2010 Kia FORTE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Kia FORTE has 314 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: 2010 kia forte purchased brand new on 10/17/09. 1st time taken in to dealership for check engine light being on (10/27/09) dealership stated that it was code po304--misfire #4 they stated that there was a glitch in the system and updated the computer. diagnostic being cleared. 2nd time taken in on. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 25 crash reports 15 injuries

314

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

81 complaints

26%

• 2010 KIA FORTE PURCHASED BRAND NEW ON 10/17/09. 1ST TIME TAKEN IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON (10/27/09) DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS CODE PO304--MISFIRE #4 THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER. DIAGNOSTIC BEING CLEARED. 2ND TIME TAKEN IN ON
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER DID A TEST DRIVE BUT WAS U
• SECOND INCIDENT OF STALLING WHILE OPERATING A 2010 KIA FORTE EX W/ AUTO TRAN AND THE "FUEL ECONOMY" PACKAGE. IN BOTH INSTANCES I HAD COME TO A STOP -- THE FIRST TIME (ABOUT 2 MOS. AGO) WAS UPON EXECUTING A HARD STOP, BUT TODAY I HAD SLOWED GRADUALLY AND THEN STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. BOTH TIMES, TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“2010 KIA FORTE PURCHASED BRAND NEW ON 10/17/09. 1ST TIME TAKEN IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON (10/27/09) DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS CODE PO304--MISFIRE #4 THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER. DIAGNOSTIC BEING CLEARED. 2ND TIME TAKEN IN ON”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

42 complaints

13%

• MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN OUR 2010 KIA FORTE KOUP, SHE WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A DOG IN THE ROADWAY WHEN SHE OVER CORRECTED AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A DITCH, THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED "TOTALED", DURING THIS ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED HE PURCHASED HIS VEHICLE WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS A COSMETIC FAILURE TO REPAIR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER THEN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS NEEDED
• WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR TRAVELING 60 MPH, PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND PASSENGER SUFFERED WHIPLASH, CONCUSSION AND BACK PAIN FROM IMPACT AND SEATBELT NOT LOCKING TO HOLD THEM IN PLACE. CAR WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 17 crashes

“MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN OUR 2010 KIA FORTE KOUP, SHE WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A DOG IN THE ROADWAY WHEN SHE OVER CORRECTED AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A DITCH, THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED "TOTALED", DURING THIS ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TIRES

24 complaints

• OWNED CAR FOR 1 DAY ON DAY 2 DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND TIRE BLOWS OUT. GARAGE REFUSED TO WARRANTY TIRE W/O COMPLETELY INSPECTING TIRE. *TR
• FRONT TIRES ON 2010 KIA FORTE KOUP WAS WORN SO SEVERELY ON THE INSIDE EDGE THE CORDS WAS SHOWING. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE ALIGNMENT CHECKED. DEALER ADVISED ALIGNMENT WAS WITHIN SPECS. YOU CAN NOT SEE THE TIRE WEARING UNLESS YOU GET UNDER THE CAR AND LOOK AT THE INSIDE EDGE. THE REST OF T
• DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH AND PASSENGER FRONT TIRE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM TIRE. ORIGINAL TIRES WHEN VEHICLE PURCHASED. ONLY 11,000 MILES ON TIRE; GOODYEAR EAGLE LS 2. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“OWNED CAR FOR 1 DAY ON DAY 2 DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND TIRE BLOWS OUT. GARAGE REFUSED TO WARRANTY TIRE W/O COMPLETELY INSPECTING TIRE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

23 complaints

• 2010 KIA FORTE PURCHASED BRAND NEW ON 10/17/09. 1ST TIME TAKEN IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON (10/27/09) DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS CODE PO304--MISFIRE #4 THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER. DIAGNOSTIC BEING CLEARED. 2ND TIME TAKEN IN ON
• I JUST BOUGHT A KIA FORTE 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SO FAR WHEN THE CAR HAD 425 MILES ON IT, THE GAS PEDAL HAS ACTED LIKE IT WAS DEPRESSED--THE ENGINE REVVED UP VERY HIGH, BUT MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE PEDAL. MY DAUGHTER WAS ALSO DRIVING AND IT ALSO HAPPENED TO HER, IT FELT AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SHIFTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR WOULD SWITCH FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER AND THE TIRES WOULD SKID. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING, HE COULD SMELL RUBBER BURNING. ALSO, THE S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

20 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND A MAN FLAGGED ME DOWN AT A RED LIGHT TO LET ME KNOW THAT NONE OF MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL AS WELL AS TRACTION CONTROL BUTTONS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY ISSUE WITH THE FUSES. IF I CAN NOT FIND A FIX
• STARTING ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR (LOW BEAM) STARTED TO REGULARLY BURN OUT ABOUT EVERY MONTH OR TWO. I FINALLY BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A GROUND PROBLEM IN BOTH THE WIRING HARNESSES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. (THE SAME ISSU
• I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A REDUCED SPEED ZONE OF 35 MPH AND WENT TO SET MY CRUISE CONTROL, ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS LATER I FELT THE CAR GO DEAD. I LOST POWER STEERING AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. MY INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON AND FLICKERING AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN WANING OFF TO THE SIDE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND A MAN FLAGGED ME DOWN AT A RED LIGHT TO LET ME KNOW THAT NONE OF MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL AS WELL AS TRACTION CONTROL BUTTONS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY ISSUE WITH THE FUSES. IF I CAN NOT FIND A FIX ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TIRES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 314 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 2010 KIA FORTE PURCHASED BRAND NEW ON 10/17/09. 1ST TIME TAKEN IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON (10/27/09) DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS CODE PO304--MISFIRE #4 THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER. DIAGNOSTIC BEING CLEARED. 2ND TIME TAKEN IN ON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN OUR 2010 KIA FORTE KOUP, SHE WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A DOG IN THE ROADWAY WHEN SHE OVER CORRECTED AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A DITCH, THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED "TOTALED", DURING THIS ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TIRES: OWNED CAR FOR 1 DAY ON DAY 2 DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND TIRE BLOWS OUT. GARAGE REFUSED TO WARRANTY TIRE W/O COMPLETELY INSPECTING TIRE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 2010 KIA FORTE PURCHASED BRAND NEW ON 10/17/09. 1ST TIME TAKEN IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON (10/27/09) DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS CODE PO304--MISFIRE #4 THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER. DIAGNOSTIC BEING CLEARED. 2ND TIME TAKEN IN ON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)