KIA Complaints
View complaints related to KIA. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.
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2008 KIA SPECTRA- Nashville, TN
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Spectra. The contact stated that all three brake lights failed to illuminate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the brake light switch assembly multi-connector wiring harness needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The contact found information on other Kia recalls for other years, makes, and models that described the same parts failure. The contact found information on SC077 (Brake Switch), SC298 (Light Assembly), and SC299 (Light Assembly). The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 209,000.
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2024 KIA TELLURIDE- Jupiter, FL
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Telluride. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V430000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2015 KIA OPTIMA- Longview, TX
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that for over 8 years, the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact became aware that there was an oil leak on the ground underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions for the oil consumption failure; however, the dealer was unable to find a fault with the vehicle. The dealer had not yet provided a cause for the oil leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000.
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2011 KIA OPTIMA- Thompsonville, MI, MI
I was having trouble with my left driver tire. 2 mechanics went to test drive the car to see what the problem was. As they were driving, the car died. They got it started but it ran horrible back to the garage. When they pulled in the driveway of the garage, the car started on fire. It was an engine fire but undetermined what exactly was the cause. The vehicle was looked over by the insurance claims adjustor. I am not sure if sluggish driving had anything to do with the fire. The car is totaled.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2018 KIA SORENTO- Martinez, CA
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. There was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact exited the freeway and waited for AAA to tow the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the oil pan switch needed to be replaced. The oil pan switch was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and asked the contact if the vehicle had regular oil changes. The contact was then informed that there was an oil leak underneath the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
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2013 KIA OPTIMA- Kenosha, WI
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving or while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was leaking fuel from the high-pressure pipe leading to the fuel pump. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine); however, VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the VIN was not included in recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2018 KIA SORENTO- The Colony, TX
I am a working parent filing a formal complaint against Kia America and Classic kia of Carrollton for non-compliance with the Theta II Class Action Settlement mandates. My vehicle experienced a qualifying engine failure and is currently held at the dealership. The dealership is actively refusing to provide a mandatory free loaner vehicle and is delaying the 5-minute diagnostic scan. Kia Corporate is refusing to authorize an alternative direct-bill rental line without the scan. This corporate bottleneck has left a working parent and a school-aged child completely stranded, threatening my employment. The manufacturer is violating a court-ordered settlement. I am in need of a vehicle and its unacceptable to expect me to pay out of pocket which I cannot afford, for a defect caused by the manufacture, not the customer.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2016 KIA SORENTO- West Columbia, SC
THE PAINT ISCOMING OFF AND DON'T STICK TO THE VEHICLE. I NEED KIA TO PAINT THIS CAR ASAP
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2015 KIA OPTIMA- Austell, GA
The engine in my vehicle failed while putting the car into reverse to back into my garage. I thank God I wasn't on the road when this happened. I took the car into a mechanic who confirmed that the engine was locked and that the car was very low on oil(even though I had my oil changed by him a few months prior). There was an undetected oil leak that led to the engine failure. The warning indicators didn't appear on my dash until after my engine failed.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2026 KIA CARNIVAL HYBRID- Arlington Heights, IL
While driving approximately 70 mph on the highway returning from Door County, 20 miles north of Manitowoc, on a clear day with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s and no other vehicles nearby, the panoramic sunroof glass spontaneously shattered with a loud noise. The middle portion of the glass was sucked outward/up and away from the vehicle. The sunroof had not been used (or we are unsure if it was ever opened more than once or twice since acquiring the vehicle). Immediately afterward we heard significantly increased wind noise. We pulled over, went to a car wash, vacuumed all small glass pieces from the vehicle, and duct-taped around the inside seam to prevent any remaining shards from entering the cabin. The vehicle is only a few months old. No impact, debris, or external object was involved. Photos of the damaged roof and remaining frame have been uploaded.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE