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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2021 KIA SOUL- Watkinsville, GA
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted but continued to stall each time the vehicle was stopped. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone for an unknown diagnostic test and then towed to the dealer. The dealer determined that a tune-up was needed. The vehicle was also towed to an independent mechanic and associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact was advised to take the vehicle back to the dealer. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, and it was determined that there was sludge inside the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2021 KIA SELTOS- Seal Cove, ME
Randomly started having engine issues in July 2026. Had an appt with Kia dealership and said my engine needed to be repaired with assumptions on what the problem is. They claimed it had nothing to do with the engine recall on my Kia and that it was my responsibility to pay for the repair. There has been 2 separate recalls on this car for engine issues which Kia is refusing to deal with or take care of. My car has been serviced by Kia dealership since I bought it in 2020, I also noticed in all my service receipts/reports that they were putting the wrong oil in my car and who knows if that is what caused my engine to start having issues. Car is unsafe to drive.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2026 KIA CARNIVAL HYBRID- ALLISON PARK, PA
Car will not start after being parked in my garage for 24 to 48 hours. The battery is drained and needs to be jumped. This has happened three times. I am sure that no fob is left in the car, no interior lights are on, no door is ajar, and nothing is plugged into any USB ports.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2025 KIA EV6- Hercules, CA
I own a 2025 Kia EV6 Wind RWD. At approximately 14,655 miles, the vehicle experienced a confirmed Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) failure that resulted in loss of 12-volt charging and reduced motive power. On August 1, 2026, while reversing the vehicle, I heard a loud pop from underneath the rear seating area. Immediately afterward, the red 12-volt battery warning light illuminated and the vehicle displayed a “Check Electrical Vehicle System” message. Because I was concerned that the vehicle was no longer charging the 12-volt battery, I externally charged the 12-volt battery with a smart charger and then measured the battery voltage with a multimeter. With the vehicle off, the battery measured 12.99 volts. After starting the vehicle and confirming it was in READY mode, the voltage measured only 12.35 volts, indicating that the vehicle was not maintaining the 12-volt electrical system. When I drove the vehicle to Hilltop Kia on August 3, 2026, the vehicle had substantially reduced propulsion and would not exceed approximately 45 mph. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and documented DTC P1A961C, “LDC Internal Power Supply,” and DTC P1A9096, “LDC Input Voltage Sensor.” The dealer’s Kia diagnostic system showed LDC input voltage of only 1.7 volts, compared with a stated typical value of approximately 565.5 volts. The dealer replaced the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), part number 36400-1XF06, and the high-voltage ICCU fuse, part number 375F2-GI040, under warranty. The cooling system was bled, diagnostic trouble codes were cleared, and the vehicle was road tested and returned to me on August 6, 2026. I purchased the vehicle new on November 28, 2025. My vehicle is a 2025 model year EV6 and is outside the earlier 2022-2024 EV6 ICCU recall population. I am filing this complaint because the ICCU failure caused the vehicle to stop charging the 12-volt electrical system and resulted in significantly reduced motive power. The symptoms and dealer-confirmed
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2023 KIA EV6- Dania Beach, FL
While driving southbound on the [XXX] in a rented 2023 Kia EV6 from The Hertz Corporation, picked up in [XXX] on XXX, the vehicle entered "Power Limited" mode without warning. The vehicle lost normal propulsion and decelerated from highway speed to a crawl, forcing 4-5 emergency stops onto the highway shoulder over several miles while semi-trucks passed at 70+ mph in live traffic, with two minor children in the vehicle. The vehicle was ultimately abandoned at a highway rest stop on Hertz Roadside Assistance's instruction and towed. This vehicle was subject to three NHTSA recall campaigns for the ICCU defect that produces exactly this failure mode: 24V057000 (SC295, driveshaft, notice mailed XXX), 24V200000 (SC302, ICCU 12V charging failure/Power Limited mode, notice mailed XXX), and 24V867000 (SC327, expanded ICCU remedy superseding SC302, notice mailed XXX) — all mailed well before this vehicle was rented to me on XXX. Under 49 U.S.C. §30120(i), a rental company may not rent a covered rental vehicle subject to an unremedied safety recall. I am requesting NHTSA use its inspection authority under 49 U.S.C. §30166 to determine whether Hertz completed the required SC327 remedy on this vehicle before renting it to me, and to review Hertz's fleet-wide recall compliance for its Kia EV6 inventory. This does not appear to be an isolated incident: NHTSA complaint ODI XXX, filed XXX, describes a near-identical failure — a rented 2023 Kia EV6 (Dollar Rent A Car, a Hertz-owned brand) losing power and shutting down multiple times on the freeway during a single trip, also towed. Two renters, two Hertz-family rentals, same defect signature, five months apart. Hertz has been on written and verbal notice of this incident since XXX, and I sent a formal written demand on XXX with a response deadline of XXX. As of this filing, Hertz has not responded. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
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2021 KIA TELLURIDE- Stuart, FL
Sunroof broke when trying to open it. Now it’s in the open, venting, position unable to close. Dealership can’t look at it for a week so I’m risking water damage. Vehicle only has 31,000 miles on it and is just past the 5 yr warranty of course
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2016 KIA OPTIMA- Virginia Beach, VA
Window falls into the door. The rear two windows have been repaired 3 times. They are currently both broken again along with the front drivers side. I currently have three windows being help up by tape. They are taped to the frame of the door to stop the window from falling into the door. I don't know why this wasn't a recall. I see there is a TSB BOD300. The dealership repaired once but never informed me about the known defect.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2027 KIA TELLURIDE HYBRID- Sanford, FL
An incorrect vehicle sensor installed in the driver seat assembly can cause locking and sensor miscommunications, triggering false alarms or failure-to-retract warnings.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2018 KIA SPORTAGE- Round Rock, TX
2018 Kia Sportage (78,051 miles). Vehicle is part of the Kia Engine Class Action Settlement due to severe internal engine defects. The engine suffers from catastrophic oil consumption, running almost completely dry three times in less than six months with no external leaks, meaning it is internally burning motor oil at a dangerous rate.This known engine defect caused severe consequential damage to the exhaust and emissions systems. On Aug 12, 2026, a Kia dealer technician diagnosed active code P0420. The technician's video inspection stated both the catalytic converter and O2 sensors are completely "out of specification." This double failure is a direct result of the engine defect blowing excessive liquid motor oil out of the engine block and down the exhaust pipe, fouling the sensors and melting the internal catalyst.This failure happened immediately after receiving the mandatory Kia Recall SC340 update (Catalyst Overheating Protection). The vehicle is under the 80,000-mile Federal Emissions threshold, but Kia is denying coverage based strictly on a calendar time limit. They refuse to take responsibility for emissions components destroyed by their settlement-recognized engine defect.This condition poses a serious safety hazard. Driving with heavily fouled O2 sensors and a failing catalytic converter causes poor engine performance, unpredictable stalling or hesitation during acceleration, and excessive unburned fuel vapors to enter the environment and potentially the cabin. I request the NHTSA investigate Kia’s refusal to cover secondary emissions damages directly triggered by their defective oil-burning engines.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2020 KIA SPORTAGE- Memphis , TN
Need an engine replaced for the infamous knocking of the motor from the previous class action but my model isn’t covered. Ridiculous to need a new engine on a less than 5 year old car
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE