Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jun 30, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 153 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6
What this page shows
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Kia Forte submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming body or structure
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Body & structure
Filed Jun 30, 2025
Took the car to a mechanic for suspension work. While the Forte was on the lift, it was discovered that the condensation from the air-conditioning unit drops directly on the car's subframe. This is on the right passenger side under the motor which could give way at anytime. There are no known decals for the issue and to have the subframe "replaced" is equal to our more than what the car is worth. Additionally, mine was effected by the anti theft issues where 2 attempts to steal the car were mad. Various Kia events to install the anti theft updates have insisted that my model is not part of recall, yet.... Based on the years effected and the impact, it was a part. So 2 issued that don't fit the recall or have no recall supposedly.
NHTSA ID
11670404
Incident
Jun 28, 2025
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 15, 2024
Fire reported
I was driving and the car caught on fire.
NHTSA ID
11572205
Incident
Feb 15, 2024
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Mar 25, 2021
Crash reported2 injuries reported
I WAS IN MOTION, TURNING LEFT FROM 13TH STREET NORFOLK NE, INTO THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO MY DRIVERS SIDE AND REAR DOOR DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN, AND THE FRAME BETWEEN BOTH DOOR WAS DENTED IN.*DT
NHTSA ID
11404931
Incident
Jun 8, 2019
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical
Filed Mar 5, 2021
HAD FRONT COLLISION AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ISSUE RECALL NOTICE LETTER FROM KIA I NEVER RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP NOTICE TO FIX.
NHTSA ID
11399300
Incident
Jun 1, 2018
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Apr 11, 2018
Crash reported2 injuries reported
I WAS HIT HEAD-ON AT 65MPH AND MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IT HAS CAUSED ME HORRIBLE INJURIES INCLUDING A CERVICAL NECK FUSION, BILATERAL SACROILIAC JOINT FUSIONS, NECESSITY OF A TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY DUE TO MY UTERUS & FELOPIAN TUBES PERFORATING, GASTRIC ADHESIONS AND A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT. I HOLD KIA RESPONSIBLE. I HAD CONFIDENCE THAT I WOULD BE SAFE IN MY 2011 KIA FORTE. I LOST MY VERY ESSENCE OF BEING A WOMAN BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS FAILED AFTER BEING CLOBBERED HEAD-ON BY A FULL-SIZE PICK-UP TRUCK. MOST FRUSTRATING IS THE CONSTANT PAIN AND SUFFERING, ADDED TO MY ALREADY A 100% DISABLED NAVY VETERAN.
NHTSA ID
11084652
Incident
Jul 11, 2013
Mileage
13,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureExterior lighting
Filed Mar 17, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported
TRAVELING 45 TO 55 MPH RAN INTO FOUR LARGE DEERS AND RAN OFF ROAD. DAMAGE FRONT OF CAR. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON BUT DID NOT FLATE. I SUBSTAIN SEVERE SHOULDER INJURY.
NHTSA ID
11079973
Incident
Feb 21, 2017
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structureEngineVisibility
Filed Sep 21, 2016
Fire reported
WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT ALONG AN INTERSTATE WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL SET TO THE SPEED LIMIT, A LOUD BANG CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY KIA, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR TURNED ON, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND INSIDE MY CAR THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL GENTLY, THERE WAS A LOW GUTTURAL NOISE AND MY CAR WAS NOT PICKING UP SPEED. I PUT MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SHOULDER WITH LOW VISIBILITY AS THE SMOKE BECAME MORE DENSE AND DARKER IN COLOR. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A FULL STOP ON THE SHOULDER AND PUT IT INTO PARK BEFORE TURNING IT OFF AND REMOVING MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION. UPON EXITING THE CAR I NOTICED THE SMOKE WAS EVEN MORE INTENSE THAN BEFORE AND PROMPTLY CALLED 911 AND GAVE MY LOCATION AND SITUATION INFORMATION TO THE 911 REPRESENTATIVE. AS I WAS SPEAKING, I NARRATED IN HORROR AS FLAMES BECAME VISIBLE FROM UNDER THE CAR ITSELF AND UNDER THE HOOD AS WELL, IN AS LITTLE AS ONE MINUTE AFTER EXITING MY CAR. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT TO THE VEHICLE, THE FLAMES WERE OVER 20 FEET TALL AND THE HEAT WAS UNBEARABLE; I RELOCATED MYSELF FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY TO STAY COOL AND SAFE AS THE TIME WENT ON. NOBODY WAS BURNED, HURT, OR INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT, BUT ONLY MY MERE COINCIDENCE.
NHTSA ID
10908482
Incident
Sep 13, 2016
Mileage
68,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 25, 2011
1 injury reported
MY MOTHER PURCHASED A NEW KIA FORTE A FEW DAYS AGO. CAME HOME FROM FOOD SHOPPING OPENED THE TRUNK TO TAKE OUT HER GROCERIES. SHE BENT OVER REACHED IN THE TRUNK TO REMOVE A BAG AND THE TRUNK SLAMMED DOWN ON THE BACK OF HER NECK CAUSING SEVERE BRUISING. I WENT OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG . THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I RAISED THE TRUNK AND LET GO IT SLAMMED DOWN. I WAS WITH HER WHEN SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE TRUNK STAYED OPEN BY ITSELF . WE COULD NOT FIND ANY VISIBLE REASON WHY THIS HAD HAPPENED. I THEN MOVED THE VEHICLE UP AND PARKED IT UNDER THE CARPORT AND WAS GOING TO TAKE OUT THE REST OF THE GROCERIES. THE TRUNK STAYED OPEN THIS TIME AND DID NOT SLAM SHUT BY ITSELF. THE DIFFERENCE WAS THAT NOW THE CAR WAS PARKED ON A LEVEL SURFACE, BEFORE IT WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. MY MOTHER IS 85 YEARS OLD AND SMALL IN STATURE.. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE SHE PURCHASED A CAR THAT SHE FELT COMFORTABLE AND SAFE IN. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT WE NEEDED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT AN INJURY OCCURRING WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. HER DOCTOR WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND SHE DID NOT WANT TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. I TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BRUISING AND SWELLING ON HER NECK AND SHE HAS HAD A HEADACHE AND PAIN. SHE WILL SEE HER DOCTOR ON MONDAY, AND I WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT EXAMINED. SHE IS LUCKY THAT THE TRUNK DIDN'T SLAM ON HER HEAD AND KILL HER. I DO HOPE THIS WILL BE INVESTIGATED AND THAT NO ONE ELSE WILL BE INJURED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10408870
Incident
Jun 24, 2011
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own