KnownCarProblems2013 Kia Forte Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 195 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Forte, most often about the engine (56% of complaints, typically around 85,000 miles). It is 6th of 16 Forte model years by number of complaints and has 5 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 2013 Kia Forte problems
Engine
110 complaints · 56%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles.
I, like many other Kia Forte owners, feel the recall should include the Forte. I have experienced the same issues as the other owners - engine knocking, oil issues, white smoke exiting the exhaust, loss of speed while driving, car dying after acceleration and finishing in a puff of smoke. When it first began in june…
My local Kia dealer has informed me that the engine knocking noise in my car is a rod bearing or wrist pin failure. This is the 2.4 liter engine that has had recall issues in other models. The dealer has quoted $7,000 to replace the engine. Kia motors has refused to cover the engine since I am the second owner. These…
Brakes
37 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.
During month of december 2017 discovered all brake lights (total of 3 bulbs) burned out. The center top brake light assembly discovered melted (self replaced with new ones). Three weeks ago, right brake light assembly and bulb both burned out and melted. I replaced the light bulb and used electrician tape to hold…
Takata recall turning off a road of 55 MPH onto a 35 MPH road. I let off of brakes after turn and I tried pressing on gas and no gas pedal! I hit the curb because I was n shock looking for gas pedal. This messed my rim and tire up. The gas pedal was laying on the floor. No property damage but this is very dangerous…
Electrical
25 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 74,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring.
My Kia went on fire and I was never notified by Kia, I found out from carfax and set up appointment to have this recall fixed and found out there was 2 recalls. Set up the appt for saturday, while my car was parked and off I ran into the store came out and my car was on fire all of the dashboard all behind it. My car…
The exterior lights on this vehicle need replacing every few weeks along with the cruise control not disengaging when brakes are applied and gear shift does not engage. The brake lights will light when the interior light control is in the off position but when the car is on and lights have been turned on, the brake…
Air bags
16 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles.
Air bags and seat belts did not work during an accident. Car was traveling 40 mhp on a city street when it struck another care from behind. Front driver and passenger seat belts did not lock and air bags did not deploy resulting in facial injuries and concussion for driver and passenger.
I received a letter from Kia dated july 27 regarding a recall on airbags. On july 28, I was in a car accident with a drunk driver, and my airbags did not deploy. The car is totaled, and I no longer have it. There is a police and collision report. - (recall related incident) ts
Lights
14 complaints · 7%Right brake light was out took car to midas to have bulb replaced, where the melted light socket was discovered. Took car Kia dealership the same day 9/11/2017 to find out if there was a recall on this item and was informed there was not. The Kia advisor jack told me that they where able to replace the bulb but had to…
The exterior lights on this vehicle need replacing every few weeks along with the cruise control not disengaging when brakes are applied and gear shift does not engage. The brake lights will light when the interior light control is in the off position but when the car is on and lights have been turned on, the brake…
Steering
13 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 29,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, he depressed the accelerator pedal to change lanes and heard an abnormal knocking noise sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the knocking sound occurred whenever the accelerator pedal was…
I bought the car a year after it was released and it seems to jerk at high speeds when going over minor bumps in the road. Also shakes when riding through high winds. It seems extremely light weight and is hard to control if there is strong winds(15mph) present which extremely nerve wracking especially traveling long…
Other or unspecified
13 complaints · 7%Car makes loud noise while driving down fwy sounds like engine is going to drop out from underneath it - shakes and vibrates and acts like it's going to stop any moment. Brakes will not disengage, thereby making the gas pedal unable to engage. Car loses power while driving when brake doesn't disengage because the gas…
Driving on interstate engine made loud noise shut down when oil pan was dropped to see what happened the engine blew a rod destroying the engine car was financed still owe $10,000 car engine destroyed Kia is recalling all 2.0 engines due to this defect except the Forte so I pay a payment monthly carry full coverage…
Transmission
10 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 59,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that immediately after parking and attempting to remove the keys from the ignition, the shift lever rolled out of park into reverse. The vehicle ran over the contact and proceeded to roll into the contact's yard. The vehicle then struck a couple of trees and came…
I was driving my car when I noticed a tapping sound as I accelerated from a stop light. I pulled over to check under the hood, but couldn't figure out what was wrong. I check all my fluid levels and everything was perfectly fine. I shut the hood and started it back up. The tapping was still there. I decided to turn…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 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.
Seat belts: retractor
Risk: If a retaining plate breaks during a crash, pieces of the plate could strike the occupants, increasing risk of injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace both front seatbelt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. The recall began july 1, 2016. Kia's number for this recall is sc132.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain model year 2013 forte vehicles manufactured september 10, 2012, to october 31, 2012. The screws that hold the front seatbelt retractor retaining plates may not have been properly tightened, and as a result, the seatbelt retractor retaining plates may break in a crash.
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
Electrical overstress
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.â during the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (acu) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ecu) manufactured by zf-trw. â the ecu receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with m
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 2013 Kia Forte
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Kia Forte?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (110 complaints, typically around 85,000 miles); brakes (37 complaints, typically around 82,000 miles); electrical (25 complaints, typically around 74,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Kia Forte have?
- 5 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 2013 a bad year for the Kia Forte?
- It is 6th of 16 Forte model years by number of complaints, with 195 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.