10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,360 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2020 Kia Forte Owner Comments

problem #5

May 242024

Forte

  • 75,709 miles

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

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, there was white smoke coming from the engine compartment. In addition, the contact stated the vehicle began to lose motive power and the oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart but the contact stated the accelerator pedal would not function properly after the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis. The contact was informed that the drain plug was missing and had caused the oil to leak out from the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,709.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #4

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 #3

Aug 172022

Forte

  • miles
I leased car 2020 Illinois. No problems. I had car transported to in 2022 to Los Angeles, and after a few months, the car would check engine light ALL lights I believe, and car suddenly stops and dies out at each stop light. This happened 3 times and frightened me. It happened every couple months and the repair people NEVER put notes on the repair invoice!! About exactly why I was bringing car in for repair, even if nothing on computer showed up, almost like the defect was bypassing (tricking computer) inspection. Have to restart and it would lost all power seconds later and on rainy days, passenger floor soaked. NOTHING on repair places nor dealership would show any problem to fix?? However, when brought back to Illinois, no problem with car, so far since January. So car did not like California OR their emission gasoline no good. Plus even in heavy snow and rain last 3-months in Illinois, passenger carpet never got wet.

- Chicago Heights, IL, USA

problem #2

Oct 052022

Forte

  • miles
While driving I heard a pop then the lights on my dash lit up my car came to a stop i.e cut off tried to start back up the engine caught fire burned the whole front end off total loss

- Lantana, FL, USA

problem #1

Apr 102020

Forte

  • 89 miles
I purchased the 2020 Kia Forte last April 2020. The trunk latch would not open trunk, reported, serviced it still presented tight leverage function during stable park position. The computer scrambled the 1st or 2nd week of owning it during my early morning highway travel the computer scrambled more than once. I contacted Kia- thier response was not helpful to the new car malfunction. It happened more than once. The lane departure did not work at diferent periods in time; within the year I reported to Kia. The windshield cracked during first frost. Kia claimed rock chip. I had just serviced cabin filter area, Kia relentlessly assumed rock chip, I believe defected glass. The first frost it cracked 2nd frost within 2week time or less split crack across windshield. The gas and milage were not stablly operating was out of sync during highway travels. I now for the last week noticed a noise in my car engine when in park turning it off. I am unhappy with my purchase and the Kia dealership I purchased it from. I have pictures of reported dash computer malfunctions, and an unwilling dealership to assist with my vehicle. I am concerned with my safety, my passengers safety, and safety in my future drive. I put date of April 20, 2020 because it was roughly when malfunctions began to occure. The trunk latch immediately 4/10/2020 or at purchase date upon arriving home.

- Yucca Valley, CA, USA

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