2010 Kia Forte Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2010 Kia Forte most often describe engine noises — a tick or knock from the top of the engine that in many cases led to a diagnosis of internal damage and an engine replacement. Mileage on these reports is wide, ranging from a few thousand miles to well past 150,000, and many owners say the noise was present or dismissed as normal long before the engine failed. Air bag warning lights and non-deploying air bags are the second recurring theme, followed by tire and wheel sensor problems and occasional transmission or brake complaints.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine tick or knock leading to engine replacement

   • 51 complaints (23%)
   • median 97,500 mi at 9.5 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2025

   Complaints describe a ticking or knocking noise from the top of the engine, sometimes present for months and sometimes described by the dealer as normal. Owners report the noise growing louder, followed by loss of power, oil and check-engine lights, or the engine quitting on the road. According to the complaints, dealers and independent shops diagnosed piston slap, cylinder wall damage, worn rod bearings, or metal shavings in the oil, and several owners were told the engine needed to be replaced. Spread widely from about 50,000 to over 190,000 miles, with several reports in the 80,000 to 140,000 mile range.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for a tick or knock at cold start and after warm-up, and check the oil for a fuel smell, low level, or metallic debris. Ask whether the knock sensor detection software update under the product improvement campaign was applied to this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car was bought brand new from Kia of clarksville. It has always had a tick I was told it was normal. At 88,000 miles my car locked up. Just driving up a small hill it started knocking loud and lost power. Took it to Kia they want 6000.00 to repair it with a junk yard motor. How do they sell faulty engines and get away with it. I took good care of my car and oil changes when due. I'm so upset that as a consumer we have no protection against this.”

   NHTSA complaint #11403323, filed 2021-03, 88,000 miles

   “After an oil change my engine began to knock. Oil change was not overdue by more than a hundred miles. Oil light came on. Took it to be changed the next day. As I was driving home, oil light began to flicker and by the time I got home (10 miles) it was steady. I took it back to the oil place. They informed me my oil was overly sludgy and were worried it might be an engine issue. They also found metal shavings in the pan. This is the exact same issue happening with the 2011 recalls. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11302387, filed 2020-01, 192,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag light on or air bags not deploying

   • 41 complaints (19%)
   • median 79,351 mi at 5.4 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2025

   Owners report the air bag warning light staying on steadily while driving, and in some cases remaining lit even after the air bag control unit recall repair was performed. Other complaints describe frontal impacts where the air bags did not deploy. Some owners say the dealer told them their vehicle was not covered by the air bag campaign despite the warning light. Reported from roughly 60,000 to nearly 200,000 miles, and also in vehicles involved in collisions at various mileages.

   Recall 18V363000

   What to check: Confirm the air bag control unit recall 18V363000 was completed, and verify the air bag warning light goes out after the bulb-check sequence on start-up. Ask for documentation of any air bag-related repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was on the interstate passing an 18 wheeler. My rear passenger side tire blew. The tire caused me to make a sharp right hand turn which threw me under the 18 wheeler. The truck went over the passenger side. I was then thrown into oncoming traffic then into the median. The vehicle is totaled - the air bags did not deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #10505875, filed 2013-04, 30,000 miles

   “I was sitting at a stop sign waiting to make a left hand turn when an SUV heading north made a left hand turn onto the street I was on in front of another SUV, the SUV making the left turn was broadsided by the other SUV and then thrown into the front of my car, my car was then thrown into the SUV behind me. None of the airbags in my car deployed at the time of the accident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10690968, filed 2015-02, 80,702 miles
3. 3
   Tires

   Tire sidewall bubbles, separation and valve stem or TPMS

   • 28 complaints (13%)
   • median 45,960 mi at 3.7 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2021

   Complaints describe bubbles forming in the sidewalls of the original tires, and in one case the sidewall separating at highway speed. Owners also report valve stems and tire pressure sensors fracturing or corroding, which deflated the tire; some say the dealer declined warranty coverage on the stems and sensors. Mostly under 60,000 miles, with several reports between 6,000 and 33,000 miles.

   What to check: Inspect all four sidewalls for bulges or cracks regardless of tread depth, and check the metal valve stems and TPMS sensors for corrosion or looseness. Ask whether the stems were ever replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife and I own a 2010 Kia Forte which came with goodyear ls2 tires, size 215-45 17. In the three years and 25,000 miles we have used the car, four of the goodyear tires have developed bubbles in the sidewall. This has resulted in having to replace the four tires. At the time the third one needed replacement, I replaced it with a different tire by another manufacturer. This tire has performed flawlessly on the car with no bubbles whatsoever. Recently, I noticed a new bubble on one of the goodyears still on the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10471847, filed 2012-08, 24,597 miles

   “For the second time on this vehicle the metal stem for the tpsm has broken off, deflating the tire. This time while inflating the tire, the first while parked,. Had this occurred at highway speeds an accident may have occurred Kia dealer advises they are not covered under warranty even though they are safety equipment.”

   NHTSA complaint #10694230, filed 2015-03, 32,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission jerking, hesitation and stalling at stops

   • 30 complaints (14%)
   • median 79,288 mi at 6.2 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2026

   Owners describe hard jerks when changing gears, the transmission seeming to drop out of gear briefly, and the car quitting at stop lights or signs. Complaints mention hesitation when accelerating and a need to shift into park or neutral to restart. Some owners report the dealer could not duplicate the problem or suggested a fluid flush that did not help. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 160,000 miles, with several reports between 20,000 and 105,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive from a stop and up a hill, watching for harsh shifts, slipping, or a delay engaging gear. Ask whether the transmission fluid was serviced with the specified fluid type and whether any transmission work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2010 Kia Forte ex sedan, 5 speed automatic has a transmission problem that could definitely lead to injuries or death. This is a recurring problem that can happen any time, but mostly occurs during or after going up a significant hill, but may happen on level ground. There's 23,000 miles on my Kia and it's under full warranty. I took this to the dealer, they could not find a problem or duplicate the problem; they suggested flushing the transmission for $150, so I did that. It did not help. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10389799, filed 2011-03, 22,500 miles

   “At a stop light or stop sign. It will quit for no reason. I have to put it in park or neutral to start and continue. Plus, driving along the transmission will kick out gear for a second and then go again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10972308, filed 2017-04, 101,008 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake calipers sticking and overheating

   • 16 complaints (7%)
   • median 55,777 mi at 5.2 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2025

   Complaints describe calipers seizing so the brakes drag and the rear brakes overheat, in some cases ruining pads and rotors. Owners also report traction control and ABS lights coming on with the brake lights staying illuminated, and one owner was told by the dealer that the brake issue could relate to the car being driven few miles daily. Reported from around 10,000 miles to over 110,000 miles, with repeat caliper failures noted on the same vehicle.

   Recall 23V6520001 related service bulletin

   What to check: After a drive, feel each wheel for uneven heat and look for dragging or a burning smell. Check that recall 23V652000 for the hydraulic electronic control unit was completed, and ask whether any calipers have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I recently had brake problems on my 2010 Kia Forte. It was not due to brake wear or any of the normal brake problems. The problem was all my brakes seized up and the rear ones in particular heated up to the point where they were close to failing. The dealer said it may have not occurred, if the car had been driven more miles daily yet no further information could be provided on the brake issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10641531, filed 2014-10, 10,000 miles

   “While driving from my kids pediatrician office. I noticed the traction control stayed off and would not turn on. That affected my brake lights. I noticed that same part is put as a recall for the sorento and soul but not for the Forte. If it is the same recall the Forte should be included. For the vehicle being only two years old it should be covered as a recall and due to the safety impact that it may cause rear end collision due to the driver not noticing that the tcs affects the brake lights.”

   NHTSA complaint #10488088, filed 2012-12, 65,555 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a cold-start listening check, an oil inspection, and a scan for stored codes is worthwhile on this model year. Ask for proof that the air bag and brake-related recalls were performed, and keep an eye on oil level between changes.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.