2011 Kia Forte Engine Problems

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11714989

Incident

Dec 7, 2025

I just bought this car with 79873 miles on it it now has 81853 miles and its making a ticking noise.I been looking over the engine and wondering why my check engine light doesn't come on when I left my gas cap off.I bought this car from a used car dealership..I been doing some research on this type engine and most of them have me recalled.

NHTSA ID

11694631

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

The NECU system failed and blew the engine and caused a fire no longer available for inspection. No move running. No warning lamps at all of any sort.

NHTSA ID

11623917

Incident

Oct 8, 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the check engine, ABS, and Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warning lights were illuminated. There was a burning odor emitting from underneath the hood near the engine compartment. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 200,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11594423

Incident

Sep 25, 2023

Mileage

200,000 mi

Engine was replaced 97218 miles - under warranty - now the second engine needs to be replaced with 106607 miles - there is a limited warranty of 20 years /200000 miles - isn't the second engine still under warranty two engines and both have been under 200000 miles isn't the second engine covered under the warranty??

NHTSA ID

11591896

Incident

Mar 29, 2024

tHEY SAID MY CAR MAY CATCH ON FIRE DUE A FUSE. tHIS HAS BEEN SINCE sEP AND IT IT IS NOW ALMOST mAY. tHIS COULD FIRE UP MY CAR AT ANY TIME AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. aLSO HAVE TO PARK CAR OUTSIDE SO WIND RAIN AND BIRD POOP HAS TAKE A TOLL ON MY CAR. wHAT IS THE BIG PROBLEM WITH MAKING ONE FUSE. tHANKS

NHTSA ID

11585192

Incident

Sep 23, 2023

I was driving and the car caught on fire.

NHTSA ID

11572205

Incident

Feb 15, 2024

On 8/28/2022 my 2011 Kia Forte's engine caught on fire and it caused damage to my entire garage along with my personal belongings. I had contacted Kia multiple times and was put on hold for over an hour at a time and hung up on multiple times until a few weeks after the fire I finally got a hold of them and they put in a "work order". After following up with them a week later I come to find out that the work order was put in for a car pare (the engine in the car was burnt to crisp). I finally had someone help and a representative from Kia came out afterwards they conveyed that after "their investigation" that "evidence shows fire and heat attacking vehicle from outside and moving into the engine compartment". Which is completely false per fire department who where first on the scene they determined the fire started in the engine compartment of the vehicle". This was very disappointing Kia took no responsibility for this. Now I receive a recall notice dated November 14th, 2023 stating that "the Hydraulic electronic control unit may experience an electrical short circuit, which can result in an engine compartment fire while driving or parked. This is exactly what happened to my car at the time of the incident so now they are admitting they were at fault.

NHTSA ID

11556464

Incident

Aug 28, 2022

My daughters Kia Forte, started making a ticking noise. Them more she has driven the car, the worse the ticking has become. Looking on line to see what the problem may be, it appears that this is a very well known issues with Kia’s. Also reading on your sight there has been MANY complaints for the very same thing. If Kia has been made aware of the issue and did nothing about it. I feel that is negligible for them. My daughter travels out of state for college. I would hate for her to break down on the side of the road. Our mechanic said that we should use a certain type of oil of her car, her oil changes are done every 3,000 miles. They now coast us 70.00 each time we have to change the oil. I hope that you will investigate this issue with as many complaints that have been registered against Kia.

NHTSA ID

11530906

Incident

Dec 1, 2019

I have a 2011 Kia forte had 130,000 plus miles when I bought it. I've had the car for 1 year first 2 months motor sound it 100% 3rd month I started to hear a knocking sound coming from motor I took it to kia dealer today for recall service so I asked them if they could here the knocking sound they told me that the sound was normal. I told them that when I got the car it wasn't making this knocking sound and getting louder each month. They changed the conversation and told me that i was there for them to work on a recall matter for my car. i don't know what it could be maybe the engine pistons idk but I have read a lot of people with this problem as well car has 145,500 miles now I have the oil and oil filter changed every 5,000 miles. I really think that this needs to be investigated asap as this could cost an accident if car brakes down.

NHTSA ID

11524573

Incident

Jul 1, 2022

The car had a slow ticking noise that was very faint in the front for about 20 minutes 20 minutes later the noise continue to get louder about 45 minutes later six gear was lost in the car in about an hour and a half later the engine failed and the car Came to a failure lock down procedure all lights on the front door shut on steering wheel locked on friendship Road exit 8 and the vehicle had to be towed to a shop we’re now it was put on a lift and there is a hole in the bottom of the engine , And the transmission is not in tact

NHTSA ID

11508036

Incident

Feb 15, 2023

About 9 months ago, I started my 2011 Kia Forte up and it cut off. Happened on and off for the next 6 months or so, gradually getting worse and more often. Decided to take it to Kia, needed an oil change done at same time. Kia dealership said there is metal in my oil and means engine is failing. The stalling they said was a computer issue and reset it. Did another oil change about 3 months later at another facility, they did not look for the metal or notice any on their own. Today, vibrations started when sitting idle at a traffic light. No check engine light on.

NHTSA ID

11489307

Incident

Oct 14, 2022

I went to Friendly Way Motors sometime on April 28th for a 2011 Kia Forte, there I met salesperson [XXX] who showed me the vehicle, it were my first time dealing with a dealership I'm sure he were aware, I then went on to have him jump it so I could go on a test drive, when then I noticed a whistling sound but [XXX] used his kinda old OBD or OBM meter to check and stated there may be nothing to it, so I listened to his expertise and later went on to purchase the vehicle through [XXX] in the office with [XXX] the owner I think, I kinda began to feel something was off when I had spent over $584.44 on car insurance through [XXX] with Dairyland through the dealership, but I assumed that's the way things are since they concluded it were due to inflation, we went through some papers concerning my contract which a few papers I went through myself since[XXX] suddenly got a call and then we resumed the papers, I left with the car felt sound at last, until not literally a couple weeks later I were experiencing a myriad of defects with the car, like it kept dying on me, kept making a myriad of distinct noises and mechanical malfunctions, all through which I contacted [XXX] to inspect and or fix until then when I were going to Tampa the 2011 Kia Forte then began to have power steering issues, and brake issues, both of which I almost got in an accident over, a putrid powerful burning smell from the power steering reservoir, battery problems, key ignition cylinder getting stuck on me, all of my dash lights coming on with the engine sign constantly on, not to mention although I am paying more than I would normally pay for car insurance, I ran into a ditch off of 100 Wolf pack Run in Deltona FL because of the power steering, I had no road side assistance. The police department, fire department and school campus came and went with no help, I had to wait till morning for someone to get me out. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11470093

Incident

May 22, 2022

The engine has had a ticking noise which has only become louder with more miles on the engine. The car has been serviced by Kia dealership regularly. The car started stalling during random times while drive. You release the gas pedal, it will almost stop. You push the gas pedal and sometimes you will regain power to the engine. This has almost caused me to have several accidnts. The car was taken to the Kia dealer and told the engine oil level was low. It was change 3 months earlier and had not been driven more than 1000 miles. The Kia dealer said it was an engine failure and would need to be replaced. I researched the car and discovered that it had 2 recalls. I have never received any information about any recall on this car ever. I was not notified of any recall when it was serviced at Kia for routine maintenance (oil and brake changes). I have owned the vehicle for 10 years now and it has 100,000 miles. I am disappointed in the engine failure which I was told $4600 to have a used replacement installed by Kia. I am seriously upset that I bought this car at the Kia dealership. Had it serviced at a Kia dealership multiple times and no one told me about any recalls, and I never received anything in the mail, email or by phone. Isn't Kia responsible to notify consumers when recalls happen etc?

NHTSA ID

11446065

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

I HAVE HAD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE FOR A WHILE AND JUST IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS THE TICKING HAS GOTTEN MUCH LOUDER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND WENT OFF- I HAD TO REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE TICKING SOUND STILL CONTINUES -BROUGHT TO KIA THOUGHT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE STARTING TO OCCUR BASED ON SOUND OF ENGINE BUT NOTHING DEFINITE. I HAVE FELT SAFE WITH THIS CAR BUT NOW NOT SO SURE. I HAVE FAITHFULLY CHANGED MY OIL EVERY 3 MONTHS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2011.

NHTSA ID

11413731

Incident

Apr 2, 2021

Mileage

140,000 mi

MY ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE BURNED

NHTSA ID

11405273

Incident

Mar 20, 2019

Mileage

55,000 mi

AROUND 85,000 MILES ON A 2011 KIA FORTE KOUP THE ENGINE STARTED TICKING AND BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED. BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING TO KIA BECAUSE SO MANY WERE BEING RECALLED. IT'S ROD BEARING. I'VE HAD ALL NECESSARY OIL CHANGES AND WORK DONE TO IT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11404388

Incident

Mar 1, 2021

AFTER OWNING MY 2011 KIA FORTE FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS IT HAS DEVELOPED A TICKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. IT IS VERY MILD WHILE IDLING, AND WHILE RPMS ARE UNDER 1500. AFTER RPMS GO PAST 2000 THE TICKING NOISE IS PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD ROUGHLY 85,000 MILES ON IT AND NOW HAS $125,000. I HAVE HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES ON IT, EVERY 3000-5000 MILES. AFTER HEARING THE TICKING I TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID THIS IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE WITH KIA FORTES AND THAT THE ONLY FIX IS REPLACING OR REPAIRING THE ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND READING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT KIA ENGINES GOING BAD AROUND 100,000 MILES AND I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO KIA FOR THIS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON KIA'S ENGINES.

NHTSA ID

11396697

Incident

Dec 29, 2020

Mileage

120,000 mi

HI I BELIEVE U SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THE ENGINES FOR AN EXAMPLE WHEN I LOOK UP THE TIMING CHANGE ITS SAYS MOST HAD TO REPLACE THEN THE PISTON SLOP IS KNOCKING AND IT SEEMS LIKE MOST HAD TO REPLACE THAT. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A REBUILD KIT FOR MY KIA AND WOULD LIKE TO JUST REBUILD IT MYSELF BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND A 2.0 REBUILD KIT FOR A 2011 FORTE EX ONLINE... WHY IS THAT?

NHTSA ID

11387807

Incident

Oct 22, 2020

Mileage

153,578 mi

THERE IS A CONSTANT KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND LOUD NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING THE ENGINE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALSO TURNING ON AND OFF. 2012-2015 KIA FORTE KOUPS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOT THE 2011 MODEL. THIS CAR HAS THE SAME THETA 2 ENGINE AND THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE IS SHOT AND WILL NOT LAST MUCH LONGER. I SINCERELY HOPE THE RECALL IS EXTENDED TO THE 2011 MODEL KIA FORTE KOUP. *TR

NHTSA ID

11384045

Incident

Dec 2, 2019

Mileage

97,000 mi

BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A SMALL DEALERSHIP AND IT HAD A TICKING IN THE ENGINE. THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS FROM SITTING. THE TICKING GOT WORSE AND I TOOK IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT I'D NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11378194

Incident

Jul 18, 2020

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I HEARD A SOUND LIKE METAL SCRAPING METAL, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH GOING STRAIGHT DOWN S. MAIN ST DOWNTOWN WARRENTON, OREGON AND WAS PLANNING TO PULL OVER WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STOPPED DEAD AFTER A HORRIBLE NOISE OF WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A HEAVY METAL SNAPPING/CRUNCHING NOISE. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND EVERYTHING LOOKED OK, BUT SOME BLACK FLUID WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND. THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED ABOUT FOUR DAYS BEFORE THIS AND THEY SAID IT WAS 2.5 QUARTS LOW. I HAD ALSO TAKEN IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO SEE IF IT NEEDED ANY IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AS IT WAS MAKING AN ODD SCRAPING NOISE BEFORE THE OIL WAS CHANGED AND HE SAID HE SUGGESTED SOME THING TO DO WITH THE CAM BUT IT WASN'T URGENT AND TO JUST KEEP THE OIL FILLED IN CASE THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE. THE OIL RESERVOIR WAS FULL WHEN I LEFT THAT MORNING WHEN IT SEIZED UP. IF I HAD BEEN GOING MUCH FASTER, I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN KILLED AS IT STOPPED COMPLETELY, NO COASTING TO A STOP. IT JUST STOPPED. FROM 20MPH TO 0 AND THE CAR JUMPED WHEN IT STOPPED. I DID NOT TOUCH THE BRAKES. IT WAS TOWED TO MARK'S AUTO REPAIR IN SEASIDE, OREGON. HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM BUT DID SAY THAT METAL FLAKES ARE IN THE OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID AND OTHER PLACES TOO. HE HAS A WORK ORDER HE IS WORKING UP BUT SAID HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A MINIMUM. THEY CAN ONLY FIND SHORT BLOCKS FOR SALE AT THIS TIME AND SO THE ESTIMATE IS BASED ON USING A SHORT BLOCK. MY OIL GETS CHANGED REGULARLY EITHER AT KIA OR A LOCAL OIL CHANGE SHOP.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11362492

Incident

Sep 29, 2020

Mileage

105,000 mi

ENGINE ISSUES! THIS ENGINE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS AND POSSIBLE LEMON. MY CAR HAS ONLY 106,890 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A TAPPING NOISE. THEN I STARTED TO HAVE A LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING OR GOING UP HILL. HAD THE CODES READ AND IT SAID THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. REPLACED THAT. THEN IT STARTED TO IDLE ROUGH. HAD CODE READ AGAIN. IT SAID MAP SENSOR AND NUMBER 2 CYLINDER MISFIRE. REPLACED PLUGS, COILS, AND MAP SENSOR. NOW IT WON'T START. IT HAS NO SPARK. NOW IT IS SHOWING CODES FOR MAP SENSOR AGAIN. NUMBER 2 CYLINDER MISFIRE, THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SENSOR AND THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. AT JUST OVER 100,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. OTHER MODEL CARS WITH THE SAME 2.0 ENGINE HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE 2.0 ENGINE NEEDS TO ALSO BE RECALLED IN THE 2011 KIA FORTE KOUP EX. I'M NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS MODEL CAR THAT HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES AND OR TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11349555

Incident

Aug 7, 2020

Mileage

106,890 mi

KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE STARTED ABOUT 90,000 MILES, MAYBE EARLIER ALL SERVICE DONE TIMELY BY DEALERSHIP. KIA DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO HEAR ANYTHING UNUSUAL - STATES CAR'S GETTING OLD (7 YR). KNOCKING WHEN CAR STATIONARY AND MOVING. KNOCKING IS GETTING MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS THE SAME FOR SO MANY KIAS - ROD BEARING. CAR IS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME SITTING IN THE DRIVE - I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S SAFE FOR ANY TRIP - OR FOR ANYONE. RECOMMENDED SOLUTION: NEW ENGINE. WHY WOULD I PUT A NEW ENGINE IN A, NOW 9 YEAR OLD CAR - SO THAT I COULD KEEP A KIA PRODUCT. NOT HAPPENING! WHAT IS HAPPENING IS ME LETTING EVERYONE KNOW TO STAY AWAY FROM ANY KIA PRODUCT!

NHTSA ID

11349195

Incident

Feb 2, 2018

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY 70 MPH LOUD CLANKING SOUND BEGAN AND ENGINE QUIT WORKING, I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CHECKED MY FLUIDS,ALL WERE AT OPERATING LEVELS, THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ENGINE BUT NOT IF IT'S IN A FORTE.

NHTSA ID

11344137

Incident

Jul 6, 2020

Mileage

218,000 mi