I was driving this car and received a check engine light and lulled over to find an electrical fire had occurred under the hood. I was able to use a fire extinguisher to put out this fire. The car was towed to a Kia dealership near my home for confirmation and an estimate of the damages. It apparently was caused by a problem that Kia has had with the ABS/hydraulic electronic control units that can trigger electrical shorts.
2017-2018 · 2 model years
Kia FORTE5 Problems by year
Owners have filed 7 complaints about the Kia FORTE5 across 2 model years, and it has 0 recalls. The 2017 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (5). The most reported problem area is the engine & cooling, followed by the fuel system.
- Complaints
- 7
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
FORTE5 complaints by model year
Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.
Most common FORTE5 problems
Latest FORTE5 complaints
I own a 2017 Kia Forte that has a recurring problem with water intrusion in the rear tail light assemblies. This issue was previously repaired around 2018 under Kia's service action related to moisture and water entering the rear combination lamps, but the problem has returned. Moisture and water are again getting inside the tail light housing, which can lead to corrosion, bulb or LED failure, and electrical problems. I am concerned that this could cause the brake light or turn signal to fail unexpectedly. If one...
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of these lights goes out without warning, other drivers may not be able to tell when I am stopping or turning, which could increase the risk of a rear-end or side-impact crash. Since this issue was repaired before and has now returned, I am concerned that the original repair did not permanently correct the defect and that the problem may be related to an ongoing sealing or manufacturing issue.
2017 Kia Forte (Recall SC216 Trunk latch - this 2017 VIN needs to be included
There was a rod failure in the engine. The vehicle is currently at the repair facility. This rod failure caused the vehicle to die while traveling down the road, so it was a safety risk. The rod failure was diagnosed by a certified mechanic. There were no warning lamps, messages, etc. This failure is the same issue that many Kia Forte's of the same year have been diagnosed with, and a recall was issued. This vehicle is not covered under the recall, but should be. The engine recall should be extended to all 2017 Kia Forte models.
There is an issue with the fuel pump where it would stall or shut off while driving or at a stoplight
The contact's son owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 55 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, with the oil pressure warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was turned off. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but there was white smoke coming from the engine. The contact raised the hood and inspected...
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the engine, and the smoke had ceased. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized due to a lack of engine oil, even though the engine oil had been changed in June. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V260000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 100,300.
Questions about the Kia FORTE5
Which Kia FORTE5 years have the most problems?
What are the most common Kia FORTE5 problems?
Across every model year, owners report problems with the engine & cooling (3), fuel system (1), lights (1) most often.
How many recalls does the Kia FORTE5 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for any Kia FORTE5 model year on file.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data