2012 KIA FORTE Complaints

View complaints related to 2012 KIA FORTE. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 300 complaints submitted for the 2012 KIA FORTE. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2012 KIA FORTE KOUP
    - RIALTO, CA

    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 WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,800.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - FAYETTEVILLE, AR

    I HAVE FINANCED A 2012 KIA FORTE HATCH BACK AND ON MAY 13TH 2020 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE, CHECK OIL AND ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE, BECAME HARD TO STEER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND THE ENGINE DIED AND THE CAR WOULDN'T RESTART. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND ANOTHER MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD MY ENGINE HAD SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED. THE CAR SAT IN MY GARAGE SINCE AND ON 2/8/2021 I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM KIA IN THE MAIL. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA ON 2/9/2021 AND IT HAS BEEN SITTING THERE SINCE. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT MY CAR WON'T PASS OR FAIL THE TEST AND IS THEREFORE NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND MY CAR WON'T BE REPAIRED. I AM NOW EXPECTED TO KEEP MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON THE FINANCE NOTE AND THE INSURANCE FOR A VEHICLE THAT DOESN'T RUN. I NEED TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - NATCHITOCHES, LA

    ENGINE HAS A SLIGHT KNOCK AND CONSISTENTLY HAS A ROUGH START-UP, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN LATEST RECALL NOTICE FROM KIA. FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN 2017, SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO WANTED TO REBUILD THE ENGINE. WE DECLINED DUE TO COST AND AFTER SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, KNOWING THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THESE CARS, WE WERE HOPING IT WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE 2020-2021 RECALL. INSTEAD, OUR VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WE'RE STILL DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE RECALL RELATED TO ENGINE KNOCKING, RISK OF FIRE, AND OTHER ENGINE ISSUES NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL 2012 KIA FORTES.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - LOGANVILLE, GA

    I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHILST DRIVING MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHICH PROCEEDED TO MAKE IT HARD FOR ME TO STEER AND COMPLETELY SLOWED DOWN MY CAR AND IT EVENTUALLY GAVE OUT ON ME . I WASN'T EXPERIENCING ANY OTHER PROBLEMS . WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC THEY STATED IT WAS THE ENGINE

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - SPRINGFIELD, MO

    OUR LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM WITH OUR CAR ON 3/15/19. 2012 KIA FORTE SX 2.4L (106,430 MILES, 6430 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY) FOUND THE ENGINE TO BE KNOCKING. FOUND THE #2 ROD BEARING TO BE SEVERELY WORN AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MAKE NOISE AND STOP ROTATING. RECOMMEND REPLACING THE ENGINE. THE 2.4L THETA II ENGINE WAS NOT PART OF ORIGINAL RECALL SO KIA WOULD NOT REPLACE ENGINE AND SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT ENGINE AND LABOR. WE DECLINED, AND CAR AS SAT STATIONARY FOR PAST TWO YEARS AT OUR HOME. WHEN WE FOUND OUT THIS 2.4L THETA II ENGINE WAS NOW INCLUDED IN A RECENT RECALL WE ASKED KIA TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO REPLACING THE ENGINE SINCE THE CAR HAS SAT FOR TWO YEARS AND I NO LONGER HAVE FAITH IN THE RELIABILITY OF THIS CAR AS PARTS OF THE CAR ARE NO LONGER IN WORKING CONDITION AND/OR MISSING. THEY REFUSED ANY ALTERNATIVES. THEY WANTED US TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL KIA DEALER TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM THAT WAS ALREADY DIAGNOSED BACK ON 3/15/19. THE ORIGINAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THE 2.0L AND 2.4L GDI ENGINES PROVIDED ALTERNATIVES TO ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENGINE FAILURE (LIKE TOWING), REBATES, ETC. SINCE KIA WAS FOUND AT FAULT AND FINED BY THE US GOVERNMENT OVER THEIR DELAY IN RECALLING THESE 2.4L THETA II ENGINES AND SINCE THAT DELAY WAS THE ONLY REASON WE DIDN'T FIX THIS CAR ON 3/15/19 WE FEEL WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR OUR EXPENSES AND LOSS OF TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE OF THEIR FAULTY ENGINE AND THEIR NEGLIGENCE IN DELAYING THE RECALL. HAVING THE ENGINE REPLACED NOW IS NO LONGER A VIABLE OPTION FOR US. WE OFFERED TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE WITH THE COST OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT/LABOR PUT TOWARDS A REBATE, KIA REFUSED.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - SHREVEPORT, LA

    TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I TOOK MY 2012 KIA FORTE TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA(ORR KIA) UPON RECEIVING A IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL BY KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. UPON COMPLETION OF MY RECALL I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE TICKING/ KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE THAT HAS A ODOR SMELL TO IT WAS DECLINE BY TECHLINE BECAUSE OF A OUTSIDE WARRANTY. I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS DECISION BECAUSE THE WARRANTY CLEARLY STATE VEHICLE'S ENGINE, ENGINE NOISE, FUEL SMELL, BURNING SMELL,ETC. THAT MAY BE RELATED TO AN ENGINE MECHANICAL ISSUE. AT VARIOUS TIMES THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - GAINESVILLE, FL

    THIS VEHICLE HAS NOW REPAIRED 2 TIMES FOR RECALL ON BRAKE LIGHT/WIRING ISSUE. WE WERE CHARGED BY THE JENKINS KIA OF GAINESVILLE,FLORIDA FOR THE LAST 2 TIMES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS BURNING OUT. MECHANIC AT ANOTHER BUSINESS ADVISED BULB BURNED SO MUCH THE BULB HOLDER WAS BURNED. SC158 IS RECALL NUMBER. REPAIRS DONE 10/22/2018, 2/14/2020 WIRING HARNESS & BULB HOLDER REPLACED ALL AT OUR COST. RECALLED TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE. BULB NOW BURNED OUT AGAIN 2/15/21. FEEL CHEATED BY THIS DEALER SINCE HAS BEEN RECALLED 2013 & 2015.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - APPLETON, WI

    I HAVE A 2012 FORTE WITH 103000 MILES. IT HAS DEVELOPED A ROD KNOCK THAT SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. WHY IS THE 2.0 ENGINE NOT INCLUDED WITH THIS RECALL?

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - CEDARTOWN, GA

    I BOUGHT MY 2012 KIA FORTE BRAND NEW. WELL..I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. IT MAKES A HORRIBLE TICKING NOISE LIKE ITS ABOUT TO BLOW UP AND I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY MILEAGE IS 96,000. MY DIM HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING AS WELL. AND ITS SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. KIA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND GO AHEAD AND RECALL BECAUSE I HAVE THE SAME ENGINE AS THE ONE THATS BEEN RECALL BUT THEY SAY MINE ISN'T LISTED IN THE RECALL.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - INKOM, ID

    THE MOTOR BLEW A ROD THREW THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOCK. CAR ONLY HAS 83,500 MILES ON IT. WAS TRAVELING AT 80 MPH ON INTERSTATE.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE