2011 Kia Forte Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

45Engine complaints

29.6%Of all 152 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE45 · 29.6%

AIR BAGS34 · 22.4%

POWER TRAIN17 · 11.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16 · 10.5%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC16 · 10.5%

Share of the 152 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Kia Forte overview page.

What owners report

“tHEY SAID MY CAR MAY CATCH ON FIRE DUE A FUSE. tHIS HAS BEEN SINCE sEP AND IT IT IS NOW ALMOST mAY. tHIS COULD…”NHTSA complaint 11585192 — filed 04/25/2024

“My daughters Kia Forte, started making a ticking noise. Them more she has driven the car, the worse the ticking has become. Looking on line…”NHTSA complaint 11530906 — filed 07/07/2023

“I have a 2011 Kia forte had 130,000 plus miles when I bought it. I've had the car for 1 year first 2 months motor…”NHTSA complaint 11524573 — filed 05/31/2023

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Kia Forte have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2011 Kia Forte: 45 of 152 complaints on file (29.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Kia Forte have in total?

152 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 28 involved a crash, 11 involved a fire, 34 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.