2011 Kia Forte problems and complaints
Owners have filed 162 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Forte. The most-reported areas: Engine (48), Air Bags (36), Service Brakes (29).
Key takeaways
- 162 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 28 involve a crash, 13 a fire, 35 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 48 | 30% |
| Air Bags | 36 | 22% |
| Service Brakes | 29 | 18% |
| Power Train | 19 | 12% |
| Hydraulic | 18 | 11% |
| Electrical System | 16 | 10% |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 | 8% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 7% |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 5% |
| Structure | 8 | 5% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 4% |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| 2011 Kia Forte SW FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic - filed 2026-10-13
The contact owned a 2011 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at approximately 60 MPH, the RPMs rose and the vehicle hesitated upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The driver pulled over into the emergency lane when an abnormal popping sound emitted from the vehicle without warning. Black...
Service Brakes, Hydraulic - filed 2026-07-31
The contact owned a 2011 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, a bystander went into the contact's place of employment and stated that there was a fire inside the vehicle in the parking lot. The contact became aware that his vehicle was the one on fire. No warning lights were i...
Service Brakes, Hydraulic - filed 2026-02-26
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the TPMS, red brake light, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was jumping and jerking during acceleration and deceleration. After restarting the vehicle, there was resistance while acce...
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More for the 2011 Kia Forte
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.