Owners have deemed the 2010, 2012, and 2017 models of the Kia Forte family to be the most problematic ones due to expensive engine issues, according to the Car Complaints website.
Because of its expensive repair costs and numerous issues at lower mileage, the first generation Kia Forte is actually the worst model. Engine knocking, which typically happens at 100,000 miles and costs about $2,570 to fix, is the most common issue with the 2010 Forte.
Due to oil leaking and engine knocking in the 2010 Forte, owners claim they had to completely replace the engine. “I frequently had the car in the shop. Finally, they noticed the car was burning more oil than needed. They provided me a new engine in September 2010 after one owner, who I don’t know whether they ever knew how to fix, quoted them.
The Kia Forte (2012) has received the most general complaints. The same problems that plagued the 2010 model also affect this one; owners must spend around $3,500 to rectify the engine’s loud banging noises and, occasionally, lack of power.
Additionally, there have been allegations of electrical issues with the 2012 Kia Forte, including instances in which the car’s brand-new engine failed to start.
However, there are fewer complaints about the 2017 Kia Forte, suggesting that Kia was aware of the issue and fixed it. Nevertheless, due to the engine starting to run rough at roughly 24,000 miles, it comes in third on the list of the Forte’s worst years. Owners have suggested replacing the $400 ignition coil to fix the issue.
Another issue that customers have found the 2017 model’s check engine light to be the most aggravating is its persistent flashing. There have been reports of check engine lights coming on randomly while the engine was in perfect working order. According to reports, the Kia Forte’s frustrating problem is caused by hardware/software issues and can be resolved by updating the system.
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Key Points
- The Kia Forte is a reasonably priced compact car with a lot of amenities that add value and a high level of dependability over the majority of its model years.
- 2014 is the Kia Forte’s worst year. With over 300 consumer complaints concerning turning signals that don’t work, airbags that don’t activate during collisions, and brake and taillight bulbs that keep blowing out.
- The 2014 Forte model is the subject of one investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into engine fires that can occur in a variety of non-crash-related situations.
- From 2011 to 2014, the Forte was the subject of seven investigations and several complaints concerning airbags that failed to deploy during collisions.
- The 2016 Kia Forte is the best model; for the first time in five years, there was just one inquiry and one recall due to a potential trunk emergency release issue. Additionally, the 2016 model had 74 complaints as opposed to 159 the year before.
- The Forte has excellent dependability ratings and an anticipated lifespan of well over 250,000 kilometers.
Is the Kia Forte a trustworthy vehicle?
With a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5, the Kia Forte is ranked sixth among 36 compact automobiles. Its great ownership costs are reflected in the $451 average yearly repair cost. The Forte is one of the more dependable automobiles on the road since repair needs are both more severe and less frequent than with other vehicles.
Cost
Compared to an average of $526 for compact vehicles and $652 for all vehicle types, the total yearly cost of repairs and maintenance for a Kia Forte is $451.
the typical annual sum for unplanned maintenance and repairs for all model years of a car. A vehicle’s greater average cost alone does not imply that it is less dependable. For instance, your car’s parts and labor may be pricey, especially if it’s a European luxury model, but if there are few serious problems and frequent service visits on average each year, that’s a sign of a dependable vehicle.
The typical annual frequency at which a vehicle is taken in for unplanned maintenance and repairs. This metric is produced by monitoring millions of distinctive automobiles over a number of years to ascertain the typical yearly visits for each make and model. Controls were included to prevent small, routine shop visits, such those for oil changes.
The severity element of dependability calculates the likelihood that a repair will cause a significant problem. The cost of a repair is assessed to be excessively expensive given the unscheduled nature of the repair if it is three times the average annual repair cost for all models. Due to their more expensive labor and component expenses, premium and luxury brands have a higher barrier.
Frequency
Compared to the average of 0.3 for compact cars and 0.4 for all vehicle models, Kia Forte owners bring their cars in for unplanned repairs 0.2 times less frequently each year.
Severity
The Kia Forte has a 9 percent chance of having a significant or serious repair issue, compared to an average of 11 percent for compact cars and 12 percent for all vehicle models.
- Serious engine issues plague both new and used Kia Fortes, mostly as a result of poor design.
- Fortes with Theta II engines typically experience the worst engine issues. Before 100,000 miles, total engine failures and knocks are known to happen.
- The most problematic Forte is the 2014 model, as electronics problems raise the risk of an engine fire.
- All Kia Fortes from 2014 to 2018 have airbag problems. The airbags entirely deactivate in the worst-case scenario 2017 and 2018 models.
- The fewest issues occur in the most current models, although oil pump failures do occur in more recent models, and the recall doesn’t fully address the problem.
What year Kia shouldn’t you buy?
Customers have experienced a number of issues with the Kia Sorento since it has been advertised and sold by Kia. These models share costly issues with one another. The following model years should be avoided: 2004, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.
Common difficulties include those with the engine, the electrical system, the airbags, the seat belts, the lights, and the body or paint.
Engine failure is the most serious problem that these Kia Sorento models have. When most consumers have traveled an average of 62,000 miles, something happens. They could end up costing you more money in repairs, so we advise avoiding them.
Which Year Models of Kia Sorento Are Safe to Buy Used?
Production of the Kia Sorento has been going on for approximately 20 years. Not all of the models that are released, like many other cars in its market class, are flawless right out of the factory. Some people have flaws. Despite this, you have a selection of others. This is particularly true if you want to stay away from those already listed.
The following list of reliable Kia Sorento model years includes:
- Kia Sorento 2003
- Kia Sorento from 2005
- 2007 Sorento Kia
- Kia Sorento 2008
- Kia Sorento from 2009
- Kia Sorento 2010
- Kia Sorento 2015
- Kia Sorento 2017
- Kia Sorento from 2018
- Kia Sorento for 2019
- Kia Sorento 2020
- Kia Sorento 2021
The years 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 are among the safest Kia Sorento model years to purchase. Compared to the earlier mentioned model years, these have minimal complaints.
The worst issues with many of them were engine issues, a broken air conditioner compressor, electrical issues, light issues, and AC/heater issues. Most of them are also inexpensive to fix minor problems. However, they are among the minority of car owners.
The worst car troubles in early generations include crankshaft problems, frequent lighting system failures, and broken parts. It’s important to remember that these issues only occur in cars with more than 90,000 miles on the odometer.
A few owners are also affected by the problems. They are less likely to happen in a Sorento with little mileage and good maintenance. The models from 2007 to 2010 and 2015 to 2021 are the least problematic. The year 2016 is an outlier; it is less dependable than the other years in the following years.
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Which Kia Sorento Years to Avoid
The aforementioned Kia Sorento model years should easily accommodate your family’s needs and daily driving requirements. You need a dependable automobile in addition to one with excellent handling, a luxurious interior, and lots of attractive amenities. Here, we go into greater detail regarding the model years that weren’t chosen.
Steer clear of the following Kia Sorento model years:
- Kia Sorento from 2004
- Kia Sorento from 2006
- Kia Sorento from 2011
- Kia Sorento 2012
- Kia Sorento 2013
- Kia Sorento 2014
- Kia Sorento 2016
These model years frequently experience issues with their engines, electrical systems, lighting, seat belts and airbags, and body and paint. These affect everyone, and numerous users have noted concerns that are essentially the same.
You should steer clear of the 2011 Kia Sorento the most. It tops the list for having the most owner complaints. It is most likely to experience brakes issues, drivetrain issues, airbag and seat belt issues, and engine issues.
An engine failure at 77,000 miles cost the most money of all issues reported for the 2011 model year. Fixing this issue will cost $4,600. Other serious issues include an airbag problem that cost $2,000 to fix at 92,000 miles and a door issue that cost $400 to fix at 94,000 miles.
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The 2016 Kia Sorento is another vehicle you should completely avoid. In comparison to other models with lower mileage, it has more issues and costs more to repair. The most common issues are with the engine, then the steering, body/paint, and lights.
The engine has experienced the worst reported failure at 62,000 kilometers. Repairing this cost $6,100. Other owners reported having to pay up to $600 to fix wiring that rodents had gnawed. At 22,000 miles, one user’s car stalled while accelerating.
Common Kia Sorento Problems
One of the greatest warranties for cars is offered by Kia. But that doesn’t mean you should be any less critical, especially when it comes to reliability concerns. The most typical Kia Sorento issues, spanning all model years, are listed below:
- Engine issues – The Sorento’s engine frequently fails, which is a common dependability problem. The engine failure, which was primarily reported in 2011, 2016, and 2017 models, was caused by a leaky head gasket, which mixed engine oil and coolant. These liquids when combined can seriously harm engines.
- Frustrated owners reported that the Sorento’s doors won’t open when reached from the outside, which is more unpleasant than dangerous. Additionally, defective door handles made users of the child-lock feature even more irate. Owners of 2011 Sorentos make up the majority of the complaints.
- Burning out of headlight bulbs: Numerous customers noted that the headlight bulbs on Sorento models from 2002 to 2009 were particularly prone to premature failure. Additionally, several stories claimed that additional headlamp component parts were also melted. There should have been a recall for this dependability problem, but there wasn’t one. Owners were required to purchase replacement bulbs for between $100 and $600.
Kia Sorento Problem Counts by Year
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