How common are electrical problems on the 2011 Kia Forte?

NHTSA lists 21 Electrical System complaints for the 2011 Forte, which is 14% of the 153 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2011 Kia Forte electrical system?

No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this component on the 2011 Forte.

Do electrical failures on the 2011 Kia Forte cause fires?

Yes. Of the 21 Electrical System complaints, six involve fires, including reports of light sockets melting and smoke or flames near the dashboard or trunk.

At what mileage do 2011 Kia Forte electrical problems usually appear?

The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2011 Forte is 97,305 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.

2011 Kia Forte Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 21 Electrical System complaints for the 2011 Kia Forte, 14% of its 153 total complaints for the year. Six of those involve fires and two involve crashes, with a median mileage at failure of 97,305. No related recall is listed for this component.

Electrical System complaints: 21; 14% of 153
Crashes reported: 2
Fires reported: 6
Injuries reported: 1
Median mileage: 97,306 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

Brake, fog, and tail light bulb sockets overheat and melt, causing bulbs to fail repeatedly and requiring the connector or wiring harness to be replaced.
Door locks cycle on their own, locking and unlocking several times in a row when the car is started or shifted into drive.
Owners report smoke or fire starting near the dashboard or trunk area, in some cases fully engulfing the vehicle, unrelated to the Takata airbag recall some owners initially suspected.
A trunk light reportedly exploded and melted from normal use.
The shifter would not come out of park, traced to a blown brake light fuse.

When 2011 Kia Forte electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 24, 2015, latest Dec 9, 2025.

21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2015 to Dec 2025; peak Mar 2021 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2011 Kia Forte

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Forte model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

201031 (14%)
201121 (14%)
201247 (16%)
201330 (15%)
201472 (16%)
201537 (14%)
201628 (21%)
201776 (25%)
201822 (16%)
201931 (21%)
202012 (16%)
20219 (13%)
20224 (15%)
202312 (19%)
20246 (24%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are electrical problems on the 2011 Kia Forte?: NHTSA lists 21 Electrical System complaints for the 2011 Forte, which is 14% of the 153 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Kia Forte electrical system?: No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this component on the 2011 Forte.
Do electrical failures on the 2011 Kia Forte cause fires?: Yes. Of the 21 Electrical System complaints, six involve fires, including reports of light sockets melting and smoke or flames near the dashboard or trunk.
At what mileage do 2011 Kia Forte electrical problems usually appear?: The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2011 Forte is 97,305 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.