty all recalls must be addressed if problems persist regardless of past service or owner , they also cleared my recall and listed it as repaired and it was not kia corporate shows it is still an open recall as well . I also received a kia multi point inspection that was not at all fully performed it is 1/4 fill out .

My vehicle is affected by NHTSA recall number 23v652000, I have taken my vehicle to jim ellis kia of kennesaw on several occasions, I believe 3 separate occasions to try and get this recall resolved. Each time I am told that the fix, a replacement fuse, is not being accepted by my vehicle. Each time they attempt to replace the fuse, the vehicle goes into anti-theft mode where the alarm goes off consistently. The dealership is unable to tell me why and states they can not complete the recall because of this. Initially, they tried to state the issue was that engine oil was seeping through into my engine harness and that I would need a new engine harness, sending me home with a quote for $3,000 to fix the issue. That same night I took my vehicle to an actual professional, who told me the dealership had no clue what they were talking about and that there was no oil in my engine harness. I returned to the dealership requesting that my vehicle only be looked at by the master technician, after the master tech reviewed the vehicle he agreed there was no oil in the engine harness and that that was a misdiagnosis. Absolutely absurd to think they can send a customer home with a $3k quote with no oversight before doing so. The master tech stated he could not figure out the incompatibility of my vehicle and the recall remedy, and stated I would have to pay $300 for them to do a full electrical review as a first step of troubleshooting. I can not believe that a massive corporation like kia is sticking a customer with a massive fire hazard of a vehicle that is a result of their negligence and telling me that 'although we have a fix, for some reason the fix doesn't work for your car and you're going to have to pay us to figure out why. ' this is absolutely unacceptable, I am a college student and while driving my only form of transportation, I constantly have to hope that I am not a victim of fatality at the hands of kia.

In a car accident I got into, my car’s airbags did not deploy like they should have and therefore I got greater injuries than I should have. I believe I hit the steering wheel and I did hurt my chest. Both my elbows were sore as well and as well as both my knees had big bruises on them. My right knee to this day still has a bruise/mark on it, which still does not feel the same since then. Very soon after my claims adjuster actually found out there was a recall on a huge amount of kia’s because of their airbags not deploying and some type of electrical wiring not working properly or something that has to do with that. However, my year car (2019) was not included in this recall. But as you can see, it should have been. My car got totaled as a result from this accident and I did end up going to the hospital afterwards to get checked out. About two weeks or so before, my car just passed its yearly car inspection. And no, there were no messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to this all.

-airbags did not deploy. -the car is available for inspection. -the driver was put at significant risk after the vehicle accidentally slid on ice while navigating a sharp curve, causing it to veer off the road and crash into trees. The impact resulted in the car being totaled from the front bumper to the back. Despite the severity of the crash, the airbags failed to deploy, making the driver's seatbelt the only factor that ultimately saved his life. -insurance agent still needs to look at the car. Police office was present, along with tow driver. -no warnings.

My radio speakers will sound like there are blown. At a certain speed, I will break and the seat will move in the passenger side and sometimes in the driver side by itself.

I purchased this vehicle from carvana, used, with 58000 miles. I have had all the oil changes and regular maintenance performed. However, this car has been very unreliable. One time in November 2023, all the electrical went out while I was driving down the highway going 50 mph. The power steering and all dashboard lights turned off and the car shut down. Were it not for the fact the road was straight and I could veer off slightly to stop on the side of the road, I could have experienced a crash. Others have pointed this out about kia cars. More recently, I had to replace the entire transmission at 90,000 miles. I have never had a car that needed a totally new transmission under 100,000 miles or at all. The cost of all the unexpected repairs, design incompetencies, and consequences, including having to get a rental car, was around $4,500. The kia cars from 2010 - 2021 also were not equipped with an engine mobilizer, which increased their rate of theft. This cost me a higher auto insurance bill as a result. It is clear kia throws their cars together and puts anything they can on the market, then deny any responsibility and just say, "OH, you don't have a warranty?" as if it's your fault for wanting a basic car to do basic things. Not having a car in the dead of winter with a big storm was pretty scary. That was me in mississippi in January of 2025. The kia dealership there in brandon was almost incapable of repairing it, returning it to me three times and saying it was fine, with me driving off and a warning light coming on or the car saying the engine was now overheating. These are bad cars. They should not be sold to us consumers. This is a scam operation. I have the receipts for repairs and having to get a rental car, if needed.