KIA Complaints

COMPONENT: 2.5L T-GDI engine failed completely at 102,971 miles, requiring full replacement (~$8,000). Vehicle available for inspection at [XXX] Kia, [XXX] . SAFETY RISK: Engine lost power during normal operation. Sudden, uncontrolled loss of engine power creates a direct collision risk at highway speeds for the driver, passengers, and surrounding vehicles. CONFIRMED BY DEALER: Mark Kia performed a borescope inspection on April 10, 2026 confirming cylinder wall scoring, oil-fouled pistons, and worn honing patterns across multiple cylinders. Findings are consistent with Kia TSB ENG235 (January 2022), which documents a defective PCV check valve on 2021–2022 Sorento 2.5T engines allowing oil to contaminate combustion chambers. Vehicle was serviced exclusively at Mark Kia for all 17 visits since 2021. TSB ENG235 does not appear in any service record. PRIOR SYMPTOMS: No warning lamps or messages before failure. A certified 36-point inspection one week prior showed zero cautions. Spark plugs replaced at 74,534 miles (Jan 2025) were found fouled at ~102,000 miles, only 28,000 miles later — indicating silent, progressive oil contamination. The defect is undetectable by the driver until catastrophic failure. Kia America has not responded to two formal written dispute requests (Case #XXX, April–May 2026). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was driving the vehicle and came to a stop sign. When I accelerated to turn and drive what was a steep windy downhill Road my car jerked some and the check engine light battery light and oil light came on the dash when I went to push the brakes they went all the way to the floor and the car did not stop. I continued to try the brakes and had to use the emergency break to pull up and down to stop and drive up on a hill to not crash into other vehicles I have my vehicle at Kia and they are claiming there is absolutely nothing wrong with the vehicle and I am to pick it up and leave the lot. They have not offered a loaner car or shown any concerns of my safety leaving the lot. I have asked for it to be in writing, but my car is safe to leave and they are not doing so this has caused major anxiety and PTSD to even begin to drive myself and my children are very shook up over this.

The contact owns a 2025 Kia Carnival. The contact received the recall letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V320000 ( NA) The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Immediately after a dealership-performed warranty repair, the vehicle experienced a severe safety-critical failure at highway speed. The vehicle began shaking violently, produced loud knocking and impact noises, and metal pieces fell from the underside. The failure occurred without warning and created an immediate loss of safe drivability. The dealership later documented that an engine mount (‘lower dog bone mount’) had not been torqued to specification, which allowed the engine to shift back and forth under load. This improper torque caused the violent shaking, metal impacts, and falling metal. The problem was confirmed by the dealership, but no corrective repair was performed. Only a single bolt was re-torqued, and no inspection was done to determine the extent of damage, the source of the falling metal, or the cause of the knocking. The vehicle was returned in an unsafe condition and has not been driven since. The vehicle had to be towed directly from the highway due to the severity of the failure, and it was delivered straight to the dealership because it was unsafe to operate. The vehicle remains available for inspection.

I own a 2022 Kia Sorento that was manufactured on January 13, 2022. My vehicle experienced a failure involving the electronic oil pump within the transmission system. While driving, a transmission error message appeared prior to the failure. Shortly after, the vehicle unexpectedly entered a limited-mobility condition and significantly slowed down, operating only at a reduced speed. This created a hazardous situation, as I was unable to maintain normal traffic flow, increasing the risk to myself and other drivers. The issue has been diagnosed and confirmed by a service center as a malfunction of the electronic transmission oil pump. I am aware that Kia Motors has issued a recall for certain 2021–2022 Sorento and 2021–2023 K5 vehicles related to a defect where the fail-safe limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired due to a transmission oil pump malfunction, potentially resulting in a complete loss of drive power. Although my vehicle appears to have been manufactured during the same timeframe as the affected vehicles, it has not been included in the recall. The failure I experienced is consistent with the conditions described in that recall. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives, but the issue has been confirmed by a service center and the component should be available for inspection upon request. Given the safety risk and similarity to the recalled defect, I believe this issue warrants further investigation and potential inclusion of my vehicle in the recall population.

Situation: Slowing on exit lane from freeway while in I-Pedal mode. Anomaly: As i gradually lifted the accelerator pedal, at about 61 mph the car strongly accelerated. My response: I lifted my foot entirely off the accelerator pedal and scanned the dash to confirm that cruise control was not active. Acceleration continued. I tapped the accelerator pedal and the acceleration stopped. We were now at 69 mph and close to the car in front of us.

High pressure fuel This put me at risk because my car could have caught on fire if that gas leaked in a certain spot under the hood. Independent service center No warning signs. This is the second time, I am paying to get this done. There should be some type of recall on this part.

I am submitting this complaint regarding my 2021 Kia Telluride experiencing repeated and dangerous electronic system failures while driving. Kia of East Syracuse (NY) diagnosed the issue as related to the backup camera assembly and communication/network failures. While driving, the vehicle experienced loss of power steering assist, instrument cluster failure, speedometer malfunction, incorrect gear indication, backup camera activation while driving forward, blind spot warnings activating incorrectly, flashing/blank temperature display, and multiple driver assistance system failures. The speedometer displayed 0 mph while the vehicle was in motion and later displayed approximately 40 mph while stopped at a traffic light. The vehicle also became stuck in reverse while backing out of my driveway and would not shift properly, leaving the vehicle stopped in the roadway. Multiple safety systems malfunctioned simultaneously, including Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Following Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Smart Cruise Control, Parking Distance Warning, and Forward Collision Warning systems. The dealership documented multiple fault codes and stated the dashboard lit up “like a Christmas tree” while the instrument cluster stopped functioning entirely. These failures create a serious safety risk because critical driving information and driver assistance systems become unreliable or inoperative while the vehicle is moving. The failures occur unexpectedly and without warning. Photos and video evidence have been retained, including video of the backup camera activating while driving forward and the speedometer malfunctioning while the vehicle was in motion. I am asking NHTSA investigate these failures as a potential safety defect involving the camera system, instrument cluster communication systems, and CAN network communication failures in the Kia Telluride.

I have had to replace my radiator twice in under 2 years because the open spaces in the grill are too large and rocks are able to go through them and puncture the radiator.

The Integrated Thermal Management System (ITMS) in my Kia K5 GT (2.5T engine) has experienced a recurring internal electronic and mechanical fault. This is the third failure of this component. The failure causes the cooling system to malfunction, either by over-cooling or failing to cycle coolant once at operating temperature. ?Under acceleration—specifically when merging onto expressways—the vehicle suffers a sudden loss of power and enters 'limp mode' with a dashboard alert stating the engine is overheating. This creates an immediate safety hazard in high-speed traffic. When the fault occurs, the radiator fans lock at 100% duty cycle. This is a documented systemic issue with the Kia 2.5T powertrain (referenced by major automotive publications and multiple Technical Service Bulletins). ?Despite a prior Lemon Law settlement and an active 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, the manufacturer refuses to acknowledge this as a powertrain or emissions defect, attempting to charge out-of-pocket for a component that prevents the vehicle from passing state emissions and safety inspections."This was also cited in a 2023 issue of car and driver magazine long-term test with The Kia Sorento that shares the same engine and transmission combination This is a third time that part has failed for me with others had to replace that part over seven times The first time it happened it was at 8,000 mi it did not get fixed until 30,000 mi The second time it happened was at 51,000 mi The third time 75,000 mi