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2018 Kia Forte Steering Problems

5 owner-reported steering complaints from NHTSA data

5
Complaints
1
Crashes
Apr 2019Aug 2024
Date Range

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

Owner Complaints (5)

mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jul 2025

Your steering wheel makes a clicking noise when you turn in either direction, whether the car is parked or moving. You also hear rattling from the steering area when driving over speed bumps. The owner reports this seems to be a common issue with this model year. Fixing this will likely involve inspecting the steering column components and replacing any worn or loose parts.

NHTSA #: 11675794
mediumSTEERING,ENGINE
Filed: Aug 2024

Driving car at about 40/mph and suddenly acceleration was lost. Released foot off of gas pedal and reapplied pressure but car continued to lose velocity and came to a full stop. Engine is now unable to turn over and car is completely not functional

NHTSA #: 11608921
mediumSTEERING,ENGINE
Filed: Jun 2023

Kia Forte 2018 - the engine stopped working while driving (around 55mph) the car shut off and I could barely control the car as I no longer had speed control which made it risky going from one line to another to get off the road and pull over, putting myself and the other drivers at risk of an accident, and almost at the end when leaving the road the steering column became hard and I could not control the steering wheel very well. The car was towed to the dealer but they said they couldn't check it because they were overloaded for the next few weeks and the closest to check it would be at least 10 to 15 business days after they finished their current services (I called 4 other kia agencies around the winston-salem NC area and they all told me the same thing), so the car was towed to an independent service where they inspected it and determined that the engine had a problem with some internal components and that it is necessary to replace the whole engine, I called the dealer but they told me that because it has more than 100,000 miles the engine no longer has a warranty (currently it has 118,000 miles), a few days before the engine light on the dashboard came on but the next day it went off and then it did not turn on again.

NHTSA #: 11527812
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jul 2019

I WAS HAVING AN ISSUE WITH A "USED" KIA THE DAY I BOUGHT IT I SAY USED BECAUSE IT HAD LESS THEN 2000 MILES WHEN I WAS GIVEN THE KEYS, IT HAD WOBBLY TIRES AND THEN ABOUT 2 WEEKS INTO HAVING IT, THIS NOISE CAME UP IN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, CLANKING AND GRINDING ALMOST; WHEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT, TURNING THE WHEELS ALL THE WAY LEFT, A POP HAPPENED. I STRAIGHTENED THE WHEELS AND GOT OUT. LOOKED AT MY FRONT DRIVER AND IT LOOKED OKAY, BUT THEN WHEN I WENT TO THE FRONT PASSENGER IT WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY INWARDS. THERE WAS A LINE WITH A LUG NUT ON THE END THAT WAS DISCONNECTED. I'M HAPPY IT DIDNT HAPPEN DOING 65 AROUND A CORNER.

NHTSA #: 11234047
mediumSTEERING,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CrashFiled: Apr 2019

I WAS ENTERING AN ONRAMP AT ABOUT 15MPH; A CAR YIELDED IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT MY BRAKES AND YET SLID INTO THE REAR OF THE FRONT CAR. I DID NOT STOP, EVEN WITH BRAKES APPLIED, AND SLID IN TO THE FRONT ACRE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MY KIA WAS TOTALED AND UNDRIVABLE.

NHTSA #: 11197280

Other 2018 Kia Forte Issues