2010 KIA FORTE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
310
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
51
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 2010 KIA FORTE
The 2010 KIA FORTE has received a total of 310 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE. 51 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (72 complaints), Air Bags (40 complaints), and Power Train (19 complaints).
Recalls for the 2010 KIA FORTE
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 2010 KIA FORTE, potentially affecting up to 4,948,348 vehicles.
Recall 23V652000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
| 1,730,192 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 23V652000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
| 1,730,192 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 18V363000 — AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
| 507,587 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 13V114000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
| 980,377 vehicles affected
Defect: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007...
Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2010 KIA FORTE
310 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2010 KIA FORTE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Never received a notice on vehicle having a recall
Knocking in engine, loss of power, rod bearings needs replacing
Knocking in engine, loss of power, rod bearings needs replacing
On August 22nd 2025 my daughter was driving this vehicle and was in a car accident and her front air bags did not deploy. Her passenger side airbags deployed with no passenger but nothing in the front and it was a front collision. Upon receipt of the Paperwork from Copart we learned there was an active recall from 2018 for the front airbags possibly not deploying and resulting in injury during a collision, which is what happened. Her knee and ribs were injured from hitting the steering wheel. The car was declared a total loss from insurance.
Safety Rating for the 2010 KIA FORTE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2010 KIA FORTE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2010 KIA FORTE
Kia America, Inc. has issued 51 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2010 KIA FORTE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
PI2102YZ_TSB — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2102Y/Z) - This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in (PI2102) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement" for 2010-2011MY Forte and Forte Koup (TD) vehicles equipped with Theta 2.4L MPI engine, produced from...
PI2102YZ_TSB — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2102Y/Z) - This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in (PI2102) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement" for 2010-2011MY Forte and Forte Koup (TD) vehicles equipped with Theta 2.4L MPI engine, produced from...
TSB_ENG070R1_CLS — POWER TRAIN
TSB_ENG070_R1_CLOSED: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLOSED
TSB_ENG070R1_CLS — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TSB_ENG070_R1_CLOSED: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLOSED
TSB_TRA026_CLSD — POWER TRAIN
TSB_TRA026_CLOSED: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLOSED
TSB_BOD049_CLSD — VISIBILITY
TSB_BOD049_CLOSED: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLOSED
TSB_BOD049_CLSD — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TSB_BOD049_CLOSED: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLOSED
TSB_ENG051R1_CLS — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TSB_ENG051_R1_CLOSED: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLOSED
TSB_ENG051R1_CLS — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TSB_ENG051_R1_CLOSED: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLOSED
TSB_ENG059_CLSD — POWER TRAIN
TSB_ENG059_CLOSED: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLOSED
Showing 10 of 51 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2010 KIA FORTE
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2010 KIA FORTE.
Investigation PE18003 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE Closed
Opened:
Air bags may be disabled during crash
Other Model Years of the KIA FORTE
- 2009 KIA FORTE — 1 complaint
- 2010 KIA FORTE (current)
- 2011 KIA FORTE — 212 complaints
- 2012 KIA FORTE — 397 complaints
- 2013 KIA FORTE — 268 complaints
- 2014 KIA FORTE — 630 complaints
- 2015 KIA FORTE — 319 complaints
Other KIA Models
- KIA SORENTO — 13,451 total complaints
- KIA OPTIMA — 10,045 total complaints
- KIA SOUL — 7,147 total complaints
- KIA SPORTAGE — 6,540 total complaints
- KIA SEDONA — 3,334 total complaints
- KIA SEPHIA — 3,080 total complaints
- KIA TELLURIDE — 2,109 total complaints
- KIA RIO — 1,784 total complaints