2019 Kia Forte Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Forte most often describe transmission trouble, typically at low mileage: the engine revs without the car moving, acceleration fades, or the vehicle jerks and stalls. Many complaints end with the dealer replacing or reprogramming the Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). A smaller but consistent group describes engine problems, including oil loss and excessive oil use, plus electrical and lighting glitches and forward-collision warnings that switch off or activate on their own.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   IVT transmission revs, loses power or jerks

   • 52 complaints (35%)
   • median 5,000 mi at 1.1 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the engine revving to 4,000-7,000 rpm while the car barely moves, often after slowing from highway speed or pulling away from a stop. Some report hard jerking, failure to accelerate, stalling, or the car not engaging a gear at all. Dealers frequently could not find stored codes at first, then later replaced the transmission or updated the transmission control module software; several owners say the replacement part was backordered and the car sat at the dealer for weeks. Mostly reported under about 25,000 miles, including cars only weeks or months old.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the TCM software campaign (SC199) was applied and whether the transmission has ever been replaced or reprogrammed. A short test drive that includes highway speed followed by a full stop is worth doing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2019 Forte with 4000 miles and less than 4 months old. Had to be townes from my job as the transmission is gone. I brought it to my dealership one month earlier and was told nothing was wrong, and car died less than a month later. Was also told 'things happen', however my coworker with a 2019 sorrento just found out her transmission is gone. Hmmm...”

   NHTSA complaint #11193628, filed 2019-04, 4,700 miles

   “The car seemed to be losing power, called for roadside assistance, and the Kia dealership where the car was towed to said the transmission needs replaced. The car has 3000 miles on it & we have only had it 2.5 months. The dealer service person said this is the 3rd 2019 Kia Forte they've had to replace the transmission in! We were driving on an interstate highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11193449, filed 2019-04, 3,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine oil loss, oil consumption and engine failure

   • 25 complaints (17%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Some owners describe the oil warning light coming on at highway speed followed by loss of power and oil spilling or smoking, with the dipstick reading dry; dealers replaced the engine in those cases. Others report ongoing oil use that required constant topping up, and later noise or a no-start traced to timing chain damage from low oil. A few describe engine noise with metal shavings found in the oil and a recommendation to replace the engine. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 125,000 miles, with several cases under 20,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition and ask for oil change records; a service bulletin covers excessive oil consumption on these engines. Look for leaks around the drain plug.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “With less than 8k miles on our Forte we were driving down the highway at 70 MPH when the oil light went on. We moved to the right lane and within seconds all of the warning lights were on and the car would not accelerate at all. We coasted off the highway to find oil spilling from the car. When we pulled the oil stick it was bone dry and smoking. We were towed to our dealership and told this is the 3rd or 4th engine they have seen with this issue and they are replacing our entire engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11265766, filed 2019-10, 7,800 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was not contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11589245, filed 2024-05, 73,000 miles
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights dim or fail early, brake lights melt

   • 41 complaints (27%)
   • median 31,400 mi at 2.5 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe dim low beams, headlights and turn indicators that stop working and recur after bulb replacement, and one report of smoke from a headlamp with a burned wiring harness. Several owners also describe third brake light or brake light bulbs melting or failing, with a check brake lights message displayed. A recall covers low beam aim on vehicles with LED headlights. Spread from about 17,000 to 105,000 miles, with brake light reports usually at higher mileage.

   Recall 18V771000

   What to check: At night, check low beam aim and brightness, and inspect all brake lights and the third brake light housing for discoloration or melting; ask whether the headlight aim recall was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Everytime I am on the highway, then either come to a complete stop or try to turn to go up a hill. It won't kick in to gear. Thd rpms go way up and it almost stops running. Its been happening like for a week now. Its getting worse. My headlights also seem like they are pointed to low to the ground. Please help I use my car for work. Thank you”

   NHTSA complaint #11348606, filed 2020-08, 16,500 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that the front driver's side and passenger's side high beam lights, low beam lights, and indicators had failed to operate as designed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the light bulbs were replaced; however, the failure recurred several times within 3 months. The contact stated that the passenger's side low beam headlight, indicator, and the headlight were not working as needed. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11540114, filed 2023-08, 39,000 miles
4. 4
   Forward collision avoidance

   Forward collision warning disables or brakes on its own

   • 24 complaints (16%)
   • median 11,496 mi at 1.4 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the forward collision assist and warning switching off while driving, sometimes with dashboard messages telling them to see the dealer. Several say the system alerted when nothing was ahead, and a few describe automatic braking that slowed the car on its own. Dealers variously cited a software problem with no fix, or pointed to a chip missing from the windshield at the camera location and required a windshield replacement at the owner's expense. Reported from a few hundred to about 26,000 miles, at varied speeds and road types.

   What to check: Ask whether the front camera area of the windshield has been replaced or repaired, and confirm during a test drive that the collision warning and driver assist indicators stay on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have lost power pulling out into traffic, car has lost all function when pulling out into traffic, 1 time when pulling out of a parking lot the car locked the wheels and slammed it onto a curb. Every time the screen display in the car glitches. I have been going down the road and the emergency braking applied for no reason. Had to replace the battery was going down the road and the car shut off (at night) Kia has had this car multiple times and has no idea what is wrong with it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11407211, filed 2021-04, 375 miles

   “I've been having issues with the fcw (forward collision warning) not working properly over a year. At first I thought it would correct itself, but the problem became more prevalent, and with research, others have said they've had this same problem as well. There have also been numerous times when I've been merging onto an interstate and the car would not go over 60-65 MPH no matter how hard I pushed the gas. Yesterday was when the real issues began. I was driving on a city street when my entire system blacked out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11394266, filed 2021-02, 26,087 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Steering column grinding noise

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 11,412 mi at 1.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe a grinding or growling noise from the steering column when turning while moving. Dealers replaced the clock spring first, and in several cases then replaced the steering column or steering shaft after the noise continued, with one owner told the part was stripped during the repair. Complaints mention the work being handled under warranty. Usually reported between about 10,000 and 21,000 miles, within the first year or so of ownership.

   What to check: Turn the wheel slowly in a quiet spot with the car moving and listen for grinding, and ask whether any steering column or clock spring repairs have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Have only had my car for 1 year and I have to have a new steering shaft put in. I was hearing a grinding noise in the steering column. Had it checked and that is what they found. Thank god it was covered under our warrantee.”

   NHTSA complaint #11355709, filed 2020-09, 14,239 miles

   “About 4 weeks ago my steering wheel starting make a grinding noise I took it to my Kia dealer where they replace the clock spring. After that was replace my steering wheel is still making the noise.”

   NHTSA complaint #11354836, filed 2020-09, 9,950 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection is worth it here, with attention to the transmission's behavior on a highway test drive and to the oil level and service history. Ask for records showing whether the transmission software campaign and any headlight aim recall were completed.

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.