2012 Kia Forte Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Kia Forte most often describe engine trouble — a knocking or ticking sound that can progress to stalling, loss of power, or a seized engine, in many cases around or past 100,000 miles. A smaller but consistent group of complaints covers brake lights staying on or bulb sockets overheating, air bag concerns, and electrical or lighting faults. Several owners report fires or smoke from the engine area, and a number note their vehicle was not covered by the engine-related campaigns.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knock, stalling and engine failure

   • 113 complaints (39%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 8.2 yrs old (76 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Complaints describe a knocking, ticking or tapping sound from the engine that may start at cold start-up or at idle and become louder over time. Owners report the noise progressing to stalling, loss of power while driving, hard steering, or an engine that will not restart, and mechanics or dealers diagnosing internal engine failure and recommending replacement. Some say the dealer could not find codes or offered another explanation for the noise, and several owners state their vehicle was not included in the engine campaigns covering similar engines. Most reports fall between roughly 60,000 and 180,000 miles, with many in the 70,000-130,000 mile range; a few describe the noise at much lower mileage.

   Recall 20V7500002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for a knock or tick at cold start and after warm-up, and check the oil level and service history. Ask whether any engine inspection or knock-detection service under the engine campaign was performed on this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car has less than 80,000 miles and I was driving it today and made a loud clicking noise. I pulled over and the car started smoking and then I heard all the oil drain out. I had a mechanic to look at it and he found pieces of the motor broke or crank casing. I had to get a tow truck to park it at my house. I have pictures but it says it's to big to upload.”

   NHTSA complaint #11415651, filed 2021-05, 77,000 miles

   “Back in 2017 I needed to have the engine on my Kia repaired after only financing it for about a year due to loud knocking my oil levels were up to par. Present day, 2020 I am having the same exact issue once again. As I was driving in the freeway I felt a weird shift followed by loud knocking coming from my engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #11316604, filed 2020-03, 145,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake lights stay on / pedal stopper pad

   • 55 complaints (19%)
   • median 70,777 mi at 8.1 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners describe rear brake lights remaining lit with the ignition off, a battery draining as a result, and the shifter being movable without pressing the brake pedal. Complaints also describe brake light bulb sockets melting or the bulb burning out repeatedly, and some say the dealer replaced the stopper pad or wiring and bulb holder, sometimes at the owner's cost. Other reports mention ABS or brake module electrical faults. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 150,000 miles, and in one case on a vehicle parked in a driveway.

   Recall 17V773000Recall 23V6520001 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the car off, look at the rear lights and check that they are not staying lit; ask whether the brake pedal stopper pad and brake light switch work was done under the campaign. Inspect the bulb sockets for heat damage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When had my accident in on going traffic my air bags did not deploy,my brakes system went out, also my horn doesn't work, and my cv axle messes up and can't find another cv axle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11307568, filed 2020-02, 70,000 miles

   “This vehicle has now repaired 2 times for recall on brake light/wiring issue. We were charged by the jenkins Kia of gainesville,florida for the last 2 times. This is a safety issue since brake light keeps burning out. Mechanic at another business advised bulb burned so much the bulb holder was burned. Sc158 is recall number. Repairs done 10/22/2018, 2/14/2020 wiring harness & bulb holder replaced all at our cost. Recalled twice for this issue. Bulb now burned out again 2/15/21. Feel cheated by this dealer since has been recalled 2013 & 2015.”

   NHTSA complaint #11396480, filed 2021-02, 71,555 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine-area smoke and fire

   • 72 complaints (25%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (42 state mileage)
   • 22 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,900 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Several complaints describe smoke or flames from the engine compartment, sometimes while driving and sometimes shortly after parking, with the vehicle unoccupied in at least one case. Owners report towing, fire department response, and repairs such as engine replacement afterward; some mention an owner-notification or campaign letter arriving after the failure occurred. Described from very low mileage up to roughly 350,000 miles, with reports both while driving and while parked.

   Recall 20V750000Recall 23V652000

   What to check: Ask whether the engine-compartment fire campaign and the hydraulic control unit campaign repairs were performed, and have a mechanic inspect for fluid leaks and wiring or connector condition under the hood.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Drove my 2012 Kia Forte for about half a mile around our street and I started smelling burning odor and before I could guess, where the smell was emanating from, I saw heavy smoke coming out from the front and side of the hood. I frantically managed to stop and park. I tried to open the hood but I couldn't. After many tries with the heat I finally opened it. As the smoke was coming from the engine, I realized it was very hot, while other parts of the whole engine compartment was cool. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11384011, filed 2020-12, 1 miles

   “Back in 2018 my engine caught fire as I was driving down the highway. I had to get my car towed to a shop and they said that my engine needed to be replaced. I've had kept regular routine maintenance with the vehicle. Upon further research the 2012 Forte uses hyundai and Kia's 'theta ii' engine. The theta ii engines could have catastrophic failure due to a manufacturing process issue. Sure enough I did indeed have engine failure and had to pay an arm and a leg to replace my engine. Now I fear that this second engine will follow suit. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11377821, filed 2020-12, 126,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Electrical and lighting faults

   • 52 complaints (18%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners report headlamp moisture or condensation, bulbs and connectors failing, the radio or display screen going blank, a passenger window stopping, and warning lights such as ABS or traction control appearing. Some describe water in lamp housings and repeat bulb replacement. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 150,000 miles, with lighting complaints often in the 60,000-80,000 mile range.

   Recall 23V6520003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check all exterior lights, the radio and display, and power windows during a test drive, and look inside the headlamp and tail lamp housings for moisture or browned connectors.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse, the vehicle seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and it was stated that an unknown part was disconnected near the gear shift. The contact was unsure what part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the display screen had seized. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11563584, filed 2024-01, 119,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact stated that the brake lights failed to illuminate, and while inspecting the lights in the rear of the vehicle, the contact became aware that the socket where the brake light bulb was located was melting from the light overheating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer did not diagnose the cause of failure. The brake lights were not repaired. It was confirmed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V363000 (Air Bags) and 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11694456, filed 2025-10, 174,000 miles

Buying note. Have any 2012 Forte inspected by an independent mechanic before purchase, focusing on engine noise at cold start, oil level and consumption, and brake light behavior. Confirm which of the open campaigns for this VIN have actually been completed, since several owners report waiting for parts or paying for related repairs themselves.

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.