2021 Kia Forte: What to check before buying

Heavy oil consumption, knocking, and sudden engine failure lead this category, often at highway speed. Some cars burn as much as a quart a week, then develop a rod-knock or rattle, lose power, and stall in traffic. Several failures come shortly after an oil change, and one traces to a drain plug that fell out. Dealers diagnose blown engines and failed cylinders and pistons, mostly between 70,000 and 107,000 miles. Ticking or lifter noise shows up earlier, around 35,000 to 40,000 miles.

Rubbing, scrubbing, and loud noises come from the column, and some cars resist small corrections on the highway, then release suddenly and cause overcorrection. One report describes the column locking so the wheel would not turn, with dealers unable to find the cause after several visits. Others describe the car pulling to the right as if lane assist were on, and a front wheel locking during a stop that sent a car into a ditch. One crash is on file. A rubbing noise from the electric steering motor is linked to a service bulletin that complaints say does not cover every car.

Transmissions slip, shift erratically, or stop delivering power, often at highway speed. Symptoms include jerking and revving, RPM climbing while the car slows, missed gears, grinding and clicking from the dual-clutch unit at low speed, and sudden loss of acceleration traced to the actuator. Several cars need a new transmission, at mileages from 35,642 to about 75,000, and some failures return after dealer repairs. Computer resets bring only temporary relief in one case. Other reports describe a car smoking after the failure and a stall while in drive.

In several crashes, including a head-on impact at 45 mph and a side impact during a turn, the air bags do not deploy and occupants are injured. Four of the five complaints are crash-related and three involve injuries, though two of those crashes follow lightning strikes. One case also describes a seat belt that would not retract after the impact. A separate, minor fault makes the passenger seat belt alert sound when the seat is empty, and it stops only when the belt is buckled.

Cars shut down completely while in drive and need a tow to the dealer. Another report describes a check engine light that cycles on and off with an engine failure message, misfire codes on all cylinders, and a corroded positive battery terminal that arced and melted plastic, with engine replacement under discussion. The HVAC blower motor connector can also overheat until its plastic melts. One complaint concerns a theft through the steering column and ignition.

Tire complaints are few and mixed. In one, two tires on a car owned about 6 months tear apart at the same moment while driving, leaving them shredded, and the owner pays for replacements. Another concerns a car delivered with all four tires inflated near the sidewall maximum of 52 PSI instead of the recommended pressure, with no response from the dealer or Kia. A third complaint gives no detail. No clear pattern emerges from this small set.

The hood rattles while driving even though the latch holds. Shops find the latch secure, but the rubber hood bumpers are too short and cannot be adjusted any further to stop the noise. Both complaints worry the hood could fly up at speed, though neither reports that happening. One dealer limits help to the first 12 months or 12K miles, leaving the rattle unresolved after that.

Theft and engine damage share this category. In one case, thieves pop off the lower steering wheel cover and start the car with a phone charger. The other describes heavy oil consumption and what first sounds like lifter tap, which turns out to be lower engine damage at cylinders one and 3 at only 11K miles. Both match larger patterns in the engine and theft complaints.