2013 Kia FORTE KOUP
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Kia FORTE KOUP has 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (55% of all complaints), specifically: on 10/13/17, my son was driving home on the fl turnpike from college when his engine seized. lucky he was not seriously injured or killed. had car towed to the nearest kia orlando w dealer, found out the engine rod was blown through top and bottom of block. engine was replaced with a short block and. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
22
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
12 complaints- • ON 10/13/17, MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FL TURNPIKE FROM COLLEGE WHEN HIS ENGINE SEIZED. LUCKY HE WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. HAD CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA ORLANDO W DEALER, FOUND OUT THE ENGINE ROD WAS BLOWN THROUGH TOP AND BOTTOM OF BLOCK. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH A SHORT BLOCK AND
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP. WHILE DRIVING 73 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT M
- • WE BOUGHT THIS 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP IN OCTOBER 2014. IT HAD 29,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY AND ON SCHEDULE. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE ON DECEMBER 19, 2017 AND HER CAR STARTED SMOKING, SHAKING AND LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. THE CAR HAD 73,405 MILES ON IT
“ON 10/13/17, MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FL TURNPIKE FROM COLLEGE WHEN HIS ENGINE SEIZED. LUCKY HE WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. HAD CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA ORLANDO W DEALER, FOUND OUT THE ENGINE ROD WAS BLOWN THROUGH TOP AND BOTTOM OF BLOCK. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH A SHORT BLOCK AND”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
2 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LIFETIM
- • I WAS CROSSING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION TURNING LEFT RIGHT AFTER THE LIGHT HAD TURNED GREEN. NEXT THING I KNEW IT I SAW ANOTHER CAR, IT WAS A CAMRY, FLYING THROUGH THE LIGHT RIGHT FOR ME. IT WAS RAINING HERE IN FLORIDA THAT DAY, AND OF COURSE GOING TO BRAKE SO ABRUPTLY I SLID IN ADDITION TO THE SPEED
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LIFETIM”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
2 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LIFETIM
- • I PURCHASED THIS KIA IN 2014, SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO REPEATEDLY REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL / BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. THE PLASTIC PART OF THE CONNECTORS HAVE DRIED OUT AND ARE BREAKING INTO PIECES DUE TO THE WIRING GETTING TOO HOT, AS THE PARTS THAT ARE LEFT ARE NOW STARTING T
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LIFETIM”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
2 complaints- • THE CAR STARTED DRIVING SLUGGISH OUT OF NOWHERE AND I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC WHO TOOK IT OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE WHERE IT ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED SMOKING AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP WHILE IN MOTION. THE CAR HAD ITS OIL CHANGE AND WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.
- • I PURCHASED THIS KIA IN 2014, SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO REPEATEDLY REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL / BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. THE PLASTIC PART OF THE CONNECTORS HAVE DRIED OUT AND ARE BREAKING INTO PIECES DUE TO THE WIRING GETTING TOO HOT, AS THE PARTS THAT ARE LEFT ARE NOW STARTING T
“THE CAR STARTED DRIVING SLUGGISH OUT OF NOWHERE AND I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC WHO TOOK IT OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE WHERE IT ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED SMOKING AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP WHILE IN MOTION. THE CAR HAD ITS OIL CHANGE AND WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
VISIBILITY
1 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68-70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD. THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT IMPACT FROM A FOREIGN OBJECT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. TEAM KIA OF EL CAJON (541 N JOHNSON AVE, EL CAJON, CA 92020, (619) 444-7200) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILU
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68-70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD. THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT IMPACT FROM A FOREIGN OBJECT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. TEAM KIA OF EL CAJON (541 N JOHNSON AVE, EL CAJON, CA 92020, (619) 444-7200) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILU”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 22 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: ON 10/13/17, MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FL TURNPIKE FROM COLLEGE WHEN HIS ENGINE SEIZED. LUCKY HE WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. HAD CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA ORLANDO W DEALER, FOUND OUT THE ENGINE ROD WAS BLOWN THROUGH TOP AND BOTTOM OF BLOCK. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH A SHORT BLOCK AND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LIFETIM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SEATS/RESTRAINTS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LIFETIM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: THE CAR STARTED DRIVING SLUGGISH OUT OF NOWHERE AND I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC WHO TOOK IT OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE WHERE IT ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED SMOKING AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP WHILE IN MOTION. THE CAR HAD ITS OIL CHANGE AND WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia FORTE KOUP — Year Comparison
How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 22
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 3
- Injury reports
- 3
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2013 Kia FORTE KOUP