Power Train Problems of Kia Motor Forte - part 1

Car has been in several times for repair clutch assembly clutch plate, flywheel transmission, and the problem continues with shifting it does not want to go into gear it grinds even with the clutch fully to the floor. It will not go into first gear, not going to reverse intermittently and sometimes it will go from 1st to 5th third gear is missing sometimes first gear is missing this can happen at any given time shifting putting it into reverse sometimes it will not go into gear. It will just grind gears or taking off from a dead stop. It will not go into first gear. It will automatically go into third gear even though you’re putting it over and trying to put it into first gear, it will not engage in first gear. It will go to third gear and if you try to put it in a different gear, it will grind. Kia is aware of the issue with my vehicle and another vehicle that is experiencing the same problems and is unable to fix them this is an ongoing intermittent issue.

See all problems of the 2024 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

Slow to shift and accelerate.

See all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

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).

See all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

Car won't not shift out ot drive when driving to any other gears. Will not go into reverse or park. . Shifting cable broke. Needs replacement.

See all problems of the 2010 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

We were driving on vacation in the nevada desert on a Sunday when the rpms began to bounce between 2,000 and 4,000 rpms causing the carto jerk back and forth when we were going up hill. This continued until it got to the point where the engine was going 8,000 rpms but we were not moving forward. It felt like when driving a stick shift and you are out of gear. We pulled off and were towed to st. George, ut. The tow truck said it was the transmission and that we should go to a kia dealer because it would be covered by warranty. No warning lights came on. Our mileage was 70,000 miles. The dealer said they could not find anything wrong and suggested it was bad gas. After paying $150 we were sent on our way back home through the mountains. We got about 20 minutes on the road when the car starting doing the same thing again as we went up hill. We immediately turned around and made it to the dealer in st. George. They checked the car again and found the transmission fluid was black instead of red. They eventually got approval from kia for a new transmission. It ended up taking 5 days to finally get our car working. While the transmission installation was covered, we ended having to pay $2,000 in out of pocket expenses. Kia claims to have a trip interruption policy to cover expenses when they have a failure covered by warranty when you are on vacation. At best, it only covers $100 per day for a maximum of 3 days ($300). But you have to have pre-approval before they will even pay that little amount. We made a mistake buying a kia but it is one we will never make again. It was interesting to see how many similar transmission incidents with the 2020 Forte have happened when they hit 70,000 miles.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

Transmission, yes it’s available. I was driving on the highway and the vehicle began jerking and revving, slowing down and then speeding up. It is at a service center now. Now lamps.

See all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

While the vehicle was approximately ten months old with approximately 11k miles, it was continuously not functioning properly and would not start/accelerate. My 2024 kia Forte, which was purchased new from a kia dealership, has continuously failed to function properly. It had a water pump replaced after failing to be operated for more than a week and has since continued to fail - this time for not starting at all, not accelerating properly, and losing all power while driving (switching off completely) on at least two separate occasions. The dealership stated that I should drive the vehicle and document it when it occurs again (video) to assist them with identifying the issue since they are unable to correct the malfunction. It has been at the dealership for more than a month with no definitive resolution concerning the safety of the vehicle. I refuse to drive the vehicle and am afraid that I may injured/killed in an accident due to the safety concerns aforementioned. As of today's date, 09/22/2025, my 2024 kia Forte remains at the kia dealership with no foreseeable actions that may lead to a safe resolution. Further: 1) component or system failed/malfunctioned - engine, fuel pump, water pump. 2) is it available for inspection - yes. 3) how was your safety or that of others put at risk - vehicle switched off multiple times while operating in traffic and barely escaping accidents. Suffered a scrape on the passenger's door as vehicle would not accelerate and stalled in a separate incident. 4) vehicle or component been inspected by manufacturer - yes, at the kia dealership again. 5) were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure - no, there were no prior warning lamps, messages, or symptoms. Kia dealership stated that the 2024 kia Forte has been "reprogrammed", but the dealership has been unable to identify the safety issues it has. I do not feel safe to operate this vehicle nor have any family members operate it.

Transmission from the original factory failed on it. I was driving when the engine check engine light came on and my car started ringing at me to get it serviced. I got the transmission replaced and not even 2 days later a brand new transmission failed yet again. This time the transmission (new) was revving up and down while driving at a consistent speed for a few minutes. Then my car started slipping gears when I tried to accelerate. The check engine light then came on again after my car started slipping gears stating to get it serviced. It is currently having its third transmission put in.

Catastrophic clutch pressure plate failure - while attempting to shift into gear, teeth on clutch pressure plate sheared horizontally when interacting with input shaft. No indicators appeared when failure originally occurred, only grinding sound when clutch pedal is depressed. Malfunction occurred at a stoplight leading to traffic blockage and no major safety risk. However due to nature of failure if issue occurred at speed there would have been immediate loss of power from engine to drivetrain, causing car to "coast" in effectively neutral until stopped. Vehicle has since been inspected and serviced with appropriate parts replaced by kia certified technician at a dealer. Failure point was unable to be verified at the time and unknown if able to be replicated.

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

The transmission went out while driving, entering the highway. It was intermittently missing a gear or slipping in about 2nd or 3rd gear. I first noticed it going about 40 mph and trying to accelerate to highway speeds. It was during a winter storm and other vehicles behind me had to brake unexpectedly. I wasn't sure if I felt for sure, so I continued to drive through many inclines and declines. The inclines became more difficult and the inability to maintain consistent speeds. I drove gently to the nearest kia dealership which was in salt lake city about 60 miles away, where they informed me that I needed a new transmission. The car had about 75,000 miles on it and I bought it as a certified pre-owned kia with about 4,000 miles on it. The dealership plugged in the diagnostic code reader. But there were no codes detected. The service tech drove the car and felt the issue. A warranty representative inspected it about a week later. There were no warning lamps while I drove (mostly coasting downhill) from rock springs, wy. When I arrived to salt lake city, the triangle warning light came on. I drove about 10 more miles and the engine light came on. Almost all mileage has been on highways and at highways speeds as I commuted 75 miles each way for work on a turnpike between eastern oklahoma and fayetteville, arkansas. There was little city driving. I lived in a small town. So, I had to travel state highways for most all errands (groceries, medical, etc. ). There were no mechanical issues with the car ever until this.

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).

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.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

My vehicle has 74,000 miles on it. While driving on the highway at 70 mph, the rpms began fluctuating erratically, jumping from 2,000 to 3,000 and then from 2,000 to 5,000 before the car completely slipped into neutral. I was stranded in the middle of nowhere. Took it to the dealership and since it's out of warranty they quoted me 3500 american dollars to replace the transmission. Don't buy a kia.

While driving on interstate 81 my transmission went out while going up a hill. I was almost rear ended by the driver behind me and while trying to get into the right lane I almost side swiped someone. This is the third time something has gone out on this car while I was driving. First the engine went out and when I contacted kia and told them that my engine went out because of the same problem that their other cars have, they told me that there was nothing they could do. So I replaced it with my own money. A few months later the transmission goes while I'm driving. Almost causing an accident once again. Because kia told me there was nothing they could do with my engine, I didn't even bother to call about the transmission. Once again, I replaced it with my own money. Now the same problem with the transmission has happened again and I can't put another transmission in this car. I still owe $8,500 on my loan and my car is basically a paper weight. I have made a complaint to you guys every time and nothing is being done about this. Every other kia Forte's engine has been recalled except for mine. Something is going on with kia cars and parts and it's leaving people in a really crappy position. I owe money on a car that I cannot drive. All because I bought a kia. This situation is getting absolutely ridiculous. Someone needs to do something about this. It's not right that a company can have such an unreliable car and leave people in these types of situations. I have no other options here. There's nothing I can do. I hope you are the right organization to contact about this. I am done putting money into a car that is a death trap and a hazard to drive. If I do end up fixing the transmission and this happens again, I'm worried that the outcome is going to be worse. I've almost been in two accidents because of this faulty equipment. Hopefully someone does something before there's a third.

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

Recalls.

See all problems of the 2011 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

92,000 miles - check engine light flashing dealership mechanic says “leaking oil” oil level barely touching dipstick. Right at 5,000 miles since synthetic oil change. Have a concrete driveway and car has not leaked oil at all. Mechanic suggested replacing oil pan gasket. There is an oil pan recall on 2017 & 2018 kia Forte but supposedly my car isn’t covered. Still under warranty but dealership claims it’s not covered under that either. I think all 2017 & 2018 kia Fortes should be covered under the recall if we are also having the same issues. Having my lawyer friend look into this for me.

1st problem, catalytic converter code says it's bad, check engine light on ever since, car is only 4 years old. 2nd problem possible electrical or wiring issue. Had to replace front right headlight(2times), back brake lights both sides, rear top brake light (2 times), daytime running lights both(2 times), currently right light bulb works, but light on says needs replacement. All in total changed 5 to 6 bulbs within 2 weeks of each other, which leads me to believe there is electrical or wire issue? very frustrated with both issues. Not sure if related but issue just happened, heat blows warm driver side, cold air on passenger side, possible heater core issue. Again car is only 4 years old and should not have this many issues. Please help!.

Was driving at slow rate of speed <30 mph, the car started having a really loud knocking sound coming from the engine and then lost all power. Had car towed to local garage and was informed that the rod bearing had been broken and the engine needed to be replaced.

The contact owns a 2018 kia Forte. The contact stated that while the vehicle was running, the check engine warning light illuminated. There was an abnormally loud roaring sound detected while accelerating. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was slow to respond while shifting or reversing. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift to second gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure was due to the electrical solenoid, p337, shift valve, and transmission. The contact called the local dealer, where an appointment was scheduled; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

I accelerated from a stop to turn onto the a road. Upon doing so, the car made loud sputtering and grinding noises. So I pulled it off the road and checked it out and that’s when I noticed that the engine was sunk towards the driver’s side. I got it towed to a local repair shop for them to take a look at it. When they called me I was told the transmission mount had snapped in half as well as the front drive axle and the water pump was broken. So then I called kia and asked if there were any recalls on my car for any of those parts as this was not normal wear and tear. Of course there wasn’t so I asked if there’d be any way that I could get these repairs refunded because this is not normal, the car was never in an accident nor do I jump on the hood and kick the crap out of my car, they told me to take into a kia repair center for them to take a look at it and send pictures to kia to get them to possibly refund it. So I towed from the first repair shop to the kia repair center for them to look into it. The guy at the kia repair center took a look at it and communicated with kia on his end about the parts that were broken to try and get a refund issued. The kia repair center told me the transmission mount bolts snapped which caused the engine to fall and break the front drive axle as well as the water pump. They told me I was lucky I wasn’t going faster when it happened because the engine would’ve just fallen out, which would’ve cause myself and potentially others to get into a serious wreck. I drive on the interstate every day for work, so I can imagine how bad that would’ve been. Of course kia didn’t want to refund the repairs because my car wasn’t under warranty and they said something would’ve had to have happened recently to cause the bolts to break. That is ridiculous because short of a collision I don’t know anything that would’ve caused the bolts to just snap. Again, I just pressed the gas and that happened. It’s not normal wear and tear. $1600 repair cost.

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

Have only 70000 miles on it and kia refuses to replace the transmission that went out and they have lied to me repeatedly and need to be held accountable!.

Suffered an immediate loss of engine while driving due to the crankshaft wearing a hole in the block.

The issue I’m having was confirmed by the dealership so when I drive on the highway, there’s a specific patch of highway that zigzags the car will follow that zigzag after getting off of the highway onto regular road. The car computer system will start a down shift erratically and feel like the car is pulling backwards. Also there is a lack of acceleration and it feels like the transmission is slipping, but I have confirmed with the dealership that the transmission was not slipping that the computer was shifting erratically. They would reset the computer and the car would would begin driving in a more normal state shifting correctly. I get on the highway again. The car once again will start shifting erratic. When you let go of the gas, the car downshift so many times that the car almost comes to a complete stop without hitting the brakes. The dealership has the car once again trying to figure out what’s going on with the car and why when I go on the highway the computer starts shifting erratically on that specific patch of highway. The car will pull left and right the entire time once you get off the highway the erratic shifting happens the dealership let me borrow a car which is a 2025 kia sorrento went on the highway with the car and had the same exact issue. The car they let me borrow is also downshifting erratically and feels like the transmission is slipping. The dealership did confirm that the car was not driving as intended, and they were confused as to why it was happening. They’ve also confirmed that the test that they’ve done on the car itself. Had not passed prior to them resetting the computer.

On January 20, th 2024 my connecting (rod bearings in cylinder # 1 failed ! my 2010 kia Forte started making a loud rattling noise from inside the engine! I immediately parked my car. On February 13th, kia of carson CA. Excepted my kia for service check ! they tried to charge me $235. 00 (see service check receipt! then they later retracted the bill ! today is February 25th and my vehicle in still at the dealership unrepaired ! my complaint is that the kia dealership and cooperation has tried to mislead me in every aspect of the rules and regulations of a recall , in order to not repair this (significant vehical safety issue! they even tried to get me to pick up the vehicle sand drive it away in the condition it's in ! my insurance company said they will not be liable if something happens to me while operating this vehicle while it's under recall ! kia is alleging that my vehical is not under (warrenty any more! (1). If the recall was not a significant issue why would they recall the 2010 thru 2013 kia Forte ! it's clear " that a 14 year old model would not still be under warranty! however. . . The rules of recall states that if the conditions are found to exist in any vehical subject to recall it must be repaired!.

The car will shift to reverse but it will not reverse. It will not move at all.

Transmission was having issues, car would not accelerate properly. Engine light came on and vehicle was towed to the original dealership for inspection where they confirmed transmission had gone out and it did get replaced. Vehicle was driving strange for about 3-4 days before engine light came on (12/30/2023).

Make: 2020 kia Forte model: Forte odometer: approximately 88,000 miles VIN: 3kpf24ad9le173704 peter white on November 27, 2023, while driving my kia towards my home driveway, I noticed that the car's speed was fluctuating unpredictably. Despite having my foot slightly on the brake and off the gas pedal, the vehicle continued to accelerate and decelerate as I made the turn into my residence. The Forte exhibited irregular and sluggish shifting, displaying a reluctance to engage or maintain gears, as well as experiencing missed or delayed gear changes. Additionally, it demonstrated unpredictable trembling and stalling occurrences multiple times while being driven in the driveway. The check engine light turned on. I promptly deactivated the engine and abstained from operating the vehicle. Afterwards, I had the vehicle undergo a scan, during which the check engine light turned on, indicating the presence of the code p0730. Without delay, I scheduled an appointment for service and maintenance at the kia bulldog dealership located in athens, georgia. Following a consultation with the service department, I scheduled a diagnostic assessment and test drive for the vehicle. On November 30, 2023. The mechanic at bulldog kia conducted a thorough examination of the vehicle and diagnosed it after performing a test drive. Additionally, he confirmed that he observed the same driving condition that I had previously described to him. It was associated with the transmission which rekated to the SC. However, when he scanned the vehicle for any code, the code reading was not accessible. I have photographic evidence of the exact state of distress and audio recordings of the car's engine accelerating as I approach the residence. I consulted a nearby mechanic with extensive expertise, who thoroughly examined and scanned the vehicle. The mechanic determined that the problem may be related to the transmission bearing, which corresponds to the diagnostic code p0730.

The contact owns a 2011 kia Forte. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and reversing, the gear shifter became stuck in reverse(r). There was no warning light illuminated. An independent mechanic assisted the contact in shifting the gear shifter linkages into park(p) manually. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the gear shifter linkages might be damaged; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to their location for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,630.

Hello, I purchased my car brand new March 2022. Since April of 2023 I have been having issues with my cars stalling upon acceleration off and on, and the wipers occasionally getting stuck in the upright position especially during heavy rain periods, which makes it hard to see the roads clearly. I have reported these issues to kia on multiple occasions. My vehicle has been to the dealership for repairs three times for transmission issues: first service date was 6/3/23 I drove the car after having a multi-point inspection and telling the advisor my car was having issues accelerating. The advisor simply explained they found no issues. On the way home the car started to jerk, then would slow on acceleration, and ultimately began losing power while driving. Not once did I receive a warning code on the dashboard I called and kia had it towed back to their service department for a diagnostic. It was released back to me on 7/08/23, the advisor stated codes were input, but no transmission was replaced only for the vehicle to repeat the same issues, but worst on 7/31/23 the car jerked uncontrollably, would not push off making it impossible to accelerate at all and running at a very slow pace. I was able to make it to the dealership, however once reviewed it was noted that indeed the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then in service/at the dealership from 7/31/23 - 9/2/23. I retrieved the vehicle after a new transmission was installed, and within two hours I was unable to reverse, and finally the transmission immobilized the vehicle completely in the middle of the road stating, "transmission is hot". This was very dangerous as it was heavy traffic in the area and the car literally stopped in the middle of the road. I wasn't even able to pull to the side for safety. As of today the vehicle is currently back at the dealership awaiting a diagnostic and service if possible.

See all problems of the 2022 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

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.

No warning light or nothing just out the blue started knocking and shaking violently lost power almost got hit by a tractortrailer. It has been confirmed from independent shop #4 rod bearing spun and paper thin this happened on interstate 81 near uva medical center the date was 8-2-2023.

See all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Forte 🔎.

No incident yet, but I see other kia's that have been recalled for powertrain system and air bag issues. The power train issue comes up when I get my engine light checked and the airbag light is on. Also, a constant problem is the break switch, the push button car won't start sometimes and the steering wheel doesnt lock because immobilizer is a problem and other kia's have been recalled but not mine, instead they sent me a wheel car lock. I see online so many people complaining about the push button car not starting like mine which may be due to the immobilizer issue and theft. It is annoying to see other vehicle recalled but not mine.

I had oil changed on my 2010 kia Forte 2. 0 motor and afterwards the oil light came on on the way home from the shop and it died and engine started making a loud noise they have an engine recall on these motors for going bad I need them to replace my engine I can't afford to put new motor in my car when it's not my fault it has a defect in the motor.

Engine failure on 2010. Kia Forte due to faulty oil pump causing car to come to a stop while in trafficc could cause safety problem for everyone on roadway.

Never been in a accident on my second engine and had the transmission replaced now I have oil in my coolant and my screen stoped working but think it’s grime be dealership be I took it some ware and there found wires that was cut.