[madatforte]

I rented a 2010 Kia Forte with Alamo. It seemed fine for 2 days, but last night when I arrived at my hotel at 8:30pm, I could not turn the key all the way towards me and, as a result, could not get the key out. I tried starting the car, moving the steering wheel and moving the shift. I took it for a spin and still had the same problem. I tried pushing it in and pulling it out and even held a pen to the barrel in case part of it was pulling out with the key that needed to remain stationery. I called KIA roadside assistance and they asked me if I had done the same things and they said that the only way to fix it was to have it towed. I was 90 miles from the nearest Kia dealer. I then called Alamo and they also said that I'd have to have it towed and that a tow truck would take 2 hrs to get there. I ended up driving the car (90 miles) back to the airport arriving after 11pm. I stopped along the way to test it and the key still would not turn all the way towards the driver and would not come out of the ignition. When I arrived at Alamo, the key came right out of the ignition. The people at Alamo probably think that I didn't try enough tricks because they tried it a few times and it had no issue. They will re-rent the car and someone else will have the same problem. When I returned it, they said that there was no problem with it and they were going to put it back onto the rental lot.
I'd love to hear from anyone who may have had a similar issue.

 

[Joechicklets]

I've had my key not want to turn to put the car on, but I manned up and got it to turn =]

 

[guitarstrummin63]

The key requires being pulled slightly downward while being pulled out. Upon taking my car out for its first drive under my name I couldn't get the key out and finally figured it out.

If you tried that and it didn't work, then disregard this message. There very well could have been something wrong with that specific Forte.

 

[zeoswj]

This happened to me once and because I did not firmly plant the shifter in park.

 

[Copperhead_Koup]

this happened to me once, when i had moved the steering wheel while the car was not on. then i put the key in the ignition and it wouldnt turn. i freaked out. but i them moved the steering wheel and then turned on the car. the wheel resetted itself.

 

[MFury]

I have never had an issue on my standard tranny EX. Slides in smoothly and out each time. Doesn't matter if it's -35C or +45C.

 

[KiaTech]

We've had this a few times on the rental Fortes and it's usually tied to the shifter not being all the way into P. It looks like it is, and it feels like it is, but it needs one more little 'jam' forward to fully click. Other times it's an issue with the release solenoid (usually Rondos) and other times it's worn out tumblers (2 Sportages) and the key needs to be pushed further into the lock to be able to turn. Far more often on all models we get keys that cannot be turned after first inserting, and that's 99% frozen locks.

With the shifters and the rentals, these same cars have their fuel release door cables stretched (wash the car, then try to fuel it up and reef on the release) and it's all abuse. People treat rentals like they would never treat their own, and it's unfortunate that often that is the car that makes people's impressions about a model or manufacturer. I often wish Kias were not used as rentals! I know we sell over 200 a year as rental fleets, but for the issues I see with them coming back are never issues that privately owned cars have.

 

[HerAlterEgo]

On my ignition I always have to push it in just slightly to get it to turn fully forward to remove it. It's become habit now and it's one fluid motion. I thought it was an intentional theft deterrent.

 

[Khonshu]

I had that happen once but it was because my iPod cable got in between the shifter and didn't let it go all the way in park

 

[JasonKent]

Key stuck in ignition switch

If your key is stuck in the ignition switch, Try two things together, move the steering and move key up and down while trying to rotate it. If it does not come still, then you need a help of a second person to try to move the gears (not shifting but just move a little bit) when you are trying to move the steering and playing around with the key up and down and trying to turn it.

Jason Kent

 

[HerAlterEgo]

Madatforte hasn't logged back in since the 14th. I bet we never see this renter again.

 

[Rainyraven]

sad part is he's going to tell his friends this small horror story about the time he rented a kia.. OOOh geesh he'll most likely forget to mention how nice the car was and how well it drove etc.. "only the bad things tend to stick out in people minds"

 

[HerAlterEgo]

I still maintain key release. Push in a little when turning towards you.