2013 Kia Forte Engine Problems

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

107Engine complaints

54.9%Of all 195 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

ENGINE107 · 54.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM24 · 12.3%

SERVICE BRAKES24 · 12.3%

AIR BAGS16 · 8.2%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING14 · 7.2%

Share of the 195 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Kia Forte overview page.

What owners report

“Engine Knock, Engine failure and replacement. The car had to be towed to the dealer and they would not cover the repair because we were…”NHTSA complaint 11443220 — filed 12/09/2021

“The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The contact stated that while driving at 50…”NHTSA complaint 11438039 — filed 10/25/2021

“MY 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP WAS PARKED AS I RAN INTO THE STORE, I CAME OUT TO MY CAR ON FIRE AND IT IS NOT…”NHTSA complaint 11406929 — filed 04/07/2021

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Kia Forte have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2013 Kia Forte: 107 of 195 complaints on file (54.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Kia Forte have in total?

195 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 16 involved a crash, 13 involved a fire, 17 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.