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.

  • 2020 KIA OPTIMA
    - Lufkin, TX

    I bought my car brand new in July of 2020. In Spetember of 2023 roughly around 60,000 miles the engine started consuming large amounts of oil. The dealership put me through the so-called warranty process 3x over a years' time. They refused to file warranty paperwork within the year I was going through the process. I have documentation clearly showing the engine burning 2 qtrs. every 1000 miles. I still have a car that I am paying on that needs a new engine that should have been replaced under warranty, but KIA failed to honor the warranty. I have been left stranded on the side of the road multiple times with my 3 children needing oil. Not to mention the car will lock by itself with it running and no one in the car. The screen where the radio is will just go blank.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 KIA K5
    - Dumfries , VA

    My a/c has been giving me issues for about a year and a half to two years now. I have a 2021 Kia k5. When I first told Kia about it they told me it’s from the rain, if that’s the case then every car on the road would have this issue. Then they later told me it was my motor blower when I went back. There was a thousand dollar difference between two quotes they gave me for the same issue also. The air used to come on for a few hours or a day then go completely off. Now it’s sometimes will give off cold air if I put my hand to the vent but it’s nothing powerful to make a difference in the summer. I have read up on many other people having this issue. Kia also sent a recall to me last summer for a/c issues but the dealership told me that doesn’t apply to me because they are saying it’s my blower motor. I should not be held responsible for this malfunction at all. I want to request Kia give me an extended hvac warranty up to 180,000 miles at least!

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2015 KIA SPORTAGE
    - South Fulton , TN

    The car just quit running as I was driving. It would not turn over using jumper cables. I had it towed to a local mechanic where they replaced the starter and the battery. Upon picking it up, it was making noises that it did not make previously.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2023 KIA K5
    - Caledonia, MS

    All of my check lights are on. All of my sensors are popping up. It says no power steering. No cruise control. No lane departure and a few other lights are popping on every time I turn my car on and they all stay on. So far it isn’t preventing me from driving it but none of my safety features work

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2025 KIA SPORTAGE
    - Voorheesville, NY

    The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, while inspecting inside the vehicle, the contact saw a rodent on top of the air cabin filter, and there were pieces missing from the air cabin filter due to rodent damage. A dealer was contacted. The contact was informed by the dealer that there was a hole between the engine compartment and the passenger’s compartment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2024 KIA SPORTAGE HYBRID
    - Weirton, WV

    I hear rattling coming from the rear right side of the car. There is extreme loss of control of vehicle when it hits any bump or imperfection in the road or driving service, ranging from small transition in road surface to potholes and raised patches in road surface. Must continually work to maintain control of the vehicle when driving over these surfaces. This occurs at any rate of speed. It feels very unsafe to drive.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 KIA SELTOS
    - Troy, OH

    Related to the SC336 recall. My 2021 Kia seltos. I brought it in to the dealership before the recall. After the vehicle stalled on me. They did an oil consumption test on it and burns .5 quarts every 1000 miles still covered under warranty. Failed the piston ring noise test and now it’s passed the 2nd time they tried it. Still don’t have a rental car or my car. No leaks and burns oil I believe even more. Oil changes done on it routinely. Now they say it’s good to drive after they installed software. How does software prevent oil consumption?

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 KIA OPTIMA
    - Anaheim, CA

    I went to the Garden Grove Kia to get my new 2016 kia optima repaired for their knock sensor settlement repair. By their own terms of the agreement all original and subsequent ow ers can get vehicles repaired. They took my vehicle information, I gave them all details of my ownership of the vehicle and they said they would fix it. The next day I rented a trailer to take the vehicle to get repaired (vehicle still runs but don't think it's safe to drive like that) and upon arriving, a worker comes out and tells me that they will not repir the vehicle because I just purchased the vehicle. Craig, the manager, also refused to see ownership documents but gave me 2 things; legal advice saying that I should sue where I bought the vehicle from and a paper that said they will not fix cars owned by dealers and auctions. I am neither am neither nor. Craig, also stated that Kia wont cover the repairs.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 KIA SORENTO
    - BERRYVILLE, VA

    As I drove on the highway, the car made a loud rattling sound and all the lights on the dashboard lit up. I pulled over immediately and turned off my car. I let it sit for a few minutes and tried to turn it back on - it would not start. I was on the side of a 4-lane highway in the early evening, with my 3 children in the car with me. I had the car towed to a mechanic - they discovered the oil tank was completely empty - I was not overdue for an oil change. They conducted an oil change - the car started and then immediately the engine seized and shut down. However they could not conclude what happened to cause the engine to fail. I took the car to the Kia dealership for an evaluation. The engine had seized due to bearing failure (bottom end). There is an open class action lawsuit and engine warranty for the same system failure, but on a different-sized engine. There were no warnings of an engine failure or a problem with the vehicle prior to the engine shut-down. It all happened within a matter of seconds as I was driving. The transmission, catalytic converter and flex hose had been replaced 8,000 miles prior to this incident.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2024 KIA SORENTO HYBRID
    - Fredericksburg, VA

    Purchased this vehicle last year, and less than a week into ownership developed a coolant leak. KIA determined the hybrid radiator leaking due to damage, such as a rock or related impact. While I didn't receive any warnings on the dash, there was noticeable coolant on the ground when parked and smell. I don't believe the level got low enough to trigger a warning or vehicle disabled by the computer. The front lower grille, which allows air to cool the hybrid radiator, creates a significant exposure of the radiator(s) due to manufacturer design. I have heard from an alarming number of Sorento owners that have experienced this problem, and they are installing their own mesh to reduce the size of holes through the grille. This defect in design should be escalated.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE