2020 Kia Forte: engine stalls while driving

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 May 8, 2026 · Engine · IN

While driving, the vehicle suddenly began knocking severely, smoking, leaking oil, and then shut off unexpectedly without adequate warning. This created a serious safety hazard and near fire risk. The engine assembly failed catastrophically. Dealership inspection documented: connecting rod punctured engine block bearing material found in oil pan broken piston components in oil pan oil leakage underneath engine complete engine seizure/failure The dealership confirmed and documented the failure and replaced the engine assembly. Repair records and failed components should still be available for inspection through the dealership. My safety and the safety of others were placed at risk because the vehicle suddenly lost power while driving. Oil leaked from the damaged engine and the engine compartment began smoking. The engine could have caught fire or caused an accident due to sudden loss of power. There were no adequate warning indicators before failure. No meaningful oil-pressure or low-oil warning appeared until the vehicle was already smoking and severely damaged. This failure closely mirrors known Kia engine defect investigations and Recall Campaign SC209 / the federal safety agency Recall 21V259000 involving: connecting rod bearing damage piston oil ring defects excessive oil consumption engine seizure engine stall fire risk Although my VIN is not currently included in the recall population, the documented failure symptoms are substantially similar. I also report that another Kia vehicle in my household, a 2017 Kia Sorento, experienced a separate rod-bearing-related engine seizure despite proper maintenance and documented oil changes. The connecting rod blew a hole through the engine block, causing oil leakage and heavy smoke while driving. The vehicle could have caught fire or exploded, placing my life and others at serious risk due to sudden engine failure without adequate warning. Engine replaced under warranty; concerned for safety after 2 similar Kia failures.

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 20, 2024 · Engine · 80,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the check engine warning light, and a message that Kia had been alerted of a failure was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to start the vehicle and drove back to the residence. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle was making an abnormal knocking sound before stalling. The contact called an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle on site and determined that the intake and exhaust cam shaft position sensors had failed and that metal shavings were found obstructing the cam shaft sensors. Additionally, the vehicle was very low on engine oil. The vehicle had received an oil change approximately 3-months prior to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Filed Apr 12, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · 31,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic informed the contact that the battery needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced, and the contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, who stated the failure was due to the transmission pressure. The contact stated that there was an abnormal knocking noise after restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

Filed Dec 5, 2023 · Transmission · GA

MAKE: 2020 KIA FORTE MODEL: FORTE ODOMETER: approximately 88,000 miles VIN: [XXX] [XXX] On [XXX], while driving my Kia towards my home driveway, I noticed that the car's speed was fluctuating unpredictably. Despite having my foot slightly on the brake and off the gas pedal, the vehicle continued to accelerate and decelerate as I made the turn into my residence. The Forte exhibited irregular and sluggish shifting, displaying a reluctance to engage or maintain gears, as well as experiencing missed or delayed gear changes. Additionally, it demonstrated unpredictable trembling and stalling occurrences multiple times while being driven in the driveway. The check engine light turned on. I promptly deactivated the engine and abstained from operating the vehicle. Afterwards, I had the vehicle undergo a scan, during which the check engine light turned on, indicating the presence of the code P0730. Without delay, I scheduled an appointment for service and maintenance at the Kia Bulldog dealership located in Athens, Georgia. Following a consultation with the service department, I scheduled a diagnostic assessment and test drive for the vehicle. On [XXX]. The mechanic at Bulldog Kia conducted a thorough examination of the vehicle and diagnosed it after performing a test drive. Additionally, he confirmed that he observed the same driving condition that I had previously described to him. It was associated with the transmission which related to the sc. However, when he scanned the vehicle for any code, the code reading was not accessible. I have photographic evidence of the exact state of distress and audio recordings of the car's engine accelerating as I approach the residence. I consulted a nearby mechanic with extensive expertise, who thoroughly examined and scanned the vehicle. The mechanic determined that the problem may be related to the transmission bearing, which corresponds to the diagnostic code P0730. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)