KnownCarProblems2011 Kia Forte Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 154 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Forte, most often about the engine (31% of complaints, typically around 101,000 miles). It is 7th of 16 Forte model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2011 Kia Forte problems
Engine
48 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 101,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system.
The check engine light came on, I heard a sound like metal scraping metal, I was driving about 20mph going straight down s. Main st downtown warrenton, oregon and was planning to pull over when suddenly my car stopped dead after a horrible noise of what sounded like a heavy metal snapping/crunching noise. I looked…
There is a constant knocking coming from the engine and loud noise when accelerating the engine. The check engine light is also turning on and off. 2012-2015 Kia Forte koups have recently been recalled, but not the 2011 model. This car has the same theta 2 engine and the same problems. The engine is shot and will not…
Air bags
35 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
In july of 2016, I was in rush hour traffic on the 495 beltway and had to slam on my brakes at one point from hitting the person in front of me. I was hit from behind at approximately 40mph and then pushed into the car in front of me. The airbags did not deploy. The car had a lot of damage and I had the car repaired.…
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Forte. While the vehicle was parked, the driver side shoulder air bag inadvertently deployed and the seat belt locked. The key fob was depressed at the time of deployment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the…
Brakes
29 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 110,000 miles.
Brake line burst near center of car while traveling on highway. Maintained enough brake pressure to come to a safe stop. Investigation revealed excessive rusting of brake lines running from front to rear of vehicle, particularly at contact points with each restraint.
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, but in formed me the…
Transmission
18 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Forte. While driving, the engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument cluster. Also, the vehicle shifted into gear roughly and the contact noticed an abnormal odor. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…
I bought a 2011 Kia Forte and was having issues where the car seemed like it was dying after initial starting of the vehicle and sometimes wouldn't go into gear. After driving it seems to correct itself and I brought it into Kia. They put it under a specific claim number incase the warranty went out it is still…
Electrical
16 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 81,500 miles.
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 completely. The contact's…
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 issue and has done…
Other or unspecified
13 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 88,000 miles.
Kia Forte 2011,accelerated on its own,and cause me to hit the car in front of me,kept accelerated,until I shut the engine off. Went from 30 MPH to 50 MPH,and totaled my car. I was in motion on a city street,when the incident occurred. No warning,no engine light,and it never happened before.
My air conditioning clutch pulley assembly has a failing bearing that makes a whining noise. The assembly is separate from the A/C compressor. I'm afraid the bearing will eventually seize and cause the pulley to freeze, which will thus cause my serpentine belt to rupture and potentially cause damage to my car while…
Speed control
10 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 42,500 miles.
When going 60 on the highway the car suddenly dropped down to 40 and I had to pull off the highway. Car was then taken to the dealership where the whole transmission was replaced. Upon recieving the car again it would jerk and stall when accelerating. Car was then taken back to the dealer and a "relearn" of the…
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 diagnosed or repaired.…
Body and structure
8 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: body.
When driving straight along an interstate with my cruise control set to the speed limit, a loud bang came from under the hood of my Kia, the check engine indicator turned on, and smoke began to pour out from under the hood and inside my car through the air vents. When I pushed the gas pedal gently, there was a low…
Traveling 45 to 55 MPH ran into four large deers and ran off road. Damage front of car. Air bag light came on but did not flate. I substain severe shoulder injury.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Kia Forte recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the hecu fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed november 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed march 29, 2024 through june 18, 2024. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc284.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 borrego, 2014-2016 cadenza, 2010-2013 forte, forte koup, sportage, 2015-2018 k900, 2011-2015 optima, 2011-2013 optima hybrid, soul, 2012-2017 rio, 2011-2014 sorento, and 2010-2011 rondo vehicles. The hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Risk: If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Fix: Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 sedona vehicles, kia will instruct dealers to verify the acu part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the acu connector and the vehicle harness connector. For all other affected vehicles, kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began september 28, 2018. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc165.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 kia forte, forte koup, 2011-2013 kia optima and 2011-2012 kia optima hybrid and sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (acu) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
Transmission: cooling unit and lines
Risk: If enough transmission fluid leaks out, the transmission may not function properly and the vehicle may stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission cooler hose, free of charge. The recall began march 30, 2016. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc129.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain model year 2011 forte vehicles manufactured august 27, 2010, to november 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a transmission fluid cooler hose that may have been improperly manufactured, resulting in a transmission fluid leak.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Air bags may be disabled during crash
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe18-003 on 3/16/18 to investigate incidents involving crashes, resulting in significant collision related damage, where the frontal airbags failed to deploy. Odi reviewed complaint data, available design, test, and field data on the model year (my) 2011 hyundai sonata, my 2012-2013 kia forte and forte koup vehicles. Odi also evaluated data from the automotive air bag system supplier, zf-trw (zf), to review vehicles that may contain the same air bag control unit (acu) used in the subject vehicles. Hyundai motor america (hma) issued recall no. 18v-137 for my 2011-2013 sonata and my 2012 sonata hybrid vehicles. Kia motors america (kma) issued re
Questions about the 2011 Kia Forte
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Forte?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (48 complaints, typically around 101,000 miles); air bags (35 complaints, typically around 63,000 miles); brakes (29 complaints, typically around 110,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Kia Forte have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 25, 2023 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Kia Forte?
- It is 7th of 16 Forte model years by number of complaints, with 154 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.