2016 KIA FORTE Power Train Problems

1. NHTSA Safety Complaint Draft Vehicle Info: Make: Kia Model: Forte5 SX Year: 2016 VIN: [XXX] Engine: 1.6L GDI (G4FJ Nu engine) Issue: This vehicle uses the 1.6L GDI Nu engine (engine code G4FJ), which is the same engine involved in Kia’s engine defect recalls and class action settlements related to connecting rod bearing failure and engine seizure risks. However, Kia is refusing to provide the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) update, and no internal campaigns or recalls are listed for my VIN despite the identical mechanical risk. I purchased the vehicle in 2017 and was unaware of the extended warranty and safety campaigns until now. I am experiencing symptoms of rough idle and pre-knock concerns, and yet Kia and my local dealership are unwilling to escalate my case or even verify warranty eligibility. This defect poses a risk of sudden engine failure and should be addressed under expanded recall coverage. I am requesting NHTSA investigate inclusion of later-production 2016 vehicles like mine, which clearly share the same defective power train. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

We have a 2016 Kia Forte 5 that did not meet the criteria when the other 2016 Kia Forte's were recalled due to engine failure as it has a 2.0L engine. On or about [XXX], while driving this vehicle, the car lost all power and came to a stop on a busy highway. It still had electrical power, but failed to accelerate and we lost the ability to steer or control the car. We were able to get it off the road and called for a tow. The car was towed to a repair shop and we were informed that the engine failed, and needed to be replaced. This is the same situation that is occurring with the current Kia engine recalls. The garage attempted to contact Kia and we were told that due to the car not selling well in the US, it was considered a niche vehicle, and therefore no recalls were made. The car was in perfect running order with no signs of failure, no lights on the dashboard to warn of a malfunctioning component, and no audible sounds of a failing engine. Our safety, as well as others, was put at risk due to the car losing all power on a 55mph road that is heavily travelled and could cause an accident. The engine was inspected by a certified mechanic and all they can determine is that the engine failed and it needs to be replaced. This placed my wife in a dangerous situation that could have ended badly. To date, the car has been towed back to our home and sits in our driveway as there is no current fix to it, but the reason for the original recall on the 1.6L engines, and the current recall on Kia engines, is the same that occurred with this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On May 25th 2023 I was driving on the highway when I experienced extreme loss of power and the infotainment screen displayed "possible engine condition". Considering I was driving 70 mph on the highway it was super dangerous because there were several 18 wheelers driving on the highway alongside me it could have been deadly for many of us. Thankfully I was able to get to the shoulder to assess the situation. I have been unable to get my vehicle to a dealership since I was traveling and had to leave my vehicle 150 mi from where I live. If Kia knew there was some sort of issue with engine failure and extreme loss of power they should have issued notification before other than have people possibly die on the highway from engine failure.

The car is unable to receive fuel adequately. Car was sold in an intermittently undriveable condition.

When driving on a divided four lane highway, after about one hour and at about 60 mph, vehicle would not accepperate to pass. Loss of power in traffic. Felt like transmission slipping, but the check engine light came on. P0240 code. It got progressively worse. An experienced mechanic diagnosed it as the engine, and was not sure I could drive to dealership. I had it towed. The warranty (10 year, 100,000 mile), covers engine, as agreed by delar. First, the dealer said it was catalytic converter $2200. When questioned, price was "corrected" to $1,200. Most for part and less than one hour labor. On a differen phone call, repair cost increased to $3300, saying the tech mistakenly thought it was the cat near muffler, but its the cat near engine, and comes as one pice with exhaust manifold. I am waiting on written estimate that I requested, and the dealer assurance there are no other problems with the car. I suggested they drive the car, and see that the problems are the same ones they used to have to video tape and send to Kia to get repairs approved on other engines. Still waiting on the written estimate and the assurance from dealer there is no safety risk in me driving it home. I can buy the Kia part they say it needs for about $500.

Car engine caught fire driving on freeway. No apparent reason

WHEN DRIVING IN MOTION MY 2016 FORTE THE CAR STALLS OUT. THE POWER STEERING, BREAKS AND DASHBOARD DO NOT WORK. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WENT INTO A POND. THIS CAR STALLING OUT BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 5 TIMES; I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO TWO DIFFERENT KIA DEALERSHIPS AREN'T ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR DETECT IT.

Mileage: 55,180

KIA FORTE 2016 - WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND IT LOSES POWER STEERING BREAKS, THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, STARTING THE CAR, DRIVING 10 MPH, 50MPH, 35 MPH. I HAVE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP. THE CAR IS STILL IN DRIVE, THE KEY IS TURNED ON, THE DASHBOARD GOES OUT, BUT THE RADIO AND CLOCK STAY ON. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 KIA DEALERSHIPS 4 TIMES TOTAL AND THE ISSUES CONTINUE. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

Mileage: 44,500

MY KIA FORTE HAS A HESITATION IN ACCELERATION FROM ANY SPEED BELOW 50MPH. IT IS ESPECIALLY BAD BETWEEN 10MPH AND 35MPH. IT TAKES THE CAR BETWEEN .5 AND 1.5 SECONDS TO RESPOND TO A PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAS COME CLOSE TO CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT GO WHEN COMMANDED TO DO SO. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT THREE TIMES BY TWO DIFFERENT KIA DEALERS AND ONE TIME WITH A KIA FIELD SERVICE REP. KIA TOOK OVER SIX MONTHS TO RESPOND TO ME WITH THERE RIDICULOUS ANSWER WHICH WAS "YOUR CAR OPERATES AS IT SHOULD". I HAVE OWNED MAY CARS AND HAVE NEVER OWNED ONE THAT HAD ANY NOTICEABLE THROTTLE RESPONSE DELAY. THIS KIA HAS A BIG DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT AND START TO ACCELERATE AFTER PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAY DOWN.

Mileage: 10,000

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHILE GOING ABOVE 65 MPH AND SHUTTERS WHEN LOSING POWER. IT ALSO BURNS 1/2 QUART OF OIL PER WEEK WHILE DRIVING OR IN USE. ALSO WHEN REFILLING OIL THERE IS A WHITE SUBSTANCE ON THE DIPSTICK WHEN CHECKING THE OIL LEVELS. WHEN IT LOSES POWER WHILE IN MOTION THE ELECTRONICS DIM OR FLICKER. THIS HAVE BEEN ON GOING FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS NOW. THIS IS AN APPARENT ENGINE FAILURE LIKE OTHER FORTE'S.

Mileage: 75,200

THE VEHICLE OF CONCERN REPORTEDLY HAD BEEN PARKED ALL DAY IN A PARKING LOT AT WORK WITH THE DOORS LOCKED AND IN PARK. AT THE END OF THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS REMOTE STARTED FROM INSIDE THE BUILDING APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET AWAY. THE VEHICLE STARTED AND THEN A FEW SECONDS LATTER IT APPARENTLY SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THEN ACCELERATED INTO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AWAY. THE INCIDENT WAS RECORDED ON THE BUILDING SECURITY VIDEO WHICH SHOWS THAT NO ONE ENTERED OR EXITED THE VEHICLE BEFORE OR AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. IT ALSO SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED AND THEN ROLLED FORWARD INTO THE BUILDING. THE EDR WAS IMAGED BY THE E-N-K-01-00-0027 TOOL AND NO EVENTS WERE RECORDED.

Mileage: 17,310

VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE DOESN'T ACCELERATE, IT SLOWS DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING OTHER VEHICLES TO HAVE TO DECELERATE OR GO AROUND TO AVOID HITTING ME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED BY KIA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE A COLLISION HAPPENS WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONE TIME.

Mileage: 30,000

2016 KIA FORTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION. *LD *JS

THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING IN TOWN , IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE AFTER IDLING SUCH AS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.

Mileage: 2,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE MATS ON THE FLOOR BEGAN TO SMOKE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE SUN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED FREQUENTLY REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED SHE WAS TRAVELING. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD CONCERNS WITH THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE TRANSFERRED GEARS ON ITS OWN. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. KIA OF GREENVILLE (2424 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,865.

Mileage: 2,865

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW KIA FORTE 2016 ON 5/27/2016. SINCE DAY ONE, I'VE BEEN FACING A PROBLEM THAT I THINK IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AT REGULAR SPEEDS, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES ACCELERATION AND EVEN IF I HIT THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENS FOR 2-3 SECONDS AND AFTER 2-3 SECONDS, THE GAS PEDAL STARTS TO RESPOND. THIS HAS LANDED ME INTO PROBLEMS AT VARIOUS TIMES AND I ALMOST WENT TO AN ACCIDENT. 1. ONCE I WAS CHANGING LANES WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR DROPPED AND I FELT CERTAIN THAT SOMEBODY WOULD HIT ME FROM THE SIDE BECAUSE MY CAR JUST WON'T ACCELERATE. 2. ONCE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY DROPPED ACCELERATION AND THE CAR BEHIND ME CAME SO CLOSE THAT I FEARED THAT IT WOULD HIT ME. FORTUNATELY THE OTHER CAR DRIVER REALISED MY DROPPED ACCLERATION AND SLOWED DOWN. INCIDENTS LIKE #2 HAVE HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A KIA DEALERSHIP (GERALD KIA OF NAPERVILLE, IL) BUT THEY SIMPLY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND I DON'T KNOW OF A SURE FIRE WAY TO REPRODUCE THIS PROBLEM, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO BELIEVE ME THAT IT HAPPENS ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND IT REALLY SCARES THE HECK OUT OF ME. SINCE THE CAR MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT HELPING ME AT ALL, I WANT TO BRING THIS PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF THE US GOVERNMENT. I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. I SPENT MY MONEY ON A BRAND NEW CAR BUT THE CAR MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE NOT READY TO HELP ME. MY FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE ALSO DRIVEN THIS CAR AND THEY CAN ALSO TESTIFY. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A REPLACEMENT.

Mileage: 100