10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 13
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,035 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.

2012 Kia Forte engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Kia Forte Owner Comments (Page 6 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #45

May 292019

Forte

  • 160,000 miles

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

I was driving the car at 40 mph when approaching the ramp to the highway (65 mph) and began to hear a lot of noise coming from the engine (sounded like metal scrapping). I began to pull over to the shoulder but the engine stopped running before I could get to the shoulder and note no instrument panel warning lights came on. I coasted to the shoulder of the road, put the car in park, attempted to start the car, all the instrument panel lights were flashing, and then dark smoke was coming out from the hood. I got out of the car as I thought it was on fire but could not open the hood as it was extremely hot. I waited and then tried again, finally, opening the hood with a rag. The car was towed to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the engine seized, I had it towed to a 2nd mechanic (same diagnosis) then was informed of SC147 after doing an internet search. I contacted Kia and opened a case #13204401 where I then had to have the car towed for the 3rd time to a Kia dealership (bob bell, baltimore, md) where they had to do their diagnostic test (technicians cell video to show the car will not start), per Kia, to come to the conclusion my car is not part of SC147 (according to my vein #). this safety recall is for 2.4L gdi engines and mine is a 2.4L DOHC. In addition to my complaint, I want to know where in the manufacturing process (what plant was my engine assembled?) if given they are the same engines but only a top covering difference (gdi vs DOHC), then how do I know for sure my engine should not have been part of major SC147 since my vehicle had been running with no issues and regular maintenance with 160,000 + miles?

- Edgewood, MD, USA

problem #44

May 312019

Forte

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact heard a loud noise and the vehicle shut off. The contact pulled the vehicle over as smoke appeared from under the hood. The vehicle could not be restarted and was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed that the engine seized. The manufacturer was contacted, provided a case number, and informed the contact to take the vehicle to a Kia dealer. Bob bell Kia of glen burnie (7900 eastern ave, baltimore, md 21224, (410) 766-3600) was contacted and stated that there were no recalls and the warranty was expired. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Edgewood, MD, USA

problem #43

Jul 012019

Forte

  • 115,000 miles
Engine is making a ticking noise due to manufacturing defect.

- Puyallup, WA, USA

problem #42

Jun 152018

Forte

  • 68,000 miles

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

Good afternoon. I wanted to bring to the attention and the severity of this issue. In the month of June 2018 my expecting wife in her 2012 Kia Forte was on her way home on the interstate when the car with no signs leading up to this decided to die unexpectedly on the side of the interstate. We had the car towed to a certified dealer to have diagnoses of what happened the conclusion was the engine's connecting rod bearings seized. Much like the Kia and Hyundai recall for the exact same failure for more than 1.5 million cars are impacted. I expressed how this could be due to car has 68,000 miles on it and all the maintenance was performed regularly. The wife purchased this car used from a well known dealer only a year ago and added 12,000 on the odometer. I contacted Kia customer service and was tossed around with no answers. After more than a month Kia Corp came to the conclusion that no help would be given on replacement of a engine. I expressed how dangerous this situation was when your vehicle's engine just seizes and how close my wife and unborn child was almost in a very bad accident. There was zero cares given. I spoke with a Kia representative after review from a manager and was told they would not give any assistance due to, and I quote " because you have not owned a prior Kia product and you are not considered a loyal customer and due to that conclusion that is the reason and conclusion for making the decision". I was to upset and expressed my frustration and still no resolution. The car is still inoperable till I exhaust all paths and make sure my experience does not happen to any others. This is a very dangerous issue and Kia does not want to own up to it. They are sweeping this issue under a rug till somebody really gets hurt or worst. I want kai to take ownership of this issue and make it right not just for me but others having this issue.

- Waterville, ME, USA

problem #41

Feb 252019

Forte

  • 170,000 miles
I was on my way home one afternoon driving on a 2 lane highway in a rural area a speed limit of 55mph, that's the posted speed. I didn't have anything going that would prevent from hearing the noise im about to hear!! it was like car was now carrying huge weight and very;little power. I tried to pull off the side and then cars oil light came on and then it stalled, I put it in neutral position attempting to start car, car did start but only to make a loud knocking from hood area, I popped hood and checked oil and other fluids, everything seemed fine with fluids but engine has a horrid knocking, car didn't want to stay at idle so I called for a tow, then taken to local auto repair, they called after their investigation stating the "camshaft timing was bad and by looking at different things they felt a new engine was only option as the bearing was now bad, informed me that upon looking for an engine it appeared a new engine around 6000 dollars was only one available. I called my auto ins comp to explain and see if I had enough coverage for the repair, to be told that they(ins com) wasn't liable for the engine I did call a few other repair places and was told same thing (3 total)so I again towed car to home and haven't attempted to drive. I spoke to dealership to be told my car wasn't in previous recall but stated they had a slew call and report engine failure and he voted the Forte be in the standing recall or place a recall for the Kia Forte and sudden engine failure.. zero trouble with the car and would like to get repaired so I can have transportation again. Bought new from dealership I love car but this problem needsa prompt and thorough investigation on my 2012 Kia Forte, ive been told it has exact same engine as the cars in the standing recalls, when my engine blowd and forced me off road was very scary and dangerous.

- Palmyra, IN, USA

problem #40

Mar 152019

Forte

  • 106,000 miles
Driving down an interstate around 75mph the engine started making an abnormal loud engine knocking noise so I pulled over to the median and the oil light came on, engine seized, and the car died and would not start. Car had oil. Towed 100+ miles to our local Kia dealership and they said #2 rod bearing "severely worn and causing the engine to make noise and stop rotating". they recommended a complete engine replacement at a cost of around $5700 (cost and labor). 2012 Kia Forte sx with 2.4L engine and 106, xxx miles (6,000 outside their 10year/100,000 mile warranty). Car had regular oil changes at the proper times. This is the same type of problem (worn rod bearings) Kia/Hyundai had with their other engines which required a recall to address the thousands of grievances. I would like these 2.4L Forte engines to also be included in a future recall because I believe these engines are either defective in their manufacturing process or just faulty by design. Had I not pulled over when I did there is a possibility the engine would have seized while I was driving interstate speed with the typical interstate traffic (semi trucks all over) with my wife and two small children on board. Kia refuses to acknowledge a problem and so far have offered no satisfaction. A modern car should last more than 7 years, unless it was designed wrong or damaged in the manufacturing process.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #39

Jan 152019

Forte

  • 125,000 miles

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

Takata recall. Alright I also have the same issue most people have. My engine start making horrible noise around 129000. One day, I stopped at red light literally my whole car was shaking. I thought every single person have same problem with this model.

- Mankato, MN, USA

problem #38

Aug 222018

Forte

  • 85,000 miles
2012 Kia Forte ex sedan 2.0 theta 2 engine piston slap caused damage to the pistons and the engine block. The vehicle had the problem when stationary and got progressively worse while in motion. Vehicle has not been repaired and not driven since due to research finding this is a much too common problem with Kia Forte owners

- Fort Drum, NY, USA

problem #37

Mar 202019

Forte

  • miles
Mielg 105000 I cheng oil avery 3000 miles no engine noise tak tak tak I'm going too my mechanic told me need new engine that pig proplm it's a bad car and engine I'm navr usd Kia I'm told all friends and relatives don't buy Kia burn your money..thanks

- Augusta, ME, USA

problem #36

Nov 152018

Forte

  • 95,000 miles
When starting my vehicle in park, I put it in reverse, and it barely goes. It seems to lack power, or is being bogged down. It almost comes to a complete stop, and then it suddenly kicks in, and jerks you backwards very fast. It is scary because I could easily hit something or crash, because the car becomes almost out of control. You never know when it is going to kick back in either. I have taken it to the Kia dealer, but they said it did not do it for them of course. So I am stuck with a car that is having a lot of issues. I don't have the money to fix them right now. I am not working, and the dealership that sold me the car ripped me off. I have already put a lot of money into it. It seems to do it the worst when it rains for some reason.

- Paducah, KY, USA

problem #35

Feb 012019

Forte

  • 104,000 miles

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

Vehicle makes a loud ticking noise which seems to be the exact complaint of recall SC147. However, SC147 does not include the Forte. Vehicle has 104,000 miles and has had frequent oil changes conducted by a Kia dealer. All descriptions and videos online point to the rod bearing causing the ticking noise.

- Lowell, MA, USA

problem #34

Feb 282019

Forte

  • miles
My engine has begun making a loud knocking sound and two mechanics have said the engine has a serious problem and needs to be replaced. The knocking started with normal use and regular oil changes. Started while idling and got louder with faster RPM

- Hopkins, MN, USA

problem #33

Feb 202019

Forte

  • 121,000 miles
This engine has always had loud valves. Dealer says nothing to worry about when we bought it in 2012. At 121,000 miles, the engine has suddenly developed a solid knocking from deep within the engine - much like the same conditions that resulted in the optima, sportage, and sorrento engines being recalled. Kia claims there is no issue with Forte engines yet they exhibit the same knocking that ends with catastrophic engine failure due to premature bearing wear. When cold, my 2.0L gas engine clatters more than a diesel truck. Is it possible they are resisting adding the Forte due to the sheer number of those vehicles sold? dealer wants $109 per hour for diagnostics with no cap on hours spent. On the Kia forum I follow, there are people who have waited 3 months for a replacement engine. I'm not looking forward to spending more for a replacement engine than the vehicle is worth. Up until now, this has been a great vehicle. Solid, reliable, one I would jump into and drive 1200 miles on a trip without hesitation. We averaged 38 mpg making trips from NY to fl and back. Now I'm scared to even move it in the driveway. It's just sad that Kia appears to have dropped the ball like this.

- Vestal, NY, USA

problem #32

May 012015

Forte

  • 60,000 miles
My engine started making ticking noises around 60,000 miles. I was told by more than one person that it was just noisy lifters, so I ignored it. Now, at just over 100,000 miles my new mechanic recommended I get it looked at. Kia told me my engine needs replaced and it will cost $6000. The car isn't even worth that much. I always kept up on my maintenance because the salesman when I bought the care told me that if I took care of it, I could expect 300,000+ miles out of it. What a lie. I'm going to continue driving the car in hopes that they do the right thing and expand their recall. Hopefully before I go up in flames.

- Kersey, PA, USA

problem #31

Dec 242018

Forte

  • 128,000 miles
My engine has begun making a loud knocking sound and two mechanics have said the engine has a serious problem and needs to be replaced. The knocking started with normal use and regular oil changes. Started while idling and got louder with faster RPM

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #30

Oct 202018

Forte

  • 44,000 miles
We have a 2012 Kia Forte that we bought new. Only has 44,000 miles on it. We take care of it and don't drive it into the ground. 2 months ago, engine started making noises, and car started stalling. Check engine light came on and we managed to get it to the shop, where oil and engine were checked. Everything seemed ok, no main reason found as to why. Some more oil was added and were told to drive it to reset everything and the engine light would go off. 2 months, 2 oil changes/tune ups and engine light will not come off. Last week, as we're leaving for my kids birthday party, car keep stalling out when we try to put it into drive. Had it towed to dealer where he says we'll need a new engine. Now we're trying to get Kia to pay for the engine, and we still can't get an answer as to what is causing this. On another note, this is the second Kia engine we've had to get. Our 2015 Kia sorento had to have the engine replaced last summer (when it was only 3 years old). Really wondering why the Forte wasn't included in the engine recall, seems like a lot of people are dealing with this.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #29

Jul 052017

Forte

  • 158,417 miles
Kia fire: I was driving about 20 miles and was stopped at a stop light at a major intersection when the car started to make a knocking sound and then stalled out. I tried to restart the car, which restarted, then immediately stalled out again. Traffic behind me got out of their cars to tell me the car was on fire, but I couldn't see it because it was underneath the hood and smoke was coming from the bottom of the car. 2 other drivers got myself and my daughter out of the car, while another driver used a rag to open the hood and spray the engine block with an extinguisher. My daughter and I didn't sustain any injuries, but did inhale some smoke. The car was inoperable at this point and had to be towed while we waited on a ride. The car was towed to the Kia dealership where they took the engine apart to try to investigate the issue. They were unsure what caused the fire, but the wiring harness seemed to be melted, along with other belts in the engine bay. I had to file this as a claim under insurance, the total damages were above $4500 and my car was out of commission for 3 months.

- Dublin, OH, USA

problem #28

Jul 012018

Forte

  • 118,100 miles
My son was driving our 2012 Kia Forte down the highway. We bought this car from Kia dealer about 11 months ago with ~115,500 and it now only has ~118,100 miles on it. So we only drove it less than 3000 miles over the last one year. While he was traveling down the highway, he started hearing a clanking noise and then the car stopped and would not drive any longer. He said no engine warning light ever came on. Only his oil maintenance light had come on right before it occurred. He checked the oil on the side of the road and the oil was fine and still had approximately 2000 life miles remaining on it. We had it towed to a mechanic that inspected the car and he said the engine is seized up. But, he says sees no maintenance related reason for why this engine has seized up like it has. I did some checking online to see if there were any issues reported for this. We found there was a recall by Hyundai and Kia for an issue that sounds exactly the same as what occurred to our engine. I believe this car has the same engine or at least has the same issue as the other engines, which are same year models, but different make. I believe the 2012 Kia Forte has the exact issue as the other multiple recalled models I would like to have the same diligence done for this model to see if the same issue has occurred with our engine. There are multiple Forte owners that have also had this complaint.

- Wylie, TX, USA

problem #27

May 232018

Forte

  • 132,400 miles
I heard knocking in the engine at approx 132,000 mi which got worse progressively. The same 2.4 liter engine that was recalled in the optima. There should be recall on the Forte 2.4 engine as well.

- Union City, GA, USA

problem #26

Jul 142017

Forte

  • 69,000 miles
I bought my 2012 Kia Forte back in 2015 with approx. 40K miles on and this last summer of 2017 the vechile would not start after returning home from work one evening. I drove it just fine to work and when I got home and shut off the engine, it would not start again. After towing it to a mechanic I was informed that the engine would need to be replaced. As this is the same engine that is in the optima and sportage that have recalls on their engines, I do not understand why the Forte is not included in this as well.

- Blaine, MN, USA

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