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 SOUL
    - Phoenix, AZ

    I had software installed for piston rings. Got car back with check engine light on. Brought it back and was told I need a new engine which I need to pay for. Car was bought brand new gave receipt for oil changes.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2020 KIA SOUL
    - LIVERMORE, CA

    ON NOVEMBER 29,2024 i FOUND A PAINT BUBBLE under the door handle of the rear passenger side of my Snow Pearl white Kia Soul. The primer is visible underneath and intact but the area is cracking and peeling thereby enlarging quickly. I have read online that others have had this problem. I called the dealer and waiting for a call back from the manager. Thank you

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 KIA TELLURIDE
    - Stuart, FL

    The pearl white paint on my vehicle started to delaminate (confirmed by Wallace Kia Collision center). It started at approximately 24,000 miles, approximately 9 months past Kia's 3 year paint warranty. This is a known issue with the paint - pearl white, with many manufacturers affected. Kia, thus far, has refused to cover the repair.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2019 KIA OPTIMA
    - North Ridgeville, OH

    Defective piston rings leading to excessive oil consumption, spark plug deterioration, and potential engine failure.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2025 KIA CARNIVAL HYBRID
    - Alpharetta, GA

    The vehicle is brand new. We drove it home from the dealership and parked it in the garage, and after just a few days, the battery was totally dead and unresponsive.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2018 KIA SORENTO
    - EAGLE LAKE, MN

    Around 90,000 miles, the engine started leaking oil regularly, took it in for warranty. After repairs for gasket, then started burning oil and running of oil every week or two weeks, and I have to constantly refill oil. Took it again and Dealer told me I am out of warranty, then I called KIA USA and reported problems. They told me that they will get back to me and I am still waiting.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2019 KIA FORTE
    - Chestnut Hill, MA

    CarPlay digital screen is bubbling on the right side, up the top and now to the left part of the screen. I was told by Kia Service it would take $1200 to repair and to use it til it breaks. I googled this issue and learned a lot of Kia cars from 2019 have the same issue. This bubbling is caused by the car heating up internally, which no car owner has control over. This bubbling results in the screen not working. Which means I will be driving and pressing the screen and nothing happens. Then, I have to agressively press deeply onto the screen until it works and it takes my focus off the road longer than I would like. It also makes the screen glitch out and moves the CarPlay screen around so things aren’t centered. I went to look just now to see if maybe this has since been recalled since I last asked about it in 2022. That’s when I found multiple forums with people complaining about the same problem. This seems to be the only avenue to try and complain about this because this shouldn’t be on owners to pay in full when we aren’t creating the issue. This is a manufacturing issue and not realizing these LED screens can’t handle the hot heat cars will sit in when AC isn’t running. What can be done to compensate people experiencing this issue?

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA SOUL
    - BALA CYNWYD, PA

    The attached MDPS Flexible Coupling warranty announcement identifies "noise when turning the steering wheel" and later "especially when stopped" as the concern for which KIA would authorize a repair within warranty. The same is in the attached Technical Service Bulletin posted to your Site. Identifying noise as the concern is deceptive, the noise arises from the fact that there is loss of synchony between the steering wheel and the steering. So, while while the car is in motion and the steering wheel is held steady, the wheels and steering turn somewhat in reaction to the road surface, at times alarmingly. I first became aware of this several weeks ago but am told by another driver(my child) that it's been happening for a while. My mechanic was aware of the issue and thought there was a related recall (which proved wrong), but still suggested I seek repair at KIAs responsibility as a safety concern. After having contacted KIA Customer Service, I scheduled recall service (unelated items) with a KIA dealer and added discussion of the steering to the visit (11.25.24) through Kia Customer Service. In the course of that visit, the dealer indicated that the MDPS would continue to deteriorate and could result in the steering locking up and offered to repair at my cost. At that same time, I was on the phone with KIA seeking their responsibility and I declined the dealer's offer. Today I received an unsolicited telephone call from Kia (Jen-Escalated Case Representative 520.274.1098.) The purpose was to inform me that because I declined the dealer's offer to repair at my cost, any harm that might come from the defect is my responsibililty. Presumably, owner assumption of responsibilty is behind warranty announcement's instructing the recipient to provide the notice to new owner(s) in the event of ownership transfer. Please review this MDPS defect for consideration for safety recall. Kia knows that noise is not the concern. I am glad to allow your inspection.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2024 KIA EV9
    - WALPOLE, MA

    Car was new with 1,002 miles on odometer and with me for 3 weeks. The 12 volt battery died and needed to be replaced. This vehicle uses the 12v battery to start the electronics for the car which then enable operation of the car. The failure of this battery left the car without any power and it needed to be towed from my garage to the dealer. This is a common issue with Kia and Hyundai electric vehicles.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2013 KIA SOUL
    - Orlando, FL

    The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The dealer informed the contact that the contact should schedule an appointment for the vehicle to be inspected then the contact had to schedule a second appointment when the parts were available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE