2013 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 2013 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
- Engine1254.5%
- Electrical29.1%
- Seat belts29.1%
- Airbags29.1%
- Visibility14.5%
- Body & structure14.5%
- Exterior lighting14.5%
- Other / unspecified14.5%
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
DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE RPMS DROPPED TO ZERO. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT ON THE SHOULDER WITHOUT ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THE ENGINE SEIZED UP BUT THE OIL LOOKED FINE. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD. THE CAR HAD 101,000 MILES IN IT.
THETA II ENGINE RECALL. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO GUIDE IT OFF THE INTERSTATE TO A SAFE SPOT ON THE SIDE. THE CAR WOULDNT STARY BACK AT ALL. COME TO FIND OUT, THE RODS FAILED AND LOCKED THE ENGINE UP. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WAS CHECK EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD INCLUDING THE OIL. THE OIL WAS FULL. AFTER READING ALOT ON THIS ISSUE, THERE IS ALOT OF KIA FORTE AND FORTE KOUP THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE BUT YET THEY WONT INCLUDE THEM IN THE RECALL. IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE IN IT AS THE OTHER KIA'S THAT GOT RECALLED SO WHAT MAKES THEM ANY DIFFERENT. I REPLACED THE FIRST ENGINE WITH A USED ONE AND I PUT 4K MIKES ON IT AND IT DID THE SAME THING SO ANOTHER $4,000 LATER, I PURCHASED A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. IT'S BEEN AN EXPENSIVE FIX OUT OF MY OWN POCKET WHEN IT SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED THIS KIA IN 2014, SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO REPEATEDLY REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL / BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. THE PLASTIC PART OF THE CONNECTORS HAVE DRIED OUT AND ARE BREAKING INTO PIECES DUE TO THE WIRING GETTING TOO HOT, AS THE PARTS THAT ARE LEFT ARE NOW STARTING TO MELT. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL DIFFERENT CARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS AS MUCH AS IN THIS CAR. ALSO, ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOESN'T WANT TO UNLATCH. I WILL BE PARKED AND IT WOULD SOMETIMES TAKE ABOUT 2 MIN FOR IT TO UNLATCH. SOMETIMES I WOULD THINK IT WASN'T EVER GOING TO UNLATCH AND I WOULD BE TRAPPED.
THE CAR STARTED DRIVING SLUGGISH OUT OF NOWHERE AND I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC WHO TOOK IT OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE WHERE IT ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED SMOKING AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP WHILE IN MOTION. THE CAR HAD ITS OIL CHANGE AND WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.
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
I PURCHASED THIS KIA IN 2014, SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO REPEATEDLY REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL / BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. THE PLASTIC PART OF THE CONNECTORS HAVE DRIED OUT AND ARE BREAKING INTO PIECES DUE TO THE WIRING GETTING TOO HOT, AS THE PARTS THAT ARE LEFT ARE NOW STARTING TO MELT. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL DIFFERENT CARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS AS MUCH AS IN THIS CAR. ALSO, ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOESN'T WANT TO UNLATCH. I WILL BE PARKED AND IT WOULD SOMETIMES TAKE ABOUT 2 MIN FOR IT TO UNLATCH. SOMETIMES I WOULD THINK IT WASN'T EVER GOING TO UNLATCH AND I WOULD BE TRAPPED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LIFETIME KIA (4170 E U.S. HWY 64 ALT, MURPHY, NORTH CAROLINA 28906) WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD RECEIVE A SECOND LETTER ONCE THE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
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 WAS CROSSING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION TURNING LEFT RIGHT AFTER THE LIGHT HAD TURNED GREEN. NEXT THING I KNEW IT I SAW ANOTHER CAR, IT WAS A CAMRY, FLYING THROUGH THE LIGHT RIGHT FOR ME. IT WAS RAINING HERE IN FLORIDA THAT DAY, AND OF COURSE GOING TO BRAKE SO ABRUPTLY I SLID IN ADDITION TO THE SPEED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I WAS T-BONED AT THAT INTERSECTION DIRECTLY NEXT TO WHERE THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE BEEN AND THEY NEVER DEPLOYED.I NOW SUFFER FROM 3 HERNIATED DISCS ON THE SPINE PINCHING THE NERVES, AND I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THIS AIRBAG NOT GOING OFF IS TO BLAME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LIFETIME KIA (4170 E U.S. HWY 64 ALT, MURPHY, NORTH CAROLINA 28906) WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD RECEIVE A SECOND LETTER ONCE THE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68-70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD. THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT IMPACT FROM A FOREIGN OBJECT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. TEAM KIA OF EL CAJON (541 N JOHNSON AVE, EL CAJON, CA 92020, (619) 444-7200) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
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 CROSSING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION TURNING LEFT RIGHT AFTER THE LIGHT HAD TURNED GREEN. NEXT THING I KNEW IT I SAW ANOTHER CAR, IT WAS A CAMRY, FLYING THROUGH THE LIGHT RIGHT FOR ME. IT WAS RAINING HERE IN FLORIDA THAT DAY, AND OF COURSE GOING TO BRAKE SO ABRUPTLY I SLID IN ADDITION TO THE SPEED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I WAS T-BONED AT THAT INTERSECTION DIRECTLY NEXT TO WHERE THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE BEEN AND THEY NEVER DEPLOYED.I NOW SUFFER FROM 3 HERNIATED DISCS ON THE SPINE PINCHING THE NERVES, AND I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THIS AIRBAG NOT GOING OFF IS TO BLAME.
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
I PURCHASED THIS KIA IN 2014, SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO REPEATEDLY REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL / BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. THE PLASTIC PART OF THE CONNECTORS HAVE DRIED OUT AND ARE BREAKING INTO PIECES DUE TO THE WIRING GETTING TOO HOT, AS THE PARTS THAT ARE LEFT ARE NOW STARTING TO MELT. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL DIFFERENT CARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS AS MUCH AS IN THIS CAR. ALSO, ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOESN'T WANT TO UNLATCH. I WILL BE PARKED AND IT WOULD SOMETIMES TAKE ABOUT 2 MIN FOR IT TO UNLATCH. SOMETIMES I WOULD THINK IT WASN'T EVER GOING TO UNLATCH AND I WOULD BE TRAPPED.
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 CROSSING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION TURNING LEFT RIGHT AFTER THE LIGHT HAD TURNED GREEN. NEXT THING I KNEW IT I SAW ANOTHER CAR, IT WAS A CAMRY, FLYING THROUGH THE LIGHT RIGHT FOR ME. IT WAS RAINING HERE IN FLORIDA THAT DAY, AND OF COURSE GOING TO BRAKE SO ABRUPTLY I SLID IN ADDITION TO THE SPEED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I WAS T-BONED AT THAT INTERSECTION DIRECTLY NEXT TO WHERE THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE BEEN AND THEY NEVER DEPLOYED.I NOW SUFFER FROM 3 HERNIATED DISCS ON THE SPINE PINCHING THE NERVES, AND I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THIS AIRBAG NOT GOING OFF IS TO BLAME.
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 .