10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,195 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.

2020 Kia Forte drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2020 Kia Forte:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2020 Kia Forte Owner Comments

problem #9

Dec 292023

Forte

  • miles

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

Transmission was having issues, car would not accelerate properly. Engine light came on and vehicle was towed to the original dealership for inspection where they confirmed transmission had gone out and it did get replaced. Vehicle was driving strange for about 3-4 days before engine light came on (12/30/2023).

- Sherman, TX, USA

problem #8

Jan 012022

Forte

  • 31,000 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic informed the contact that the battery needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced, and the contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, who stated the failure was due to the transmission pressure. The contact stated that there was an abnormal knocking noise after restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #7

Nov 272023

Forte

  • miles
MAKE: 2020 KIA FORTE MODEL: FORTE ODOMETER: approximately 88,000 miles VIN: [XXX] [XXX] On [XXX], while driving my Kia towards my home driveway, I noticed that the car's speed was fluctuating unpredictably. Despite having my foot slightly on the brake and off the gas pedal, the vehicle continued to accelerate and decelerate as I made the turn into my residence. The Forte exhibited irregular and sluggish shifting, displaying a reluctance to engage or maintain gears, as well as experiencing missed or delayed gear changes. Additionally, it demonstrated unpredictable trembling and stalling occurrences multiple times while being driven in the driveway. The check engine light turned on. I promptly deactivated the engine and abstained from operating the vehicle. Afterwards, I had the vehicle undergo a scan, during which the check engine light turned on, indicating the presence of the code P0730. Without delay, I scheduled an appointment for service and maintenance at the Kia Bulldog dealership located in Athens, Georgia. Following a consultation with the service department, I scheduled a diagnostic assessment and test drive for the vehicle. On [XXX]. The mechanic at Bulldog Kia conducted a thorough examination of the vehicle and diagnosed it after performing a test drive. Additionally, he confirmed that he observed the same driving condition that I had previously described to him. It was associated with the transmission which related to the sc. However, when he scanned the vehicle for any code, the code reading was not accessible. I have photographic evidence of the exact state of distress and audio recordings of the car's engine accelerating as I approach the residence. I consulted a nearby mechanic with extensive expertise, who thoroughly examined and scanned the vehicle. The mechanic determined that the problem may be related to the transmission bearing, which corresponds to the diagnostic code P0730. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)

- Greensboro , GA, USA

problem #6

Feb 112023

Forte

  • miles

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

On highway at 65mph engine began revving, accelerating higher on its own then speed would drop down 10-15 mph, erratic tachometer going up to max 6 at 65 mph, slipping gears and took total control of speed and then dropped down to 10mph at 6 tachometer and then wouldn-??t go past 5 mph. No warning lights, no check engine.

- Seven Hills, OH, USA

problem #5

Feb 102023

Forte

  • miles
While I am driving it is hard shifting and idling high, sometimes it doesn't want to pick up speed when starting from a stop. The wheels locked up going down a off ramp. There are no warning lights or anything on the dash. I will have it checked Monday but this started out of the blue. I have had regular maintenance on the vehicle and have all my receipts for proof. This is a serious issue especially with the wheels not functioning right and speed control is fluctuating.

- Laurinburg, NC, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #4

Dec 202021

Forte

  • miles
I took my car for transmission service before 60k miles Wallace kia of Bristol I was told they couldn-??t drain fluids and sent home 12/20/21 in feb/March 2022 my trans went out it was taken to Kia dealership in Clarksville tn replaced again brought back 4/22 with same issues emailed videos nothin was done said couldn-??t find a problem at around 73 k is when it was replaced mentioned it again to Bristol kia dealership when I brought my car back in for the second time to have batting-??s replaced in steering column was told they didn-??t have time to check it out 12/27/22 my car is leaking some type of fluid my trains goes out the same day it-??s now over powertrain warranty as well as transmission warranty 12,000 miles /but not 12 month warranty the transmission itself has 33,000 miles since being replaced my issue is I-??m stuck with a car I can-??t drive and still continue to pay for and both of these dealerships were well informed of the issues I had prior to warranty expiring this is a safety hazard as I have children and the first time it went out I was on the interstate in Nashville with my 5 yr old son and was barely able to safely make it off the road way well prior knowledge of this problem it should have been addressed long before now. My car has been serviced maintained as well as tire rotation proper oil changes and and fuel injection cleaner done when transmission was replaced these transmissions need to be recalled there is no way a new transmission less than a year old user 40k miles should have failed like this twice so if I can-??t get some help with this issue I will be given no other choice but to keep letting everyone know about this problem I have contacted Kia customer service they are if no help I have contacted both dealerships told nothin can be done I have contacted Kia and no response or call back this is a serious and on going issue with the 2020 Kia Forte as well as the bar rings in the steering column which my son has same car and also had replace

- Greeneville, TN, USA

problem #3

Sep 042021

Forte

  • miles

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

My expectant granddaughter was driving the vehicle on a trip. The transmission started intermittently slipping en route. She stopped and when she returned to the vehicle she discovered it would no longer go forward or backwards. It is still under warranty. The vehicle is still in Colorado. This happened Sept 4, 2021. It is now 10/13. I have contacted Kia multiple times speaking with different people. I escalated the call and was told someone named Melissa was my escalations person. I have never spoken to her. I have requested a buy back of the vehicle due to possibility of reoccurrence. My granddaughter was stranded for a week. The car is at a dealership, Ft Collins Kia. We have had to pay for hotel, car rental, and a flight out of pocket. I requested reimbursement. They have not responded. I filled out the information for the buy back, but I do not have all of the paperwork. It is in the car in Colorado. We live in South Texas. No way to get access to it. This is wrong on so many levels. We are at a loss as to what to do. If the transmission had quit while she was moving the results could have been disasterous. Kia says the part is sitting on a dock somewhere waiting to be picked up. Is there an expected timeline? We had to replace the vehicle due to the cost of car rentals.

- La Feria, TX, USA

problem #2

Dec 142020

Forte 4-cyl

  • 2,553 miles
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND REMOVED THEMSELVES TO THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO OPEN THEIR GARAGE DOOR WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE HITTING THE CONTACT AND THE GARAGE DOOR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR LEFT SHOULDER, FACE, ELBOW, LEFT KNEE, RIGHT LEG, AND RIGHT FOOT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TOWED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE AND TURN ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (MERCHANT LOGO SPITZER KIA CLEVELAND SERVICE CENTER 3414 BROOKPARK RD, CLEVELAND, OH 44134; (216) 259-7080) WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THEM TO SPEAK TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE REGARDING THE MATTER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,553. CONSUMER CASE NUMBER [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).-??

- Parma, OH, USA

problem #1

Sep 012020

Forte

  • 4,200 miles
On September 1st, 2020, I was at a stop and needed to go northbound on a busy intersection. I saw the opportunity to go so I stepped on the gas but my vehicle would barely accelerate which put me in harms way of oncoming traffic. For a moment there I thought I was going to get T-boned. This issue needs to get resolved as soon as possible!

- Weslaco, TX, USA

Not what you are looking for?