2017 Kia Forte Problems
Electrical issues:
- Headlight issues: There have been numerous complaints about the Forte headlights burning out and causing the fuse to melt. Apart from this, many people have reported the headlights flickering. Sometimes, the lights would just shut down. This causes a lot of inconveniences and affects the visibility. If not malfunctioning, the headlight throw is pretty average and does not light up the road well.
- Taillight issues: The Kia Forte taillight is no better than its headlight. The NHTSA is piled up with complaints reporting a complete failure of the taillights and the third brake light. This confuses the following traffic and has led to several rear-end collisions because the driver behind could not see any brake lights.
- Battery issues: Kia Forte’s battery is no good when it comes to reliability. People report the battery going dead after some time of inactivity. They had to jumpstart the car if it was sitting idle for as little as a couple of days. In some cases, the battery malfunctioned and caused a complete electrical shut down of the car.
Mechanical issues
- Oil pump failure: Kia Forte’s oil pump is very prone to malfunctioning and causing engine vibrations and rough idling. The sedan has experienced engine stalling quite frequently because of the low engine oil levels. Many people had to get the engine replaced as a remedial measure. One complainant claimed that their car caught fire just two days after a complete engine change with other associated parts.
- Engine stalling: The cause for the Forte engine stalling is also determined to be a faulty ignition coil and engine misfires. The sedan’s engine flashed engine misfire waning in the dashboard and sputtered the car to a stop. If the ignition coil got damaged, the engine stalled immediately and could not be started back up. The issues were preceded by engine vibrations at lower speeds.
Exterior issues:
- Faulty trunk latches: The trunk latches of the Kia Forte came loose and malfunctioned, throwing the trunk open while the car is moving. This also acted as a safety hazard for the traffic behind since the objects in the trunk went flying on the highways. This has also led to a lot of theft reports in certain areas as a malfunctioning trunk latch gives easy access to thieves.
Safety issues:
- Airbags not deploying: Many people have complained about the Forte airbags not deploying when the car is involved in a crash. There are many injuries reported due to this and the NHSTA has been made aware of the problem as well. A recall has been initiated for the same and can be referenced by NHTSA Campaign ID 22V031000.
2017 Kia Forte Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
April 13, 2021 |
21V260000 |
Engine and Engine Cooling |
Failure of the oil pump due to foreign particles may cause engine damage and stall the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Kia notified the owners and mailed letters on August 16, 2021. The dealerships replaced the oil pan for free. Kia’s internal number for the recall was SC210. |
|
2. |
August 9, 2021 |
21V622000 |
Latches/Locks/Linkages |
A damaged trunk latch prevents the opening of the trunk from the inside, trapping a person inside. The trunk latch can also pop the trunk open while moving and cause a road hazard. The affected vehicles fail to comply with FMVSS Number 401, “Internal Trunk Release”. |
Kia notified the owners and mailed letters on February 10, 2022. The dealerships replaced the trunk latch assembly for free. Kia’s internal number for the recall was SC216. |
|
3. |
January 25, 2022 |
22V031000 |
Airbags |
Contact between a memory chip on the printed circuit board and the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) cover may cause an electrical short and disable airbags, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. |
Kia notified the owners and mailed letters on March 21, 2022. The dealerships will inspect the ACU and replace/update the unit for free. Kia’s internal number for the recall was SC226. |
Should you buy the 2017 Kia Forte?
The 2017 Kia Forte showcases itself as a very ideal car for the segment with a long list of features and value but the actual story is very different. The ownership is filled with troubles related to the engine and the electronics. Though the electrical problems can be remedied easily, an engine failure due to any reason is a very big expense. The recalls were made a bit too late when many people had exhausted their warranty period, which amounted to expensive repair bills. Adding to the woes are the airbag deployment issues which pose a risk of injury to the occupants, and have injured many people. If you ask us, we’d say skip the 2017 Kia Forte because of the overlooked corners and go for rivals like the Honda Civic which offers a more comprehensive package.
