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.

  • 2013 KIA SORENTO
    - Burnsville, MS

    I was on my way back from California to Mississippi when motor derated and started knocking in Williams , Az. My Kia only has 137,000 miles and Kia denying my claim for the extended warranty claim. I change my oil myself and keep my vehicle in great shape. To deny claim they also have to prove lack of servicing caused the defect. That is part of the Magnuson-Moss warranty act. I rented a vehicle to get back home and hired a trucking company to bring Kia back. They never did and after my job let me take two days to get my car back home I rented a truck and trailer to bring it home. So yes I’m very ill about Kia’s work practices.I took Kia to the dealership in Tupelo,Ms. and Kia had them remove valve cover and deny my claim. The vehicle messed up in July, but I wasn’t able to get it till September 1,2025 and then get it to dealership. It has been there till today cause I went and got it. I’m still waiting to get my denial letter.A woman by the name Vanessa is the one who called me to tell me it was denied. Mileage is a little over the 137,000. But battery is completely dead so I can’t get the exact mileage.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2018 KIA SPORTAGE
    - Pinellas park, FL

    I purchased a 2018 Kia Sportage and ever since the last few years the paint is starting to come off of this vehicle. I do not go through any type of car wash. I washed it at home. It is getting worse and worse than certain spots, I do not want any monetary for this I would just appreciate getting what I should have, which is fresh paint that last. The paint in the front bumper underneath the hood area is all coming off and it’s like white. Then on the roof of that vehicle, there’s white spots of the clearcoat actually coming off the whole vehicle. If you look also at my hood of the vehicle, you can see spots as well.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 KIA FORTE
    - Huntsville , AL

    I am writing to report a serious safety concern involving my Kia vehicle. Shortly after getting an oil change, my car began making unusual noises and then suddenly stopped working in the middle of a busy intersection. This unexpected stall created a dangerous situation for both myself and other drivers. After having it towed to the dealership, it comes down to an engine malfunction which was not covered by my warranty since it just hit 70,000 miles. I have since learned that other Kia owners have experienced similar issues, and I am concerned this may be related to a larger defect or recall issue. I wanted to report this incident to ensure it is properly documented and investigated.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2018 KIA SPORTAGE
    - Mason, OH

    Due to excessive oil consumption and blow thru to catalytic converter, and burning of oil in the converter clogged up my catalytic converter as seen in pics causing exhaust fumes to enter cabin and engine not run properly. Driver or passenger must open windows to get fresh air. I had to have converter replaced. There is still periodic fumes that enter cabin even with new converter because engine is still consuming excessive oil . This should be addressed to and rectified through KIA corporation. Thanks

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2020 KIA TELLURIDE
    - Media, PA

    Oil Pan and gasket leak Oil Control Valve Harness leak The car leaked 5 quarts of oil without any engine or low oil light being illuminated to communicate this engine problem. The dealership identified the above components failed and caused the oil to leak and lead to potential engine damage

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2020 KIA SORENTO
    - hialeah , FL

    the car the engine wast the oil in 1 week that every weeks it has problem in the ring of the engine , we just buy the car they tell us it has it had guarantee talking to the bank and the where I buy the car it don't show . it has a bad smell of wet and burnt oil ..

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 KIA SORENTO
    - Clifton Park, NY

    I would like to report that the 2021 Kia Sorento SX X-Line Prestige I own has a chronic oil leak from the oil pan. The dealer has attempted to reseal the pan two times and has replaced the pan and gasket once as well. The vehicle has leaked oil since it was practically new and poses an environmental hazard.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2023 KIA TELLURIDE
    - Dallas, TX

    Fuel gas says empty or low fuel when it’s not. This has happened 5 times in the past 2 years and is occurring more frequently lately. This is a known problem in the Kia forum. Dealer won’t fix without charging diagnostic fee and won’t solve because can’t duplicate the problem.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2017 KIA FORTE
    - Cartersville, GA

    Overconsumption of oil, led to engine damage and stalling. Car struggles to start and there is an engine knock. Mechanic advised that the car is not drivable as it will stall while driving as it has done previously and there was a noticeable burning smell when the car was running. Car is under 100,000 miles

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2019 KIA SOUL
    - ALBANY, NY

    The vehicle, a 2019 Kia Soul, is experiencing **severe and abnormal engine oil consumption** requiring frequent, unscheduled oil replenishment. The vehicle has approximately 117,000 miles. **Component or System Failure:** The malfunction is in the **powertrain system**, specifically the **GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine**. The root cause is assessed to be a **structural or design defect** involving the **piston rings**, leading to oil migration into the combustion chamber. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. **Safety Risk:** This rapid oil depletion poses a severe safety hazard. The engine could suffer **sudden, catastrophic failure** due to oil starvation while operating at highway speeds. Such an event would cause an immediate loss of power and control, placing the occupants and surrounding traffic at significant risk of a serious accident. **Prior Symptoms:** The primary symptom is the **consistent, rapid drop in the measured oil level** observed between scheduled maintenance intervals. **No prior warning lamps, messages, or fault codes related to low oil pressure** appeared before the issue was discovered and confirmed by the owner through monitoring the dipstick. **Manufacturer Inspection/Response:** The manufacturer, Kia America, has **refused to conduct a technical inspection or acknowledge the defect** across multiple documented case files (Case #XXX, #XXX, #XXX). The manufacturer has stated a policy of non-assistance due to the vehicle being outside the standard warranty period. This lack of investigation, despite the serious safety risk, is the basis of this report. This issue aligns with widely documented **structural defects** in the manufacturer’s GDI engine line. The current safety risk necessitates immediate federal review.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE