Model year record

2010 Kia Forte

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 340 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 23V652000

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Manufacturer
Kia America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
1,730,192
Reported to NHTSA
2023-09-25
Owners notified
2024-03-29

Defect description

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 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Safety risk

An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V363000

Air bags: air bag/restraint control module

Component
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Manufacturer
Kia Motors America
Vehicles affected
507,587
Reported to NHTSA
2018-06-01
Owners notified
2018-09-28

Defect description

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 a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.

Safety risk

If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

Manufacturer remedy

Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.

Recall campaignNHTSA 13V114000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer
Kia Motors Corporation
Vehicles affected
980,377
Reported to NHTSA
2013-04-01
Owners notified
2013-04-19

Defect description

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Safety risk

Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine80100,000 mi
Air bags4480,702 mi
Power train2493,000 mi
Electrical system2065,000 mi
Service brakes1942,000 mi
Tires1852,000 mi
Wheels1761,000 mi
Exterior lighting1658,500 mi
Steering1160,000 mi
Unknown or other11115,000 mi
Vehicle speed control1070,000 mi
Seat belts955,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system760,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)645,142 mi
Engine and engine cooling61,500 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control4
Suspension465,000 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems428,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline347,100 mi
Seats31 mi
Electrical system: horn281,400 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine24,100 mi
Power train: automatic transmission2800 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic273,000 mi
Structure2625 mi
Structure: body292,000 mi
Tires: valve228,000 mi
Air bags: frontal121,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: driver clockspring/spiral cassette1170,000 mi
Equipment1100 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility1130,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights1131,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: warnings11 mi
Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments12,800 mi
Suspension: front128,000 mi
Visibility/wiper138,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear1620,000 mi

The 2009 model has 340 times as many complaints as this one. The 2011 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

AQ23002Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.