2011 Kia Forte Problems

See attached document for complaint.

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.

WCS Sensor Defect B1322-20 - Airbag Code WCS Communication Error B1324-20 - Airbag Code Door Ajar Lamp Circuit Failure B1323-20 - Airbag Code

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.

The contact owned a 2011 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, a bystander went into the contact's place of employment and stated that there was a fire inside the vehicle in the parking lot. The contact became aware that his vehicle was the one on fire. No warning lights were illuminated prior to parking the vehicle. The cause of the failure was unknown. The contact's wife attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher but was unable to extinguish the fire. The contact called the Fire Department, and the firemen were able to extinguish the fire and were required to remove the dashboard in order to extinguish it. The Fire Department filed a report. A Police report was filed. The contact stated that his wife sought medical attention for smoke inhalation. The contact was notified that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000.

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the TPMS, red brake light, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was jumping and jerking during acceleration and deceleration. After restarting the vehicle, there was resistance while accelerating, and the jerking persisted. The contact stated that the failures started one week after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was then driven to a dealer, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 273,000.

Recalls

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.

The centered high mounted brake light overheated during normal vehicle operation. The plastic bulb socket and housing melted, causing the bulb to dislodge and fall into the interior of the vehicle. The bulb was extremely hot and burned holes through an interior fabric item that was stored in the rear cargo area for less than 15 minutes. There was no collision or modification involved. This created a potential fire hazard inside the vehicle. No warning lights or dashboard messages appeared prior to the incident. The cause of overheating is unknown. The damaged bulb, socket, and surrounding components were available for inspection at the time of the incident.

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.

I GOT INTO AN AUTO ACCIDENT A YEAR AGO AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. I DISCOVERED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVABLE BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER ONE. WELL JUST THE OTHER DAY MY INSIDE DASH LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS , WELL BASICALLY ALL LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING IN AND OUT. MADE THE CAR BREAK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. NEW FUEL PUMP, CHECKED STARTER AND ALTERNATOR. ALL OF THOSE ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. BUT MY CAR IS STILL BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

I KEEP REPLACING LIGHT BULBS AND THE PART WHERE U INTRODUCE THE LIGHT BULBS IS MELTING. I WAS TOLD TO CHECK FOR RECALL ON THESE. THANKS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM A DEALER 1 YR AGO AND HAD REPLACED LIKE 4 BULBS WITHIN A YEAR.

The centered high mounted brake light overheated during normal vehicle operation. The plastic bulb socket and housing melted, causing the bulb to dislodge and fall into the interior of the vehicle. The bulb was extremely hot and burned holes through an interior fabric item that was stored in the rear cargo area for less than 15 minutes. There was no collision or modification involved. This created a potential fire hazard inside the vehicle. No warning lights or dashboard messages appeared prior to the incident. The cause of overheating is unknown. The damaged bulb, socket, and surrounding components were available for inspection at the time of the incident.

Light in trunk exploded and melted. This was the original light that came with the car. Thankfully the trunk was empty and it did not catch fire.

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.

I was driving and the car caught on fire.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND MIDDLE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT AND/OR LATCH WHEN PROMPTED. UPON SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO EXTEND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND MIDDLE SEAT BELTS FOR LATCHING PURPOSES, THE SEAT BELTS MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED FROM THE REAR BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. ROSEN KIA MILWAUKEE (5505 SOUTH 27TH STREET, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53221, (414) 282-9300) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE SEAT BELT FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY COVERAGE HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

OTHER AIR BAG RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT TRAVELED LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE ON A TWO LANE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN AN OFF-SET, HEAD-ON COLLISION. THE DRIVER AIR BAG AND DRIVER SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED TO DEPLOY / ACTIVATE DURING THE SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURY.

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).

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE AND A SLIGHT LOOSENESS TO IT. ALSO AT SOME SPEEDS OR ON BUMPIER ROADS, THERE IS A VIBRATION, WHICH IS NOT DUE TO ANY OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES SINCE I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT. UPON CALLING THE DEALER, THEY EXPLAINED THAT IT IS THE SAME STEERING COUPLING PROBLEM THEY ARE HAVING WITH THE OPTIMA, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE KIA FORTE. THE PART IS LESS THAN $5.00, BUT THE LABOR IS $440 BECAUSE IT TAKES 4 HOURS TO REPLACE A RUBBER COUPLING. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED AS IT IS WITH THE OPTIMA, SINCE IT IS THE SAME ISSUE.

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.

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

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.

THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM (A/C) IS CREATING MOLD IN THE VEHICLE. KIA WILL NOT REPAIR AND HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A VERY STRONG ODOR WHILE RUNNING THE A/C AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. BOTH THE DEALER AND KIA MOTORS, USA HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE MOLD ISSUE. BOTH ASPERGILLIUS/PENICILLIUM AND STACHYBOTRYS/MEMNOIELLA WERE FOUND IN GREATER ABUNDANCE IN THE INTERIOR AIR SAMPLE THAN IN THE EXTERIOR AIR SAMPLE. THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPANY PERFORMING THE TEST RECOMMENDED THAT "THE DUCT SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TREATED WITH A FUNGICIDE TO KILL EXISTING MOLD SPORES AND HELP PREVENT NEW MOLD GROWTH." THE TEST RESULTS WERE SHARE WITH KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA, IRVINE CALIFORNIA, AND NO CORRECTIVE MEASURES OR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BY KIA. I HAVE IDLED THE VEHICLE AND IT IS NO LONGER IN USE SINCE MY DAUGHTER DEVELOPED SERIOUS HEADACHES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE A/C ON. I HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE KIA IS JUST SITTING IN FRONT OF MY HOME SINCE IT IS NOT DRIVE ABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE AND I CANNOT GET ANY ACTION FROM KIA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. MOLD IS NOT AN ISSUE JUST IN THE HOME AS WE HAVE FOUND IN THIS SITUATION. THE KIA TECHNICIANS WORKING ON THESE VEHICLES ARE INHALING MOLD, AND OWNERS DRIVING THESE VEHICLES ARE ALSO INHALING MOLD. GRANTED, IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL ISSUE, BUT IT DOES IMPACT THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF DRIVERS OPERATING A VEHICLE WITH MOLD IN ET A/C SYSTEM. A MECHANIC HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE EVAPORATOR CORE IN THESE VEHICLES MAY BE DEFECTIVE, OR A DESIGN DEFECT ALLOWS MOISTURE TO ACCUMULATE IN THE A/C SYSTEM AND DEVELOP MOLD. THANK YOU, *TR

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.

THE WARNING INFORMATION IS NOT CORRECT ON THE SPARE TIRE ON MY 2011 KIA FORTE. IT'S LISTED IN KILOMETERS PER HOUR AND KILOMETERS ON THE WARNING STICKER. THERE IS NO INFORMATION FOR MILES AND MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IN THE UNITED STATES, IT SHOULD HAVE THE CORRECT LABEL INFORMATION. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE COUPE EQUIPPED WITH NEXEN N5000 TIRES, SIZES P215/45/R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOTISIC REVIEW AND THEY COULD NOT INDICATE THE CAUSE FOR THE BLOW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,900. PAM

2ND SET OF TIRES USELESS AFTER 29,000 MILES PASSENGER SIDE TIRE UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED CONTACTED DEALER REPLY TOUGH LUCK. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 60 MPH CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO BE PUSHED FORWARD AT APPROXIMATELY TWO HUNDRED FEET AND INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD REST AND METAL BAR BECAME SEPARATED UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM WHIPLASH, NECK STRAINS, AND LACERATIONS TO THE LOWER BACK AND RIGHT LEG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH I WAS ONLY TRAVELING 20 MPH. BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG BOTH DEPLOYED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I REALIZED THAT THE SEAT BEHIND ME HAD UNLATCHED AND MY SON'S BOOSTER CAR SEAT WAS THROWN FROM ITS PLACE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE WASN'T BUCKLED IN; HE WAS AT SCHOOL. NEVERTHELESS, I THINK THAT THIS MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY SERIOUSLY HURT MY SON. THE CAR WAS DEEMED AT TOTAL LOSS AND I WILL NOT PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA MOTOR FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPON RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD HEAR SCREECHING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,532. UPDATED 09/02/11*LJ UPDATED 2/9/12 *CN