2012 Kia Forte engine problems
Owners reported engine problems in 166 complaints for the 2012 Kia Forte, 41% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 166 41% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 100,000 miles 108 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 17
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When engine problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 8 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 20 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 15 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 25 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 18 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 108 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 100,000 miles, and 15% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 3 crashes, 17 fires, 3 injuries.
What owners wrote
I rear-end a SUV at 50 miles per hour, hit my nose and mouth on the steering wheel. The front end is severely damage, the engine caught fire, fluids were leaking but neither air bag deployed.
Kia fire: I was driving about 20 miles and was stopped at a stop light at a major intersection when the car started to make a knocking sound and then stalled out. I tried to restart the car, which restarted, then immediately stalled out again. Traffic behind me got out of their cars to tell me the car was on fire, but I couldn't see it because it was underneath the hood and smoke was coming from the bottom of the car.
Other problems reported for the 2012 Kia Forte
- Brakes 52 complaints
- Air bags 37 complaints
- Electrical system 32 complaints
- Lighting 23 complaints