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.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at 30 mph, there was smoke coming from the passenger's side window. The contact also stated that when the daughter applied the accelerator pedal, it failed to function and the vehicle gradually stopped completely. The contact's daughter got out of the vehicle and saw a red fluid underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was left at the side of the road. The vehicle was not towed or taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V070000 (power train), however the part to do the repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was contacted at 800-333-4542. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was part of the recall. A case number: 12391153 was provided. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
On 7/24 my 21 year old daughter was driving on a side street when the car began to accelerate on it's own. She applied the brakes (with both feet) and the car would not stop accelerating. She ended up colliding with a wall which disconnected the power and the car stopped about 50 feet from point of impact.
When pulling into the garage to park the car, I put my foot on the brake to slow/stop. The car exellerated violently and the car crashed into some stored items at the back wall. I instinctively stomped harder on the brake and turned the key off. This is the first time I have had this happen - thank goodness I wasn't out in traffic or pointed out my driveway, since that is a 60 foot plunge to the lake! the front bumper was damaged and requires replacement - won't know what other damage was done internally until the repair is completed. I see online that this has been an ongoing issue with other Kia Forte owners, but Kia has not been required to do a recall "since they cannot re-create the circumstances". please investigate further before someone dies.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Forte. While driving at various speeds and making a left turn, the vehicle suddenly decelerated and continued to drive straight although the steering wheel was turned to the left. The contact indicated once the steering wheel was turned back to the right, the steering would operate as normal. The contact indicated that the failure occurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and to an independent mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 8/21/15 updated 10/12/2017
2011 Kia Forte. Consumer writes in regards to intermittent acceleration problems. The consumer stated when he attempted to merge onto the highway, the engine would drop to an idle. On several occasions, the vehicle would jump forward, with the slightest touch of the accelerator. The consumer has since traded the vehicle.
- New Berlin, WI, USA
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The contact owns a 2011 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while reversing, the brakes failed to respond and the contact to crashed into a light post. The vehicle then accelerated forward and crashed into a building. A police report was filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 45,000.
Driving in a shopping center parking lot. Made a right turn into an alley. Vehicle then rapidly accelerated through the alley and then smashed into the tree. Can't remember if brakes were applied or not. It all happened to quickly. Kia Forte was totaled and driver was hospitalized with extensive injuries (foot broken, hand was broken, vertibrae damage) hospitalized for approx. 5 days and nursing home for approx. 10 days. Last visit to surgeon for smashed foot in 4/2013.
Living only 3.7 miles from my work I drive to work 2 times daily, mon- fri, round trip. I come home for my lunch hour. Never being able to drive faster than 20-30 mph due to the roads & busyness of them during that time I had never had a problem before. I had noticed prior to my accident that at times my 6 speed 2011 Kia Forte koup was very resistant to put it into 1st gear. Almost as if it was locking the shifter out. Having it looked at by a Kia dealership, they claimed it was just "user error"...perhaps my foot wasn't pressed all the way down on the clutch or B/C I'm a woman? this was not my first manual car! so as I left my house for work after lunch I noticed that every time I upshifted my car did this jerking thing, almost as if the brakes were working when they shouldn't have been. I told myself when I get to work (in 8 mins) I would call my brother who is a mechanic. I didn't get my car to work safely. I ended up rear ending a truck who rolled forward into a new camaro, everyone was ok thank god! as I approached the stop light w/3 cars stopped at the red light already. I proceeded to slow down.3 miles from the light & it seemed as if it was slowing down in slow motion. When I realized my brakes weren't actually slowing the car down from 28mph, I did everything I could to stop by car before crashing. I tried down shifting as well as slamming down on the brakes. It was as if my brakes were non existent. If I had time left I would have yanked up on the E brake...I was only 1.2 miles from my work! no airbags went off nor was my car totaled. I paid cash for this car in 2011 & since having wrecked I've felt it was not safe for my family to drive. After fixing the repairs & paying my deductible I traded the car in. I purchased a brand new car which I now have a car payment on. I hope that this issue can be discovered & resolved before it hurts anyone severely.
When going 60 on the highway the car suddenly dropped down to 40 and I had to pull off the highway. Car was then taken to the dealership where the whole transmission was replaced. Upon recieving the car again it would jerk and stall when accelerating. Car was then taken back to the dealer and a "relearn" of the transmission was performed. This has not stopped the problem and has made it worse. It now jerks when stopping and when accelerating and peeds of 5 mi/hr or more. As well as when first shifting the car out of park.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Forte. The contact was depressing the brake pedal and moved the gear shifter into park when the vehicle suddenly accelerated, causing the contact to crash into a curb. The failure recurred, causing the contact to crash into a tree. The contact also noticed lurching and hesitation while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 1000. Updated 04/10/12 updated 04/23/12
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fayetteville, NC, USA