2011 Kia Forte: engine and transmission complaints
HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
57%
69 of 120 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
57% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Kia Forte are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 76% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 41 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 43%).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
DRIVING IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO AN ALLEY. VEHICLE THEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATED THROUGH THE ALLEY AND THEN SMASHED INTO THE TREE. CAN'T REMEMBER IF BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR NOT. IT ALL HAPPENED TO QUICKLY. KIA FORTE WAS TOTALED AND DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH EXTENSIVE INJURIES (FOOT BROKE…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING02/02/2026
See attached document for complaint.
ENGINE10/20/2025
I just bought this car with 79873 miles on it it now has 81853 miles and its making a ticking noise.I been looking over the engine and wondering why my check engine light doesn't come on when I left my gas cap off.I bought this car from a used car dealership..I been doing some research on this type engine and most of t…
Three of 69 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (3)
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of …
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011 Forte vehicles manufactured August 27, 2010, to November 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a transmissio…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Opti…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2011 Kia Forte
Ask the seller whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many engine faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the engine.
3 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.
