2013 KIA Forte Koup Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Forte Koup years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 KIA Forte Koup. That is the most of any Forte Koup model year in the database (8 years). The most reported problem area is engine (12 complaints, 75%), typically at around 83,500 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 5 defect investigations involving it.
- 16owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 5NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2013 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 | 12 | 75% | 83,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 13% | 4 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 13% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 13% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 6% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 6% | 4 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 6% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 6% | 4 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2013 KIA Forte Koup recalls (4)
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.
Engine
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
Risk: If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC158.
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.
- Engine Fires (EA21003) — opened Dec 22, 2021, closed Feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V877.
- Electrical overstress (EA19001) — opened Apr 19, 2019, closed Sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V024.
- 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.
I purchased this kia in 2014, since then, i have had to repeatedly replace the headlights, tail / brake lights and the license plate lights. The plastic part of the connectors have dried out and are breaking into pieces due to the wiring getting too hot, as the parts that are left are now starting…
Driving on a busy highway going approximately 65 mph when the rpms dropped to zero. I was able to get it on the shoulder without accident. The car was towed to a mechanic who informed me the engine seized up but the oil looked fine. The mechanic thought this was odd. The car had 101,000 miles in it.
Theta ii engine recall. A year and a half ago, i was driving down the interstate and all of a sudden all the dash lights came on and the car lost all power. I was luckily able to guide it off the interstate to a safe spot on the side. The car wouldnt stary back at all. Come to find out, the rods…
I was crossing through an intersection turning left right after the light had turned green. Next thing i knew it i saw another car, it was a camry, flying through the light right for me. It was raining here in florida that day, and of course going to brake so abruptly i slid in addition to the…
My motor slung a rod without reason at 90k miles. I have the same 2.4 liter motor in my kia forte as the motors previously recalled in the optimas. The just found that this engine failure is happening in the 1.6 liter souls as well yet they refuse to fix my car because the car itself isn't listed…
Other KIA Forte Koup years
← 2012 Forte Koup · 2014 Forte Koup →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Forte Koup | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 Forte Koup | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 Forte Koup | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 Forte Koup | 1 | 2 |
| 2013 | 16 | 4 |
| 2012 Forte Koup | 14 | 4 |
| 2011 Forte Koup | 8 | 2 |
| 2010 Forte Koup | 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 2013 KIA Forte Koup?
Owners most often report engine, air bags, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 12 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2013 KIA Forte Koup?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2013 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 2013 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.