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.

  • 2015 KIA OPTIMA
    - San Diego, CA

    The car makes a raddled noise when turn on and the car turns off when I press the brakes

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2017 KIA OPTIMA
    - Saginaw, TX

    Engine is failing and using over 3 quarts of oil every 700-100 miles. Spark Plugs have become oil fouled and replaced all 4 spark plugs June 11th, 2024 and replaced all 4 spark plugs again January 12th, 2025. Today July 7th, 2025 Check Engine light came back on with Engine Misfire code P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire, changing spark plugs again today. My safety is put at risk because oil consumption is a know issue with Kia GDI Engines. At any moment my car can run out of oil if it is not check every other week causing my engine to completely fail or a spark plug become Oil fouled and a spark plug needing to be replaced. In July of 2024 when this happened I was on the highway going 70 mph and my car just completed shut down. I could have been seriously injured had I not been able to pull over and only been 5 miles away from my home. I called Kia today to start an Oil Consumption test, stated I am the 2nd owner and while this is a known issue I will pay for and Upper Engine Clean which is only a band aid. This problem has been confirmed with Kia that the GDI Engines are consuming oil. I have also replaced all Engine Coolant, Coolant Temperature Senor, Thermostat as well as the PCV Valve.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2020 KIA TELLURIDE
    - Indianapolis , IN

    In May 2025, I brought my 2022 Kia Telluride to the dealership for an oil leak. They kept my vehicle for a week. Then in June, while driving with my [XXX] son, the engine completely stalled — a terrifying and dangerous situation. I returned the car to the dealership, and they tried to point out a bunch of unrelated issues. But once I got home, the car shut off again. I took it back and was finally told that the engine had blown — and that this kind of failure "happens all the time" with Tellurides, according to their own words. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 KIA SEDONA
    - Taneytown, MD

    The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 50 MPH, the contact heard a knocking sound coming from the engine and the vehicle lost power. The contact was able to pull over to the right side of the road, turned off the vehicle for several minutes, restart the vehicle, and the vehicle worked as intended. There were no warning lights illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case; however, the case number was not available. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 88,500.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2013 KIA OPTIMA
    - Antioch, TN

    In December 2024 I experienced a major engine issue where while we were driving the car went from 75mph to losing all power and not allowing us to drive more than 20mph we took it to a shop in mt Juliet Tennessee where they proceeded to tell us that an error code of P0325 and that our engine had seized. They suggested I get it towed to Kia which I did. We towed it to Kia of Murfreesboro tn and they took about a month to tell us that the engine had seized and that due to car fax and sludge we couldnt get the engine replaced under the extended warranty however, when speaking with customer service at Kia over the phone, they promised me that my car and its engine are still covered under that warranty due to the class action lawsuit, and that my engine would be replaced at no cost to me. It is now been six months and I still have no answers, and everybody keeps telling me that due to lack of maintenance even though we are the only owners of the car and have kept up on the maintenance they are not honoring the extended warranty. My car currently is 120,000 miles extended warranty goes to 150,000 miles. I would like my car engine replaced. I don’t know what to do this point anymore.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2025 KIA SORENTO HYBRID
    - Stamford, CT

    On June 5, 2025, I was driving my 2025 Kia Sorento. I proceeded to get onto the highway from an on ramp. At that moment, the engine stalled. The car would not accelerate. I could not go faster than 20-25 mph. This was a huge safety risk to me, to my passengers, and to others on the highway. Eventually I exited the highway and drove home very slowly, since the car would not accelerate beyond 20-25 mph. I was pressing the gas pedal as far down as it would go. I even tried turning off the car and restarting it. The check engine light was on. The car was towed to a Kia dealer. The Kia mechanics noted that the fault log in the car's computer system noted that the stalling/failure to accelerate event did occur, but that they were unable to reproduce it, even after several attempts driving it around in various conditions. The Kia mechanics told me there was nothing they could do or fix, since they were unable to reproduce the stalling event. Then just yesterday, on July 6, 2025, the Sorento stalled again while it was being driven on the highway. I am having it towed tomorrow to the same Kia dealership to have the same mechanics look at it again. At this point, this is an extreme safety issue for anyone driving the car, in the car while it is being driven, or on the highway when the car is on the highway. Imagine if the car stalls again and another car behind us traveling at a high speed slams into us. We could potentially suffer mortal or grave physical injury.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2017 KIA SORENTO
    - Calabasas , CA

    For several months, there has been a noticeable smell of gas fumes coming from my 2017 Kia Sorrento EX. Recently, smell has been getting much stronger and cause for concern. I have discovered a visible gas leak dripping from the gas tank area. This could likely or possibly be related to a recall engine replacement last year. The website mentions issues with the fuel pump, which is a The website mentions issues with the fuel pump, which is very concerning. I am attaching photos and video. Please advise.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 KIA SPORTAGE
    - Cincinnati, OH

    My car is burning oil like crazy. I’ve had to put 2 quarts in one week. Took it to dealership because of warranty. They ran an oil consumption test and told me pistons may be bad drive it another 1000 miles then we check it again. Why not fix problems then. So I have to check my oil every day until they want to do the work I guess

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2020 KIA SOUL
    - caddo mills , TX

    Vehicle: 2020 Kia Soul VIN: [XXX] Component: Engine What happened: My 2020 Kia Soul experienced sudden engine failure at around 130k miles. I was driving when the oil light turned on, and within seconds the engine seized and locked up. The check engine light came on afterward. There were no prior warning signs, no check engine light, and the oil level was not dangerously low. This is the second Kia Soul I’ve owned that experienced this exact failure pattern—my previous 2014 Kia Soul also seized without warning. Kia is refusing to assist or escalate, despite the fact this issue closely mirrors Recall SC209 related to the 2.0L Nu MPI engine. I believe this is a serious safety issue and mechanical defect that deserves further investigation and may justify expanding existing recalls. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2014 KIA SOUL
    - Reading, PA

    The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the catalytic converter was defective and needed to be replaced. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE