2010 Kia Forte Koup Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 Kia Forte Koup, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine637.5%
- Seat belts212.5%
- Brakes16.3%
- Driver assistance16.3%
- Electrical16.3%
- Body & structure16.3%
- Fuel system16.3%
- Exterior lighting16.3%
- Other / unspecified16.3%
- Airbags16.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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!
I HAD A 2010 KIA FORTE KOUP THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE 5/29/18 WHILE GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES/HR. BEFORE THE FIRE BEGAN, THERE WAS SOME KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE AND ALL POWER WENT OUT, INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POPPED THE HOOD TO SEE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT IN TIME, AND THE WHOLE CAR WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH THE OIL CHANGES AND HAVING ALL FLUIDS CHECKED AND FILLED AS NEEDED. I HAVE HAD ALL RECALLS DONE AS THEY BECAME AVAILABLE. THE FIRE WAS IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND GAVE NO WARNING BEFORE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUT. ALL WE COULD DO IS EVACUATE THE CAR, GET AS FAR AWAY FROM IT AS POSSIBLE, AND CALL 911. IT WAS DEVOURED WITHIN MINUTES WITH FLAMES, AND IS NOW A COMPLETE LOSS. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA INTERNATIONAL (CASE #12745414) WHO TOLD ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, SO THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM CNA NATIONAL, BUT THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR MECHANICAL ISSUES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY ROLL BACK INTO THE DOOR FRAME OF THE CAR AFTER TAKING THEM OFF. YOU HAVE TO JERK THE BELT UP AND DOWN CLOSE TO TWENTY TIMES TO GET THEM TO RETRACT. ALSO, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T FUNCTION LIKE NORMAL. IT ONLY WORKS ONCE IN A WHILE. I HAVE TO TRY TO SET MY SPEED MANY TIMES IF IT EVER GETS IT TO WORK. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS NOW.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY ROLL BACK INTO THE DOOR FRAME OF THE CAR AFTER TAKING THEM OFF. YOU HAVE TO JERK THE BELT UP AND DOWN CLOSE TO TWENTY TIMES TO GET THEM TO RETRACT. ALSO, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T FUNCTION LIKE NORMAL. IT ONLY WORKS ONCE IN A WHILE. I HAVE TO TRY TO SET MY SPEED MANY TIMES IF IT EVER GETS IT TO WORK. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS NOW.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THROTTLE BODY ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT PART DEFECTIVE. INTERMITTENT NO START. VEHICLE STATIONARY. WILL JUST CRANK AND NOT START AFTER SITTING FOR AWHILE. ONCE IT STARTS USUALLY GOOD UNTIL VEHICLE SITS FOR AWHILE THEN IT'S DIFFICULT TO START AGAIN.. ORIGINAL ITEM REPLACED MAR 24 2016. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING NOW IN FEB 17 WITH NEW PART. WAS TOLD THAT THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT CARSMART AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR IN LOGAN UTAH.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .