KnownCarProblems2012 Kia Forte Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 292 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Forte, most often about the engine (57% of complaints, typically around 100,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Forte model year since 2000 and has 4 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 2012 Kia Forte problems
Engine
166 complaints · 57%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles.
Started with a knocking sound in the engine. Engine light came up and car started to lose speed. The engine seized and my mechanic told me that the car needed a new engine as it was not repairable. The Forte is not on the list of recalls but it has the same engine issues as the ones listed under the recall. I am still…
Takata recall car started to make noises. Then after getting it checked out I was told the car needed a whole new engine! It is only 6 years old. Bought used from a dealer in 2013. Engine died on the way home still have a loan and can't even drive it!!!! Saw multiple peoples complaints online for same problem! When…
Brakes
52 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 81,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact…
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. Whether the vehicle was stationary or driving various speeds, the traction control indicator illuminated. In addition, the brake lights did not illuminate when prompted. Furthermore, upon depressing the brake pedal to shift out of the park position, the shift lock release had to be…
Air bags
37 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 74,500 miles.
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the mouth, chin, lip, and sustained a concussion. The contact was hospitalized and received medical attention. The vehicle was…
When had my accident in on going traffic my air bags did not deploy,my brakes system went out, also my horn doesn't work, and my cv axle messes up and can't find another cv axle.
Electrical
32 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 71,500 miles.
This vehicle has now repaired 2 times for recall on brake light/wiring issue. We were charged by the jenkins Kia of gainesville,florida for the last 2 times. This is a safety issue since brake light keeps burning out. Mechanic at another business advised bulb burned so much the bulb holder was burned. Sc158 is recall…
The brake light on the car goes out often since I bought it, more commonly the right side. I have repeatedly checked and replaced fuses and bulbs. Sometimes the light won't last a month before someone tells me my brake light is not working. This is a hazard. I have not found any issues with the wires or fuses, but…
Lights
23 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles. Parts named most often: brake lights.
I was pulled over by a [] and was informed that my brake lights were not working. I took it to the dealership and had them look at it. They told me there was a recall for that exact problem on 2009-2010 models but there was not one yet on 2012 models. My tail lights work, but my brake lights do not illuminate when I…
The brake light on the car goes out often since I bought it, more commonly the right side. I have repeatedly checked and replaced fuses and bulbs. Sometimes the light won't last a month before someone tells me my brake light is not working. This is a hazard. I have not found any issues with the wires or fuses, but…
Other or unspecified
20 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles.
A humming sound / and vibration is coming from engine compartment & does not coincide with engine RPM. Faster the speed the louder it gets the loudest @ 45mph. Sound is like a small motorcycle it's next to you. Have already rotated/balanced tires & didn't help. It is almost a transmission whine but it doesn't change…
Made a turn at approx 12 MPH. Car bumped into neutral when groceries tipped over. Heater, radio, and engine all quit. Could not be restarted, vehicle had zero power. Stranded in intersection. Towed to repair, informed engine had seized due to over-revving in neutral. Had zero power, could not over-rev. Kia and…
Speed control
14 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
September 24th at 6:30 a.m. Traveling at 65mph on 91 freeway. Start to slow and then stop for traffic. Traffic starts to speed up and my vehicle goes into ?limp mode?. Car rev meter goes up to about 5, but car will not go faster than approx. 35 MPH. Then within 20 seconds car surges forward and regains speed and rev…
300 miles after complaining to dealer of slipping floor mat stopping braking and random high acceleration-a real accident occurred against a barrier in a parking garage. Mats flip far more that audi and toyota recalls. Entire car damaged by previous acceleration(random) or brakes not working due to mats. The parking…
Fuel system
11 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 26,000 miles.
I was backing out of a driveway approx. 3 feet when the car lurched backwards at full RPM while the brakes were applied and the gas pedal went all the way to the floorboard. The only way I could get the car to stop was to turn off the ignition. It was like the brakes weren't working and the throttle was stuck. This…
I was making a left turn into a parking spot at a corner store parking lot. As I was turning the accelerater dropped to the floor. I pushed the brake all the way and it still pulled forward. I impacted the front left corner of the store causing damage to the wall of the store. Also damage to the front of the car…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 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.
Engine
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, kia dealers will update the knock sensor detection system (ksds) software, free of charge. The recall began january 27, 2021. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc200.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 sorento, 2012-2015 forte and forte koup, 2011-2013 optima hybrid, 2014-2015 soul, and 2012 sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while 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.
Brakes: pedals and linkages
Risk: If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of park without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin january 30, 2018. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc158.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 forte and forte koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
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
Engine fires
Summary
On march 29, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened two preliminary evaluations (pe19-003 on hyundai and pe19-004 on kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year hyundai and kia vehicles.â during the pe investigations, hyundai and kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.â the remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.â additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modif
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 2012 Kia Forte
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Forte?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (166 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); brakes (52 complaints, typically around 81,500 miles); air bags (37 complaints, typically around 74,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Kia Forte have?
- 4 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 2012 a bad year for the Kia Forte?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Forte model year since 2000, with 292 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.