YearToAvoid

2011 Kia Forte Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 18 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 Kia Forte, 12% of its 153 total complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 56,220. A related recall (16V070000) covers a transmission fluid cooler hose that may have been improperly assembled.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
18
12% of 153
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
56,220 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Sudden loss of acceleration or power while driving at highway or city speeds, sometimes with the check engine light on.
  • Vehicle refuses to shift into gear or reverse after coming to a stop, often requiring a tow to the dealer.
  • Transmission jerks, slips, or shifts roughly, in some cases followed by a full transmission replacement.
  • Car stalls unexpectedly at low speed or at red lights, with reports of a brief loss of power steering.
  • Owners report unintended acceleration that did not respond to braking in at least one case involving a crash.
  • Some owners describe the failure recurring even after a dealer transmission replacement or software relearn.

When 2011 Kia Forte transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 23, 2011, latest Oct 18, 2024.

2011 Kia Forte transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Jun 2011Jul 2012Nov 2014Jul 2016Jul 2018Aug 2020Jul 2023Oct 2024
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2011 to Oct 2024; peak Jun 2011 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2011 Kia Forte

  1. NHTSA 16V070000Feb 5, 2016Transmission & Powertrain10,240 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:cooling unit and lines

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011 Forte vehicles manufactured August 27, 2010, to November 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a transmission fluid cooler hose that may have been improperly manufactured, resulting in a transmission fluid leak.

    Risk: If enough transmission fluid leaks out, the transmission may not function properly and the vehicle may stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission cooler hose, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC129.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Forte model year

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

  1. 20090 (0%)
  2. 201023 (10%)
  3. 201118 (12%)
  4. 201211 (4%)
  5. 201310 (5%)
  6. 201418 (4%)
  7. 201517 (7%)
  8. 201616 (12%)
  9. 201712 (4%)
  10. 20188 (6%)
  11. 201947 (32%)
  12. 202016 (21%)
  13. 20217 (10%)
  14. 20222 (7%)
  15. 20238 (13%)
  16. 20243 (12%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2011 Kia Forte have?
NHTSA lists 18 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 Forte, which is 12% of all 153 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2011 Kia Forte?
Yes. Recall 16V070000, reported February 5, 2016, covers a transmission fluid cooler hose that may have been improperly assembled; dealers replace the hose free of charge.
At what mileage do 2011 Forte transmission problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure among reported cases is 56,220 miles.
Did any 2011 Forte transmission complaints involve crashes?
NHTSA records show 1 crash and no fires or injuries among the 18 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for this model year.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.