10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,209 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.

2016 Kia Forte engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Kia Forte Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #27

Jul 312022

Forte

  • miles

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

2016 Kia Forte Had the oil changed ~15 miles ago and now there-??s no oil in it. There-??s no leaks either. Mechanic said that the car is just using it up and exhausting it. It has happened twice. The check engine light has been coming on and blinking.

- West Fargo, ND, USA

problem #26

Jun 162022

Forte

  • miles
On June 16 2022 at 9:15 am I was driving my Kia Forte 18 miles from my home to the airport. I was taking my 8 year old granddaughter to meet her grandfather for a flight. There were no indicator lights that ever showed up. My car started making a banging sound. I got off the interstate into a parking lot immediately. I shut the car off and checked the tires.. and underneath the car. I didn-??t see any damage or anything leaking. I parked the car and had it towed home. There is only 64,900 miles on it. The oil and fluids are checked and changed according to manufacturer. I have not had a diagnostic test run. I had it towed home because I don-??t have the funds to leave it at a shop. I still owe three payments on it.

- Norman, OK, USA

problem #25

Nov 152021

Forte

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the vehicle failed to start. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact mentioned that there was a knocking noise coming from the vehicle while the oil pressure light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken back to the mechanic where the contact was informed that the oil was changed and the oil was not reaching the top of the engine block as needed. The dealer was informed of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

- Harwood, MD, USA

problem #24

Nov 112020

Forte 4-cyl

  • miles

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

Im a retired mechanic I have 2016 Kia Forte lx 1.8l 6spd manual from my diagnostic scanner it showed the instrument cluster has a short in it which caused all the warning lights to come on when really the only thing that was really bad was a right front wheel speed sensor I replaced it but with the instrument panel short the ecu cant tell what's working and what's not the car only has 64000 miles and all this is still going on a diagnostic scanner cant tell what real and what's not I will never own another Kia product in my life and [XXX] sure wouldn't recommend one. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Clarksville, IN, USA

problem #23

Sep 092021

Forte

  • miles
Kia dealer states the engine is blown. Because of lack of oil in engine. I changed the oil in a timely manner and on a regular basis but the engine still failed only after 77,000. No prior warning of engine failure until the engine failed.Kia warranty refuses to cover cost of $8000 engine replacement because I didn-??t keep receipts proving the oil was changed in a timely manner.

- Cornwall, NY, USA

problem #22

Aug 192021

Forte

  • miles
While driving my vehicle - My 2016 Kia Forte LX all of sudden had my dashboard light up with check engine light oil etc. before the engine turned off My vehicle gave me no warning signs up until the engine shut off The oil change and service is up-to-date After I had my vehicle towed to a garage-?" it was determined that my car barely had any oil left in it with my engine being ruined as a result of the defect. I-??ve contacted Kia every single day since this occurred but I-??ve not gotten any assistance whatsoever Meanwhile I have no vehicle and I-??ve had to pay for a rental car daily while I wait for a response to rectify this travesty

- Nanticoke , PA, USA

problem #21

Jul 282021

Forte

  • 67,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, she heard a knocking sound coming from the front passenger-??s side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine and battery warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated independently and before the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast to a stop. The contact stated that a bystander jumped the battery however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000. The VIN was not available.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #20

Jun 202021

Forte

  • miles
Car engine caught fire driving on freeway. No apparent reason

- Perris, CA, USA

problem #19

Jan 192021

Forte

  • 112,234 miles
My oil keeps on burning fast.. I had to get oil test from Kia dealer but they didn't find anything wrong with the engine and no leakage. Couple months later my engine is burning my oil fast before even oil change. This is not normal. The motor will make a cluster sound while at the stop sign. Uncomfortable sound all of the sounded.

- Garner, NC, USA

problem #18

May 172018

Forte

  • miles
I was sold a 2016 Kia Forte with a bad transmission and the dealership cancelled my warranty the year that I bought the car I was not aware that they cancelled it until I found out my transmission was bad and went to the dealership to try to have them fix it and they told me the warranty was canceled. I spoke to a mechanic and they told me that a lot of people are having the same issue with their 2016 Kia Forte's. I bought this car in order to get my son to his specialists he has spina bifida he needs to see a neurologist, orthopedics, urologist, etc over an hour away now my transmission is completely gone and I don't know what to do because I can't afford the repair. Please recall this car. I know a lot of people who have transmission issues with their Kia's my mother for example back in 2010 she purchased the Kia rio it was brand new at the time and a year later the transmission went bad on it every Kia transmission seems to be a hunk of crap I shouldn't have to deal with these repairs

- Taylor, PA, USA

problem #17

Aug 032020

Forte

  • 118,167 miles

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

I purchased my 2016 Kia Forte in March 2017 used and since then I've been having suspension problems. May 2017 I had 3 alignments and I constantly been getting alignments and replacing my brakes and tires. August 2020 my car started to cut off while I was driving and accelerate when I tried to stop. My check engine code an ignition coils problem so I did a full tune-up and oil change in September. But it didnt fix the problem so after that my car code an intake failure. I had it repaired in October but it still didn't fix the problem and on top of that the pistons in the engine started grinding. I took my car back to the shop and they said that I need a whole new engine. Now my car been sitting every since the beginning of November.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #16

Dec 192020

Forte

  • 105,000 miles
Driving the car smelled a gas smell, then later a burning smell, then the car stalled, cranked it again it stalled again. Was smoking under the hood. Had just had this car oil change and multipoint inspection they stated the car was fine. Today they tell me it's engine failure. We were driving when the car stalled.

- Kingwood, TX, USA

problem #15

Sep 282020

Forte

  • 116,000 miles
Piston rod failure

- Danbury, CT, USA

problem #14

Aug 132019

Forte

  • 74,000 miles
Went to get an oil change 5 months after purchasing this car a D there was metal shavings in the oil. Mechanic said this type of engine was notorious for this and we would need a new motor very soon. No check engine light or anything so we had no idea this was happening. The motor locked up around 74,000 miles while driving down the highway. This doesn't seem fair at all! first car loan I've ever taken and can't even drive the car or afford a new motor, yet still making my payments on the loan...

- Bartlesville, OK, USA

problem #13

Jan 182019

Forte

  • 36,000 miles
Rough idle, shaking engine, alternator pulled replaced 2 times, water pump burst while driving on highway, overheating due to coolant explosion on highway, insufficient idle, acceleration, and changing gears rough

- Westminster, CA, USA

problem #12

Jun 142019

Forte

  • 44,500 miles
Kia Forte 2016 - while driving the engine shuts off and it loses power steering breaks, this has happened many times. Stopped at a red light, starting the car, driving 10 mph, 50mph, 35 mph. I have had to use the emergency break to stop. The car is still in drive, the key is turned on, the dashboard goes out, but the radio and clock stay on. I have taken it to 2 Kia dealerships 4 times total and the issues continue. Not safe to drive.

- Highland, MI, USA

problem #11

Apr 252019

Forte

  • 44,500 miles
While I was driving I lost power and the car would hardly move. I had to get it towed to the Kia dealer. The tow truck driver informed me that his broy=ther had the same car and this happened to him also. He than told me there was a defect in the engine and since it is still under warranty the engine is cover. He also stated that after the 5 year warranty there will be a recall. This put me at some ease but I knew it was only here say. The dealer said it was my fault since I did not properly maintain it. I always get my oil changed and if I don't show proof it is not covered. I do not have all my receipt, the garages close to my house just put them on paper receipts with know computer record. The dealer is 10 miles further away than my local garage. I gave the keys to the Kia dealer and told them to keep it. If its 's under warranty with about 44,000 miles why isn't it covered.

- Johnstown, PA, USA

problem #10

Apr 092019

Forte

  • 30,000 miles
Takata recall when turning my vehicle off there is a ticking coming from the computer when sitting still it will car will aisle up in try to take off a little with the foot on the brake it also shakes when the vehicle is in park and L I have reported these problems before and the head gasket had to be replaced in the motor on the vehicle a little after the warranty replacement was done the ticking begin again under the hood and the shaking and everything is starting over again and I keep taking it to the dealership and they keep telling me they don't see anything wrong which is exactly like the first time when I was start taking it before they had to replace the head gasket in my motor

- Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

problem #9

Mar 222019

Forte

  • 75,200 miles
While driving my vehicle loses power while going above 65 mph and shutters when losing power. It also burns 1/2 quart of oil per week while driving or in use. Also when refilling oil there is a white substance on the dipstick when checking the oil levels. When it loses power while in motion the electronics dim or flicker. This have been on going for about 3 weeks now. This is an apparent engine failure like other Forte's.

- Somerset, WI, USA

problem #8

Jan 152019

Forte

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Forte. The contact noticed fluid underneath the vehicle. Later, while driving, the low oil message displayed and the engine began to stall. The vehicle was towed to moritz Kia (11210 N. freeway, ft worth, tx) where it was diagnosed that the oil pan plug detached and caused oil to leak from the engine. The plug was replaced and oil was added to the engine. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 40,000.

- Roanoke, TX, USA

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