2015 Kia Forte Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2015 Kia Forte report engine problems far more than anything else: knocking noises, oil consumption, stalling and seized or replaced engines, often at moderate mileage and sometimes with regular oil changes on record. Electrical and lighting complaints, airbag warning lights and occasional harsh or delayed shifting are also described, and a number of complaints mention the engine fire recall 20V750000 being incomplete because parts were unavailable.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knocking, oil consumption and seizure

   • 111 complaints (43%)
   • median 85,511 mi at 6.0 yrs old (60 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe a ticking or knocking sound from the engine, often worse on cold starts or under acceleration, followed by loss of power, stalling or an engine that will not restart. Many owners say oil level drops quickly between changes with no visible leak, and that dealers or mechanics found internal damage, metal debris in the oil or rod bearing failure and recommended engine replacement. Several state that the engine was replaced but the noise later returned. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 150,000 miles, with many clustered between 50,000 and 90,000 miles; some describe the noise appearing after sustained driving or on cold start.

   Recall 20V7500008 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell, ask for oil change records, and listen for ticking on a cold start and after a long drive. Confirm whether the 20V750000 recall work and any knock sensor software update have been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On or about february 25, 2020while driving on the highway my engine seized and the car died and wouldn't start and I had to be towed to my house and then to the mechanic a few days later and was told by mechanic that oil was burning fast with no known reason. Also told by the mechanic that the engine is no good and I have to now replace my engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #11366314, filed 2020-10, 100,000 miles

   “Prior to the engine incident I was experiencing the lights flickering , power window malfunctions. The incident occurred on 6/21/2020(father's day morning). I was on my way to the store when my cars engine seized suddenly. I recently had my oil changed in 4/03/2020. No problems reported at the oil change appointment. So the morning of 6/21/2020. I started the car and proceeded to leave my boyfriends house. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11350161, filed 2020-08, 87,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalling and loss of power while driving

   • 67 complaints (26%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle losing motive power and cutting off at speed, sometimes on the highway, with the check engine light coming on just before or not at all. Some were able to coast to the shoulder and could not restart the car; dealers variously reported engine damage, a spun bearing or limp mode. Complaints frequently reference recall 20V750000, and several say the repair could not be done because parts were not available. Mostly between about 60,000 and 150,000 miles, reported during highway and city driving at various speeds.

   Recall 20V7500002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has had the 20V750000 recall remedy and any related software updates, and have a pre-purchase inspection check for stored engine codes and pending campaigns by VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My foster daughter bought a 2015 Kia Forte 5 months ago. The car was fully serviced at the time she bought the car. The engine simply failed on the freeway on dec 8th. Other cars were zipping by and one car even side swiped her... It was scary and very dangerous. My mechanic reported engine failure for unknown reasons. I called Kia customers service and they said I needed to have the car towed to a Kia dealer for a diagnosis. $300 later, the Kia mechanic reported the same problem and that it would cost $10,000 to get fixed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11297510, filed 2020-01, 105,000 miles

   “My car has or should I sat had 143,000 miles when I was driving like I do any other normal day to go home. I gad to take a slight detour before going down the road and my car completely shutting off and having all the lights on my dash pop up. After I pulled into a safe parking spot my car would not turn on at all. The engine kept making a ticking noise. I had to be towed to a shop then to my house!! The car stats on for 10 seconds before shutting off! Why is this not being recalled. I have seen stories and similar comments to mine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11376696, filed 2020-11, 143,000 miles
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights and tail lights flickering or cutting out

   • 10 complaints (4%)
   • median 67,850 mi at 5.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2023

   Complaints describe headlights and instrument or tail lamps suddenly going dark and flickering back on while driving, frequently when the turn signal is activated, and intermittent failure of individual LED bars in the tail lights. Some owners report repeated brake light bulb failures and melted or replaced lamp housings. Reported from roughly 45,000 to 140,000 miles, typically noticed at night or while signaling for a turn.

   What to check: Test all exterior lights with the engine running and the turn signal on, and watch for flicker or dimming; check that the tail light LED bars and brake lights all work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “All of the headlamps / all tail/park/marker / all I/p illumination lamps goes out when turning on the turn signals while driving & signaling for an upcoming turn. This happens intermittently & is worsening with by the day. The lamps usually return to normal within a second or two.”

   NHTSA complaint #11349296, filed 2020-08, 47,000 miles

   “The Kia headlights regularly and suddenly turned off and flickered back on with varying duration while the vehicle was in motion under normal use. This was noticeable at night when everything was dark and suddenly the headlights turned off when we needed them and quite often while making a turn. The problem occurred more frequently when the turning signal was activated which impacted the safe operation of the vehicle for both the passengers and other surrounding cars and people. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11365855, filed 2020-10, 67,700 miles

Buying note. Have any 2015 Forte inspected for engine noise and oil consumption before purchase, and confirm the status of recall 20V750000 and related software updates for the specific VIN. Records of regular oil changes and any engine or transmission work are worth asking for, since much of what owners report centers on the engine.

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.