2010 Kia Forte problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (51) · Air Bags (26) · Wheels (17)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Forte model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
151 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2023-09-25 · campaign 23V652000 · 1,730,192 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module 2018-06-01 · campaign 18V363000 · 507,587 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
Risk: If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Fix: Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2013-04-01 · campaign 13V114000 · 980,377 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 20
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Service bulletins (85)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-03-04 · PI2102_OWNR_501 · Other
product improvement campaign: owner renotification (pi2102 flight #501) - this document is the owner renotification advising that kia is conducting an important product improvement campaign to perform a software update on 2010-2011 my kia forte and forte koup vehicles equipped with 2.4-liter mpi eng
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2025-12-09 · PS797 · Other
pitstop: technical operations: external damage to ultrasonic sensor: this pitstop provides information related to parking distance warning (pdw) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. the pdw system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal
Engine 2025-07-01 · PI2102_OWNR_401 · Other
product improvement campaign: owner renotification (pi2102) - this document is the owner renotification advising that kia is conducting a product improvement campaign to perform a software update on 2010-2011 my kia forte and forte koup vehicles equipped with 2.4-liter mpi engines to protect the eng
Power Train 2025-04-17 · TSB_TRA046_R5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: transmission fluid application guide - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid ty
Engine 2024-11-07 · PI2102YZ_TSB_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: product improvement campaign: subsequent repair action: engine replacement instructions for dtc p1326 (pi2102y/z) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. thi
Engine 2024-11-05 · PI2102_OWNR_301 · Other
product improvement campaign: owner renotification (pi2102) - this document is the owner renotification advising that kia is conducting this bulletin provides information related to the technical service bulletin previously published in (pi2101) titled “knock sensor detection system - ecu logic impr
Showing the 6 most recent of 85 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-29 · Fuel/Propulsion System“my car wasnt getting enough power and it just died while driving it on the interstate to go home. …”
2026-04-21 · Service Brakes“my check engine light came on and i got it checked out and had a c1053 code show up. the repair shop told me i had a recall but my car is 2010 so it’s not falling within the recall year range. …”
2026-04-20 · Power Train · 157,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 kia forte. the contact stated the vehicle was taken to a dealer for several recall repairs, and repair under manufacturer recall number: sc165a. after the recall repairs were performed, while driving approximately 60 mph on the highway with the clutch engaged and the vehicle in gear, the vehicle started jerking and unexpecte…”
2026-04-20 · Power Train · 167,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 kia forte with a five-speed transmission. the contact received notifications for nhtsa campaign number: 18v363000(air bags) and nhtsa campaign number: 23v652000(service brakes, hydraulics), as well as other manufacturer recalls. the contact made an appointment at a dealer and had the vehicle serviced for the recalls. the con…”
2026-02-10 · Unknown Or Other“never received a notice on vehicle having a recall …”
2025-10-25 · Vehicle Speed Control“knocking in engine, loss of power, rod bearings needs replacing …”
2025-09-25 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“on august 22nd 2025 my daughter was driving this vehicle and was in a car accident and her front air bags did not deploy. her passenger side airbags deployed with no passenger but nothing in the front and it was a front collision. upon receipt of the paperwork from copart we learned there was an active recall from 2018 for the front airbags possibl…”
2025-08-19 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control“the air bag light is on, the cruise control stop working around the same time, the light came on.…”
2025-08-10 · Exterior Lighting“no accident just routine maintenance finds that are concerning me . the car is 15 yrs old but over the years have had to replace the brake light bulb harness several times the brake light bulbs get too hot thus melting the bulb receptacle causing the brake lights not to illuminate. have had vehicles come up behind me several times way too close f…”
2025-08-07 · Air Bags“air bag light turned on june 2025. could not be reset. had local shop read the code. driver's side air bag, likely clock spring. brought it to the dealership after a month wait for appointment. it was confirmed that it was the clock spring and replaced. this is not a wear part. research shows a very common issue with other kia and hyundai makes a…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.