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
    - MIDDLEPORT, NY

    ON THE WAY TO A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT WITH KIA FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THE CAR STALLED ON A CITY STREET. IT STARTED ROUGH AFTER AND THEN STALLED AGAIN 2 MILES AFTER THAT ON A CURVED CITY INTERSECTION. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AFTER THE SECOND STALL AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP. METAL SHAVINGS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE ENGINE AND OIL. THE ENGINE ALSO SHOWED DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD AND TIMING CHAIN FROM THE METAL SHAVINGS. THE CAR NEEDS THE ENGINE REPLACED, BUT A NEW OR USED ENGINE IS NOT AVAILABLE AND I WAS ADVISED THAT A NEW ENGINE NEEDS TO BE BUILT AT A MINIMUM OF $10,000. THE CAR HAS 103,000 MILES ON IT AND ONLY WORTH $3,400 IN GOOD CONDITION. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER KIA AND HYUNDIA VEHICLES BUT MY MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED. CASE NO. 8:16-CV-01033.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - ALTURAS, CA

    MADE A TURN AT APPROX 12 MPH. CAR BUMPED INTO NEUTRAL WHEN GROCERIES TIPPED OVER. HEATER, RADIO, AND ENGINE ALL QUIT. COULD NOT BE RESTARTED, VEHICLE HAD ZERO POWER. STRANDED IN INTERSECTION. TOWED TO REPAIR, INFORMED ENGINE HAD SEIZED DUE TO OVER-REVVING IN NEUTRAL. HAD ZERO POWER, COULD NOT OVER-REV. KIA AND WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSING ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR COVERAGE. BEING TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AND A NEW STARTER. ESTIMATED REPAIR $8500, MORE THAN TWICE BLUEBOOK VALUE. I SEE AFTER RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH KIA VEHICLES OF THIS ERA. APPROX. 83000 MILES, ALL SERVICE UP TO DATE. I NOTICE ON THE AUL REPORT THE AMOUNT OF WEAR ON THE ENGINE, AND THE DESCRIPTION OF THE DAMAGE USING WORDS LIKE "HEAVILY SCORED AND WORN TO COPPER BACKING." I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THIS KIND OF DAMAGE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE MINUTE OR SO THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE DRIVER WAS AWARE OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED. (SHE SAW THE GROCERIES TIP OVER AND HIT THE SHIFTER).

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - JERSEY CITY, NJ

    I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET WHEN I ALL OF A SUDDEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE COME FROM ABOVE. SECONDS LATER, I START HEARING SOME RATTLING ABOVE ME. WHEN I AM ABLE TO PULL OVER, I OPEN THE COVER TO THE SUN ROOF AND A PIECE OF GLASS FALLS. I IMMEDIATELY CLOSE THE COVER AGAIN SO NO MORE GLASS CAN FALL INTO THE CAR. MY SUN ROOF IMPLODED AND BROKE EVERYWHERE. THANKFULLY I HAD THE SUN ROOF COVER CLOSED OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT. I READ ONLINE THAT HAD HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE BEFORE BUT KIA TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SUN ROOF AND SOMETHING HAD TO OF FALLEN ON THE GLASS CAUSING IT BREAK. I ENDED UP HAVING TO PAY MY DEDUCTIBLE.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - LISBON, NH

    AT 70,000 MILES THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AT COLD START UP AND CONTINUING TO GET WORSE. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED EVERY 5,000 TO 7,000 AS KIA RECOMMENDS. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY SAID MY ENGINE IS NOT A RECALL. I READ NHTSA IS LEADING THE KIA RECALL BUT NOT SURE IF THAT'S ACTUAL FACT OR NOT. WHAT I HOPE FOR IS THAT MORE INVESTIGATION GOES INTO THE REGULAR 2.0 ENGINE THAT'S IN MY CAR. I READ KIA HAS A 2.0 TURBO RECALL AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TURBO PART IS ABOUT SINCE IT'S AN EXTERNAL PART OF THE ENGINE. I HAVE ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS OF OIL CHANGES UNTIL I PURCHASED THE CAR IN THE 43,000 MILES RANGE FROM MY ORIGINAL LEASE. I THEN RECORDED EVERY OIL CHANGE DONE BUT DON'T HAVE THE RECEIPTS. I DO ALL MY OWN WORK NOW BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST KIA AND IF ONE TRIES TO CALL THEM IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TALK TO ANYONE. I'M ACTUALLY NOT SURE HOW MUCH LONGER MY CAR WILL RUN BUT I'M NOT WILLING TO TRADE IT IN AND SEND THIS ISSUE ONTO SOMEONE ELSE LIKE KIA IS DOING TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE ENGINE FAILS WHEN I'M DRIVING IT BUT I NOW HAVE IT DOCUMENTED. AT SOME POINT I'LL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND REALLY DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE SINCE I HAVE FOLLOWED KIA'S MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. I'M NOT SURE IF NHTSA CAN HELP MY ISSUE BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO TO TURN TO. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - BALCH SPRINGS, TX

    AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON RIGHT AFTER HITTING 108K MILES. CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AMY ACCIDENT. NO AIRBAGS HAVE EVER DEPLOYED. THE LIGHT JUST CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF.ALSO CAR MAKES HUMMING SOUND WHILE IDLING WITH THE FOOT OFF THE GAS. BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW AND I'M BEING INFORMED THAT OTHER MODELS THAT ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE ARE BEING RECALLED.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - PASSAIC, NJ

    I WAS DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 DAYS AND THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WITH SOME NOISE, AND NOISE STARTED TO GET LOUDER AND LOUDER, I STOPPED THE ENGINE AND I HAD TO TAKE THE ENGINE APART TO SEE INSIDE TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, I FOUND METAL DEBRIS FROM THE ENGINE IN THE OIL BAN AND CYLINDER #2 AND # 4 ROD BEARING WORN OUT, AND FROM WHAT I READ ABOUT THE HYUNDAI PROBLEM, ALL HYUNDAI UNDER RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, I DONT KNOW HOW COME KIA NO RECALL SO FAR AND THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE INSTALLED ON HYUNDAI.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE KOUP
    - LEBANON, OR

    ROD BEARING FAILURE ON A 2012 KIA FORTE KOUP 2.4L ENGINE AT APPROX. 93,300 MILES WITH NO PRIOR ISSUES. ENGINE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND NEVER ABUSED. BEGAN RATTLING WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DETERMINED TO BE THE #2 PISTON HITTING THE HEAD. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF ANYTHING WRONG, NO UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE, NO "IDIOT" LIGHTS, NO MISFIRE, NO VIBRATION, NOTHING, JUST A SUDDEN PULSING NOISE THAT WAS FIRST THOUGHT TO BE THE EXHAUST SOUND FROM A PASSING HARLEY.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE KOUP
    - GRAFTON, OH

    BOUGHT MY CAR USED FROM A DEALERSHIP AND AM THE SECOND OWNER. CAR ONLY HAD 36K MILES WHEN PURCHASED. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO SOLD ME A BOGUS WARRANTY FOR $2,995.00 FOR 36 MONTHS 60K MILES WHEN THE MANUFACTURE WARRANTY GAVE ME 5 YEARS/60K. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THIS KNOCKING STARTED IN THE ENGINE AND IT WAS LOUD SO I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD HAD IT TOWED HOME. AFTER A FEW PHONE CALLS I HAD IT TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. I'M PRETTY PISSED ABOUT THIS SITUATION BECAUSE KIA AND THE DEALERSHIP WANT TO TAKE NO OWNERSHIP FOR THIS VEHICLE DESPITE ALL THE REPORTS I'VE READ ON LINE ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS 84K ON IT NOW BUT FAITHFUL OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN DONE SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. OF COURSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY AS THAT ENDED AT 60K. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ENGINE IN OTHER KIA CARS BUT NOT THIS ONE AND I WISH I KNEW WHY. MINE HAS A THETA II - 2.4L DUAL OVERHEAD CAM WITH A DOHC ENGINE AND THE RECALLS ARE FOR A THE EXACT SAME ENGINE EXCEPT IT'S CALLED A GDI ENGINE. WHAT THE HECK IS THE DIFFERENCE IF THEY ALL KEEP BLOWING - IT'S THE EXACT SAME [XXX]ENGINE. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I STILL OWE APPROXIMATELY 12K ON THE [XXX] CAR - NO ONE WANTS TO FIX IT AT NO COST TO ME AND IT COULD COST ME AROUND 8K TO FIX IT. RIDICULOUS TO KEEP PAYING FOR A CAR YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX AND OR DRIVE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. GOOD LUCK TO ALL KIA OWNERS OUT THERE - I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

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

    THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE CAR GOES OUT OFTEN SINCE I BOUGHT IT, MORE COMMONLY THE RIGHT SIDE. I HAVE REPEATEDLY CHECKED AND REPLACED FUSES AND BULBS. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT WON'T LAST A MONTH BEFORE SOMEONE TELLS ME MY BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING. THIS IS A HAZARD. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY ISSUES WITH THE WIRES OR FUSES, BUT THROUGH RESEARCH FOUND EARLIER MODELS OF THE KIA FORTE HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE PROBLEM BEING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BY THE PEDAL. KIA NEEDS TO FIND A FIX FOR THIS AND DO A PROPER RECALL.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA FORTE
    - WARRENTON, OR

    THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED BY DEALERSHIP. ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A TAPPING NOISE INSIDE, AND DEALERSHIP TOLD WIFE IT WAS NORMAL. THIS LAST TIME I TOOK CAR IN , AND FIND OUT THAT ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SAME ENGINE BEING RECALLED ON OTHER VEHICLES, BUT NOT ON MY YEAR OF CAR. NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO REPORT THIS ISSUE.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE