2011 Kia Forte Kia Forte 2011

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2011 Kia Forte repairs by problem area

Engine (29%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (10%)

Brakes and Traction Control (6%)

Suspension and Steering (12%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (22%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (16%)

Other (4%)

Chart based on 49 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2011 Kia Forte.

2011 Kia Forte repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (0%)

$500 - $999 (0%)

$100 - $499 (19%)

< $100 (81%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 37 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2011 Kia Forte 4dr Sedan

173-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Kia Forte in Maryland, United States
Apr 2018 - May 2018
May 2018

107397 mi

US $36
Engine air filter replaced. Cabin air filter replaced with fram fresh breeze charcoal filter. 

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2011 Kia Forte 4dr Sedan

173-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Kia Forte in Manitoba, Canada
Jan 2013 - Oct 2017
Feb 2013

11360 mi
Drivers seatbelt sticks during cold weather. Sometimes unable fully pull out belt to put it on. 
May 2013

12480 mi
Seat belt remains an issue. This time they submitted the part request from Kia. Still waiting. 
Oct 2013

14760 mi

C $60
mudguard replaced 
Jan 2014

17360 mi
Would not start. Flap frozen open due to cold 

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2011 Kia Forte 4dr Sedan

156-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Kia Forte in Massachusetts, United States
Apr 2012 - Jun 2018
Jul 2014

47500 mi
Water pump was working but faulty & making a whistling noise a high speeds. 
Kia Forte in Nova Scotia, Canada
Aug 2011 - Jun 2014
Sep 2011

620 mi
Car was starting in the morning but idle speed was ranging from 1600-2600 RPMs and not coming down, even in the afternoon leaving work same thing would occur. Had ECM update by dealer, waiting to see if it solves the problem. dealer had car overnight, seen idle speed act up, completed ECM update again. Been known not to work the first time. Note: New Kias are designed to idle higher than normal initially to heat up catalytic convertor to reduce emission gases. 
Apr 2014

45440 mi
Parking Sensor would was not working, car would not release key from ignition. Car remained in alternator position. 
Kia Forte in Saskatchewan, Canada
Oct 2010 - Feb 2022
Dec 2010

1240 mi
Ignition key sticks, not sure why 
Jan 2011

2480 mi
Cruise control did not work correctly. Could not remove ignition key when car was in park, told that I was being too gentle putting it in park. replaced cruise control 
Jul 2011

7440 mi
Warranty recall of dashboard clock. The clock would freeze up (as in showing the same time for several hours) then go blank. They ended up replacing the clock completely. 
May 2014

40920 mi
Transmission cooling line failed, ordered and replaced cooling line. Car was in shop for so long due to delay in getting part 
Nov 2015

60760 mi
Tensioner on power steering was squeaking, replaced tensioner 
Mar 2017

75020 mi

C $100
Shifter pin was broken, when put into park it would overextend and the keys would not come out. Parts are on order currently, expected replacement time is 2-3 weeks after repair. 
Kia Forte in Ohio, United States
Apr 2011 - Dec 2016
Mar 2012

36000 mi

US $130
Windshield wiper motor was defective. Also, map light bulb replaced 
Nov 2016

161300 mi

US $330
Motor makes a tapping/knocking noise. Timing chain, tensioner, and guides replaced. This repair did not correct the problem. Mechanic stated that it could be a wrist pin or a piston slap. 
Kia Forte in British Columbia, Canada
Nov 2011 - Jul 2021
May 2014

15500 mi
Steering wheel audio controls were behaving erratically. Dealer replaced the controls on the steering wheel, which corrected the problem. 
Aug 2017

29760 mi

C $400
Replaced the steering elbow joint which had become worn and was producing a clunking sound on rough surfaces. 
Kia Forte in Manitoba, Canada
Jun 2017 - Jun 2018
Jun 2018

68200 mi

C $80
Engine short block replacement, timing chain kit, oil pump, pistons and crankshaft 
Kia Forte in Arkansas, United States
Jul 2016 - Jul 2017
Jun 2016

58000 mi

US $300
Rear view mirror detached from the windshield. Required replacement. Fuel door wouldn't open. Fuel door wouldn't open. 

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2011 Kia Forte 4dr Sedan

156-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Kia Forte in Minnesota, United States
Feb 2011 - Sep 2012
Jun 2012

20000 mi
Car started to overheat during rush hour traffic. Brought to dealer after second occurrence; first time added fluid. Overheated to 250 degrees F. Dealer tightened connections to radiator fan because fan was not engaging. 

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2011 Kia Forte 4dr Hatch

173-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Kia Forte in Delaware, United States
Feb 2011 - Mar 2011
Jan 2011

1000 mi
car driffs to the right after two weeks of purchase. repair shop recomennded replacing rear beam 
Kia Forte in Vermont, United States
Aug 2011 - Feb 2013
Jan 2012 wouldn't start; had to be towed to dealer where they replaced a bad starter 
Feb 2013

35000 mi
Leaking transmission lines were replaced under warranty. The dealer asked about a prior radiator replacement (after I hit a deer) but it was not clear if they thought that could have contributed to the transmission issues. 
Kia Forte in Indiana, United States
Feb 2011 - Aug 2014
Feb 2012

30000 mi
Rear hatch loose 
Oct 2013

81200 mi

US $300
Transmission cooling line failed, all fluid lost on expressway. Car towed to dealer. 
Kia Forte in New York, United States
Oct 2011 - Dec 2012
Mar 2012

7000 mi

US $50
Gas milage not up to what it should be 

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2011 Kia Forte 4dr Hatch

173-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Kia Forte in Ontario, Canada
Oct 2013 - Dec 2016
May 2016

53320 mi
Clunking noise coming from front of car when hitting bumps. Quiet at first but got louder over several months. Front right stabilizer bar replaced under warranty, fixed. Took dealer two weeks to get in part which was annoying. 

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2011 Kia Forte 4dr Hatch

156-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Kia Forte in Florida, United States
Oct 2010 - Sep 2015
Dec 2010

4000 mi
A sensor for the Electronic Stability Control was faulty and needed to be replaced. ESC would engage automatically without warrant. 
Jun 2011

15000 mi
TPMS bad, replaced. clock broken, replaced. 
Oct 2012

41000 mi

US $5
Rattle developed in the hatch windows. I installed foam into the crease to stop noise. Paint on the wiper arm has peeled off. 
Kia Forte in Texas, United States
Apr 2013 - Nov 2015
May 2013

40700 mi
A pressurized transmission fluid line came loose while I was driving. 
Kia Forte in Pennsylvania, United States
Jul 2014 - Aug 2017
Dec 2015

54000 mi
Engine noise like a valve or lifter at cold start start Noise similar to valve/lifter . KIA Rep listened to noise and determined there was an engine problem (not sure exactly what). Decided to replace motor. After new parts are received dealer will install new short block motor and rebuild he 
Jul 2017

75000 mi

US $425
Rear brake pads were worn and scarred rotors. Brake pads and rotors/calipers were replaced 
Kia Forte in Illinois, United States
Sep 2011 - Mar 2017
Oct 2011

7000 mi
Gas smell in passenger cabin. Dealer could not reproduce. Has happened several times since then. 
Mar 2016

55000 mi
Noise over bumps. Dealer replaced stabilizer linkage under warranty. 
Kia Forte in Saskatchewan, Canada
Jan 2011 - Jun 2012
Apr 2011

1860 mi
Clock quit working, cruise control was acting up. 
May 2011

1860 mi
Power switch on the sun roof quit working 

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2011 Kia Forte 4dr Hatch

156-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Kia Forte in Massachusetts, United States
Dec 2011 - Jan 2013
Jan 2012

15000 mi
Cracked heat shield on exhaust 

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2011 Kia Forte 2dr Coupe

173-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Kia Forte in Kansas, United States
Sep 2012 - Jul 2018
Oct 2012

18800 mi
I took it to get my oil change and the guy said that some seal was leaking oil, not badly but leaking. Took it to the dealer, they acknowledged the problem and were more than willing to fix it promptly and under warranty. 
Jan 2015

50000 mi
Car was making a knocking noise. Took car to a Kia dealership, they diagnosed broken swing arm. They replaced the part that day and it was covered under the warranty. 

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2011 Kia Forte Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2011 Kia Forte problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.