2010 KIA Forte Koup Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Forte Koup years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 KIA Forte Koup. That ranks 3rd out of 8 Forte Koup model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (6 complaints, 55%), typically at around 108,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 11owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2010 KIA Forte Koup problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 55% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 18% | 126,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 9% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 9% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 9% | 54,798 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 9% | 70 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 9% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 9% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 9% | 125,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2010 KIA Forte Koup recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
Risk: If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Fix: Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires (AQ23002) — opened Nov 17, 2023, still open.
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
- Air bags may be disabled during crash (PE18003) — opened Mar 16, 2018, closed Aug 30, 2019, led to recall 18E043000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
These vehicles are absolutely dangerous! I've been in the automotive business my entire career for 15 years with a level certifications and ase's. I stopped driving the vehicle due to the simple matter of any acceleration over 2900 rpm it starts knocking. I will not put my family or myself in the…
I was driving on route 77 in charlotte at approximately 60 mph. While driving, my wheel had a structural failure. I retraced my route and do not see anything on the route (i.e. Major obstacle). Regardless, this failure is completely unacceptable. I have had other cars in the past and have run over…
I recently took my car to have the most recent recall with the air bag fixed. After the repair occurred, the air bag light came on. I took the car back to the dealership to see if a malfunction occurred during the repair. The dealership service department told me the air bag module and clock spring…
I had a 2010 kia forte koup that caught on fire 5/29/18 while going down a highway approximately 55 miles/hr. Before the fire began, there was some knocking in the engine and all power went out, including power steering and brakes. I was able to get it to the side of the road and popped the hood to…
The seat belts will not automatically roll back into the door frame of the car after taking them off. You have to jerk the belt up and down close to twenty times to get them to retract. Also, i've noticed that the cruise control doesn't function like normal. It only works once in a while. I have to…
Other KIA Forte Koup years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Forte Koup | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 Forte Koup | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 Forte Koup | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 Forte Koup | 1 | 2 |
| 2013 Forte Koup | 16 | 4 |
| 2012 Forte Koup | 14 | 4 |
| 2011 Forte Koup | 8 | 2 |
| 2010 | 11 | 2 |
See all KIA Forte Koup problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2010 KIA Forte Koup?
Owners most often report engine, seat belts, air bags problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2010 KIA Forte Koup?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2010 KIA Forte Koup a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Forte Koup model years, the 2010 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.