10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,672 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2013 Kia Forte Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #96

Oct 142023

Forte

  • 200,000 miles

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

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while parked a passersby observed that fire emanating from the engine compartment. The origin of the fire was unknown. The police report was taken. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a lot where it was dee. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #95

Sep 262023

Forte

  • miles
Was driving at approximately 60 MPH and heard an abnormal knocking noise sound coming from the engine compartment. The knocking noise occurred whenever the accelerator was pressed. No warning light was illuminated. Took car to mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine rod bearings needed to be replaced. Car had 205,000 miles at the time of engine failure and has been well maintained with records.

- Ripley, WV, USA

problem #94

Aug 082023

Forte

  • miles
No warnings driving vehicle started to hear a tapping noise Park the vehicle two days later started vehicle to take to shop belt blew off in pieces car stopped locked up would not restart no warning lights no loss of anything just stopped after one day of tapping told motorized seized did contact Kia also looked up information regarding what it could be and it matches the other issues customers are having and have had with their motors yet told no recall although all same symptoms

- Little Egg Harbor, NJ, USA

problem #93

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 #92

Dec 022020

Forte

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the dealer refused to complete the recall repair because additional repairs were needed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and determined that the vehicle should be repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #91

May 312023

Forte

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Pickerington, OH, USA

problem #90

Jan 062023

Forte

  • miles

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

Engine started producing a knocking sound, maybe a couple weeks later experienced catastrophic Engine failure, with a portion of the engine being thrown from the bottom of the engine block.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #89

Jun 272022

Forte

  • miles
Engine fire

- San Juan, PR, USA

problem #88

Feb 122019

Forte 4-cyl

  • miles
A summary of the issue resolved but not recognized by Kia Motors. Engine knocking. Was checked and replaced. 2013 Kia Forte EX VIN: [XXX] SEDAN 4DR 2.0L I4 F DOHC 16V GASOLINE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. Paid $4,384 for replacement. This engine should be added to the NHTSA Part 573 Safety Recall Report 20V-750 - vehicle 4. But it is not, WHY"!?!"! Same vehicle as 2014 model and that engine (2.0L) is on the recall report. Same engine and same problem but NHTSA did not include my model engine. Please reconsider and add this engine to the recall report. Kia will not fully acknowledge fault for these engine failures. I have reported this to Kia Motors and they closed my case as unresolved because no recall was reported. Case # [XXX] submitted 2/12/2019. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- New Braunfels, TX, USA

problem #87

Apr 032023

Forte

  • miles
Sudden rod bearing failure on a well maintained Engine. Other 2013 Kia Koups have recalls for the engine, but this specific vin does not and experiences the same problem with the THETA II engine. Engine is destroyed at 190,000 miles.

- Warner Robins, GA, USA

problem #86

Mar 282023

Forte

  • miles

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

So I bought my car used at a Kia Dealership. When I got my car I noticed that my cars engine was ticking. So I took it in. They said that I needed to replace the fan because it was worn down and that my extended warranty covers it. but went on to say well those Kia's make and model and year just make noise like that. So why say my fan needs replacing implying the cause of the noise and then go on to say that. I've googled and done a ton of research it feels like and asked, many mechanics who might think what it is. and they all say its coming from the engine. and the amount of people complaining about the same problem. and some bought there car brand new so.... there is something going on that they dont want us to know.

- Sioux City, IA, USA

problem #85

Dec 022020

Forte

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number:20V750000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph when the RPMs began to decrease and the vehicle began to display stalling-like systems. The vehicle failed to execute the intended gear direction. The RPMs dropped to 0. The contact was able to get the vehicle to the side of the road where they had the vehicle towed to a certified mechanic. It was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed replacement. The dealer denied the engine replacement despite the remedy stating engine replacement if necessary. The dealer stated that the ECU update needed to occur before the engine failed. The manufacturer confirmed engine replacement should be awarded when made aware of the failure. and referred them back to the dealer. The dealer had denied the engine replacement mentioned in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and issues regarding the dealer then changed that the ECU needed to be updated first. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. e. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Sugar Creek, MO, USA

problem #84

Feb 132023

Forte

  • 136,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was unaware if there were any warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000.

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #83

Jul 102022

Forte

  • 29,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, he depressed the accelerator pedal to change lanes and heard an abnormal knocking noise sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the knocking sound occurred whenever the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine rod bearings needed to be replaced. The contact was informed by the independent mechanic that the failure could be related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). Additionally, the contact reported that he had also experienced failures with the loss of power steering functionality, but the failure was intermittent. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.

- Ballston Lake, NY, USA

problem #82

Jan 202023

Forte

  • 71,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while having a routine oil change at an independent mechanic, he was informed there was a ticking noise coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the vehicle had experienced rod bearings failure, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Saint Paul Park, MN, USA

problem #81

Nov 092022

Forte 4-cyl

  • miles
1. The engine failed and is available for inspection upon request. 2. The car died in the middle of an interstate, I could have been rear ended putting the safety of myself and others in jeopardy. 3. As attached, an independent service center confirmed that the oil light was on, but there was oil in the car. They couldn-€™t find the problem. 4. The vehicle was inspected by an independent service center. 5. The oil warning lamp illuminated about 5 minutes prior to engine failure. The engine had been making knocking noises for at least 5 years. I asked mechanics multiple times to see if there was an issue with the engine because it would make so much noise but every time they came back and said they couldn-€™t find a problem. The engine had quit around 9/20/21 and Paul-€™s garage said there was a clog in the lines so they did a crankcase flush and the car was up and running again. Every time I took the car for maintenance after that they did a preventative crankcase flush. This time the engine died and I was told it is locked up. In the file I have uploaded there are 4 invoices from maintenance and repairs done to the car that I feel might relate to the issue.

- Greenfield Twp, PA, USA

problem #80

Nov 212022

Forte 4-cyl

  • miles
Constituent has experienced a total engine failure with their 2013 Kia Forte and would like to know why their vehicle is not included in the Kia engine safety recall

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #79

Oct 012021

Forte

  • miles
October 2021 vehicle shut off and loss power while stopped at red light, was able to restart and proceed. Vehicle then shut off again and would not restart Engine light illuminated(approx 75,000). Was towed to dealer and was diagnosed as needing and oil control valve replacement. Valve was replaced. Several days following repair engine light would sporadically illuminate would be on for several days then would go off for weeks at a time. Vehicle is again now experiencing same issues with shutting off while stopped, and also having issues accelerating at times.(101,000 miles) Oil is also changed regularly. I am the first owner of the vehicle and now that the 10 years are up and 100,000 miles have now passed, i am worried i will be left without my only transportation and means to provide for family

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #78

Sep 032022

Forte

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, she was accelerating to overtake another vehicle and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact noticed that the check engine and check oil light warning lights were illuminated. The contact coasted off the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The contact was not able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that she lifted the hood and noticed that smoke was coming from the driver-€™s side of the engine compartment. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the local dealer; however, a dealer was contacted and the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be diagnosed since the engine was inoperable. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #77

May 052022

Forte

  • miles
Engine had loud rattling and seized, was suppose to have long block and short block replaced. Only short block replaced paid $7,441.53. After three months of it being in the dealership, I got my car back. Less than twenty four hours later the check engine light came on. Brought it back, it is the same issues. component in engine that was suppose to be new part failed. It is back at the dealership. The right tail light keeps blowing lights. The component melted the tail light holder.

- Salem, OR, USA

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