At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. Confirm by VIN that the repair was completed before driving or buying this car. The fix is free at a dealer.
Recalls
Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.
Brakes recall
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
- Status
- Park outside and away from buildings until repaired. Dealer fixes it free.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Airbags recall
If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Owner complaints by system
Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.
Engine & powertrain
6
Most reports here involve sudden stalling.
Read full complaint
THESE VEHICLES ARE ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS! I'VE BEEN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS MY ENTIRE CAREER FOR 15 YEARS WITH A LEVEL CERTIFICATIONS AND ASE'S. I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SIMPLE MATTER OF ANY ACCELERATION OVER 2900 RPM IT STARTS KNOCKING. I WILL NOT PUT MY FAMILY OR MYSELF IN THE DANGER OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ANY LONGER. IF SOMETHING WERE TO BREAK WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE RESULTS COULD BE DEVASTATING! I'VE CONTACTED KIA MANY TIMES REGARDING THIS MATTER YET I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT KNOCKING HIS NORMAL THEY CALL IT A PING. I TOLD THEM I USE 91 OCTANE EVERY TIME I FILL SO THERE'S NO WAY OF PINGING FROM PRE DETONATION. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS MAINTAINED AND OIL CHANGES ARE ALWAYS DONE EARLY. AFTER BEING TOLD MANY TIMES THAT THE KIA 2010 IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL I HAVE TAKEN MY OWN ACTION TO FIXING THE PROBLEM. UPON TEARDOWN I HAVE DISCOVERED ROD BEARING DAMAGE AND A OIL PAN FULL OF MINOR FLAKES FROM ROD MATERIAL. DUE TO ME KEEPING RPM SLOW I WILL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO REPLACE THE ROD BEARINGS WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEMS BUT WHO KNOWS ON THIS MOTOR. I JUST WORRY ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT DRIVE NORMALLY AND COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A MOTOR FAILURE AND POSSIBLE FIRE FROM A ROD BREAKING THROUGH THE BLOCK. I SURE HOPE KIA DOES SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED!
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11414806 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Electrical & infotainment
1
Most reports here involve loss of braking.
Read full complaint
MY SEAT BELT DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT CLICK INTO THE BUCKLE WHICH MAKES IT HARD NOT BE PULLED OVER AND VERY UNSAFE. AS WELL AS, MY LIGHTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR DO NOT TURN OFF THEY ARE ALWAYS ILLUMINATED ONCE STARTING THE CAR. MY BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT EVERY SO OFTEN, AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ALSO MY BRAKES SOMETIMES WON'T COME UP OFF THE FLOOR OR WILL STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION EVEN WHILE BEING PRESSED. THIS IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11090426 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Steering, suspension & tires
1
Most reports here involve other issues.
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I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 77 IN CHARLOTTE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. WHILE DRIVING, MY WHEEL HAD A STRUCTURAL FAILURE. I RETRACED MY ROUTE AND DO NOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROUTE (I.E. MAJOR OBSTACLE). REGARDLESS, THIS FAILURE IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE HAD OTHER CARS IN THE PAST AND HAVE RUN OVER SUBSTANTIAL ROAD DEBRIS AND NEVER HAD THE WHEEL ALMOST COME OFF OF THE CAR.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11205683 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Airbags & seat belts
2
Most reports here involve software faults.
Read full complaint
I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE MOST RECENT RECALL WITH THE AIR BAG FIXED. AFTER THE REPAIR OCCURRED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF A MALFUNCTION OCCURRED DURING THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THE AIR BAG MODULE AND CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11165023 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Structure & body
1
Most reports here involve other issues.
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DOING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A VERY LOUD BOOM. NO OTHER CARS WERE NEAR ME WHEN THE BOOM HAPPENED AND I THOUGHT I JUST RAN OVER SOMETHING. A FEW MINUTES LATER MY WIFE OPENED UP THE SUNROOF SLIDING COVER AND WE SAW THAT THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED. THE WHOLE SUNROOF GLASS LOOKED LIKE A SPIDERWEB AND THERE WAS NOT ANY IMPACT MARKS WHERE SOMETHING COULD HAVE HIT THE GLASS.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11096819 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
How does it compare with other years? The 2010 has 11 complaints on file, fewer than the 2012 (14). Of the 3 model years of the Kia Forte Koup we cover, the 2013 has the most (16). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.