Engine. Review the 214 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

32 crash reports36 fire reports23 injury reports

Engine complaints

214 reports

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13,000 miles · Feb 11, 2015

EngineFuel/propulsion System

I HAVE HAD TWO ACCIDENTS ,THE FIRST TIME WHEN I WENT TO TRY AND START MY CAR UP AND IT WOULD NOT START UP. KIA REPLACE MY FUEL PUMP,BELIEVING THAT WAS THE ISSUE. THE SECOND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSIS A PROBLEM SO IT WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682837

1,500 miles · Sep 15, 2014

Engine

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I DISCOVERED ALONG WITH OTHER KIA FORTE/K3 OWNERS THAT WHEN IT RAINS, WHETHER IT IS MODERATE OR HEAVY, MASSIVE WATER LEAKS INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND NOT MOVE AN INCH AND STILL I FOUND WATER ALL OVER THE ENGINE(AFTER RAINY DAY), BATTERY TERMINAL, FUSE CASE, AIR FILTER CASE, AND MAJORITY OF LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE ROOM AS WELL. DEALER TOLD NOT TO WORRY, BUT I'VE HAD MANY CARS IN THE PAST THAT NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS FLAW. I'M AFRAID THIS CAN LEAD TO MASSIVE ENGINE/RUST POSSIBLY FIRE FROM MASSIVE WATER DROPLETS AND HIGH TEMPERATURE OF ENGINE AND ALL KINDS OF CONNECTORS THAT IS EXPOSED AS A RESULT OF THIS. I PLEAD NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS CRITICAL AND DANGEROUS FLAW POSED BY KIA AND THEIR IRRESPONSIBLE SOLUTION OF IGNORING PASSENGER SAFETY. AS OF NOW, I STOPPED DRIVING IN THE RAIN, AND THIS IS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT AS A WORKING COMMUTER. I WOULD FIRST TEST THE PART WHERE WINDOW WIPERS MEET AND POUR SOME WATER THERE, AND THEN I WOULD USE PRESSURE WASH TO JUST SPRAY THE HOOD AND YOU'LL FIND WHAT I MEAN. MODERATE RAIN SHOULD NOT CREATE THIS MUCH WATER LEAKS ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THANK YOU. BEST TO CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL IF NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633424

13,900 miles · Aug 5, 2014

Engine

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ON 2 OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS STALLED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN.THE FIRST TIME IT WAS IN APRIL 2014.2ND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS AROUND JULY 29TH 2014. I FIRST REPORT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BACK IN MARCH WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A OIL CHANGE. THEY WOULD NOT PUT IT DOWN ON THE PAPER WORK TO LOOK AT IT SINCE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEN REPORTED IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS KIA. THE NEW DEALERSHIP DID PUT IT DOWN ON PAPERWORK. BUT SINCE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM,THEY WOULD NOT LOOK INTO IT FURTHER. ALSO HAVE REPORTED A ENGINE NOISE TO THE FIRST DEALERSHIP. THEY FIRST TOLD ME IT WAS A STANDARD NOISE. SO WE STARTED GETTING VIDEOS OF THE NOISE. THEY THEN SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE SAME DAY THAT WE PICKED THE CAR BACK UP FROM THE ENGINE BEING REPLACED WE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE CAR. SOME HOW THE RIGHT DRIVE AXLE GOT BROKE. THEY SAID THEY DID NOT WORK AROUND THAT AREA.SO THEN THAT MEANS THAT THEY COMMITTED FRAUD BY FALSIFYING DOCS WHEN THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE. 2 DAYS AFTER FINALLY GETTING THE CAR BACK THE ENGINE NOISE CAME BACK.NOW I GOT TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT LOOK AT THE CAR UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OR THE CAR COMES IN ON A TOW TRUCK. NOW THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE CAR JUST STALLING WHILE DRIVING? WHAT HAPPENS NOW IF WE GET INTO A ACCIDENT.THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. KIA NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR WITH LESS THAN 14,000 MILES ON IT TO JUST UP AND STALL. I AM TIRED OF HEARING EVERYTHING IS STANDARD. KIA IS FRAUD THEY DO NOT WANT TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY THAT THEY SELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619114

30 miles · May 2, 2014

Engine

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I HAVE A 2014 KIA FORTE SINCE SEPTEMBER 2013 ACQUIRED SEVERAL DAYS THE UNIT IS STARTED HAVING A VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE. THESE VIBRATIONS ARE FELT THROUGHOUT THE CAR AND WHEN IN LOW OR STOPPED. I TOOK HIM TO THE SERVICE CENTER WHERE YOU BUY AND SERVICE TECHNICIANS ALWAYS TELL ME THAT NO FAULTS EVERYTHING IS WORKING WELL, THE VIBRATION THAT I DESCRIBE IS NORMAL IN THESE CARS, THIS DUE TO THE TECHNOLOGY OF MOTOR BRACKET. AS OF TODAY I'M NOT HAPPY AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DRIVE IS FAILING. I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE EXPLANATION GIVEN ME THE SERVICE CENTER. A NEW CAR ZERO MILES PER MORE TECHNOLOGY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE MUCH VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE. FURTHER DETAILS OF THE UNIT THAT ARE WRONG ARE THE STRANGE SOUNDS OF THE VALVES AND THE SOUND ENGINE BRAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586259

Official recalls

20V750000 · 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

EA21003 · 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.