KIA Complaints

I brought my Kia in for a recall, and they determined the part was discontinued thus making my vehicle inoperable. When I brought my vehicle in, it was driveable-now I have been without my vehicle for over a month.

Spontaneous combustion of the Sunroof. The Kia Niro is garage held in Colorado. While the temperature was in the teens the car has been driven and kept in much lower temps. No, Snow was on top of the car. When parking the car in the garage a loud noise was heard and the entire sunroof shattered

While driving down the road at night, the headlights turn off automatically, by themselves. This caused serious distress for not only myself, but also for my children in the car at the time, as we have had instances where driving around curves at dark, the lights go out, or while on the highway at night during deer season, the lights go out. We live out in the country, so city lights are not abundant. Found on multiple sites once looked up after experiencing it: "100% of the recalled vehicles experience the issue where a software error in the Body Domain Control Unit (BDC) causes the headlights and taillights to momentarily lose power while driving. Kia is now recalling nearly 74,500 Sorento vehicles, including Sorento Hybrid and Sorento Plug-in Hybrid models from the 2024-2025 model years. This issue arises from a logic flaw in the BDC, resulting in the temporary failure of the low-beam headlights and taillights, which poses a significant safety risk for drivers. Kia will provide a free software update to fix the issue" There were no warnings, warning signs, or dashboard lights, so it was very alarming.

My wife was driving home from work on 10-15-2025 when the car started to lose power and started shaking, vibrating really bad. She got off the exit and at the red light and it died. She called me crying and scared. She started the car back up to try to get the car home and she said the car is vibrating and shaking really bad and I’m so scared and it died again in traffic. I told her to pull over and I would come get her and she did make it home. I look at the car and found it had a misfire on cylinder 2. Cylinder 2 had NO COMPRESSION. I did take it to Kia and they confirmed the diagnosis. Here is where the problem lies. The technician that scanned my car purposely miss diagnosed it. He wrote it only had burnt valves and cylinder. He never said anything about the hole in my piston. He took a picture of it and it has a hole on top. He said the car was drivable; are you kidding me. When you start the car the voice comes over the speakers and says the computer has detected a major engine problem. My cars vin # confirms that it qualifies for the class actions settlement because of the engine that is in the car. They are known to fail because of excessive oil use, starvation of oil, bad piston rings, bad rod bearings. We have been without her car since this happened. Kia said the car was drivable and I can promise you it is not. This car is not safe at all to drive. It loss all power in traffic and it kept dying.

October 2, 2025 no oil in engine. car has always had regular oil maintenance. Dealer put almost four quarts of oil in car to start an Oil Consumption Test of 1,000 miles. November 22, 2025 driving about 70 miles an hour, on the 241 Toll Road car loses powder, speed dropped to about 20 miles an hour. I was able to make it to the highway shoulder where the engine struggled to stay running. I cut the engine off and it would not start again. Had to be towed to Covina Kia. Still had over three hundred miles before the 1,000 mile test. Last oil change July 9, 2025 at Covina Kia. I bought my 2017 Kia Sportage in October 2016 brand new. I'm the only one to drive it. I have always taken it back to dealer for servicing. All my oil changes were done with the dealer and on time. I understand there is a class action lawsuit against kia for oil starvation and engines seizing, (theta II sc147). All indications suggests my engine also suffered the same manufacturer defect as claimed in the lawsuit. AND I WANT TO BE COMPENSATED KIA Manufacturer is aware of there engine problems and should be more proactive, before someone is killed

The contact owned a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, another vehicle stopped in front of the contact’s vehicle and the brake pedal was depressed to attempt to avoid a crash; however, the vehicle skidded and crashed into the rear of the other vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. During the crash the front end and the hood of the vehicle was severely damaged, but the air bags did not deploy. Additionally, the seat belt malfunctioned and failed to secure the contact in the seat, causing the contact's chest and stomach to impact the steering wheel. The contact sustained a bruised chest and neck injury but had not yet sought medical treatment. The contact stated that an appointment was schedule to see her Primary Care Physician. The contact was unaware of any injuries to the other driver. A Police report was filed at the scene but was not available. The vehicle was towed away from the scene. The contact stated that the vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

To: Administrator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 USA Subject: Formal Safety Defect Claim Regarding Unaddressed Recalls — 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid (VIN: [XXX] ) From: [XXX] Email: [XXX] Phone: [XXX] Vehicle Information: - VIN: * [XXX] ** - Make / Model: 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid - Mileage: approx. **250,000 miles** - Current Location: Moldova (vehicle manufactured in Korea for the US market) --- ## Summary of the Problem I am writing to file a **formal safety defect claim** regarding my 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, VIN * [XXX] **, which, despite having documented recall campaigns, has never had critical parts replaced. As a result: 1. **Internal scoring and scratches (zadir)** have been detected within the engine, consistent with **metal shavings / debris** circulating in the oil system. 2. There is **metallic residue (shavings)** found in the oil pump, which strongly suggests that worn or damaged components (likely from a manufacturing defect) were never replaced during the recall. 3. Given the extraordinarily high mileage (˜?250,000?miles), the continued use without the required recall repairs poses **significant safety risks** and potential for further engine failure or fire. 4. I was not provided with a proper remedy when recall notices were issued — in my case, the relevant parts were not replaced in a timely fashion (or at all), despite the recall campaigns being active, leading to the deterioration of the engine. --- ## Legal and Technical Basis ### Recalls Applicable to My Vehicle - NHTSA Recall **20V750** for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid: This is a recall related to engine defects, including risk of engine fire. [oai_citation [XXX] ] [XXX] ) - NHTSA Recall **23V652**: This relates to the Hydraul INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for a scheduled oil change, the contact was informed that the fuel pump was leaking on top of the fuel tank, and the fuel tank was leaking from the bottom. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was informed that the fuel tank and the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact stated that occasionally the steering wheel was loose and inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the steering column gears and nut needed to be replaced. The contact was referred to a dealer for the repair. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering gears, the steering coupler, and the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

I'd been having issues where the entirety of my oil reservoir would burn off before I was due for an oil change, which would result in my car having issues starting and running while driving on the road. I've had two separate mechanics not associated with Kia that have told me to take it to Kia and have told me about recalls on my vehicle for the same issues I'm having. I took it to Kia multiple times about the issue, and was given a 1000 mile oil consumption test which passed and then was told that there's nothing they could do for me as I passed the consumption test so in their eye's there isn't a problem.