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.

  • 2018 KIA FORTE
    - Toms River , NJ

    the engine was burning oil unknown to me. You had an oil change completed at 101k miles and 106k miles and there was no oil left in the engine per mechanic. This caused the check engine light to turn on. Upon running the engine scans the code for a crankshaft error was discovered. P0017 The mechanic has now stated that a new engine is required due to the damage done to the engine because of the oil loss.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 KIA SOUL
    - Roanoke, VA

    The vehicle has a piston ring issue and I received a re all letter but to no avail because this website has not recognized the recall

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2020 KIA TELLURIDE
    - Poway, CA

    The vehicle began burning oil around 61,000 miles, shortly after the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty period ended. The issue was confirmed by an independent mechanic, who identified leaking lower engine seals and excessive oil consumption. The mechanic advised that the engine will likely need replacement due to internal seal failure. This condition presents a potential safety risk if oil levels drop unexpectedly, leading to engine seizure or loss of power while driving. There were no dashboard warning lights or messages prior to discovering the problem; the only symptom was an oil smell and the dipstick reading consistently below normal levels between changes. The problem has been confirmed by an independent mechanic. The vehicle has been regularly maintained according to the manufacturer’s service schedule. The manufacturer has declined to offer assistance, citing warranty expiration and second-owner status, despite the failure occurring only 1,000 miles past coverage and appearing consistent with a latent manufacturing defect. The vehicle and documentation remain available for inspection upon request.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2024 KIA SPORTAGE
    - Atlanta, GA

    The component that failed is the sunroof (glass) The sunroof exploded while driving down the street, glass splattered in my head, face, and body. I almost wrecked because it sounded like a gunshot. The component is being inspected by the insurance adjuster and dealership on 10/23/25. There was no warning lamp, message or other symptom of the problem prior to the explosion.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2022 KIA SOUL
    - Reynoldsburg, OH

    I was driving back from Cleveland Oh to Columbus oh, the car started to slow down on its own , the engine light came on,and the car started to shake, and back firing. I made back home took care of to a certified mechanic shop for diagnostics. I just got an oil changed two days before this happened the mechanic noticed there was no oil in my car, it Was in my piston rings. They told me there was a recall on my year Kia for the piston . I called Kia, they said they couldn’t find a recall for my car. If there was a recall sc336 for Kia souls and seltos. I asked if the dealer could honor the recall on my vehicle they said no because the recall didn’t include my vin number

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2022 KIA SELTOS
    - Arlington, TX

    When the car goes 75-80mph on the highway, there is a metallic "ticking" noise coming from the front two sides of the car, around the area where the tires are. KIA is refusing to do anything about it because they claim they cannot drive the car that fast due to speed limits. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? --unknown How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? It is unknown what is causing the issue since KIA is refusing to look further into the issue. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - There is audio and video recording of the noise. However, the dealer is refusing to reproduce the issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - No

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2020 KIA NIRO
    - San Bernardino, CA

    The contact owns a 2020 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V426000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a black screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R) or the image was frozen. The failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was not provided.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2019 KIA FORTE
    - Woodstock , GA

    I am writing to report a recurring and potentially dangerous issue with my Kia Forte. My vehicle has randomly failed to start on multiple occasions, requiring a jump start. More concerning, it has also shut off while I was driving, which is extremely alarming and could have resulted in a serious accident. These incidents have happened several times, and I no longer feel safe driving the vehicle. I suspect this may be related to an electrical issue, as I am also experiencing:     •    Intermittent failure of the backup camera     •    Headlights, brake lights, fog lights, and daytime running lights failing to operate correctly     •    General electrical irregularities throughout the vehicle I have checked for recalls related to Kia Fortes and found that other vehicles of the same make and model have had similar issues. However, there are no active recalls for my VIN, despite experiencing the same or more severe symptoms described in those recalls. This situation is extremely concerning and I believe it warrants further investigation. I am requesting that NHTSA review this issue and consider whether additional recalls or safety investigations may be necessary for other Kia Forte owners experiencing similar electrical and engine issues. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I would appreciate any guidance on next steps or how to ensure my vehicle is properly inspected for these safety concerns.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 KIA SOUL
    - San Antonio, TX

    The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact heard an abnormal clunking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. In addition, the RPMs increased to 3,000 and the vehicle lost motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact turned the vehicle off. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle started. However, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the RPMs increased to 3,000 again. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 MPH. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with catalytic converter failure. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under any unknown recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. In addition, the contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). However, the contact was informed that the repair was already performed on the vehicle and was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 97,945.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2017 KIA SORENTO
    - Chesapeake, VA

    Car started shaking, white smoke out of tail pipe, ABS/TCS lights went on. Oil on spark plugs My wife was stuck on side of interstate.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE