55 complaints reported

2010 Kia Forte Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
55
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2025

Unknown. Vehicle serviced since 2010. Oil changes based on recommend miles. Only 80,000 miles. Wife [XXX] only uses it mostly for store runs. Since recently inspection and oil change motor has a loud knocking at start up and gets quiet shortly after but while idling you can here a ticking noise. We have all paper work to maintenance. Fear if my wife is stranded or worse and thought I would report this. I will take it in to see what is said. Doesn't seem normal for only 80,000 and well maintained INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2025
Mar 2025

I got a car from coparts and they told me nothing was wrong! I recently bought the car

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2025
Mar 2025

Known engine problem with bottom end knocking sounds. Potential risk of fire or wreck caused by engine failure. Engine condition is an ongoing issue. Dealerships and manufacture refuse to honor recall because last recall hasn't been addressed and the title is rebuilt.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2024
Oct 2024

Engine knocks really bad

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2023
Jan 2024

The contact owns a 2010 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the hood of the vehicle. The contact pulled over on the side of the road. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the rod bearing was damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the warranty being expired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2024
Nov 2023

kia already has a recall on the 2.0 litre Theta engines due to rod bearing failures due to improper machining of the engine blocks, resulting in metal filings blocking oil passages in the bottom end of the engine resulting in the significant risk of a fire or catastrophic engine failure usually at highway speed which can cause accidents. They also have a recall for possible engine fires and instruct owners to park their vehicles outside, with a significant risk of burning occupants. YouTube mechanics have been complaining of all these Kia engines' early failures such as: Scotty Kilmer Exotic Car Play Place The Car Wizard Calls to Kia Motors USA have resulted in their refusal to replace these 2.0 non-direct injection engines.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2023
Oct 2023

The contact owns a 2010 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving or while idling, he heard a loud knocking sound coming from the hood of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rod bearings were faulty. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was concerned for his safety while operating the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2023
Oct 2023

Car repeatedly has leaks and knocking engine sound, 5 repairs no resolve. Told different solutions paid for repairs. Engine noise still continues. Took in at 149,000. Why isnt there a recall on the engine?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2023
Jun 2023

179000 miles owner was driving and heard a knocking sound. He is an independent mechanic and put it in the shop to diagnose. While inspecting oil was within normal operating range and not yet due for an oil change. Low end rod knock. Changed oil to inspect for debris and found light flakes of bearing material. Diagnosed as rod knock and needs bearing replaced.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2023
May 2023

In March 2023, my 2010 kia forte ex began to make a ticking noise, similar to the noise it had made before its first engine had failed. I had just had my car inspected the week prior and had my oil changed. I took my car back to the mechanic, where they confirmed there was an issue with my "new" engine. The engine was "knocking." I took my kia to the dealership where I had gotten the first engine replaced to see if my warranty still covered the new engine as it was not even 3 years old, but was told it was not under warranty. I took my car to another mechanic to get a second opinion after being quoted over $3000 for a new engine. The mechanic said that there were metal shavings in my oil, which was only a week or two old at that time. He said the issue was likely the rod baring's. I learned kia had several lawsuits going on about premature engine failure in kia fortes, but was told by kia that my car was not going to be part of that lawsuit. No warning messages showed up prior to the failure. The only symptom of the failure that was noticeable to me was the knocking, and would not be as noticable to someone who doesnt know much about cars. Driving my car for the last time, I noticed a burning smell when I turned on the ac. I shut it off and looked for signs of a fire, knowing kias have been catching fire recently. These cars arent safe on the roads and Kia should be held accountable before more people get hurt.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2023
May 2023

Premature engine failure in 2010 kia forte ex in April 2020 resulted in a vehicle that was unsafe to drive. The problem was confirmed by a mechanic and later the dealership. No warning messages or lamps were displayed. The problem was identified after I spoke with my mechanic about a ticking noise that I was hearing upon starting my vehicle. The noises first appeared a few weeks before my cars engine was diagnosed as failing.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2020
May 2023

Engine piston knock getting ready to fail and lock up which could cause a crash and loss of control of car.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2023
Feb 2023

My Engine died at 114,000 miles. It developed engine knock. I now have to replace the engine. Kia refuses to help with this and is asking for 8,000 to replace the engine.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2023
Feb 2023

Unknown, 2010 Kia Forte engines have an active and open recall in Canada for a ticking noise that leads to vehicle fires and cause death it is not being addressed here in the United States even though the problems are exactly the same there's a smell of gas burning there are ticking and knocking noises coming from an engine and Kia is refusing to replace it here in the United States but they are actively replacing it in Canada

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2023
Jun 2022

Very loud knocking noise coming from engine. No check engine light or oil light has come on at all. It's been doing this for over a year now.. Ive taken it to several place and no one can figure it out. The knocking gets so bad it makes my steering wheel shake.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Jan 2022

I have 2 Kia Forte I was a 4dr my current is a 2 dr Koup . The engine makes noises the motor actually blew on my way to work with the 4dr then purchased a 2dr it’s doing the same the guy says it’s a cylinder but why do I feel like I’m getting ripped off by Kia bc this is an ongoing issue

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2020
Nov 2021

Engine is knocking very loudly. Concerned it is going to fail while driving it and cause an accident. I have noticed many other people have this issue with this 2.0 engine Kia has.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2020
Oct 2021

VEHICLE HAS BEEN KNOCKING SINCE THE DAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE OVER. WAS TOLD THAT KIA ALWAYS SAID ITS NORMAL BUT ITS CLEAR THAT IT IS A ROD KNOCK AND THAT THADA ENGINES HAD THIS PROBLEM. IM AFRAID IF THE ROD LETS LOOSE IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2021
Jun 2021

Randomly the car refused to accelerate, rpms would not go past 3k. It happened it different time points of a drive. There was never any check engine light. Mechanic drove the vehicle and ran a check on it and said with out a warning light there isn’t much I can do. Suggested replace crank shaft sensor. There was no change to the point the entire car died while driving up hill with no shoulder and a very large truck behind. My children would be dead right now if there had been another vehicle in the lane next to me I was able to barely to get the cat into. The car started back up after 30 mins. Was looked at again, informed it could have something to do with the engine tick, still no warning lights. The car stalls, jerks like a misfire and had refused to keep a stable speed while on the interstate

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Mar 2021

JUST AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR USED WITH 73,349 MILES ON THE ODOMETER ON 7/31/2014 THERE WAS A SLIGHT KNOCK IN THE ENGINE, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THE PROBLEM THAT LED TO RECALLS ON LATER YEARS MODELS WITH 4 CYLINDER ENGINES, SO I THINK THE PROBLEM STARTED EARLIER. SINCE THERE WAS NO WARRANTY (SOLD AS IS) ON A USED CAR THE DEALER TOLD US REPAIRS WOULD COST MORE THAN JUST REPLACING THE ENGINE, SO I HAD TO PAY $3,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I COMPLAINED TO BOTH THE DEALER (FAIRFAX KIA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WITH NO RESOLUTION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2014
Mar 2021

THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 88,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR STARTED MAKING TICKING NOISE. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT IS THE ENGINE AND IT NEEDS REPLACED. THEY ALSO SAID THIS WAS A VERY COMMON ISSUE ON THESE ENGINES. SAID IT WASN'T WORTH THE COST TO REPLACE. I'M SO ANGRY CAUSE THE CAR STILL SHOULD HAVE ALOT OF LIFE LEFT IN IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND THIS IS A FAULTY BECAUSE OF KIA!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Mar 2021

MY CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM KIA OF CLARKSVILLE. IT HAS ALWAYS HAD A TICK I WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. AT 88,000 MILES MY CAR LOCKED UP. JUST DRIVING UP A SMALL HILL IT STARTED KNOCKING LOUD AND LOST POWER. TOOK IT TO KIA THEY WANT 6000.00 TO REPAIR IT WITH A JUNK YARD MOTOR. HOW DO THEY SELL FAULTY ENGINES AND GET AWAY WITH IT. I TOOK GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND OIL CHANGES WHEN DUE. I'M SO UPSET THAT AS A CONSUMER WE HAVE NO PROTECTION AGAINST THIS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Feb 2021

THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING KNOCKING SOUNDS. I'M AFRAID IT MIGHT CATCH FIRE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2020
Jan 2021

The contact owns a 2010 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 10 mph and approaching a stop sign, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine and battery warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was restarted without further failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage 111,407.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Dec 2020

TOOK CARE OF THE CAR AND MY MOTOR HAS RECENTLY GONE OUT. LOST POWER GOING UP HILL AND HAD A BAD TICKING NOISE I PULLED OFF AN EXIT AND IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING BROKE IN THE MOTOR. VERY DISAPPOINTED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 KIA FORTE, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2020

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Kia Forte has 55 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.