2015 Kia FORTE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Kia FORTE has 322 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (49% of all complaints), specifically: when the car accelerates from a stop, there is severe valve pinging sound. kia motors america is aware of the issue, but are not taking any steps to address the issue "as it does not do anything to the car". the noise is very severe on the 2015 forte and it is a defect in the design of the car. the . ⚠️ 21 fire reports filed.

21 fire reports 17 crash reports 14 injuries

322

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

158 complaints

49%

• WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES FROM A STOP, THERE IS SEVERE VALVE PINGING SOUND. KIA MOTORS AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT ARE NOT TAKING ANY STEPS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE "AS IT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE CAR". THE NOISE IS VERY SEVERE ON THE 2015 FORTE AND IT IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. THE
• MY CAR LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING I NEED OIL IN MY 2015 KIA FORTE. AFTER PUTTING ON IN MY CAR IT BEGAN TO STALL. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DRIVING IT HOME AND THE CAR COMES TO A SCREECHING STOP ON BRECKENRIDGE LN, IN LOUISVILLE KY. I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP AND BEGAN TO DRIVE SOME MORE THE CAR DID IT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT SUDDENLY PROGRESSED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY TO BE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (WORLD KIA JOLIET, 2525 W JEFFERSON ST, JOLIET, IL 6043

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 16 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES FROM A STOP, THERE IS SEVERE VALVE PINGING SOUND. KIA MOTORS AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT ARE NOT TAKING ANY STEPS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE "AS IT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE CAR". THE NOISE IS VERY SEVERE ON THE 2015 FORTE AND IT IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

31 complaints

10%

• WHILE MONITORING THE REAR VIEW CAMERA DISPLAY TO AVOID OBSTACLES WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VIDEO FRAME FROZE CREATING THE IMPRESSION THAT I WAS FARTHER AWAY FROM OBSTACLES THAN I ACTUALLY WAS AS I APPROACHED THEM. IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS THAT THE VIDEO FRAME HAD FROZEN, AND TH
• WELL LEAKING WATER IN TRUNK HAD TO LET KIA STORE IN CLARKSVILLE, INDIANA TAKE IT TO FIX DIDN'T FIX STILL PAYING ON A LEASE AND THEY STILL WILL NOT FIX IT SCREWING ME OVER DO NOT EVER BUY A CAR FROM KIA STORE IN CLARKSVILLE, INDIANA THEY ARE CROOKS MOLD GROWING IN BACKSEAT [XXX]. VIN UNAVAILABLE
• I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST NALLEY KIA, LITHONIA, GA, AND THE EFFECTIVE TIRES THEY ARE PUTTING O THE KIA FORTE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER CHAD DALTON, THAT THE TIRE WITH THE BUBBLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY. HE TRIED TO SAY I HAD HIT A POTHOLE AND THAT IS WHAT IS WRON

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“WHILE MONITORING THE REAR VIEW CAMERA DISPLAY TO AVOID OBSTACLES WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VIDEO FRAME FROZE CREATING THE IMPRESSION THAT I WAS FARTHER AWAY FROM OBSTACLES THAN I ACTUALLY WAS AS I APPROACHED THEM. IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS THAT THE VIDEO FRAME HAD FROZEN, AND TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

28 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT SUDDENLY PROGRESSED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY TO BE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (WORLD KIA JOLIET, 2525 W JEFFERSON ST, JOLIET, IL 6043
• ENGINE IS BLOWN. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. IT HAPPENED AT A TRAFFIC LIGH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY.. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON PRIOR TO ENGINE BLOWING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT REGISTER HOT PRIOR TO ENGINE BLOWING. CHECK OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AND STAY ON PRIOR TO ENGINE BLOWING.
• TAKATA RECALL: MY BRAKE LIGHTS FROM BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ARE ALWAYS GONG OUT. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO REPLACE BULBS. I'VE EVEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HAD THE ENTIRE LIGHTING WIRES BRAND NEW AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT SUDDENLY PROGRESSED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY TO BE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (WORLD KIA JOLIET, 2525 W JEFFERSON ST, JOLIET, IL 6043”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

23 complaints

• DRIVER WAS IN MIDDLE LANE DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CAR BEGAN FLIPPING WHILE STILL IN THE ROADWAY, EVENTUALLY HIT A GUARD RAIL AND CONTINUED FLIPPING. DRIVER WAS EJECTED AND KILLED. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED...UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF .....UPDATED 12/23
• "TAKATA RECALL" I WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE AN ONCOMING LEFT TURN INTO MY LANE, CAUSING A COLLISION. I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON WITH HER FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS? *JS
• ON 1/15/2016, I HIT A MASSIVE 10-POINT BUCK (DEER) HEAD ON. IT WAS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND I DROVE INTO IT DOING 65 MPH. THE FRONT OF MY CAR SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE; THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS PUSHED BACK AND THE HOOD WAS BENT BACK TO THE WINDSHIELD. YET, MY AIRBAG DID NOT D

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 10 crashes

“DRIVER WAS IN MIDDLE LANE DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CAR BEGAN FLIPPING WHILE STILL IN THE ROADWAY, EVENTUALLY HIT A GUARD RAIL AND CONTINUED FLIPPING. DRIVER WAS EJECTED AND KILLED. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED...UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF .....UPDATED 12/23”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

17 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO A CRASH, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS DAMAGED AND STARTED TO CORRODE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTED THAT TH
• ITS HARD GOING UP A HILL AND AS I'M DRIVING FEELS LIKE CAR IS PULLING BACK WHILE GOING FORWARD.
• I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 8 IN SAN DIEGO,CA AND I HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP AND THE ENGINE DIED AND I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY KIA DEALERSHIP IN EL CAJON, CA. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD ME MY ENGINE SEI

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO A CRASH, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS DAMAGED AND STARTED TO CORRODE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTED THAT TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 322 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES FROM A STOP, THERE IS SEVERE VALVE PINGING SOUND. KIA MOTORS AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT ARE NOT TAKING ANY STEPS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE "AS IT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE CAR". THE NOISE IS VERY SEVERE ON THE 2015 FORTE AND IT IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHILE MONITORING THE REAR VIEW CAMERA DISPLAY TO AVOID OBSTACLES WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VIDEO FRAME FROZE CREATING THE IMPRESSION THAT I WAS FARTHER AWAY FROM OBSTACLES THAN I ACTUALLY WAS AS I APPROACHED THEM. IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS THAT THE VIDEO FRAME HAD FROZEN, AND TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT SUDDENLY PROGRESSED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY TO BE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (WORLD KIA JOLIET, 2525 W JEFFERSON ST, JOLIET, IL 6043
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: DRIVER WAS IN MIDDLE LANE DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CAR BEGAN FLIPPING WHILE STILL IN THE ROADWAY, EVENTUALLY HIT A GUARD RAIL AND CONTINUED FLIPPING. DRIVER WAS EJECTED AND KILLED. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED...UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF .....UPDATED 12/23
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)