2015 Kia Forte · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 53owner reports
- 90,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 10, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
188 of the 258 complaints on this car are about the engine. 53 of those describe stalling. Only engine failure is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 53 reports
Stalling on other Forte years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the engine covers the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
The recall on the 2015 Kia Forte, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Forte
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 72,000 and 126,000 miles, from the 35 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“The oil light flickered on and off intermittently despite oil in it and was making a cackling noise during acceleration for 2 days then my engine made loud screech noise and smelled like burnt oil and shut off . I had it towed to a mechanic who stated it showed a hole in the engine block .”
Filed Jul 27, 2025
“My vehicle was broken into and there was an attempt to steal the car. I made a police report and they expressed that the car would have been driven recklessly and potentially crashed if it was stolen. The safety issues with KIA fortes have become a huge issue nation wide and the cars should be recalled to have standard security installed that a majority of other cars already have equipped.”
Filed Nov 3, 2023
“Car has same issues for 4 years, shaking, stalling, loosing speed while driving. Check engine light on. Light knocking noise while driving canât go above 45 miles an hour. Also 3 times car smelled like electrical burning. But was told by Kia nothing wrong with engine”
Filed Oct 26, 2023
“The car keeps stalling out while stopped. No check engine lights or anything . It will then sit for a minute ot two then start back.”
Filed Oct 23, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 53 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 73 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 34 reports