10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 1
Average Mileage:
35,242 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Kia Forte brakes problems

brakes problem

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2013 Kia Forte Owner Comments

problem #20

Aug 162023

Forte

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

No warning light or nothing just out the blue started knocking and shaking violently lost power almost got hit by a tractortrailer. It has been confirmed from independent shop #4 rod bearing spun and paper thin this happened on interstate 81 near UVA medical center the date was 8-2-2023

- Clifton Forge, VA, USA

problem #19

Mar 012023

Forte

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V773000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, other drivers were honking at him. The contact-€™s brother, who was following behind in another vehicle, alerted the contact that the brake lights failed to illuminate while the vehicle was stopping. Additionally, the transmission was able to shift gears while the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer did not perform the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

- Kendallville, IN, USA

problem #18

Nov 072022

Forte

  • miles
Recurrence of brake issue related to vehicle recall late 2017 which was fixed on my vehicle on Feb 14, 2018. Kia says since recall closed out it's not their responsibility.

- Fruitland Park , FL, USA

problem #17

Oct 172020

Forte

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My engine light keeps coming on, now it's saying that it's something different every time. Started my car up the next day then the light will go out. Something isn't right. My brakes are acting weird, and tire light keeps coming on.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #16

Nov 012019

Forte 4-cyl

  • 79,979 miles
My brake peddle began to stick. I would have to tap on the brake peddle to get it to unstick. I took my car to the Kia dealer near me. They told me it could be due the the brake stopper recall. They wanted to do a diagnostic test then. Which I could not afford at that time. The problem got worse. The brakes actually started engaging on their own. One time I was on the hwy and had to pull over and tap on my brakes to get them to unengage. I took my car back tp the dealer had them do the diagnostics. They told me my master cylinder needed to be replaced and brakes front and rear needed to be replaced. So I called Kia corporate afyer reading the diagnostics report. I was hung up on twice! I then took my car to another place and had them do their own diagnostics. I had to come out of pocket to replace a repair the entire ABS system on my car. It was due to a defect inside the master cylinder. The maater cylinder was coming apart from the inside. The peices were clogging my brake lines. Yet Kia only dyood behind a warrenty not the product. I have and live on a limited income due to my physical disabilities. I bought this car in good faith that Kia was a good and loyal consumer. I am still stuggling to pay for the repairs. My neighbors kept knocking O. my door one morning to tell me my lights on my car were on. I went out to check and it was in fact my brake lights. I had to tap on my brake peddle to get them to turn off. It ran my battery down. I had to call my maintenance manager for a jump start. Kia even had to nerve to charge me for a loaner car to drive while they conducted the diagnostics. I do have all reports and paper work and receipts. I was so proud of my new car. Now I am financially strapped due to this major defect that was in my 2013 master cylinder. This would happen on city streets, the hwy and parked, turned off with no one in the car.

- Offalen, MO, USA

problem #15

Mar 212016

Forte

  • miles
Wife got killed in it went thru a bridge closed

- Findlay, OH, USA

problem #14

Mar 302019

Forte

  • 132,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was looking up the blue book value and noticed that it was a recall on my car dealing with the breaks, seatbelt, and airbag. I made a call to Kia, gave them the VIN number and they said the car haven't been fixed. I was not aware of this and I did not get a carfax sheet.

- Jackson, MS, USA

problem #13

Jan 172019

Forte

  • 108,000 miles
The steering wheel locked onto one side, I could not regain control of the vehicle as the brakes stopped working as well and it made a U-turn onto the same street I was driving on, hitting the curb, rolling over. I was found upside down in my car unconscious from the crash because my air bags did not deploy.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #12

Sep 152015

Forte

  • 8,000 miles
The low tire pressure is always on even when I check the tires pressure and it right..the brakes are always squicking

- Visalia, CA, USA

problem #11

Dec 312017

Forte

  • 82,000 miles
During month of December 2017 discovered all brake lights (total of 3 bulbs) burned out. The center top brake light assembly discovered melted (self replaced with new ones). Three weeks ago, right brake light assembly and bulb both burned out and melted. I replaced the light bulb and used electrician tape to hold socket and bulb in place.

- Albuqeurque, NM, USA

problem #10

Oct 012017

Forte

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I keep having issues with my break light having to be replaced all the time. Now it's where they do not work at all nor does the car go into gear! I have to use something to push the shift lock down so that I can shift gears. This seems to be an universal issue around the board on several different forums. Now this issue has cause some type of electrical issue within my vehicle. I took it to Kia and at some point I'm sure this is isn't the first they have heard of this because they keep saying well your vehicle doesn't have any recalls. Okay I understand but at the same time the exact same thats happening with my vehicle is almost identical to previous year make and model breaklight issues. It's far too many complaints about this issue and if your vehicle isn't under warranty anymore, Kia refuses to acknowledge it or be responsible for it! if it walks like a duck....quacks like a duck....it's a duck...plain and simple! I feel this is neglect and it's putting consumers lives at risk.

- Warner Robins, GA, USA

problem #9

Jul 152014

Forte

  • 75,365 miles
The exterior lights on this vehicle need replacing every few weeks along with the cruise control not disengaging when brakes are applied and gear shift does not engage. The brake lights will light when the interior light control is in the off position but when the car is on and lights have been turned on, the brake lights do not light. When it first began happening the car was taken to earnhardt Kia in phoenix and they said they could find nothing wrong with the lighting system or electrical system. In the course of three years there have been 12-15 lightbulbs replaced including a headlamp.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #8

Jan 182017

Forte

  • miles
Caliper seized up, grinding noises, around 35000 miles

- Findlay, OH, USA

problem #7

Dec 202016

Forte

  • miles
When car is really cold, the brakes when applied get stuck down. I have to physically disengage the brakes.. even when I park my car at times the brake pedal will be down and only way I noticed is the brake lights in the back or on.. only time this happens is when its cold outside.. dealer took 2 times and decided not to take it any more because they advise they can't find the problem. Seems they had other years of recall and seems from this site that it is happening with this model too.. this happens mostly in the morning or late evening when temperature below 40 degrees

- Mount Arlington, NJ, USA

problem #6

Dec 052016

Forte

  • 62,000 miles
Yesterday my brake pedal did not engage and had an accident. I had reported to Kia that the brake pedal was sticking and I would have to flip it back up however when I took it in they informed me they could not recreate the problem. Kia should really look into to this costly problem. I have looked at reviews and I see where there is complaints of the same problem.

- Delmar, DE, USA

problem #5

Jun 052016

Forte

  • 83,000 miles
Takata recall turning off a road of 55 mph onto a 35 mph road. I let off of brakes after turn and I tried pressing on gas and no gas pedal! I hit the curb because I was N shock looking for gas pedal. This messed my rim and tire up. The gas pedal was laying on the floor. No property damage but this is very dangerous because this could of easily been the brake pedal. I'm sure they are made out of same material. I am waiting for insurance adjuster to come in the morning to assess the damage. Police did not write accident report.

- Rocky Mount, NC, USA

problem #4

Jan 012016

Forte

  • 1 miles
Brake pedal and brakes don't retract back up after they been applied when the temperature outside below 32 degrees. Dealer couldn't find nothing wrong, when I get to the dealer its not cold enough to have the problem, its not a consistent problem, but can be dangerous at times.

- Mt Arlington, NJ, USA

problem #3

Jul 062015

Forte

  • 52,000 miles
When driving 55 - 80 miles per hour, especially right at 70, the car shakes, and the engine knocks. It feels like a vibration, and the wheel shakes under your hands with a rhythmic knocking noise from the engine. The car also has issues with the front right brake when it is chilly or wet. The brake sticks and will not come up, grinding and causing the car to become difficult to drive. The pedal sinks in and will not come back up. I have taken the car to the dealer and been told nothing is wrong with the car. Both issues are still going on, and worsening as I drive it. Pretty sure being pushed past my warranty. Taking to another dealer for second opinion, worried in mean time the car is not safe to drive based on other similar reports. I bought my car from dealership, and was able to verify it had one owner. At time of purchase the car drove fine, but within days both issues had begun. I took it to a different dealer for service.

- Frankfort, KY, USA

problem #2

Sep 302014

Forte

  • 18,000 miles
Car makes loud noise while driving down fwy sounds like engine is going to drop out from underneath it - shakes and vibrates and acts like it's going to stop any moment. Brakes will not disengage, thereby making the gas pedal unable to engage. Car loses power while driving when brake doesn't disengage because the gas pedal doesn't engage. Brakes smell of burning rubber. Car rides like all 4 tires are flat - car shakes and vibrates as well. This has happened numerous times - more than 10 - took to dealer - they told me there was nothing wrong with the car. It is extremely dangerous to drive - I had the brake system line flushed and bled and the shop told me that what was in the brake line was not brake fluid - written right on the invoice. Kia is not standing behind their cars and screwing people - especially women. Service managers would just smirk and laugh when I took it in with the complaints - like I was an idiot.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #1

Dec 092013

Forte

  • 4,500 miles
Car brake pedal will stick and not come back up. This has also caused traction control light to come on. Only occurs when it is raining or a little cold outside. 2013 Kia Forte.

- Lexington, SC, USA

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