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.

  • 2017 KIA SEDONA
    - Dunbar, PA

    Motor has been consuming oil.all oil and maintence was done to this vehicle.on Monday the 18of November 2024 while driving too work the motor blew up putting oil everywhere.almost cause a major accident it had too be tow back to my house.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2023 KIA FORTE
    - Peoria, AZ

    The vehicle has 20k miles and just shut down while going 40 miles per hour. It just turned off. There were no codes or warning lights. The dealership said they had could not find anything wrong and though they suspected what was wrong they could not prove it and so could not get reimbursed for the repair and wouldn’t do it. Why does a new car shut off while going to miles per hour, that is scary to drive. If it happens at the wrong place or time I and others could be in danger.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2025 KIA SORENTO
    - Bolingbrook, IL

    The contact leased a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to increase over 20 MPH. The 20 MPH limited message was displayed. The brake pedal was hard to depress. The driver pulled over and called the salesman at the dealer, who discussed red flags. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted. While driving 45 MPH, turning left, the brake pedal was applied, but the brakes violently pumped upwards for about nine car lengths. The vehicle eventually slowed down. The speed decreased from 40 MPH to 20 MPH, and he crashed into a Toyota Corolla stopped at the light. There was an unknown abnormal warning sound detected. There were no reported injuries, airbags, fire, or police report filed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the bumper was cracked and two unknown sensors were damaged. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who investigated the failure and determined that the brakes and smart cruise control were working as designed. Additionally, informed  him not to utilize the cruise control in the city, read the manual, and learn the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 65.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2017 KIA SPORTAGE
    - Manahawkin, NJ

    The contact's daughter owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving approximately 45 MPH, the panoramic sunroof exploded without impact. The glass shattered into pieces onto the driver. The driver sustained some minor cuts to her head. The glass was picked out of her hair by her colleagues, but medical attention was not provided. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2023 KIA SORENTO HYBRID
    - Norcross, GA

    Faulty Oil filter placed in Vehicle during Oil Change at Dealership. On November 4, 2023 vehicle was taken into Rick Case Kia located at 3190 Satellite Blvd, Duluth, GA 30096. The oil was changed and vehicle driven approximately 5 miles home that afternoon, The following morning the vehicle was driven approximately 25 miles to Cobb Hospital. At no time during the ride did I note warning signals that something was wrong. At lunch I went to my car and started the vehicle and it alarmed with Engine and Oil lights. The vehicle was making a knocking noise. They added oil back to the engine and stated it was OK to drive. The manager of the dealership stated that this has happened several times.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2014 KIA OPTIMA
    - Altoona, PA

    Upon an engine light appearing I immediately turned the car around, and parked it at my fiancé's house. I had called kia and it was a little bit until I could take my car In. I had driven it over there which did ride a little rough. Informing kia of my issue they inspected it. I was told the second cylinder had melted which was caused by a spark plug. I do not understand how this happened, Kia said I am responsible for this and that they will not cover any repairs. As a result my car is junk and I am now left without a vehicle. I believed that it was caused due to the Theta II Class Action law suit as the only possibility for this happening is due to the fact that the car consumes large amounts of oil and constantly needs replenished. Which I believe is a direct cause, and high oil consumption is apart of the defect within the "Theta II Class Action." However they denied my claim.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2018 KIA FORTE
    - Andover, MA

    The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the engine was running unusually rough. The oil warning light was illuminated. In addition, the engine seized. The vehicle was restarted and driven to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer two days prior to the failure and the dealer confirmed there were metal shavings in the oil pan. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 163,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2024 KIA SPORTAGE PHEV
    - Schroon Lake, NY

    The digital instrument cluster panel goes blank intermittently and without warning while I am driving.Within moments, the instrument panel reads: "System Reset". The information then reappears on the panel, displaying important information (speedometer, fuel gauge, etc.). My speed, however has been significantly reduced. I was driving on the highway at 70 mph when the instrument panel shut down (went blank). When it reappeared after "System Reset", I was going 48 mph.I believe this is a safety issue as it fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 101 "Controls and Displays and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems". Also, the car is dangerous as I have no control over my speed. I could easily get rear ended by another vehicle which is another safety issue because the lithium batteries in this hybrid plug-in are in the back of the vehicle. This has occurred four times. The 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Vehicles were recalled due to this same problem. I am requesting the 2024 Kia Sportage Plug-In Vehicles are issued a recall also.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2024 KIA EV9
    - Oro Valley, AZ

    On November 5th, 2024 I exited a store and my vehicle instrument panel was black when I turned my vehicle on. I turned my vehicle off and on several times trying to get the panel to work. I could also not control the headlights or turn signal with the manual controls either. It was still daylight hours and I was 2 miles from home so I decided to try and see if the vehicle could be driven home. I was able to get the vehicle home but could not get the instrument panel to turn on despite many more times of trying by turning the vehicle off and on. The following morning I contacted the Royal Kia dealership and told them of my issue and they informed me this was a known recall issue that had recently been discovered; they had the vehicle towed to them the same day. They have now had my vehicle for 2 weeks and when I called them before filing this complaint they said they had no idea when they would be able to fix the recall. They also told me they required a special tool to fix the recall and they do not have that tool and have no idea when they will be able to get it. I then called another local Kia dealer and they told me they would also not be able to fix my vehicle in a timely manner and it would be 2 months before they would even be able to diagnose my car. My complaint is that the recall letter claims this is just a software update that could be done without visiting a dealership but both dealerships are telling me that it has to be fixed in person by them.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2024 KIA EV9
    - Oro Valley, AZ

    The contact owns a 2024 Kia EV9. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the contact became aware that the instrument panel was dark. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the instrument panel had failed, and a system update was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V757000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The approximate failure mileage was 4,612.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE