Kia Forte Koup engine failure problems

Filed Mar 9, 2025 · Engine · TX

In December after getting letter in the mail saying I needed an upgrade to my car's knock sensor I took it to a Kia dealership. I received word from the dealership that my car had suffered a lower crank shaft failure and would need to be replaced. The dealership told me that this was a known issue and gave me a number to call to file a claim. After months of trying to get follow-up from the Kia claim office, they denied the claim. They said my engine had suffered failure before I had the knock sensor update and if it would have occurred after they would have replaced the engine. Kia knows that there is a severe issue with the engines they put in these vehicles and they are failing to fix the problem.

Filed Jul 5, 2019 · Engine · 101,000 miles · IN

Driving on a busy highway going approximately 65 MPH when the rpms dropped to zero. I was able to get it on the shoulder without accident. The car was towed to a mechanic who informed me the engine seized up but the oil looked fine. The mechanic thought this was odd. The car had 101,000 miles in it.

Filed Mar 1, 2019 · Driver assistance, Engine · 82,000 miles · WI

One morning I started the car and the "check engine" light came on. The car also made a knocking/ticking sound that was not usual and the engine had an abnormal sound to it when stationed and in motion. It progressively got worse, especially as it was driven to the dealer right after the light came on. We brought it into the dealer we bought it from and found out that the light was for a code about the intake manifold (butterfly) valves not opening/closing properly. It later ended up being complete internal engine failure due to the connecting rod bearing failing. The car required a completely new engine because of this. It only had 82,000 miles on it when the problem occurred. It also had problems starting occasionally before the check engine light came on. The dealership also found that the vehicle control module (vcm) was bad and needed to be replaced as well at the same time of the engine failure.

Filed Feb 28, 2019 · Engine · 90,000 miles · FL

My motor slung a rod without reason at 90k miles. I have the same 2.4 liter motor in my kia forte as the motors previously recalled in the optimas. The just found that this engine failure is happening in the 1.6 liter souls as well yet they refuse to fix my car because the car itself isn't listed under the recall. Please help! I was driving about 50 MPH down the hwy when all of a sudden I heard a loud "thunk" and a light tapping from the engine. No dash lights ever came on, the car never ran hot, and I had plenty of oil but just to be safe I pulled over anyways. I had a mechanic come meet me on the side of the road to take a look at it to be sre it was ok to drive and when he jacked the car up oil came pouring out and he could see a visible 4 inch hole in the block where a rod had seemingly slung without reason. I took it up to kia to get it replaced as the motor was under recall and not only did they not replace it because they said it was a "different model # of the 2.4 liter motor" but they also charged me $125 bucks just to look at it and tell me they weren't going to fix it.

Filed Feb 7, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 80,000 miles · FL

The car started driving sluggish out of nowhere and I took it in to a mechanic who took it out for a test drive where it all of a sudden started smoking and the engine seized up while in motion. The car had its oil change and was well taken care of before this happened.

Filed Jan 4, 2019 · Engine · 92,000 miles · TN

My kia forte koup 2013 sx has engine failure with no notice. My son was driving 73mph on the interstate and almost lost his life trying to get the car to the side of the road. The car would not turn over after said failure. My car has 92k miles and I am the second owner. I have had all maintenance done at kia on time and as recommended. Dealer tells me that connecting rod pierced a whole in my engine block and want $4800.00 + tax to install a used engine with 76k miles on it. I am guessing that is kia is now doing a 200k warrenty as their products are junk.

Filed Oct 15, 2018 · Engine · 114,620 miles · TN

While driving, engine made a sound like a ticking noise then just blew. Oil all over the engine bay and ground. A lot of smoke coming from under the hood. Would not start or do anything. Glad it didn't catch fire with all the oil everywhere. Had to have it towed. Took it to mechanic, come to find out the engine had seized up. This happen while driving on highway. Speed limit 70. It was like the engine went boom. Glad I was in the right lane to be able to get the car over to the side. Lost all power and unable to control car. Mechanic had to order and waiting on used engine coming from california to put into car. Will cost 4000.00 for this repair. Still owe on this car too.

Filed Sep 24, 2018 · Engine · 43,000 miles · KY

Back in june 2018, I was driving along the interstate, running about 75 and heard what sounded like a flapping noise then all the dash board lights came on and the car stalled. Had to get it towed back home. Come to find out the motor had seized up. I've read numerous complaints on the 2.4 engine in the kia's but none have made it to the recall list when they are doing the same thing that the motors in the optimas, sorento and sportage. How is the forte any different when they have the same motor. Found a used motor out of a 2013 kia forte koup sx that had 39,000 miles on it. Bought and installed it. Put right at 4,100 miles on it and low and behold, it did the same thing. Except this time I was coming off the interstate on a curve off ramp with the car stalled on me. Luckily I was able to get it started this time to make it home. So now I have another bad engine and my car is just sitting until I can save up and find another engine. This time, I'll probably pay extra to have a completely remanufactured engine. Tired of playing russian roulette with these used kia engines.

Filed Sep 4, 2018 · Engine · 127,000 miles · GA

While driving this car, I heard a knock coming from the engine!! I had it towed to a kia dealer and was told that I needed a new engine! This is unacceptable for car that is only 6 years old and all maintenance kept up to date!! I did some checking and other kia engines with similar or same engine types have been recalled. This make and model needs to included!!

Filed Jun 25, 2018 · Engine · 73,405 miles · TX

We bought this 2013 kia forte koup in october 2014. It had 29,000 miles on it. We had it serviced regularly and on schedule. My daughter was driving home from college on december 19, 2017 and her car started smoking, shaking and lost all power while driving 70 MPH. The car had 73,405 miles on it. After having the vehicle towed at my expense back to our dealership in lufkin, tx, I researched what she described and it was identical to the engine failures experienced by the kia optimas and sorentos that were recalled. After consultation with the service department it was decided the best course of action would be to replace the block. According to kia it would take a couple of weeks to get the block in. We chose to send her back to school in our personal family vehicle. 2 weeks turned into 5 months. The kia service manager upon beginning repair in may 2018, said the engine experienced a manufacture's defect full catastrophic failure similar to the optimas and sorentos even though the forte was not recalled. Because of the severity of the failure multiple engine components had to be replaced besides the block. Total invoice: labor $2464 parts $7435.34 tax $613.42. Total cost $9762.76 nada value of car $9600. Kia consumer service response: initial offer $1500, final offer $2461.70 (price of the reman engine). Not to mention loss of use for 5 months. Kia service manager said the engine did not show any sign of user neglect and that the failure of the engine was 100% manufacture defect.