2017 Kia FORTE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2017 Kia FORTE has 431 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: the vehicle is the s model, new for 2017, i have driven the car approximately 2,000 miles since leasing it in september 2016. the car has poor acceleration, especially going up hills and merging into traffic (moving, city). it hesitates at traffic signals (from a dead stop). the vehicle tends t. ⚠️ 14 fire reports filed.

14 fire reports 30 crash reports 29 injuries

431

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

157 complaints

36%

• THE VEHICLE IS THE S MODEL, NEW FOR 2017, I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 2,000 MILES SINCE LEASING IT IN SEPTEMBER 2016. THE CAR HAS POOR ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY GOING UP HILLS AND MERGING INTO TRAFFIC (MOVING, CITY). IT HESITATES AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS (FROM A DEAD STOP). THE VEHICLE TENDS T
• MY CAR BEGINS RANDOMLY SHAKING. I HAVE HAD ALL MAINTENANCE DONE AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP AS PER MY WARRANTY SPECIFIES. THE LAST 4 WEEKS, MY CAR WILL RANDOMLY SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHILE IDLE, ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE IN THE DIFFERENT DRIVE MODES. YESTERDAY, JUNE 21ST, 2018, MY CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY
• IGNITION RECOIL PROBLEMS THE ENGINE HAS LOW POWER. HAD IT SERVICED AND IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“THE VEHICLE IS THE S MODEL, NEW FOR 2017, I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 2,000 MILES SINCE LEASING IT IN SEPTEMBER 2016. THE CAR HAS POOR ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY GOING UP HILLS AND MERGING INTO TRAFFIC (MOVING, CITY). IT HESITATES AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS (FROM A DEAD STOP). THE VEHICLE TENDS T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

49 complaints

11%

• MY 2017 KIA FORTE S HAS FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM (FCWS) AND AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. THE FCWS DOES NOT WORK IN THAT IT DOES NOT WARN ME OF IMPENDING COLLISION HAZZARDS. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THE AEBS WORKS AS THE FCWS TRIGGERS THAT SYSTEM. KIA TECHS HAVE NOT SHOWN ME THAT IT WORKS
• THE AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) AND FORWARD COLLISION WARNING (FCW) SYSTEMS ON MY VEHICLE NEVER ACTIVATE WHEN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS ARE OBVIOUS FOR THE AEB AND FCW TO ACTIVATE. EVEN HOME-SPUN SYSTEM TESTS DON'T SHOW THE SYSTEMS TO BE OPERATIONAL. THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR CENTER CANN
• THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMED THE LIENHOLDER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS POSSIBLY A TOTAL LOSS AND THE LIENHOLDER IGNORED THEM AND SOLD THE VEHICLE TO A PUBLIC AUCTION WITHOUT CONTACTING THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR TO PAY ON THE VEHICLE EITHER. THE OWNER OF THE CA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“MY 2017 KIA FORTE S HAS FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM (FCWS) AND AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. THE FCWS DOES NOT WORK IN THAT IT DOES NOT WARN ME OF IMPENDING COLLISION HAZZARDS. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THE AEBS WORKS AS THE FCWS TRIGGERS THAT SYSTEM. KIA TECHS HAVE NOT SHOWN ME THAT IT WORKS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

46 complaints

11%

• VOLUME BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL VOLUME UP TURNS VOLUME DOWN, MUTE BUTTON TURNS VOLUME UP.
• THE AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) AND FORWARD COLLISION WARNING (FCW) SYSTEMS ON MY VEHICLE NEVER ACTIVATE WHEN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS ARE OBVIOUS FOR THE AEB AND FCW TO ACTIVATE. EVEN HOME-SPUN SYSTEM TESTS DON'T SHOW THE SYSTEMS TO BE OPERATIONAL. THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR CENTER CANN
• MY CAR THE GAS SHOOTS OUT ,I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS WITH A NEW CAR MY ENGINE LIGHT BEEN ON FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT THIS CAR GAVE ME PROBLEMS EVERY TIME I BRING IT BACK THEY SAID JUST DROP IT OFF SO WE CAN TRY FIXING IT IT TAKE UP TO THREE DAYS ARE MORE PLUS THEY DON'T GIVE OUT LOANER CAR AT

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

“VOLUME BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL VOLUME UP TURNS VOLUME DOWN, MUTE BUTTON TURNS VOLUME UP.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

43 complaints

10%

• MY CAR THE GAS SHOOTS OUT ,I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS WITH A NEW CAR MY ENGINE LIGHT BEEN ON FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT THIS CAR GAVE ME PROBLEMS EVERY TIME I BRING IT BACK THEY SAID JUST DROP IT OFF SO WE CAN TRY FIXING IT IT TAKE UP TO THREE DAYS ARE MORE PLUS THEY DON'T GIVE OUT LOANER CAR AT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER KOONS KIA OF WOODBRIDGE (14208 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REP
• KIA FORTE DRIVERSIDE FRONT HEAD LIGHT ON LOW BEAMS WILL NOT COME ON. DEALER STATES PART IS ON BACK ORDER WHEN HAVING OIL CHANGE DONE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. IN THREE WEEKS WILL NEED CAR TO DRIVE POSSIBLE AT NIGHT TO CHILD COLLEGE GRADUATION THROUGH MOUNTAINS. DO NOT KNOW IF OTHER HEAD LAMP WILL MALFUNCTI

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

“MY CAR THE GAS SHOOTS OUT ,I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS WITH A NEW CAR MY ENGINE LIGHT BEEN ON FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT THIS CAR GAVE ME PROBLEMS EVERY TIME I BRING IT BACK THEY SAID JUST DROP IT OFF SO WE CAN TRY FIXING IT IT TAKE UP TO THREE DAYS ARE MORE PLUS THEY DON'T GIVE OUT LOANER CAR AT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

30 complaints

• I WAS PARKING MY CAR YESTERDAY AT 7/11 AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT PILLAR. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE SEEN A BLOG WHERE DOZENS OF FORTE OWNERS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE. I WAS INJURED AND THE CAR NEEDS $9000 IN REPAIRS, ALSO I
• MY CAR THE GAS SHOOTS OUT ,I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS WITH A NEW CAR MY ENGINE LIGHT BEEN ON FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT THIS CAR GAVE ME PROBLEMS EVERY TIME I BRING IT BACK THEY SAID JUST DROP IT OFF SO WE CAN TRY FIXING IT IT TAKE UP TO THREE DAYS ARE MORE PLUS THEY DON'T GIVE OUT LOANER CAR AT
• HELLO: FORTE HAS INTERMITTENT STRONG GAS SMELL THRU VENTS. IS AT DEALER FOR SECOND TIME. TO ME HTTPS://WWW.NHTSA.GOV/RECALLS#VEHICLE PLEASE CONTACT US AND DEALER AS TO NEXT STEP FOR OUR SAFETY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

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

“I WAS PARKING MY CAR YESTERDAY AT 7/11 AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT PILLAR. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE SEEN A BLOG WHERE DOZENS OF FORTE OWNERS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE. I WAS INJURED AND THE CAR NEEDS $9000 IN REPAIRS, ALSO I ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 431 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE VEHICLE IS THE S MODEL, NEW FOR 2017, I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 2,000 MILES SINCE LEASING IT IN SEPTEMBER 2016. THE CAR HAS POOR ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY GOING UP HILLS AND MERGING INTO TRAFFIC (MOVING, CITY). IT HESITATES AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS (FROM A DEAD STOP). THE VEHICLE TENDS T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: MY 2017 KIA FORTE S HAS FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM (FCWS) AND AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. THE FCWS DOES NOT WORK IN THAT IT DOES NOT WARN ME OF IMPENDING COLLISION HAZZARDS. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THE AEBS WORKS AS THE FCWS TRIGGERS THAT SYSTEM. KIA TECHS HAVE NOT SHOWN ME THAT IT WORKS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: VOLUME BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL VOLUME UP TURNS VOLUME DOWN, MUTE BUTTON TURNS VOLUME UP.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: MY CAR THE GAS SHOOTS OUT ,I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS WITH A NEW CAR MY ENGINE LIGHT BEEN ON FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT THIS CAR GAVE ME PROBLEMS EVERY TIME I BRING IT BACK THEY SAID JUST DROP IT OFF SO WE CAN TRY FIXING IT IT TAKE UP TO THREE DAYS ARE MORE PLUS THEY DON'T GIVE OUT LOANER CAR AT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)