2020 Kia Forte: check engine light

Filed Oct 8, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · VA

During a day trip on 9/19/26 my 2020 Kia Forte (purchased new and well maintained) lost power and several of the dash board lights came on including check engine, traction/stability control, and collision alerts. The car entered what I was told is "limp mode". I had the car towed home and after one shop misdiagnosed the problem I had it towed to the Kia dealership where purchased. I was told the engine had code p0017. I was sent a document that the "phaser sheared off p0017 exhaust cam and cvvd gear timing off-recommend long block-cvvd replacement may still have engine damaged after replacement" with a price of $9053.39 attached. Kia service manager is supposed to be seeing about assistance for repair as it is cost prohibitive and I have proof of proper maintenance however I am not receiving info on process unless I reach out. Car has been in Kia possession since 9/24/26.

Filed Oct 6, 2026 · Engine · SD

My engine is failing due to excessive oil consumption despite having proof of regular oil changes and maintenance. My car has been inspected, and the dealer has stated this is due to a known manufacture defect. My safety and others are at risk because my car stalls when I decrease speed and I cannot accelerate fast enough to get up to the speed limit creating a risk anytime the speed limit changes or when I am using an on ramp to get onto an interstate or highway. Kia dealer has confirmed the issue and is currently working on an estimate for a new engine. The Kia dealer is the manufacturer of my vehicle. The warning sign before this happened was my car stalled a couple times, then the check engine light came on within 10 miles. I then took it in to get looked at where the Kia dealer diagnosed the issue as the known manufacturer defect with the engine burning oil too quickly. These issues first appeared on August 12, 2026. I have attempted to get Kia corporate to assist with repairs through a Goodwill Request due to the safety issues with driving my vehicle in its current condition, to no fault of my own. Kia denied my Goodwill request. That case number is 26467063.

Filed Aug 20, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · OH

I experienced a check engine light and had the vehicle diagnosed with codes P0017 and P0014. The vehicle was taken to a Kia dealership, where the technician found that the exhaust camshaft was free-spinning without the phaser and that the pin connecting the two had sheared. The dealership replaced the exhaust camshaft and phaser and released the vehicle as repaired and operating normally. Less than 24 hours after pickup, the check engine light returned during normal driving. While returning the vehicle to the dealership as instructed, the engine lost oil pressure and stalled three times. One stall occurred after exiting the highway and left the vehicle disabled in a high-traffic intersection, creating a serious safety hazard. The vehicle was returned to the Kia dealership and remains available for inspection. Subsequent examination reportedly found metal debris in the engine/oil pan and a possible restriction of engine oil flow. The exact cause of the sudden oil-pressure loss has not yet been definitively explained. The failure occurred immediately following a dealership repair involving a physically sheared internal engine component.

Filed Jul 8, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · OR

2020 Kia Forte, 2.0L 14F engine, 109,000 miles: On July 3.2026 "check engine" light came on. Drove to local auto parts store to have code downloaded, P0017 cam position sensor. Car was performing fine, except for engine light. Drove car to Kia dealership. While driving, warning light for "front collision system came on and car began performing erratically. Left car at dealership for diagnostics. Yesterday received call from dealer, stating that engine needed total replacement due to "lack of oil". Quoted repair cost estimated at approximately $8,000. Car has been regularly serviced, including oil and filter changes per handbook. I have all records for the services. The were no indications of low oil pressure or engine overheating, no warning lights, all gauge readings displayed normal ranges. This same car had a failed transmission replaced approximately 2 years ago, which was covered by an extended warranty related to a recall. There have been 2 engine failure recalls as a result of 2 class action lawsuits for Kia cars with this same engine failure up through the 2019 model years, providing new engines and/or extended warrantees, however, this does not applicable to 2020 and newer models, even though it's the same exact same engine model with the exact issue causing the failure. Engine failure in traffic condions can obviously lead to immediate safety issues. I currently have a call into the Kia customer service/complaint department, but no resolution offerred to date.

Filed Jun 1, 2026 · Engine · PA

Why is KIA still legally allowed to sell defective, death traps? Why is it ok for the service department and KIA themselves to tell me….its ok to drive unless the engine light is blinking, smoking in a car know to catch fire…..ok? Why is it ok to let them continue to sell cars under active engine fire campaigns, only to “replace it with the same junk engine” an ok remedy. Quit letting these companies take advantage of people because they created a multi billion dollar defective product, they should bite the cost and be bankrupt, I mean it’s 2025 and they are still making combustible cars, the right thing to do? 2020 Kia forte gt t1.6

Filed May 21, 2026 · Engine · PA

Bought the car 8 months ago from a Kia dealer. It is now pulling the same engine codes, of the infamous recalled Kia engines. After having diagnostics done at a different Kia then I had bought and had oil changed. They told me the engine and turbo was full of metal shavings and the rods were bad. I pad $10,900 for the car $15,000 to fix, they knowingly sold me a totaled car. I’m sure records reflect they took that car as a trade I knowing the engine was bad (they never checked the oil?). There were 90,000 forte sold in the US, best estimate I could find on the gt line was 4-5 thousand. All GT models do not have the turbo engine. So safe to assume that number is way lower. They know this is a manufacturing defect, and this model engine wasn’t recalled because the numbers aren’t not there. I’m sure these 2,500 or less turbo engines were manufactured in the same facility, same workers and process as the other 2020 forte recalls. The car is smoking and I’m being told “it’s ok to drive unless the engine light is flashing” which I’ll assume is before it catches fire, so I have to worry about that while not being under recall? This is a kid, who could catch on fire, would like to not go there

Filed Sep 12, 2025 · Driver assistance, Engine · MO

The lane assist malfunction and periodically jerks. Very unsafe I no longer use this feature . To keep control of the vehicle. I never got it inspected. As the lane assist was in use and it would jerk it would alert me of a lane departure . I mention this to include every known problem I have experienced with the vehicle. The problem That brought me here. Is my engine light came on today. Leading up to this. I have had oil leaks since I've owned the car. Im adding oil in between oil changes due to it being low. In the beginning it was a hint of smell of gas in the oil. I was informed to do more frequent oil changes. Over time the smell of gas grew stronger . No Indication to a problem then. Now the smell of gas is prominent in the oil. When the dip stick is checked its always needing more oil and smells of gas and has blackness like burning in the oil. Now there's a check engine light on. And everything I looked up says to discontinue driving the car. I am having a mechanic look at it with a code reader.

Filed Aug 21, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · AL

I own a 2020 Kia Forte LXS with approximately 136,000 miles. The check engine light came on with code P0420 (“catalyst system efficiency below threshold”), and an Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers location confirmed the catalytic converter is failing. The back pressure was measured and is within spec but slightly elevated, showing the part is deteriorating. I was also told my O2 sensors are burned due to the failing catalytic converter. This failure affects drivability and safety: the vehicle sometimes struggles on acceleration and hills, and I feel vibrations through the gas pedal. Because I commute 50 miles each way to work on the interstate, sudden loss of power would put me at risk in high-speed traffic. I have learned Kia and Hyundai vehicles from other years/models (including the Forte) have had recalls and extended warranties for premature catalytic converter failure and excessive oil consumption, but Kia has not yet extended coverage to the 2020 Forte. This appears to be the same issue. The vehicle has been inspected by Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, and the quoted cost for replacement is $3,000–$3,600. This should be investigated for potential recall or warranty extension to include the 2020 model year.

Filed Jul 1, 2025 · Engine · NY

The engine light went on and engine is burning oil mechanic said it needs to be rebuilt it’s currently under financing from kia and not sure if they cover this

Filed Jun 30, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 103,069 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance camera activated, causing the brakes to stop the vehicle unintendedly. The Forward Collision Avoidance system activated without a vehicle or person nearby. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and waited before restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was started with the check engine warning light illuminated with abnormal gurgling sounds coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the cam shaft position sensor and the ABS system had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The Forward Collision Avoidance camera failure was not diagnosed or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,069.

Filed May 14, 2025 · Engine · 117,892 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,892.

Filed May 8, 2025 · Engine · TN

My vehicle lost 3 quarts of oil between oil changes somehow. The engine is bad now and has to be replaced. Never did a check engine light or oil pressure light come on to alert me that my car was burning oil somehow and the oil was low. At the oil change a few weeks ago the techs underneath my car called out that everything was normal under the car. No leaks, no oil spots anywhere. My safety was put at risk because I drive a very busy highway to work every day. If I had been in heavy traffic at the time of engine failure I could have gotten into a wreck or caused a wreck. If a check engine light or low oil pressure light had come on, this whole situation could have been completely prevented. The issue has been confirmed by the dealership on 5/7/25.