2014 Kia Forte Driver assistance Problems

The systems affected appear to be engine, powertrain, and vehicle speed control. My 2014 Kia Forte, VIN [XXX] has approximately 118,000 miles. Since purchase in November2025 from Wondries Toyota, the vehicle has had repeated high RPM, poor acceleration, and loss of power when entering freeway on-ramps and driving uphill. It struggles to accelerate while merging into faster traffic, creating a safety risk as vehicles behind approach at higher speeds. Two different mechanics verbally advised that there may be an oil leak or oil consumption issue affecting the catalytic converter. I replaced the catalytic converter a couple months ago, but it became clogged again and the power loss continues. The vehicle is available for inspection. The problem has not been inspected by the manufacturer yet, and I don’t have a written diagnostic report at this time. There was no crash, fire, injury, or fatality, and no police report. Warning lights are unknown. The exact incident date is approximate. The issue has been ongoing since after purchase and occurs multiple times, especially during freeway merging and uphill driving. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11756624

Incident

Nov 21, 2025

Back-up camera does not function. I'm told the camera unit itself is at fault, not the electrical circuit leading to the 'head unit' (infotainment system). It has not operated property for about two years. I've owned the vehicle for7 years.

NHTSA ID

11638568

Incident

May 15, 2022

Sterling wheel begins to shake at high speed and a lower speed causing the whole steering wheel to shake and make noise. And have realized the cruise control is no longer working

NHTSA ID

11638537

Incident

Jan 25, 2025

My steering wheel feels loose and makes a noise when turning. Feels like I need to turn the steering wheel a bit before my tires start to turn and then it clicks again when my wheel goes back to neutral. This also has caused my cruise control and windshield wipers to stop working.

NHTSA ID

11462853

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

Back up camera only whats some of the time. When it sometimes works it is when the outside temperature gets around 65 degrees or lower, but even then it works some of the time. The screen flickers sometime when it working as well.

NHTSA ID

11445585

Incident

Aug 12, 2021

Airbag light stays on all the time. Brake lights constantly burning out breaking system system will skidvover grates at bumps. Car will scrape over roads. All steering wheel functions not working

NHTSA ID

11434262

Incident

Sep 17, 2021

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER STATING THAT MY CAR IS PART OF A RECALL INVOLVING A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE THAT COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE AND INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE RECALL. THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT THE ENGINE WILL FAIL. KIA MANUFACTURER IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE EVEN AFTER THEIR MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME COUNTLESS TIMES I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN THAT IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE HAD TO BRING MY CAR TO AND FROM THE DEALERSHIP 3-4 TIMES NOW IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS AFTER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS TURNING ON AND FLASHING CONTINUOUSLY AND MY CAR WON'T ACCELERATE LIKE NORMAL AND WILL NOT DRIVE PAST 40 MPH. I HAVE TO FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL JUST TO MOVE THE CAR. BEFORE I RECEIVED THIS RECALL LETTER AND TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET LOOKED AT, I HAD NO ISSUES WITH MY CAR ACCELERATING AND HAVE NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BUT NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR DOESN'T DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP DAMAGED MY CAR AND ARE DENYING ANY WRONGDOING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE MY CAR IN THIS CONDITION I'M NOT WILLING TO RISK MY FAMILY'S SAFETY OR MY OWN SAFETY BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE MANUFACTURER WON'T GO THROUGH WITH THE REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE DONE FOR SAFETY REASONS AND REPLACE MY ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT LISTENING TO THEIR MECHANICS THAT HAVE TOLD ME THE ENGINE IS GUARANTEED TO FAIL. MY VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE AND KIA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NO RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT GIVE ME A LOANER CAR TO DRIVE FOR THE TIME EITHER.

NHTSA ID

11415949

Incident

Apr 20, 2021

Mileage

102,420 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 40 MPH WITH THE SPEEDOMETER INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND DROVE SLOWLY UNTIL THE VEHICLE REGAINED NORMAL FUNCTIONALITY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RAY BRANDT KIA (1884 WESTBANK EXPY, HARVEY, LA 70058, (504) 356-7072) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11403533

Incident

Mar 17, 2020

Mileage

90,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE MOTOR JUST WENT OUT. I CHECK THE OIL IT WAS LEAKING OUT.

NHTSA ID

11396862

Incident

Feb 10, 2020

Mileage

100 mi

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND NOTICED MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE/VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING. IT WOULDN'T LET ME ACCELERATE PAST 40MPH. IT STOPPED WHEN AT A STANDSTILL. SMELLED AN ODOR COMING FROM THE CAR. I CALLED KIA AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAS HAPPENED. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND I'M WAITING FOR THE RESULTS NOW.

NHTSA ID

11395641

Incident

Feb 10, 2021

Mileage

145,550 mi

BEFORE EXITING BUT DURING DEPARTURE OF PARKING LOT FOR APARTMENT BUILDING KEEPING BRAKE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED WITH TRANSMISSION GEARED IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE QUICKLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY TOOK OFF AND SPED OUT OF CONTROL BACKWARDS UNTIL STOPPED BY SUDDEN IMPACT WITH A TREE RESULTING IN NUMEROUS BODILY INJURIES TO TRAUMATIC MENTALLY ANGUISHED DRIVER AND 2 PASSENGERS, 1 OF WHICH WAS SEATED IN THE BACKSEAT COLLISION SIDE RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE ACCORDING TO DRIVERS INSURANCE POLICY PROVIDER STATE FARM. CLAIM NUMBER: 53-15K1-66D

NHTSA ID

11390435

Incident

Jan 8, 2021

I OWN A 2014 KIA FORTE EX.. WHEN I FIRST GOT MY CAR I NOTICE A LIGHTLY TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE A LOT OF PEOPLE TOLD ME THE TICKING SOUND WAS NORMAL ON NEW ENGINES . IT SEEMS TO GET A BIT LOUDER AS TIME WHEN IN.. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE DRIVING WHEN WE NOTICE THE SOUND GOT MUCH LOUDER AND A SLAPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND MY CAR LOOSING POWER AND ALSO A BURNING SMOKE SMELL GETTING MUCH HEAVIER TO THE POINT THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF AND QUIT IT ON US. THE DASH ALSO GOT VERY HOT AT THIS POINT .. WE CALLED FOR TOW SERVICE AND GOT THE CAR BACK HOME ... WAS SURE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH MY CAR .. THANK YOU ! *TR

NHTSA ID

11328540

Incident

Jun 3, 2020

Mileage

158,000 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. HORN ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY AND CRUISE DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID

11229223

Incident

Jun 2, 2018

LAST WEEK MY AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED COMING ON. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY CRASH FOR A CRASH REPAIR TO BE A FACTOR. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE LIGHT FIRST CAME ON. THE LIGHT DOES GO OFF WHEN IT WANTS TO. I HAVE TRIED RESETTING THE CAR BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY FOR A FEW MINUTES, THIS DID NOT HELP. I AM VERY SCARED THAT THE AIR BAGS COULD DEPLOY AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. TODAY MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD ONLY GO OFF IF I RESTARTED THE CAR BUT LESS THAN A MILE THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. AND BECAUSE THIS LIGHT WAS ON MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT SET.

NHTSA ID

11210660

Incident

May 29, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND MADE A SPUTTERING NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11184172

Incident

Jul 10, 2018

Mileage

170,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE ELECTRICAL WENT OUT. THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND STEERING WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR HAD 60K MILES. BATTERY IS NOW ON ITS 3RD REPLACEMENT. OTHER PRIOR WARNING SIGNS WERE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING AND OCCASIONAL CLICKING WHEN STARTING. THESE OTHER PRIOR WARNING SIGNS HAVE OCCURED SINCE 30K MILES.

NHTSA ID

11182791

Incident

Feb 27, 2019

Mileage

60,100 mi

VEHICLE ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE WHEN STOPPING OR STOPPED & FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. TURNING THE A/C ON SLIGHTLY MADE INTENSIFIED THE ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ID

11142328

Incident

Oct 23, 2018

Mileage

37,000 mi

I HAD REPORT THE ISSUE TO KIA OF TUPELO, MS. MY CARD HAS HAD TWO RECENT ISSUES. THE FIRST ONE BEING THAT UPON ACCELERATION, WHITE SMOKE HAS BEEN NOTED TWICE. THE CAR HAS STALLED OUT TWICE UPON TAKE OFF ON THE HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE. THIS CONCERN ME GREATLY! ON MY MOST RECENT OIL CHANGE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT I HAVE AT LEAST TWO QUARTS OF OIL SHORTAGE, WITH NO LEAKS NOTED.

NHTSA ID

11090319

Incident

Apr 22, 2018

Mileage

89,992 mi

ON SATURDAY MARCH 26TH, 2018 I WSS DRIVING NORTH BOUND ON I471 IN KENTUCKY. DOING ABOUT 50-55 MPH WHILE IT WAS SNOWING/SLEETING OUTSIDE. AS I WAS TRAVELING ANOTHER VEHICLE SWERVED OVER TO GET IN EXIT LANE WHILE AT SAME TIME ON A RIGHT TURN AROUND EXIT LANE. ONCE CAR DID SO, I HAD TO PRESS HARD, SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID BEING CLIPPED BY OTHER VEHICLE. AS I DID THIS I BEGAN TO SPIN NOR, THE ESC OR TRACTION CONTROL TOOK OVER AND I SPUN OUT OF CONTROL STRIKING GUARD RAIL AT UNKNOWN SPEED. I WAS UNINJURED, HOWEVER AS U CAN SEE LOTS OF DAMAGE TO FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I CONTACTED KIA RIGHT AWAY DO TO THE RECENT RECALLING BRAKE STOP PEDAL. I TOOK PICTURES THEY REQUIRED ANDCS3NT THEM AS, TOO THEY WERE CONCERNED OF NON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THEY DETERMINED VIA AN ENGINEER WITH IN THEIR DEPT. JUST BY LOOKING AT PHOTO'S THAT AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. SO, MY ISSUE WITH THIS IS THEY ARE MAKING A DETERMINATION BY NOT PHYSICALLY HAVING VEHICLE DAMAGE TO MAKE ASSUMPTION AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. UPON LOOKING AT OTHER COMPLAINTS ON HERE ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS MINE. THIS MAYBE A CONCERN GOING FORWARD. I HAVE GIVEN SAID AUTOMAKER TO HELP WITH REPAIRS FROM ACCIDENT. AND THEY SEEM TO TRYING TO AVOID THESE PROBLEMS WITH SAID VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11084680

Incident

Mar 26, 2018

Mileage

146,899 mi

TAKATA RECALL NEEDS TO RECALL THE BREAKS ON THE 2014 KIA FORTE. ON NOVEMEBER 21ST 2016 I TOTALLED MY KIA DUE TO FAILURE OF MANAFACURER BREAKS THEY DIDNT STOP ME AND I REAR ENDED A CAR WHICH HOT ANOTHER THAT HIT ANOTHER. THE SPEED CONTROL ON THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL I BEARLY PUSH ON FHE GAS AND IT ZOOMED OFF T WENT FROM 0-30 REALLY QUICK. DURRING THE WRECK I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH WHICH WHEN I HIT THE CAR DUE TO THE BREAKS FAILING MY CAR BOUCED OFF OF IT AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE ROAD WAS DRY IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE OT WAS 5:58 AM AND VERY CLEAR OUTSIDE. THE ROADS WERE VERY DRY NOT SLICK AT ALLL MY CAR JOLTED AS THE BREAKS TRIED TO STOP ME BUT THEY NEVER ATOPPED ME. IT WAS ON A BACK ROAD HEADING TO TAKE MY HUSBAND TO WORK.

NHTSA ID

10933944

Incident

Nov 21, 2016

Mileage

63,533 mi

TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CONSTANTLY GOES ON AND OFF, CAR CONTINUALLY GETS STUCK IN PARK AND WHILE DRIVING DASH DOESN'T SHOW GEARS. BROUGHT TO DEAL PROVIDED PICTURES AS PROOF AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. ASKED FOR PAPERWORK AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD MAIL IT NEVER RECEIVED PAPERWORK.

NHTSA ID

10918082

Incident

Oct 8, 2016

Mileage

53,000 mi

INTERMITTENTLY, ON DAYS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT (110+) THE CAR WILL START UP WITH ALL SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, CANNOT SHIFT INTO GEAR WITHOUT PUSHING THE GEAR SHIFT OVERRIDE BUTTON, POWER STEERING DOESN'T WORK, SKID CONTROL ON, AND AC BLOWS HOT AIR. ONCE IT COOLS DOWN THE ISSUE STOPS AND WON'T PRESENT ITSELF AGAIN UNLESS VERY SPECIFIC CONDITIONS ARE MET. HAPPENED FIRST YEAR AFTER HAVING THE CAR, IN THE SUMMER. SERVICE CENTER COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. SUMMER YEAR 2, ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN, WITH PICTURES, SERVICE CENTER USED HEAT GUN TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR/NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH WAS REPLACED. SUMMER YEAR 3. ISSUE HAPPENED ON 118 DEGREE DAY WHEN STARTING UP CAR. A WEEK LATER HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING ON ANOTHER 118 DEGREE DAY. NEW ISSUES INCLUDE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER STAY AT 0 EVEN WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, DISPLAY THAT SHOWS RANGE AND GAS MILEAGE STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. RANGE WOULD ADJUST WHEN GAS PEDDLE PUSHED, MPG STAYED BLANK AND DID NOT COME BACK AFTER CAR HAD RESTED AND COOLED DOWN.

NHTSA ID

10875300

Incident

Jun 18, 2016

Mileage

27,000 mi

KIA FORTE EX 2014 ESC LIGHT CAME ON AND MY BRAKE LIGHTS WONT LIGHT UP WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS STIFF WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP. CHECKED ALL PLUGS AND BULBS AND THEY ALL ARE GOOD, CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND WILL TAKE ME IN ON MONDAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10616561

Incident

Jul 26, 2014

Mileage

9,612 mi

ON TWO OCCASIONS I HAVE SMELLED GAS WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE DATE ABOVE IS THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST WAS AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 3-4 DAYS AFTER A SNOW STORM IN LATE 2013. THE BRAKES VIBRATE WHEN STOPPING ON A ROUGH SURFACE. KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS ATTRIBUTES THIS TO THE DESIGN OF THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM AND APPARENTLY DOES NOT CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM. ON ONE OCCASION - AGAIN DURING A PERIOD OF COLD WEATHER IN LATE 2013 - THE GEARS GROUND WHEN TURNING AT MAXIMUM ROTATION TO PARALLEL PARK THE CAR IN A TIGHT SPOT, A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THE URBAN AREA WHERE I LIVE. UNLIKE THE BRAKING AND GAS-LEAK PROBLEM, THIS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE. DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH POSSIBLE ODOMETER TAMPERING I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO A DEALER TO ADDRESS THE OTHER PROBLEMS FOR FEAR THEY WILL TRY TO MASK EVIDENCE OTHER THAN THE SCRATCH ON THE DRIVER DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576713

Incident

Mar 26, 2014

Mileage

1,050 mi