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.

  • 2024 KIA TELLURIDE
    - Denver, CO

    We were departing [XXX]in Barnstable, Mass on [XXX]. As he entered the main road from the parking lot, my husband thought the driver on his left on the main road had a stop sign so he pulled out onto the street. The other driver did not have a stop sign and my husband hit him. We were going under 10mph so the air bags did not deploy. The “forward collision warning” did not activate nor did the “emergency braking system” function yet the plastic front end of our car was totally smashed and the side of the other car had just a large scratch and a flat tire. We had the car shipped back to Denver where we live and Emich Kia declared it a “total” because they said the frame might be bent. I have contacted Kia Corporation and their CEO repeatedly to point out that their car malfunctioned and did not stop when it was supposed to stop. They do not care and did state that the car had only sustained damage to “crushable material”. Since the damage was to crushable material and the air bags did not deploy, it is obvious that it was a slow speed crash and the emergency braking system and the warning system should have functioned. This 2024 Kia was our second 2024. The first new one we purchased stuttered violently and the check engine light illuminated each time we drove down from the Colorado mountains. Once again, Kia took no responsibility for this issue for over a year so our local dealer finally bought back that lemon and sold us the one that malfunctioned in the crash. Two faulty Kia Tellurides in one year points to serious problems with this car and the Kia corporation because they will not acknowledge problems nor attempt to solve them in a timely manner. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2017 KIA SPORTAGE
    - Nashville, TN

    I need a recall on the paint for the 2017 Sportage Burnished Copper KIA. I've seen many others this color with the same paint fading issue. I contacted KIA and was basically told warranty expired.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2017 KIA SORENTO
    - Hollidaysburg, PA

    The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel in either direction, the steering wheel was sticking and notchy while attempting to return the steering wheel to center. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the power steering motor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 21,083.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2020 KIA SEDONA
    - Cayce, SC

    Problem: The Vehicle Slows down all of a sudden on the middle of the road from around 70 miles to 10 miles, then slowly drives at 15 or 20 miles speed. Safety Concern: On the Interstate Hwy, this has happened many time. Fortunately without any accidents. Very recently also this happened and I do not drive the vehicle out now, since it does not accelerate. Reason: The failure of the accelerator Pedal. Symptoms: The "Check Engine" light comes one and the Engine abruptly slows down. First time it occurred: I a year after the Vehicle was bought -- 15000 miles -- Company did a Warranty replacement after almost a month (Multiple Visits). Second time it occurred: After 4 years-- 50000 miles -- company did a Warranty Replacement after a month (Multiple visits). Third time it is occurring: After 5 years -- 63000 miles -- Company claims it is no longer a warranty issue and also it is a different problem that is causing the same issue and charging me $5000 for repairs. Present Situation: The Vehicle is unusable and since it is the 3rd time this is happening, there is a serious issue with the Vehicle and I am worried about my/my families Safety. A replacement of the Vehicle with the fully tested one (With no such safety issues)and with guarantee that the Company/Its dealers will service the vehicle without delay will be helpful. Available details: All the correspondence from the first time this issue happened (complete correspondence with the company of my safety and replacement of the vehicle) is available. Also my Service records with the Dealerships and the warranty issues are also available. The False charges by the dealers is also available. The recent visit to another authorized Car shop and their report that this issue is the same old Accelerator pedal issue is also available.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2018 KIA SORENTO
    - Kalamazoo, MI

    KIA Sorento 2018 The vehicle experienced engine failure due to piston ring damage at approximately 111,500 miles. A Kia dealer diagnosed the issue with codes P0301 and P0304 and confirmed the engine requires full replacement. This creates serious safety concerns, including engine misfires, loss of power, and risk of stalling while driving.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2018 KIA CADENZA
    - Streamwood, IL

    Vehicle has been properly maintained and at 78k miles, while at a stop sign, the engine seized. No warning signs from vehicle appeared.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2024 KIA SPORTAGE PHEV
    - Telluride, CO

    The dash on my sportage will go black while driving, and then the system reboots showing "system check" the cruise control also goes out when this happens. This happens about once a month. Dealer has checked it more than 3 times and has found no issues except the first time I brought it in.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2022 KIA NIRO PHEV
    - Greensburg, IN

    When I got to work one day I turned off my vehicle and went about my regular day until I went to go home and my car was dead. The entire electrical system wasn’t working. No lights on the dashboard or in the vehicle when I opened the door. We went to jump it with the instructions from the owner’s manual. We finally got it jumped the next day and I drove home everything seemed okay I put gas in it and battery seemed charged from what my dashboard said. I moved my vehicle once again and it was fine but then the next day I went to turn it on and my car system was freaking out saying I needed to check my brakes and wouldn’t let me move or anything. I turned it back off to see if it was just a weird malfunction but it did the same exact thing then the car completely shut off everything dashboard everything. I called AAA. He jumped the car so he could drive it up on his truck to not do any other damage to it. I got them to tow it to my Kia dealership I bought my car from. They ran diagnostics on it and told me the wiring harness needed to be replaced and was internally shorting causing my battery to drain. They still have my vehicle in shop at the dealership. Thankfully both times I had had issues I was either at my work or my home (safe locations), but I couldn’t imagine not being able to get my car started out in an unknown area or having to jump it every time I were to drive it due to this issue. Cronin Kia dealership in Harrison, Ohio has information on the vehicle, the issue, and the fixes they were doing. If you would like to further inspect it you can as well. [xxx] was the first time it died and the [xxx] was the day it had alerted of a problem with the brakes and died then I called AAA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2014 KIA SORENTO
    - INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    Engine light was on about a week prior to taking it to the dealer for inspection. Was not time yet for an oil change. Had another 1000 miles before next oil change was due. After oil change they found metal shavings in new filter and oil. Told us we need to replace the engine. So we have a defective engine.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2025 KIA SPORTAGE HYBRID
    - Wellington, FL, FL

    On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], while driving my 2025 Kia Sportage with the lane assist system engaged in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, near the AT&T building at [XXX] , the system suddenly jerked the steering wheel sharply to the right while I was crossing an intersection. I had my hands on the wheel, but the force was so strong it felt as if someone else had grabbed it and tugged it hard. Despite trying to react immediately, the car slammed into a guardrail. This was an extreme safety issue, especially since I am [XXX]. The incident caused significant vehicle damage, leaking fluid, and left me stranded on the side of the road in unsafe heat conditions without being able to keep the car running for air conditioning. No warning lights appeared before the failure. The system appeared to malfunction without cause. This unexpected steering correction created a serious risk to my safety and the safety of others on the road. I trusted this safety feature, but instead it caused an accident. The vehicle is available for inspection by Kia, insurance, or investigators. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE