2013 KIA FORTE Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Kia Forte. This model year has 195 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2013 Kia Forte Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Brake System
Electrical Faults
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Kia Forte. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 110 | 1 | 10 | — | |
| Brake System | 38 | 5 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 25 | — | 7 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 16 | 11 | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 14 | 2 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 14 | — | 1 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 13 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 13 | 1 | 3 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 10 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 8 | 5 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Kia Forte. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 195 most recent complaints
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact stated the vehicle was unable to exceed 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the …
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the piston rings had failed, causing catastrophic engine damages. The co…
The system that is failing are the brakes and the tail lights. They used to be an open recall for the brake pedal stopper pad, however I’m not sure if that part is able to break again because in October I remember hitting the break and something I heard a crack down by the pedal,…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the brake pedal failed to operate as needed and depressed to the floorboard without warning. As a result of the brake failure, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact sta…
The engine has been making humming noise which is getting louder with time
The electric side mirror/s controls not working correctly. The motor is buzzing and unable to set the mirrors accurately. This could drain the cars battery. The electric mirror had to be disconnect until gets repaired.
The contact owned a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that her daughter was occupying the front passenger's side seat while the wife of the contact's daughter was driving 65 MPH. The contact stated that another vehicle that was driving approximately 100 MPH crashed into the rear…
Steering column coupler has repeatedly gone bad, causing clicking and play in the steering wheel. There is an open recall for this issue on Kia optima’s, which use the same part. I’ve had this issue diagnosed and fixed by 2 different shops. It is an extremely common issue in thes…
On 11/20/2024 I spoke to Denise Sanchez , she is the service manager for KIA and the reason of the call was about a complaint from Joel Sambrano one of her associates that was very unprofessional when I first called to set up the appointment for the recall. On 11/24/2024, I had …
Not an incident but I have noticed a whining noise and also a knocking noise coming from the engine and I've been told that it could be lifters or pistons not sure which but alot of others have complained about the same noises on their vehicles. If they were faulty from being bui…
As I’m reading it states that my knock sensor detection system and HECU FUSE NEEDS REPLACEMENT.
Issue with having to replace brake and taillights too often
On [XXX] , my 2013 Kia Forte SX Koup caught fire while I was driving on the tollway. Kia failed to notify me that I was sold a Lemon Car, leading to this life-threatening incident. The steering wheel and gas pedal became unresponsive, and my brakes stiffened, making it extremely …
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte EX. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 55 MPH, she noticed smoke emerging from the vehicle. The driver pulled over and called roadside assistance. All the warning lights illuminated. Upon arrival, roadside assistance informed …
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated to 55-70 MPH. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal slightly, the vehicle came to a complete stop. The ABS, traction control, and ECU warning lights …
I purchased my 2013 Kia Forte EX5 used with 35,000 and now have 165,000 with normal wear n tear I've been mostly satisfied except with the head lights, tail and brake lights and the plate lights. Until reading here, I didn't make the connection that Yes, I have spent a lot of ti…
I recently discovered that my car has a could safety recalls, regarding the HECU possibly having a short, and a brittle brake switch stopper. I called my local Kia dealer - Cartown Kia in Nicholasville, KY - about this issue, and was informed that it might not potentially be fix…
8/24/22, 2/3/23, 10/23/23. 6/14/24 I began getting random illumination of an ICON of an engine. It would come on then off. When I called KIA, I was told if the light stayed on then get an appointment with Kia. The illumination rarely stayed on then I got a recall letter, so I g…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time …
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2013 Kia Forte.
Recalls for 2013 Kia Forte
5 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2013 Kia Forte. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2013 Kia Forte — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2013 Kia Forte reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2013 Kia Forte has 195 NHTSA owner complaints, 16 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (110 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Kia Forte?▾
#1: Engine Problems (110 complaints). #2: Brake System (38 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (25 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Kia Forte?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2013 Kia Forte?▾
The 2013 Kia Forte has 16 crash-related complaints and 13 fire reports out of 195 total NHTSA complaints. 17 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2013 Kia Forte have any recalls?▾
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2013 Kia Forte. The largest issue: ENGINE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2013 Kia Forte?▾
The 2013 Kia Forte has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Kia Forte reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2013 Kia Forte
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.