Problems · by component

2014 Kia Forte electrical system problems

57 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Forte cite electrical system, 13% of all 444 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
57
13% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Airbag warning light has came on had a mechanic run codes and it says all air bags unresponsive. Now my car is refusing to start. If continue to try it eventually starts. Major oil leak and consumption along with knocking. Along with my break lights not working occasionally along with my head lights and brights not working at all”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2026Electrical system, Air bags, EngineODI 11766256
“I have currently been avoiding driving my car because it goes in limp mode when I’m stopped at red lights I smell oil burning sometimes ive seen small amounts of smoke coming from the engine as well as just receiving an oil change less than a month ago and it already being bad , I checked the mail the other day and i received a recall letter from Kia stating my car needs to be serviced and that I can take it in for a free engine test and inspection free of cost as well as a system update free of cost , I schedule an appointment today for 11 I was told it will take half a day I receive a text to pick it back up 1 hour later I ask if an engine test was also done i received no response so I came in and was told that I would have to pay 270 for a diagnosis despite the engine inspection being different they refused to do one stating the previous owners warranty is up so the system update was done without any inspection or test to see if the damage was already which it is based off the state of my car , when trying to leave my car was not starting up and when it finally did it went into limp mode completely and wouldn’t drive at that point I reach out to Kia costumer…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2026Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11720848
“Steering column is broken and keeps falling. Hard to replace entire steering column. While driving the entire steering wheel will fall into lap, makes the car nearly un-drivable. I have fixed before but the entire part is now failing and is extremely dangerous.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2025Steering, Electrical systemODI 11689852
“The car will randomly cut off while driving, to restart the car must be put into neutral to restart and the lights go off during that time. If you are on the interstate going over 50, it will jerk and restart itself but the steering gets really stiff and you have to pull over and cut car off and restart to get the steering to work properly again.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2025Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11645865
“Driving down the highway and check engine light came on and dropped the cars speed down to 30 mph and was stuck on the highway and I called the KIA dealership that I got the car from and they cleared the code on the car and claimed they fixed it just for the car to go back into limp mode and now I’m stuck without a car and the dealership doesn’t want to fix it”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2024Electrical system, EngineODI 11563070
“Electrical problems from the start when purchaed November 2016. Ghost electrical problems, affecting radio, gas guage, lights, and traction, Also tail lights leaked water in.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2023Electrical systemODI 11546446

Showing 6 of 57 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system

Free remedy

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Forte vehicles manufactured December 5, 2012, to April 17, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the cooling fan resistor may overheat and melt.

Electrical systemReported Jan 16, 2015NHTSA 15V015000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.