HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERING/GOING OUT WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T COME BACK ON UNLESS I TINKER WITH THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN SEEING AS HOW I DRIVE DAILY IN THE DARK TO WORK
2014 Kia Forte
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Forte years
Owner complaints for the 2014 Kia Forte are substantially higher than the model-year median of 141.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forte years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
262 reports with mileage · 178 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 214 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
56 reportsTHIS CAR HAS SEVERAL ISSUES WHICH I HAVE FOUND OTHER 2014 OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS I DO. THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS TAKE TURNS GOING OUT. I AM TO THE POINT ABOUT EVERY 5 WEEKS I AM REPLACING A BURNED OUT LIGHT. ONE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT THEN I FIX THAT. A FEW WEEKS LATER I WILL GET PULLED OVER FOR A TAILLIGHT.BEING OUT…
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THIS CAR HAS SEVERAL ISSUES WHICH I HAVE FOUND OTHER 2014 OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS I DO. THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS TAKE TURNS GOING OUT. I AM TO THE POINT ABOUT EVERY 5 WEEKS I AM REPLACING A BURNED OUT LIGHT. ONE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT THEN I FIX THAT. A FEW WEEKS LATER I WILL GET PULLED OVER FOR A TAILLIGHT.BEING OUT. ONE OFFICER TOLD ME HE WAS GIVING ME A WARNING BECAUSE HIS WIFE HAS THE SAME ISSUES WITH HER LIGHTS GOING OUT. I WILL REPLACE THE TAILLIGHT THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER THE OTHER HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT THEN THE OTHER TAILLIGHT WILL GO OUT. I FIND MYSELF ALWAYS REPLACING A LIGHT. I'VE PULLED UP TO MANY FORTE OWNERS TO LET THEM KNOW A TAILLIGHT WAS OUT AND THEY ALL SAY "AGAIN" THE LIGHTS ARE A MAJOR PROBLEM. ALSO MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WON'T GO ALL THE WAY UP. I HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED THEN ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN WHERE THE WINDOW WILL GO ALMOST ALL THE WAY UP BUT IT STILL LEAVES A LITTLE GAP IN THE WINDOW FOR AIR TO COME INSIDE WHICH WILL CAUSE YOUR CAR TO ROCK BACK AND FOURTH FROM THE AIR FLOW IN AND OUT. ITS DANGEROUS AS IT HAS EVEN PUSHED ME INTO THE OTHER LANE FROM THE AIR PRESSURE COMING THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE WINDOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2014 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON RE-ENTERING THE VEHICLE WITH A PASSENGER, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE CHARGER PORT. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AS THE FLAMES ERUPTED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER TO HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2014 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON RE-ENTERING THE VEHICLE WITH A PASSENGER, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE CHARGER PORT. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AS THE FLAMES ERUPTED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER TO HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS COMING THROUGH THE LIGHTER/CHARGER PORT CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE FAILURE. A FIRE INSPECTION REPORT WAS PROVIDED AFTER THE FLAMES HAD BEEN EXTINGUISHED. A DEALER WAS CONTACTED CRAIN HYUNDAI OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK, 5660 WARDEN RD, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR 72116, (501) 232-4018 BUT HAD NOT PROVIDED ANY TECHNICAL GUIDANCE AS OF YET. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE TO DETERMINE IF THEY MAY INVESTIGATE THE FIRE. 100,000.
WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION ON A DOWNWARD SLOPE LIKE ON A BRIDGE OR WHERE A ROAD IS BROKEN, ON APPLYING BRAKE IT SEEMS LIKE THE PEDAL IS TOUCHING THE GROUND MAKING GRINDING NOISE AND CAR SKIDS AND DOESN'T STOP. I HAVE INSTALLED NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS ON ALL FOUR SIDES. WHEN TURN ON THE IGNITION, CAR DOESN'T START AT ALL, DOESN'T EV…
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WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION ON A DOWNWARD SLOPE LIKE ON A BRIDGE OR WHERE A ROAD IS BROKEN, ON APPLYING BRAKE IT SEEMS LIKE THE PEDAL IS TOUCHING THE GROUND MAKING GRINDING NOISE AND CAR SKIDS AND DOESN'T STOP. I HAVE INSTALLED NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS ON ALL FOUR SIDES. WHEN TURN ON THE IGNITION, CAR DOESN'T START AT ALL, DOESN'T EVEN MAKE CLICKING SOUND. WHEN TOUCH THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT POSITIVE CHARGE SYSTEM THEN CAR STARTS WITH KEY IGNITION ON. THIS HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY ASSUMING BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED. NO LIGHT ATE ON WHEN TRY TO START THE ENGINE.
WIRING TO THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING IS MELTED TOGETHER AND GE FAN DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. DONT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING. AND THE ADAPTERS DONT WORK CANT CHARGE PHONE . ALSO THERE IS A TICKING NOISE COME FROM THE FRONT OF CAR U CAN HEAR IT WHEN IDLING BUT GETS WORSE WHEN U STEP ON THE GAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD.OIL HAS BEEN CHAR…
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WIRING TO THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING IS MELTED TOGETHER AND GE FAN DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. DONT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING. AND THE ADAPTERS DONT WORK CANT CHARGE PHONE . ALSO THERE IS A TICKING NOISE COME FROM THE FRONT OF CAR U CAN HEAR IT WHEN IDLING BUT GETS WORSE WHEN U STEP ON THE GAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD.OIL HAS BEEN CHARGED AND IS CHECKED FREQUENTLY. THE NOISE STARTED RIGHT AFTER HAD OIL CHANGE AND TIRES ROTATED.
03/08/19 AT 5:45AM I WAS ENTERING US HWY 23 N. BOUND FROM CENTRAL AVE. IN SYLVANIA OHIO. THE CAR WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION AS I TRIED TO GET ON THE FREEWAY. SUDDENLY I HEARD LIKE A FAN NOISE, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF! I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SMOKE WAS FILL…
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03/08/19 AT 5:45AM I WAS ENTERING US HWY 23 N. BOUND FROM CENTRAL AVE. IN SYLVANIA OHIO. THE CAR WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION AS I TRIED TO GET ON THE FREEWAY. SUDDENLY I HEARD LIKE A FAN NOISE, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF! I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SMOKE WAS FILLING THE CABIN. I GOT OUT AND WENT AROUND FRONT AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT BETWEEN THE HOOD AND THE FENDER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I CALLED 911. ONE POLICE AND 2 FIRE TRUCKS SHOWED UP IN NOTHING FLAT! THE FIRE WAS MOVING INTO THE CAB. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS! AFTER MY OWN RESEARCH I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT WAS THE COOLING FAN RESISTOR. THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE NOISE I HEARD AND THE FIRE.
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE ELECTRICAL WENT OUT. THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND STEERING WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR HAD 60K MILES. BATTERY IS NOW ON ITS 3RD REPLACEMENT. OTHER PRIOR WARNING SIGNS WERE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING AND OCCASIONAL CLICKING WHEN STARTING. THES…
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VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE ELECTRICAL WENT OUT. THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND STEERING WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR HAD 60K MILES. BATTERY IS NOW ON ITS 3RD REPLACEMENT. OTHER PRIOR WARNING SIGNS WERE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING AND OCCASIONAL CLICKING WHEN STARTING. THESE OTHER PRIOR WARNING SIGNS HAVE OCCURED SINCE 30K MILES.
VEHICLE IN MOTION HIT DEER. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AT THE TIME AND CONTINUES BEING A HAZARD AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. SMELL OF SOMETHING BUT INFO TURNED OUT TO BE BLOWER MOTOR CONNECTOR THE BLOWER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONS THE SEATBELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN
PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WON'T WORK AND IF YOU TAP ON THE TURN SIGNAL THE LIGHTS FLICKER IN THE CAR.
TAKATA RECALL, THE INDICATOR GAUGES/SENSORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATING LOW OIL PRESSURE, AS WELL AS OTHERS ARE CURRENTLY NOT WORKING AND MY ENGINE IS BURNING OIL IN EXCESS OF MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATIONS. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE IS THAT THIS CAN CAUSE MY ENGINE TO SEIZE OR CATCH ON FIRE WHICH IS AN IMMENSE SAFETY CONCERN. …
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TAKATA RECALL, THE INDICATOR GAUGES/SENSORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATING LOW OIL PRESSURE, AS WELL AS OTHERS ARE CURRENTLY NOT WORKING AND MY ENGINE IS BURNING OIL IN EXCESS OF MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATIONS. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE IS THAT THIS CAN CAUSE MY ENGINE TO SEIZE OR CATCH ON FIRE WHICH IS AN IMMENSE SAFETY CONCERN. PER THE YORK PA KIA DEALER, THE OIL WAS EMPTY THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR NEVER ILLUMINATED. IT WASN'T UNTIL MY CAR WAS DEEMED EMPTY THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER AND YORK KIA (SEPT 18) CLAIMED NO PERMANENT DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE AS A RESULT. (VEHICLE PASSED EMISSIONS/SAFETY TWO WEEKS LATER - MONROE MUFFLER & BREAK, YORK PA) AS MY CAR DIDN'T SEEM TO BE LEAKING OIL, SUBSEQUENT VIGILANCE BY ME REVEALED THAT MY CAR WAS BURNING OIL. TWO FOLLOW-UP VISITS SINCE SEPTEMBER TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITH LANCASTER PA KIA (LAST 11/27 - 11/28 (81,500 K ON ENGINE) AND WORK WITH GWC (POWER TRAIN $2,100 WARRANTY) AN AFTERMARKET WARRANTY HAVE BEEN REJECTED DESPITE EVIDENCE THAT MY CAR IS BURNING OIL IN EXCESS OF SPECS. AS I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, NOR DID I PURCHASE THIS AS A CERTIFIED VEHICLE, AS THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL, KIA WILL NOT REMEDY. MAINTENANCE RECORDS SUPPORT THAT THIS VEHICLE WASN'T MECHANICALLY NEGLECTED AND MAINTAINED BY ALL PREVIOUS OWNERS. IF YOU REQUEST NOTES FROM THE DEALERS THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH PLEASE CALL ME AT [XXX] AND LEAVE ME A MESSAGE SO I KNOW WHAT THE CALL IS REGARDING. IN ADDITION MY EMAIL IS [XXX] THANK YOU. PS. AS THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE, AND NOT REALLY SAFE, INFORMATION THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT A RECALL FOR MY MAKE AND MODEL WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL ON HOW I HANDLE THE SITUATION WITH MY CURRENT VEHICLE. LOST AROUND $500 NEEDING RENTALS ETC. PLUS WORTHLESS WARRANTY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Official recalls
320V750000 · Engine
Dec 2, 2020
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
17V773000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Dec 1, 2017
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
15V015000 · Electrical System
Jan 16, 2015
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Forte vehicles manufactured December 5, 2012, to April 17, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the cooling fan resistor may overheat and melt.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the cooling fan resistor overheats and melts, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and for vehicles produced from December 5, 2012 to January 27, 2014, dealers will replace the cooling fan resistor and multi-fuse unit. For vehicles produced from January 28, 2014 to April 17, 2014, dealers will replace the multi-fuse unit only. Owners of vehicles with a 1.8L engine will also have the engine control unit software updated. The recall began on February 20, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC113.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA21003 · Engine Fires
Opened Dec 22, 2021 · Closed Feb 5, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
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. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement. Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modification known as Knock Sensor Detection Software (KSDS) which is intended to detect impending engine failure, alert the driver, and limit engine power (to lessen likelihood of engine failure).KSDS is being installed under recalls and non-safety field actions, and both companies have extended limited engine warranties (see recall files). On December 22, 2021, ODI upgraded PE19-003 and PE19-004 to this Engineering Analysis (EA21-003, covering both Hyundai and Kia) to evaluate the scope of the prior recalls related to engine failures/fires and the efficacy of the recall remedies for the recalls, as well as the long-term viability of related programs and non-safety field actions being conducted by Hyundai and Kia. The former issue involved approximately 550,000 MY 2013 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2011 Kia Sorento, and MY 2012-2015 Kia Rio. The latter issue involved approximately 2.5 million recalled vehicles, which have been identified as displaying potential remedy concerns: Hyundai recalls 15V-568, 17V-226, 20V-746, and 21V-727; and Kia recalls 17V-224, 19V-120, 20V-750, and 21V-844. Regarding the recall scope issue, among all of the scope vehicles identified at EA opening, ODI found only the MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with both the Theta II 2.4L 4-cylinder Multi-Point Injection (MPI) and the Lambda II 3.5L 6-cylinder MPI engines experienced relatively high rates of reported fires. In December 2023, Kia issued recall 23V-877 that will cover about 80,000 MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engines. The remedy will involve an inspection, and if necessary, a replacement of the engine, as well as the installation of KSDS. It should be noted that in 2021 these vehicles were included in a KSDS product improvement campaign with warranty extension. For the MY 2011 Sorento vehicles equipped with the Lambda II 3.5L engines, ODI believes that future engine failures/fires involving these vehicles will likely be due to a lax in adhering to the proper or scheduled engine maintenance (regular engine oil changes), rather than a design or manufacturing engine issue. Regarding the issue of the efficacy of the recall remedies, ODI found the majority of the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles, by model, experienced lower reported fire rates after the remedies were applied. Furthermore, ODI found that for most vehicles that did not receive the recall remedies, by model, experienced relatively high fire rates. To address this problem, Hyundai informed ODI in December 2023, that it will renotify all of its owners covered by the Hyundai recalls of engine failures/fires every 8 months for the next 3 years. In December 2023, Kia stated that it will renotify the majority of its owners every 8 months for the next 3 years.Several previously recalled Kia models are excluded from the renotification due to their lower reported rates of engine fires. Overall, the renotification actions will help to increase the recall completion rates, thus reduce the frequency of engine fires in the future. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia and renotification actions being taken by both Kia and Hyundai, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis. Also, both companies have been released from the 2020-iniated Consent Orders (Kia since November 2022 and Hyundai since November 2023). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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