KIA Complaints

I recently pressed the button to open the sunroof, and it only retracted a few inches before I heard a loud noise. The sunroof stopped, and simply would not go any further. Thankfully, the vehicle is garaged at home (I was stationary and heading out when this occurred), but with Kia topping the list of most stolen vehicles, along with unpredictable weather, I'm sure you can understand why I was concerned about leaving my sunroof open!  After doing some research online, I found that this is a known problem with Tellurides. I took my car in as soon as possible for service to figure out what was wrong. Unfortunately, I was given an estimate of approximately $4,000 to repair. I purchased the car from Fred Anderson Kia of Raleigh, and took it to the same dealer for service and to report the issue. Video provided from service appointment: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

What component or system failed or malfunctioned? The engine (piston rings) and catalytic converter failed. The catalytic converter is available for inspection upon request. How was safety put at risk? The engine ran low on oil without any external leak, causing warning lights and engine rattling. Low oil pressure can lead to sudden engine seizure or fire. The failed catalytic converter can clog, causing loss of power on highways and increasing the risk of a crash. Has the problem been confirmed by a dealer or independent shop? Yes. A Kia dealer found the engine 2 quarts low, with no external leak, and recommended replacing the catalytic converter at a cost of over $6,000. An independent mechanic confirmed code P0420, which indicates catalytic converter failure. Has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer? The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Kia dealer, but they did not complete the required inspection for Recall SC336 (defective piston oil rings). They did add the software. Were there warning lamps or other symptoms? Yes. The oil pressure warning light and other dashboard lights came on. The engine made a rattling noise. The vehicle later felt sluggish on acceleration, fuel economy dropped, and the exhaust developed a smell. The check engine light came on and later turned off, but code P0420 was stored in the system.

I own a 2017 Kia Sportage 2.4L (VIN: [XXX] ). In October of 2024 , the vehicle began making a loud engine knocking noise consistent with a known rod bearing failure. I immediately stopped driving and it has been in my garage to prevent further damage or safety risk. I contacted KIA America corporate twice 4/17/26 and was denied engine replacement twice. Kia stated I was not eligible for coverage under the engine defect settlement?KSDS update requirements. We are the second owner of the car having purchased it in 2020. I never received the letter about the knock sensor update. I did receive a recall in Dec 2026 a tow hitch harness and another in March 2026 for voluntary emissions campaign. I asked why I did not receive notification they said they most likely sent it to original owner they would not CK if received and then said the NHTSA sends those out and to contact you which is not the case they send them out. I have a 2.4L engine consistent with the defect causing sudden engine failure, fires and hazardous driving conditions. I was denied being able to file a report for not having the software update for the engine knocking (I never received) and for not services it with a KIA dealship I maintained my vehicle and have my documents. Thank you for your time in this frustrating matter. [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while leaving Walmart and approaching the vehicle, the contact became aware that another driver with a similar vehicle was able to unlock her vehicle with the other driver’s key fob on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The lights flashed, alerting the contact that the vehicle was unlocked. No warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Steering rack need to replace after drive almost 1900 miles. It has knocking nosie when turn the wheel, the car had been in the shop for three weeks.

The driver’s seat frame and adjustment mechanism failed. The seat broke off from the frame, resulting in the seat only being able to move left and right, with no ability to adjust forward/backward or recline. The dealership confirmed a seat frame malfunction and addressed the issue. My safety was put at risk because I was unable to properly adjust the driver’s seat to a safe driving position. Without proper positioning, I could not safely reach the pedals or maintain appropriate control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of losing control or being unable to react quickly in traffic. The dealership confirmed the seat frame malfunction and performed repairs to address the issue. No warning lights, messages, or prior symptoms were present before the failure. The issue occurred suddenly without warning.

The transmission and related drivetrain components malfunctioned. While driving, the vehicle’s RPMs would surge into the 5,000–6,000 range without corresponding acceleration, and the vehicle would not shift properly into the next gear. The issue caused poor acceleration and inconsistent performance. The dealership later replaced the transmission and updated the ECM after identifying a fault code. My family’s safety and the safety of others were put at risk due to the vehicle’s inability to properly accelerate. The engine would rev excessively without increasing speed, making it difficult to merge, cross traffic, or respond to driving conditions. This created a dangerous situation where the vehicle could not reliably keep up with traffic flow. The issue was initially reported to the dealership, but they were unable to duplicate the concern at that time and noted no active or stored diagnostic codes. However, the problem persisted after the vehicle was returned. During a subsequent visit, a check engine light was present, and the dealership identified a fault code and ultimately replaced the transmission and updated the ECM, confirming a drivetrain-related failure. Initially, there were no warning lights when the issue first occurred. At a later point, the check engine light began intermittently turning on and off when the problem occurred. The primary symptoms were sudden RPM surges, failure to shift properly, and lack of acceleration during normal driving.

The fuel door actuator failed. The gas door would not open due to the actuator being seized shut, preventing access to the fuel tank. This vehicle does not have a manual release mechanism, so there was no alternative way to open the fuel door. The dealership confirmed the actuator malfunction. My family’s safety was put at risk because we were unable to refuel the vehicle. The incident occurred during extremely cold weather, with a windchill of approximately -8°F. Due to the inability to add fuel, we were at risk of running out of gas and losing heat in the vehicle, which could have resulted in a dangerous exposure situation. There were no warning lights or messages indicating a problem prior to the failure. The issue was first noticed when attempting to refuel and the fuel door would not open.

The vehicle’s transmission failed. While driving on the highway, the transmission began slipping and then would not allow the vehicle to accelerate beyond approximately 10 mph. The vehicle also lost the ability to reverse. My family’s safety was put at significant risk. The incident occurred on a highway with a speed limit of 70 mph and low visibility. Due to the sudden loss of acceleration, our vehicle was unable to keep up with traffic, creating a dangerous situation with a high risk of being struck by other vehicles. The dealer reproduced and confirmed the issue. They documented very hard shifting, lack of reverse, and stated the transmission fluid smelled burnt. No diagnostic codes were present. The dealer advised replacement of the transmission. No warning lights or messages appeared on the dashboard prior to the failure.

KIA has created a safety hazard by removing the ability for the driver to select LIGHT or DARK mode for the two 7" data and infotainment screens in their 2025 and forward EV6 electric cars. Like many, I have to drive in very fast busy commuter traffic on highway I-66. (exaserbated by driving into the sun in the AM) The DARK mode screens have insufficient contrast even with the screen lighting turned all the way up. It takes the drivers eyes away from the road longer than is safe, particularly in high speed freeway commuter traffic. This is seriously exacerbated if the driver uses sunglasses because of the sun. This is obviously not an issue confined to highway I-66, or me.