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2012 Kia Forte Transmission Problems

10 owner-reported transmission complaints from NHTSA data

10
Complaints
Jan 2024Dec 2020
Date Range

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

Owner Complaints (10)

mediumPOWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,EQUIPMENT
Filed: Jan 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse, the vehicle seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and it was stated that an unknown part was disconnected near the gear shift. The contact was unsure what part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the display screen had seized. The contact also replaced the rear brake lights after being notified that the brake lights were inoperable. The contact stated that the bulbs were replaced and immediately fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 119,000.

NHTSA #: 11563584
mediumPOWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Filed: Jun 2021

This complaint it about Kia Motors. My motor sent a rod through the block due to a recall. However, i called a week before because of rod knock that started on 05/22/21(blew 05/27/21) , i was told parts were ordered. A week after i was told that the engine blew. I towed it to a dealership (05/28/21) Its been an additonal 2 and a half weeks with no update as to when itll be repaired, no loaner offered. Ive already lost one job because of Kia's lack of quality control. This engine failure is common and i believe common enough to not have to wait this long for work to be done.

NHTSA #: 11420796
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Dec 2020

I HAVE HAD AN ENGINE KNOCK FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF NOW AND HAVE SEEN ALL THE RECALLS FOR SAME ENGINES IN OTHER VEHICLES. MY CAR ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AS OF YET IT APPEARS. WE HAVE THE SAME THETA 2 ENGINES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED.

NHTSA #: 11378644
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Sep 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS EMITTING A SOUND LIKE THAT OF A DIESEL ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL UNKNOWN DEALERS WERE CONTACTED WERE CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE WAS COMMON WITH SIMILAR VEHICLES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CRANK BEARING HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA #: 11361463
mediumPOWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,ENGINE
Filed: Aug 2020

MARCH OF 2020 WE BAGAN NOTICING A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR UPON COLD STARTS WHICH INCREASES AS THE IDLE SPEED INCREASES. ALSO MAKES THE SAME KNOCKING NOISE WHILE ENGINE IS AT RUNNING TEMPERATURE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A CONNECTOR ROD OR CONNECTOR ROD BEARING ISSUE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF THE THETA II MOTOR. ALSO AROUND THE SAME TIME THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL SC158 BRAKE PEDAL STOPPER PAD. WE WERE INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE CAME OUT OF PARK WITH ENGINE OFF AND KEYS NOT IN IGNITION, ALMOST CAUSING COLLISION WHEN CAR ROLLED INTO STREET. AGAIN, KIA STATED THAT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. *LN*JB

NHTSA #: 11349101
mediumPOWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Sep 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE CONTACT WAS TESTING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER EASILY SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CALLED CROWN KIA ST PETERSBURG (5500 34TH ST N, ST PETERSBURG, FL 33714, (844) 921-3247) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V773000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA #: 11252897
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Apr 2019

CAR HAVING KNOCKING, PINGING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY AND START THE CAR. NOW, IF YOU KEEP ON DRIVING, THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND THERE IS A RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. SOON WILL LOCK. MY CAR STARTED WITH A KNOCKING SOUND IN ENGINE. THEN LIGHT CAME UP AND THE CAR STARTED LOSING SPEED IN MIDDLE OF HIGH WAY. THE FORTE HAS THE SAME ISSUE THAN THOSE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. THREE STRANGERS BROUGHT THE NOISE TO ME IN THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS: 2 PEOPLE SAT WORK AND ONE WHILE PARKED AT THE STREET BEFORE I EXPERIENCED THAT ISSUE. I WENT ONLINE AND MANY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. MY CAR DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY WAY IT CAN BE FIXED WAS TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. THE MILEAGE ON IT IS JUST 77,000 .

NHTSA #: 11193846
mediumPOWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Apr 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OR DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN PROMPTED. FURTHERMORE, UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION, THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE HAD TO BE ENGAGED IN ORDER TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA #: 11088729
mediumPOWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2017

WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT FLOW OF TRAFFIC MOTOR SHUTS DOWN AT HIGH SPEED AND ON THE HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA #: 10979188
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. AFTER REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE AND THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CABLE SLIPPED OFF AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,162.

NHTSA #: 10955021

Other 2012 Kia Forte Issues