2019 Kia Forte transmission & drivetrain problems

Related recalls

• Recall 20V459000Aug 5, 2020834 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

  Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Forte vehicles. The left front axle driveshaft may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to break.

  Risk: A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle driveshaft for a heat treatment verification code, and replace it if the code is missing, free of charge. The recall began September 2, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC195.

What owners say

1. Filed May 4, 2026FLTransmission & Drivetrain

   The transmission had a recall 2 years ago and they gave me a new one (KIA). I am having issues with my transmission again

   NHTSA complaint #11735430 · source
2. Filed Mar 6, 2026VATransmission & Drivetrain

   Transmission was getting stuck in gear and slipping intermittently would cause the car to not accelerate over 20mph especially in the cold unless you switched it to the manual mode and manually shifted up two gears ans then back down two gears. If you looked at the tach while it did this is would bounce between 500 and 1500rpm and then would stutter and bounce between 1500 and 2500rpm until you did the manual gear trick. Eventually it started making a strange noise. I have…

   NHTSA complaint #11722394 · source
3. Filed Feb 4, 2026TXEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   When turning on the car the check engine light comes on. Then when accelerating there is a clicking noise and smoke coming from the engine.

   NHTSA complaint #11715716 · source
4. Filed Oct 5, 2025RITransmission & Drivetrain

   My daughter was driving on the highway. She was driving at 65 mph and then the car started to jolt a couple of times. She kept driving and then it started to feel sluggish and lost some power. Would not accelerate over 45 mph. She was almost rear ended several times and people continually swerving in and out around her as she couldn’t maintain the car at a normal pace. It eventually wouldn’t go over 35 mph. Extremely DANGEROUS speed on a highway commute. She was able to…

   NHTSA complaint #11691425 · source
5. Filed Aug 6, 2024CAEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   Have only 70000 miles on it and Kia refuses to replace the transmission that went out and they have lied to me repeatedly and need to be held accountable!

   NHTSA complaint #11606688 · source
6. Filed Mar 24, 2024TNTransmission & Drivetrain

   I accelerated from a stop to turn onto the a road. Upon doing so, the car made loud sputtering and grinding noises. So I pulled it off the road and checked it out and that’s when I noticed that the engine was sunk towards the driver’s side. I got it towed to a local repair shop for them to take a look at it. When they called me I was told the transmission mount had snapped in half as well as the front drive axle and the water pump was broken. So then I called Kia and asked…

   NHTSA complaint #11579161 · source
7. Filed Sep 7, 202344,959 miFLTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had previously received an unknown recall notification regarding the transmission. The transmission was not replaced; however, the…

   NHTSA complaint #11543124 · source
8. Filed Jun 6, 2023SCEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   I have always gotten my oil changed on time and even had it changed a few days before my engine failed. I was driving down the road going home from work when my car started making a ticking sound that soon turned into a hard knocking sound coming from the engine. My car then shut off in the middle of traffic while at a red light. I tried to start it back up but nothing was happening. My check engine light never came on to give me any type of warning that the engine was in…

   NHTSA complaint #11525664 · source
9. Filed Mar 29, 2023NYEngineLightingTransmission & Drivetrain

   I was driving down expressway and my car started to make rattling noise and Clanking noise from the engine and then my car wouldn’t start it kept stuttering. My 2019 Kia forte was stalling it was not accelerating past 3k rpm’s and then the engine would completely shut off. Now my car has been out of commission for a few weeks

   NHTSA complaint #11514417 · source
10. Filed Sep 27, 2022CATransmission & Drivetrain

    The car I currently have was recalled in 2020 one year before I brought the car . For POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT . I could have been in a really bad car accident September 18 . My car completely shut off while I was making a right turn right in the middle of the street won’t start just dead . I had to push my car to the nearest store so I can get it towed ! . The dealership sold me this car probably not knowing it was recalled That’s a safety issue

    NHTSA complaint #11486658 · source
11. Filed Apr 3, 2022KYEngineOther / UnknownTransmission & Drivetrain

    The transmission failed while on the interstate/freeway while trying to merge into traffic. The vehicle lost power and would not accelerate even though the engine was revving up in RPMs. The vehicle is available. The transmission was replaced with a "Refurbished Transmission" through Warranty by KIA. Two days later the car began jerking and the check engine light came on. The vehicle was returned to the Dealership. The car was then returned to me, the owner, only to have the…

    NHTSA complaint #11459467 · source
12. Filed Feb 22, 2022TXTransmission & Drivetrain

    Driving along the highway and transmission failure occurred, causing engine RPM to jump sky high and rapid deceleration without warning or brake lights. Luckily we were not hit by any other cars and were able to pull get off the highway onto the service road. Check engine light came on and the car wouldn't move. Turned the car off and back on after a few minutes and the transmission wouldn't move forward without massive RPM and no faster than 12mph or so. This is the SECOND…

    NHTSA complaint #11453371 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology