KIA Complaints

When we were entering a major intersection, car strolled and rolled forward and stopped 3/4 thru the intersection. It would not restart immediately while cars were speeding by on both sides. It finally started. This is the second occurrence we took the car into the KIA dealership. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a rattling sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a Take 5 oil change, which informed the contact that the oil level was 2 quarts low and had failed to show up on the dipstick. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted, but was unable to schedule an appointment or provide a time frame. A second dealer, Kia of South Austin (5306 S I-35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX 78745), was contacted and informed the contact that it would take at least a day for a diagnostic test, and there was no time frame for the repair because parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and was willing to provide the contact with a reimbursement. The manufacturer opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 91,500. Parts distribution disconnect.

The shift interlock system stopped allowing the car to come out of park however the vehicle would still roll when in Park, have to do a manual override to take it out of park but it will hesitate on the highway. I have had too many near miss accidents with this vehicle. Especially due to my break lights working intermittently although they've been replaced. I'm not sure if it's electrical (my locks would randomly lock and unlock) or due to the shifting gear.

The vehicle has experienced repeated transmission-related issues, including erratic shifting, delayed response, slippage, and sudden loss of power while driving. These symptoms significantly impact drivability and pose a safety risk, especially when accelerating or merging in traffic. The issue was previously addressed by the dealership under a recall repair. However, the same transmission behavior has returned approximately 3–4 months after the repair. The dealership performed repairs multiple times before, and the symptoms have now recurred. The problem has been confirmed by the authorized dealership and is scheduled for another inspection. There have been warning symptoms such as hesitation during gear shifts and intermittent power dips while in motion, which began reappearing recently. The component remains available for inspection. Given the repeat nature of the issue following an official recall, I believe this may be part of a broader unresolved defect in the vehicle’s transmission system. The issue initially reappeared briefly after the recall repair, then subsided. However, it returned more consistently and noticeably after a couple of months, and is now ongoing.

Am receiving a code for camshaft sensor bank 1 sensor a. Figured it could be timing but also know about TSB’s. Need to see if there are any posted for my specific 2017 Kia Soul.

The sensor on the sliding doors failed to detect that my daughter’s hand was in the way. She hit the button to close the door, carefully was getting herself down, and did not get her tiny hand out of the way in time. The door slid closed and latched on my daughter’s thumb. It was stuck in between the drivers door and the sliding door. Attached you will find a photo of her hand and the instant bruising that it caused. It was not just a finger tip. It was her entire thumb that was stuck. I took her to the emergency dept at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, to where she received X-rays. Thankfully her hand was as not fractured or broken. I posted this in my KIA carnival Facebook group and multiple families said that this is happening to their children as well.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 30 MPH, there was an abnormal smoke odor entering the cabin of the vehicle with an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power, and the contact proceeded to pull over onto the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and an independent mechanic arrived to diagnose the vehicle. The contact was informed that the thermostat, catalytic converter, muffler, exhaust manifold, and sensors were burned, and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

My car is still under factory warranty and there's a recall, yet Kia will not provide any help

Would drive my car and the check engine light would come on and the car would basically lose power and could barely move it to safety!!! Called and wouldn’t be able to get in for a couple months. Happened again, got to the side of a road. Meantime, get the recall on the piston oil rings; determined the engine lights are related to this recall. Car into the Dealership and it failed inspections. Determined damage and new engine is ordered. NO ETA on new engine; just drive my car as is! What assurance is there my car won’t stall, crash or have a fire all while waiting for a new engine. Lost all faith in Kia with parts incorrectly manufactured. I feel this is jeopardizing the safety of myself and other KIA Seltos drivers and basically anyone around me if there is an issue/crash.

The contact owned a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the contact discovered smoke coming from the engine compartment and from out of the A/C unit; the contact pulled to the side of the road as she discovered that the engine compartment, the front driver side and passenger side of the vehicle, and underneath the vehicle had caught on fire. No warning lights were illuminated. The origin of the fire was unknown. The vehicle was occupied during the fire. The contact's spouse sustained burns from attempting to extinguish the fire that he discovered had spread onto him and the contact's clothes while they were still driving. Once all of the passengers had safely exited the vehicle, the vehicle exploded. Medical attention was sought. A fire department and police report was filed. A dealer was not contacted however, the vehicle was pronounced totaled at the scene. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.