2012 Kia Forte Engine Problems

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

160Engine complaints

55.4%Of all 289 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

ENGINE160 · 55.4%

AIR BAGS36 · 12.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32 · 11.1%

SERVICE BRAKES30 · 10.4%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC20 · 6.9%

Share of the 289 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Kia Forte overview page.

What owners report

“START IT WITH A TICKING NOISE THAT WAS PERSISTENT EVERY TIME WE TURN THE CAR ON AND EVENTUALLY JUST BLEW UP IN THE MIDDLE OF…”NHTSA complaint 11323482 — filed 05/06/2020

“BACK IN 2017 I NEEDED TO HAVE THE ENGINE ON MY KIA REPAIRED AFTER ONLY FINANCING IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR DUE TO LOUD KNOCKING…”NHTSA complaint 11316604 — filed 03/06/2020

“THEY SAID THERE IS METAL SCRAP IN THE CYLINDERS AND IT IS EVERYWHERE ONLINE THAT THEY SPONTANEOUSLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF IT AND…”NHTSA complaint 11315382 — filed 03/01/2020

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Kia Forte have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Kia Forte: 160 of 289 complaints on file (55.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Kia Forte have in total?

289 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 20 involved a crash, 21 involved a fire, 16 reported injuries, and 3 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.