TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Kia Forte engine problems
severe Owners of the 2019 Kia Forte have filed 24 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 73,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Forte | 131 |
| 2017 Forte | 110 |
| 2018 Forte | 42 |
| 2019 Forte (this page) | 24 |
| 2020 Forte | 13 |
| 2021 Forte | 15 |
| 2022 Forte | 5 |
2fires
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: MAINTENANCE REMINDER FEATURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area.This bulletin provides information on setting the "Service Interval Reminder" feature available on most 2014-2023MY Kia vehicles (refer to model list on page 2). If the service interval reminder is set, the customer will be informed to have the next maintenance service performed, which can positively affect vehicle longevity and performance. Refer to TSB ENG241 for 2023MY~ vehicles equipped with the Oil Life Management System (OLMS) feature not included in table on page 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
2019 Kia Forte owners are reporting engine failures across a wide mileage range—from 8,000 miles to over 112,000—with multiple distinct modes. The most common is sudden stalling without warning during highway driving, sometimes preceded by check engine lights, sometimes not. Owners describe loss of power mid-drive, inability to restart, and towing to mechanics who confirm total engine failure. One owner had a remanufactured engine installed that seized again 30 days later.
A recurring theme is a piston and oil ring defect tied to a known Kia recall covering 2015–2021 models—except allegedly the 2019. Owners report bad pistons, timing chain shearing, metal flaking in oil, and engine oil starvation from a manufacturing defect (small holes allowing oil to burn with fuel). One mechanic found a sheared camshaft sprocket pin causing piston-to-valve contact at 90% leak-down. Another owner's oil pan came loose, caught fire, and destroyed the engine.
Dealerships have acknowledged seeing multiple 2019 Forte engine failures and have replaced engines under warranty in some cases after initial misdiagnosis as transmission problems. No warning lights preceded several failures. Owners cite regular oil changes, proper maintenance, and low mileage as irrelevant—engines failed anyway. Kia has not extended recall coverage to the 2019 model year.
Same Kia Forte engine reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Piston/ring damage from defective heat-treating process
Owners report pistons failing prematurely, sometimes linked to the known piston oil ring heat-treating defect that Kia recalled in other model years (2015–2021, but allegedly omitting 2019). Damaged pistons lead to loss of power, stalling, oil consumption issues, and total engine failure requiring replacement.
When: Varies: 8,000 to 112,000+ miles; some occur early in vehicle life
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power while driving; Stalling while operating at highway speeds and city speeds; No warning lights on some failures; check engine light on others; Engine stalling without restart capability
Codes mentioned: P0016 (timing chain/cam timing related, mentioned in narrative #5)
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required; cost approximately $6,000 per owner report. Some owners cite timing chain replacement as secondary repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for 2015–2021 models; 2019 allegedly excluded. Owners report dealerships refused diagnosis or demanded thousands in out-of-pocket repairs. Kia has reportedly covered similar failures as goodwill replacements on other model years.
Timing chain/camshaft failure
Camshaft and sprocket pin shearing, causing exhaust cam timing to become extremely off and piston-to-valve contact. One mechanic found the camshaft sprocket pin had sheared entirely, bending exhaust valves and failing leak-down test at 90%.
When: Mileage not specified in available narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of acceleration mid-drive; Engine stops running; will not turn over; No prior warning lights reported
Codes mentioned: P0016 (exhaust cam timing)
Repairs/costs cited: Valve cover removal, camshaft and sprocket pin replacement; engine replacement likely required in severe cases.
Oil burning/oil consumption defect
Manufacturing defect involving small holes between oil reservoir and combustion chamber, causing excessive oil burn during fuel combustion. Oil level drops rapidly without dashboard warning, starving timing chain and other components of lubrication, leading to bearing wear, timing chain failure, and complete engine seizure.
When: Occurs early to mid-life: 8,000 to 77,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive oil consumption relative to normal use; No low-oil warning light; Stalling from oil starvation; Metal flaking/shavings in oil
Repairs/costs cited: Timing belt/chain replacement required due to lack of lubrication. Complete engine replacement if internal damage is severe.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mechanic noted this issue is common across Kia Sorento, Optima, and other models; Kia has not issued recall for 2019 Forte despite known defect.
Oil pan loose/failure
Oil pan came loose while driving, spilling oil and creating fire hazard when pan struck the ground. Firefighter confirmed oil pan as source of ignition and safety hazard.
When: One report at unspecified mileage in 2025
Symptoms owners cite: White smoke from under vehicle; Vehicle fire from oil pan contact with road; Oil loss
Repairs/costs cited: Oil pan replacement; engine replacement required due to fire damage.
Metal debris in engine oil/crankcase sensor fault
Metal shavings and flaking found inside engine oil, indicating internal wear or component failure. One case reported faulty crankcase sensor alongside metal shavings at 108,000 miles.
When: 108,000 miles (one report); metal flaking noted in seized engine cases across multiple mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Rattling and vibrating abnormally during start-up; Clanking sound while shifting; Engine seizure
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required.
Engine seizure/complete failure
Engine suddenly seizes and stops running without prior warning lights or symptoms in many cases. Occurs across wide mileage range even on well-maintained vehicles with regular oil changes.
When: 6,000 to 112,580+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine suddenly stops running while driving; No restart capability; No warning lights (in many cases); Occasionally preceded by check engine light or ticking sound
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement; one owner had remanufactured engine installed in January 2026, which seized again 30 days later.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner reports Kia not contacted or provided assistance. One owner advised that Kia covers similar failures as goodwill replacements.
Oil pump failure
Oil pump malfunction resulting in severe internal engine damage at 120,600 miles, requiring complete engine replacement.
When: 120,600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Severe internal engine damage
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required.
Stalling/loss of power while driving
Intermittent stalling at various speeds (35 MPH to 80 MPH highway) with or without warning lights. Loss of motive power and acceleration capability, creating highway safety hazards. Some cases involve multiple stalling events before total engine failure.
When: Various mileages: 42,000 to 73,000+ miles; some occur with no mileage context
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden stalling or loss of power while operating; Inability to accelerate; Intermittent nature (multiple events before failure); Check engine light (in some cases); No warning lights (in other cases)
Repairs/costs cited: Initially misdiagnosed as transmission failure by dealership in at least one case; ultimately engine failure on inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership repairs under warranty attempted but failures persisted. Dealers later discovered engine sludge, leading to engine replacement recommendation.
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
October 2, 2025 @ approximately 7:30a. I was heading east on I-10 on my way to work when I seen white smoke coming from under my car. I pulled over, noticed it was on fire. There was a man passing by who seen me & was nice enough to stop & put the fire out. The firefighter then stated my oil pan came a loose and caught fire when it hit the ground. Which caused a lot of damage including me need a…
Had engine trouble with your 2019 Kia Forte?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2019 Kia Forte?
It's a meaningful issue. 24 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 41,023 and 108,000 miles, with the median around 73,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 41,023; a quarter make it past 108,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Kia/Forte.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.