2013 Kia Forte Engine Problems

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  45%
• 25k–50k
  79%
• 50k–75k
  1925%
• 75k–100k
  1925%
• 100k–150k
  2533%
• 150k+
  23%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Kia Forte owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte EX. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 55 MPH, she noticed smoke emerging from the vehicle. The driver pulled over and called roadside assistance. All the warning lights illuminated. Upon arrival, roadside assistance informed the driver the engine had caught fire and had seized. It was unknown how the fire was extinguished. The contact stated that the failure was due to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed him the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted, who started a claim. The manufacturer requested a photo of the engine but the contact stated that he did not have any photos. The failure mileage was approximately 118,150.

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 10 mph, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled. The contact parked the vehicle and saw smoke entering the cabin of the vehicle through the vents. The contact exited the vehicle before the vehicle caught on fire. There was no injury sustained. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. A police report was not filed. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The contact called local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The failure mileage was approximately 85,400.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The contact stated that while driving at 50 - 55 mph, noises were heard and smoke came from the front and rear of the vehicle. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer replaced the engine and fuel pump. However, while the dealer was test driving the vehicle, abnormal noises were heard. The dealer informed the contact that they would contact the manufacturer to replace the engine. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,917.

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while parked, a passerby observed fire emanating from the engine compartment. The origin of the fire was unknown. The police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a lot where it was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the RPMs started to fall, and the vehicle began to stall. The vehicle failed to shift to the intended gear. The RPMs dropped to 0. The contact was able to get the vehicle to the side of the road and the vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic and was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer denied the engine replacement despite the remedy stated that the engine would be replaced if deemed necessary. The dealer stated that the ECU update was needed prior to the engine failure. …

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, he depressed the accelerator pedal to change lanes and heard an abnormal knocking noise sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the knocking sound occurred whenever the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine rod bearings needed to be replaced. The contact was informed by the independent mechanic that the failure could be related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). Additionally, the contact reported that he had also experienced failures with the loss of power steering functionality, but the failure was intermittent. The vehicle had not been repaired. …

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, she was accelerating to overtake another vehicle and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact noticed that the check engine and check oil light warning lights were illuminated. The contact coasted off the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The contact was not able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that she lifted the hood and noticed that smoke was coming from the driver's side of the engine compartment. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the local dealer; however, a dealer was contacted and the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be diagnosed since the engine was inoperable. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. …

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while at a complete stop at the traffic light, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that after accelerating at 20 MPH from the complete stop, another vehicle crashed into the passenger's side of the vehicle, and the vehicle was pushed towards a residence. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond, causing the front end of the vehicle to crash into the residence. The air bags deployed. There was no injury sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The dealer was notified of the failure. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), which she related to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact stated the vehicle was unable to exceed 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the knock sensor was replaced as a temporary fix. The failure reoccurred 2 days later. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine); however, an unknown dealer attempted to charge the contact to replace the engine, even though the recall notification stated that the engine would be replaced as needed, free of charge. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue but declined the service request. No further information was available. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while having a routine oil change at an independent mechanic, he was informed there was a ticking noise coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the vehicle had experienced rod bearings failure, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Engine complaints in other Forte years