2010 Kia Forte Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

74Engine complaints

33.5%Of all 221 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

ENGINE74 · 33.5%

AIR BAGS40 · 18.1%

POWER TRAIN21 · 9.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19 · 8.6%

TIRES18 · 8.1%

Share of the 221 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2010 Kia Forte overview page.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING CAR STARTED TO MAKE KNOCKING NOISES COMING FROM ENGINE. LAST WEEK THURSDAY. ( MAY 31, 2018) MILEAGE AT 65K. THEN SUDDENLY ENGINE OFF'…”NHTSA complaint 11100115 — filed 06/06/2018

“TOOK MY KIA FORTE IN TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE. I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY JUST…”NHTSA complaint 11079951 — filed 03/17/2018

“IVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ON KIA FORUMS HAS LABELED AS HARD SHIFTING SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2017. WHEN I START DRIVING THE CAR JERKS…”NHTSA complaint 11065484 — filed 01/28/2018

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2010 Kia Forte have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2010 Kia Forte: 74 of 221 complaints on file (33.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2010 Kia Forte have in total?

221 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 21 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 14 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 07/14/2026.