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2011 Kia Forte Electrical Problems

13 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

13
Complaints
1
Crashes
5
Fires
Jan 2024Dec 2025
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (13)

criticalELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Dec 2025

Your center high-mounted brake light overheated during normal driving, causing the plastic bulb socket and housing to melt. The bulb fell into your cargo area and was so hot it burned holes in fabric stored nearby, creating a potential fire hazard. No warning lights appeared before this happened. The repair will likely involve replacing the brake light assembly, socket, and wiring to prevent overheating.

NHTSA #: 11703885
criticalELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Crash / FireFiled: Nov 2024

Your car's engine control unit (NECU) failed, which caused the engine to blow and resulted in a fire. The engine no longer runs, and no warning lights came on before the failure occurred.

NHTSA #: 11623917
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE
FireFiled: Feb 2024

I was driving and the car caught on fire.

NHTSA #: 11572205
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2024

THE HYDRALUIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND CAUSE A FIRE WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED AND THIS RECALL HAS BEEN OPEN FOR MONTHS AND NOT FIXED. RECALL HAS BEEN OPEN SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2023.

NHTSA #: 11564428
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Apr 2021

BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN CAR IS OFF, I HAVE TO PUSH UP ON BRAKE PEDAL TO TURN IT OFF. WHILE DRIVING IT SEEMS LIKE THE BRAKE ENGAGES CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER, I HAVE TO STEP OFF THE GAS, AND REAPPLY AND SOMETIMES IT STILL FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE IS STILL ENGAGED. THIS ISSUE DOES HAPPEN AT LEAST 3 TIMES DAILY. PUSHING UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES GET IT TO STOP UNTIL I HAVE TO BRAKE. WHILE DRIVING MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TWICE IN 2021, THINKING THIS WOULD FIX THE ISSUE AND IT DOES NOT. HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS

NHTSA #: 11408500
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
FireFiled: Mar 2021

MY ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE BURNED

NHTSA #: 11405273
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE
Filed: Mar 2021

HAD FRONT COLLISION AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ISSUE RECALL NOTICE LETTER FROM KIA I NEVER RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP NOTICE TO FIX.

NHTSA #: 11399300
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Jan 2019

THE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS ARE BURNING OUR VERY 3 WEEKS WITH THE PLASTIC BULB CONNECTOR GETTING VERY , VERY HOT.

NHTSA #: 11171813
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FireFiled: Aug 2018

TAKATA RECALL CAR STARTING SMOKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF SMOKE INCREASED FIRE INITIATED IN CAR ON THE LEFT SIDE(DRIVER SIDE) IN THE CORNER UNDERNEATH WINDSHIELD. ENTIRE CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA #: 11120051
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Jan 2018

I KEEP REPLACING LIGHT BULBS AND THE PART WHERE U INTRODUCE THE LIGHT BULBS IS MELTING. I WAS TOLD TO CHECK FOR RECALL ON THESE. THANKS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM A DEALER 1 YR AGO AND HAD REPLACED LIKE 4 BULBS WITHIN A YEAR.

NHTSA #: 11064298
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2017

WHEN YOU START THE CAR WHILE IN PARK THE LOCKS ON THEIR OWN WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK REPEATEDLY. IF YOU START THE CAR AND PUT IT IN DRIVE THE LOCKS WILL ON THEIR OWN AGAIN LOCK AND UNLOCK 7-8 TIMES ON THEIR OWN. SINCE THIS ISSUE THE KEY SET WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. KIA MOTORS CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX IT.

NHTSA #: 11013723
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FireFiled: Jun 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE DAUGHTER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT FAILED TO FUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY STOPPED COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW A RED FLUID UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED OR TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V070000 (POWER TRAIN), HOWEVER THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-333-4542. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS PART OF THE RECALL. A CASE NUMBER: 12391153 WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA #: 11001351
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Feb 2015

CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. I HAD NO IDEA AT THE TIME WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE BECAUSE IN THE KIA OWNERS MANUAL IT DOES NOT STATE THAT ONCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT, YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR UNTIL I USED THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE TO TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR. DROVE IT HOME AND FOUND A BLOWN FUZE (BRAKE LIGHT FUSE) .. REPLACED IT AND DROVE FINE (WHILE IT WAS DOING THIS THE ELECTRICAL SUSPENSION LIGHT CAME ON ALSO). FAST FORWARD 7 DAYS, WAS DRIVING OUT OF TOWN AND THE SUSPENSION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AND I KNEW THEN THE ISSUE WAS BACK. SURE ENOUGH. HAD TO TAKE IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP OUT OF TOWN .. THEY REPLACED MY FUZE, BRAKE LIGHT BULB AND BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY SWITCH. FAST FORWARD A WEEK AND A HALF AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK ... KIA IS TELLING ME OVER $1000 AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE GUARANTEED THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE I FELT IT WOULD BE A SAFE CAR FOR ME AND MY SON AND NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT IS NOT SAFE ... NO BRAKE LIGHTS ARE SERIOUSLY NOT SAFE AT ALL!!! *JS

NHTSA #: 10690252

Other 2011 Kia Forte Issues