NHTSA Data Explorer

Kia Forte Koup

Data refreshed May 30, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Kia Forte Koup.

Complaints

52

Active records

Recalls

5

Active records

TSBs

103

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

1

Crashes

1

Fires

2

Top reported issues — Kia Forte Koup

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

18

Operating state

18

Noise

17

Engine behavior

12

Reporting mechanism

10

Safety restraint issue

6

Thermal issue

6

Performance issue

4

Safety restraint behavior

4

Fluid issue

3

Lighting behavior

3

Driver assistance issue

2

Smell

2

Starting behavior

2

Braking behavior

1

Recent change

1

Steering behavior

1

Vibration/harshness

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2012 KIA FORTE KOUP

Filed Jun 9, 2025


The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte Koup. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, white smoke was coming from under the hood. While the independent mechanic was starting the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The mechanic turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that prior to the smoke on a separate occasion, while the contact's daughter was driving 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who…

2016 KIA FORTE KOUP

Filed Mar 9, 2025


In December after getting letter in the mail saying I needed an upgrade to my car's knock sensor I took it to a Kia dealership. I received word from the dealership that my car had suffered a lower crank shaft failure and would need to be replaced. The dealership told me that this was a known issue and gave me a number to call to file a claim. After months of trying to get follow-up from the Kia claim office, they denied the claim. They said my engine had suffered failure before I had the knock…

2010 KIA FORTE KOUP

Filed May 2, 2021


THESE VEHICLES ARE ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS! I'VE BEEN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS MY ENTIRE CAREER FOR 15 YEARS WITH A LEVEL CERTIFICATIONS AND ASE'S. I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SIMPLE MATTER OF ANY ACCELERATION OVER 2900 RPM IT STARTS KNOCKING. I WILL NOT PUT MY FAMILY OR MYSELF IN THE DANGER OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ANY LONGER. IF SOMETHING WERE TO BREAK WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE RESULTS COULD BE DEVASTATING! I'VE CONTACTED KIA MANY TIMES REGARDING THIS MATTER YET I'VE BEEN TOLD…

2012 KIA FORTE KOUP

Filed Mar 18, 2021


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE KOUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY KIA OF FONTANA (16272 S. HIGHLAND AVE, FONTANA, CA 92336) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF AN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC CODE THAT WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONSUMPTION VALVE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED…

2016 KIA FORTE KOUP

Filed Sep 16, 2020


THE MOTOR BLEW AT 55,000 MILES

2013 KIA FORTE KOUP

Filed Jul 10, 2019


I PURCHASED THIS KIA IN 2014, SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO REPEATEDLY REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL / BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. THE PLASTIC PART OF THE CONNECTORS HAVE DRIED OUT AND ARE BREAKING INTO PIECES DUE TO THE WIRING GETTING TOO HOT, AS THE PARTS THAT ARE LEFT ARE NOW STARTING TO MELT. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL DIFFERENT CARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS AS MUCH AS IN THIS CAR. ALSO, ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOESN'T WANT TO UNLATCH. I WILL BE…

2013 KIA FORTE KOUP

Filed Jul 5, 2019


DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE RPMS DROPPED TO ZERO. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT ON THE SHOULDER WITHOUT ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THE ENGINE SEIZED UP BUT THE OIL LOOKED FINE. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD. THE CAR HAD 101,000 MILES IN IT.

2013 KIA FORTE KOUP

Filed Jun 5, 2019


THETA II ENGINE RECALL. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO GUIDE IT OFF THE INTERSTATE TO A SAFE SPOT ON THE SIDE. THE CAR WOULDNT STARY BACK AT ALL. COME TO FIND OUT, THE RODS FAILED AND LOCKED THE ENGINE UP. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WAS CHECK EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD INCLUDING THE OIL. THE OIL WAS FULL. AFTER READING ALOT ON THIS ISSUE, THERE IS…

2010 KIA FORTE KOUP

Filed May 6, 2019


I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 77 IN CHARLOTTE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. WHILE DRIVING, MY WHEEL HAD A STRUCTURAL FAILURE. I RETRACED MY ROUTE AND DO NOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROUTE (I.E. MAJOR OBSTACLE). REGARDLESS, THIS FAILURE IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE HAD OTHER CARS IN THE PAST AND HAVE RUN OVER SUBSTANTIAL ROAD DEBRIS AND NEVER HAD THE WHEEL ALMOST COME OFF OF THE CAR.

2013 KIA FORTE KOUP

Filed Mar 9, 2019


1 injured
Crash

I WAS CROSSING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION TURNING LEFT RIGHT AFTER THE LIGHT HAD TURNED GREEN. NEXT THING I KNEW IT I SAW ANOTHER CAR, IT WAS A CAMRY, FLYING THROUGH THE LIGHT RIGHT FOR ME. IT WAS RAINING HERE IN FLORIDA THAT DAY, AND OF COURSE GOING TO BRAKE SO ABRUPTLY I SLID IN ADDITION TO THE SPEED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I WAS T-BONED AT THAT INTERSECTION DIRECTLY NEXT TO WHERE THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE BEEN AND THEY NEVER DEPLOYED.I NOW SUFFER FROM 3 HERNIATED DISCS ON THE SPINE…

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated May 30, 2026. Refreshed nightly.