2011 Kia FORTE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Kia FORTE has 213 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: kia forte 2.4l automatic 6 speed, check engine code p200a for intake runner issue - , apparently defective part was replaced by shop(warranty)but computer still reporting the code, dealer shop indicated kia motor has not available upgrade to correct the issue. concenr now, this issue may. ⚠️ 18 fire reports filed.
213
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.7x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
48 complaints- • KIA FORTE 2.4L AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED, CHECK ENGINE CODE P200A FOR INTAKE RUNNER ISSUE - , APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE PART WAS REPLACED BY SHOP(WARRANTY)BUT COMPUTER STILL REPORTING THE CODE, DEALER SHOP INDICATED KIA MOTOR HAS NOT AVAILABLE UPGRADE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. CONCENR NOW, THIS ISSUE MAY
- • 2011 KIA FORTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE WOULD DROP TO AN IDLE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP FORWARD, WITH THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH OF THE ACCELERATOR. THE CONSUME
- • TOOK MY 2011 KIA FORTE INTO THE KIA DEALERSHIP TODAY BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS MAKING A TICKING SOUND. I HAVE HAD TWO OTHER MECHANICS IN RECENT WEEKS TELL ME IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE LIFTERS AND/OR THE PISTONS INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE KIA MECHANIC REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A TICKING SOUND, B
“KIA FORTE 2.4L AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED, CHECK ENGINE CODE P200A FOR INTAKE RUNNER ISSUE - , APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE PART WAS REPLACED BY SHOP(WARRANTY)BUT COMPUTER STILL REPORTING THE CODE, DEALER SHOP INDICATED KIA MOTOR HAS NOT AVAILABLE UPGRADE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. CONCENR NOW, THIS ISSUE MAY”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
35 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE INJURIES INCLUDING BROKEN RIBS, CONCUSSION, NECK AND BACK PAIN, MULTIPLE CONTU
- • I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH I WAS ONLY TRAVELING 20 MPH. BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG BOTH DEPLOYED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I REALIZED THAT THE SEAT BEHIND ME HAD UNLATCHED AND MY SON'S BOOSTER CAR SEAT WAS THROWN FROM ITS PLACE. NEEDLESS TO SAY,
- • TL* TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE VEERED INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE IMPACT WAS TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF BOTH VEHICLES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SA
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE INJURIES INCLUDING BROKEN RIBS, CONCUSSION, NECK AND BACK PAIN, MULTIPLE CONTU”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
27 complaints- • LIVING ONLY 3.7 MILES FROM MY WORK I DRIVE TO WORK 2 TIMES DAILY, MON- FRI, ROUND TRIP. I COME HOME FOR MY LUNCH HOUR. NEVER BEING ABLE TO DRIVE FASTER THAN 20-30 MPH DUE TO THE ROADS & BUSYNESS OF THEM DURING THAT TIME I HAD NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE. I HAD NOTICED PRIOR TO MY ACCIDENT THAT AT TIM
- • I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND IN MY 2011 KIA FORTE AT 70 MPH WHILE I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL FOR ME TO STOP ON THE ROAD BEFORE I WAS PUSHED INTO AN 8FT DEEP DITCH, INTO BIG BRANCHES AND MY CAR THEN BOUNCED THROUGH A HUGE FIELD. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE, TH
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CONTACT TO CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POST. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT D
“LIVING ONLY 3.7 MILES FROM MY WORK I DRIVE TO WORK 2 TIMES DAILY, MON- FRI, ROUND TRIP. I COME HOME FOR MY LUNCH HOUR. NEVER BEING ABLE TO DRIVE FASTER THAN 20-30 MPH DUE TO THE ROADS & BUSYNESS OF THEM DURING THAT TIME I HAD NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE. I HAD NOTICED PRIOR TO MY ACCIDENT THAT AT TIM”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
18 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA MOTOR FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPL
- • CAR WILL NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY UNDER MANUAL.
- • WAS DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS FELT THIS SUDDEN JERK (LIKE I HAD BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND) AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO. WHEN I GOT PULLED OVER I PLACED IT IN PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE IT WOULD NOT PULL FORWARD. TRIED TO PUT INTO THE MANUAL SHIFT SIDE AND IT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING THERE EITHER.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA MOTOR FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPL”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
16 complaints- • CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. I HAD NO IDEA AT THE TIME WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE BECAUSE IN THE KIA OWNERS MANUAL IT DOES NOT STATE THAT ONCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT, YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR UNTIL I USED THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE TO TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR. DROVE IT H
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE DAUGHTER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT FAILED TO FUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY STOPPED COMP
- • WHEN YOU START THE CAR WHILE IN PARK THE LOCKS ON THEIR OWN WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK REPEATEDLY. IF YOU START THE CAR AND PUT IT IN DRIVE THE LOCKS WILL ON THEIR OWN AGAIN LOCK AND UNLOCK 7-8 TIMES ON THEIR OWN. SINCE THIS ISSUE THE KEY SET WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. KIA MOTORS CAN'T FIND THE ISS
“CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. I HAD NO IDEA AT THE TIME WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE BECAUSE IN THE KIA OWNERS MANUAL IT DOES NOT STATE THAT ONCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT, YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR UNTIL I USED THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE TO TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR. DROVE IT H”
— 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 213 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: KIA FORTE 2.4L AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED, CHECK ENGINE CODE P200A FOR INTAKE RUNNER ISSUE - , APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE PART WAS REPLACED BY SHOP(WARRANTY)BUT COMPUTER STILL REPORTING THE CODE, DEALER SHOP INDICATED KIA MOTOR HAS NOT AVAILABLE UPGRADE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. CONCENR NOW, THIS ISSUE MAY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE INJURIES INCLUDING BROKEN RIBS, CONCUSSION, NECK AND BACK PAIN, MULTIPLE CONTU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: LIVING ONLY 3.7 MILES FROM MY WORK I DRIVE TO WORK 2 TIMES DAILY, MON- FRI, ROUND TRIP. I COME HOME FOR MY LUNCH HOUR. NEVER BEING ABLE TO DRIVE FASTER THAN 20-30 MPH DUE TO THE ROADS & BUSYNESS OF THEM DURING THAT TIME I HAD NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE. I HAD NOTICED PRIOR TO MY ACCIDENT THAT AT TIM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA MOTOR FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia FORTE — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 213
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 18
- Crash reports
- 36
- Injury reports
- 40
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Kia FORTE