RoadVitals

2011 Kia Forte Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
17
Latest Oct 18, 2024
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.
11%
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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 17 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 powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 18, 2024

Recalls

NHTSA ID
11620503
Incident
Oct 18, 2024
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 27, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Forte. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and reversing, the gear shifter became stuck in reverse(R). There was no warning light illuminated. An independent mechanic assisted the contact in shifting the gear shifter linkages into park(P) manually. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the gear shifter linkages might be damaged; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to their location for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,630.

NHTSA ID
11556977
Incident
Oct 20, 2023
Mileage
200,630 mi
AirbagsBrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 30, 2023

No incident yet, but I see other Kia's that have been recalled for powertrain system and air bag issues. The power train issue comes up when I get my engine light checked and the airbag light is on. Also, a constant problem is the break switch, the push button car won't start sometimes and the steering wheel doesnt lock because immobilizer Is a problem and other Kia's have been recalled but not mine, instead they sent me a wheel car lock. I see online so many people complaining about the push button car not starting like mine which may be due to the immobilizer issue and theft. It is annoying to see other vehicle recalled but not mine.

NHTSA ID
11535370
Incident
Jul 26, 2023
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 2, 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
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 15, 2020

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
Other / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 16, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTI-SKID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHWEST KIA AUSTIN (13175 N, US -183, AUSTIN, TX 78750, 512-583-1900), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

NHTSA ID
11120471
Incident
Feb 15, 2015
Mileage
96,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 7, 2018

ENGINE TRANSMISSION IMPROPERLY DOWNSHIFTS ON ITS OWN FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE RECOVERING. THE CAR STALLS AT RED LIGHTS; IT STALLS AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING AT 5MPH, CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. NO DTC CODES SHOWN WHEN EXAMINED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED. THE IMPROPER SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION GEAR IS VERY SCARY BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR HAS SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE RECOVERING THE GEAR. MY CAR IS AUTO TRANSMISSION. IT'S LIKE ACCELERATING FROM 40 TO 70MPH AND EXPECTING THE GEARS TO SHIFT 4,5,6....BUT INSTEAD IT'S SHIFTING BY ITSELF FROM 4,5, THEN TO 3RD GEAR, AND THEN RECOVERING TO THE 6TH GEAR. IT IS VERY VERY SCARY... I TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO AAMCO. THEY RESET MY TRANSMISSION VALUES TO NO EFFECT. WHEN THESE EVENTS OCCURR I HAVE NO CRUISE CONTROL. NO DTC CODE HAS POPPED UP. MY CAR STALLS AT RED LIGHTS, OR WHEN LEAVING MY CAR ON FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

NHTSA ID
11109974
Incident
Jul 7, 2018
Mileage
120,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 10, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO GEAR ROUGHLY AND THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,220.

NHTSA ID
10971647
Incident
Apr 3, 2017
Mileage
56,220 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 27, 2016
Crash reported

ON 7/24 MY 21 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES (WITH BOTH FEET) AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING. SHE ENDED UP COLLIDING WITH A WALL WHICH DISCONNECTED THE POWER AND THE CAR STOPPED ABOUT 50 FEET FROM POINT OF IMPACT.

NHTSA ID
10888941
Incident
Jul 24, 2016
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 10, 2016

MY 2011 KIA FORTE STALLS RANDOMLY WHILE I DRIVE IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN MULTIPLE DRIVING SITUATIONS. TWO INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 805 SOUTH IN SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA. ANOTHER INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS LEAVING THE MARRIOTT HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO (IN THIS INSTANCE, I HAD TO COAST THE CAR OFF OF THE TRACKS -FORTUNATELY NO TRAIN WAS COMING AT THAT TIME). IN DESCRIBING MY EXPERIENCES IN ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS, I OFFER THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION: ON JUNE 6, 2016, WHILE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 805 IN SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA, THE CAR JUST STALLED. WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE MOTOR WOULD REV BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AND DRIVE TO SAFETY. PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM (YET THEY HAVE CHARGED ME FOR SERVICES RENDERED). I FILED MY COMPLAINT WITH KIA CORPORATE CONSUMER ASSISTANCE. THEY HAVE ASKED ME TO BRING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR "ESCALATED SERVICES" THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. EACH TIME I THINK THE CAR IS REPAIRED, THEN I EXPERIENCE ANOTHER INCIDENT. THE LATEST INCIDENT HAPPENED TWO WEEKS AFTER MY LATEST VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 8 2016. THE CAR STALLED AGAIN! MY FAMILY AND I FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN CONSTANT DANGER DRIVING THIS CAR. YET, WE NEED THIS CAR IN CONDUCTING OUR FAMILY AFFAIRS. KIA CORPORATE CANNOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND WE DO NOT KNOW HOW BEST TO PROCEED. WE FEEL THAT OUR SAFETY IS AT STAKE AND WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS SITUATION CAN BE RESOLVED BEFORE ANY HARM COME TO OUR FAMILY OR TO OTHERS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I CAN OBTAIN REPAIR DOCUMENTS, BUT I DO NOT HAVE THEM AT THIS MOMENT.

NHTSA ID
10883822
Incident
Jun 6, 2016
Mileage
94,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 30, 2015

I BOUGHT A 2011 KIA FORTE AND WAS HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE CAR SEEMED LIKE IT WAS DYING AFTER INITIAL STARTING OF THE VEHICLE AND SOMETIMES WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. AFTER DRIVING IT SEEMS TO CORRECT ITSELF AND I BROUGHT IT INTO KIA. THEY PUT IT UNDER A SPECIFIC CLAIM NUMBER INCASE THE WARRANTY WENT OUT IT IS STILL COVERED. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE CAR STARTED TO NOT GO INTO GEAR EVEN MORE AND ISSUE OF DYING SEEMS MORE PREVALENT. NOW KIA IS TRYING TO SAY IT COULD BE A NUMBER OF THINGS WHICH ARE NOT COVERED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY IS UP FROM FACTORY, AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY CLAIM DOESN'T COVER POWERTRAIN WHICH LAST TIME I CHECKED POWERTRAIN INCLUDES SHIFTER/GEAR SHIFTER. THEY ARE NOW REFUSING TO FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM IS BUT HAVE SEEN THE ISSUE FIRST HAND. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES AND 70% OF THE TIME YOU CANT PUT IT INTO GEAR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN SINCE IT COULD POP INTO ANY GEAR IT WANTED TO AND IF I AM DOING 70 MPH AND IT DECIDES TO GO INTO PARK IT WONT BE A FUN RIDE.

NHTSA ID
10778899
Incident
Nov 1, 2014
Mileage
62,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 30, 2014

TRAN. WENTOUT STILL NOT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10661366
Incident
Feb 15, 2012
Mileage
22,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 15, 2013

WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO GAIN SPEED TO ENTER THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS AND HAD TO PULL OVER. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP 10 MILES AWAY. I AM AWAITING A CALL FROM THEM REGARDING REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10548029
Incident
Oct 15, 2013
Mileage
42,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 16, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ODOMETER READ 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED DURING OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,000.

NHTSA ID
10465766
Incident
Jul 13, 2012
Mileage
24,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 4, 2012

WHEN GOING 60 ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN TO 40 AND I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPON RECIEVING THE CAR AGAIN IT WOULD JERK AND STALL WHEN ACCELERATING. CAR WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND A "RELEARN" OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS PERFORMED. THIS HAS NOT STOPPED THE PROBLEM AND HAS MADE IT WORSE. IT NOW JERKS WHEN STOPPING AND WHEN ACCELERATING AND PEEDS OF 5 MI/HR OR MORE. AS WELL AS WHEN FIRST SHIFTING THE CAR OUT OF PARK. *JS

NHTSA ID
10464189
Incident
Jul 23, 2011
Mileage
40,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 9, 2012

WAS DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS FELT THIS SUDDEN JERK (LIKE I HAD BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND) AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO. WHEN I GOT PULLED OVER I PLACED IT IN PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE IT WOULD NOT PULL FORWARD. TRIED TO PUT INTO THE MANUAL SHIFT SIDE AND IT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING THERE EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10450856
Incident
Mar 9, 2012
Mileage
38,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 25, 2011

CAR WILL NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY UNDER MANUAL.

NHTSA ID
10409753
Incident
Jun 20, 2011
Mileage
1,370 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .