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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2011 Kia Forte Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
18about this part
Share
12%of 154 total for the year
Median mileage
56,220miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2011 Kia Forte, 12% of the 154 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 56,220 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The check engine light came on, I heard a sound like metal scraping metal, I was driving about 20mph going straight down s. Main st downtown warrenton, oregon and was planning to pull over when suddenly my car stopped dead after a horrible noise of what sounded like a heavy metal snapping/crunching noise. I looked under the hood and everything looked ok, but some black fluid was dripping onto the ground. The oil had been changed about four days before this and they said it was 2.5 quarts low. …”

NHTSA complaint #11362492, filed 2020-10, 105,000 miles

“My 2011 Kia Forte stalls randomly while I drive it. This has happened multiple times in multiple driving situations. Two incidents happened while I was in rush hour traffic on highway 805 south in san diego california. Another incident happened while I was crossing railroad tracks leaving the marriott hotel in downtown san diego (in this instance, I had to coast the car off of the tracks -fortunately no train was coming at that time). …”

NHTSA complaint #10883822, filed 2016-07, 94,000 miles

“I bought a 2011 Kia Forte and was having issues where the car seemed like it was dying after initial starting of the vehicle and sometimes wouldn't go into gear. After driving it seems to correct itself and I brought it into Kia. They put it under a specific claim number incase the warranty went out it is still covered. A few months later the car started to not go into gear even more and issue of dying seems more prevalent. …”

NHTSA complaint #10778899, filed 2015-09, 62,000 miles

“Was driving at normal highway speeds felt this sudden jerk (like I had been hit from behind) and the car would not go. When I got pulled over I placed it in park and then back into drive it would not pull forward. Tried to put into the manual shift side and it would not do anything there either.”

NHTSA complaint #10450856, filed 2012-03, 38,000 miles

“While driving and attempting to gain speed to enter the interstate highway in san antonio texas the transmission would not change gears and had to pull over. I then had the vehicle towed to a Kia dealership 10 miles away. I am awaiting a call from them regarding repairs.”

NHTSA complaint #10548029, filed 2013-10, 42,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2024415%
2023812%
202227%
2021710%
20201621%
20194832%
201886%
2017124%
20161612%
2015176%
2014184%
2013105%
2012114%
20111812%
20102310%

Other parts of the 2011 Kia Forte

Engine
45 complaintsAir bags
35 complaintsBrakes
29 complaintsElectrical system
16 complaintsOther or unknown
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaintsExterior lighting
8 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsElectronic stability control
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsFuel system
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2011 Kia Forte

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology