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.

  • 2019 KIA SORENTO
    - Philadelphia, PA

    My engine was replaced and the fuel line was reported "mangled" by Kia of Coatesville where I took my car in after an engine replacement. One in which emissions codes were still going off. The car still smelled like fuel and it was then found that the fuel pump was leaking. To further this when we got the car back, the csr still smelled like fuel. The car was yet again taken in and found to have a crack in the fuel rail.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2020 KIA TELLURIDE
    - Augusta, GA

    About a year ago the pearl white paint on my 2020 Kia Telluride started pealing off for no reason. The car has 80000 miles and is less than 5 years old. There should be no reason the paint is pealing already.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 KIA OPTIMA
    - Lehigh Acres, FL

    On [XXX] I was proceeding to come up to the stop sign when out of no where the car started rapidly accelerating and when I proceeded to step on the brakes it wouldn't stop it only sped up more. And caused a server accident that left me with serious injuries. And I cause of the defect they found me at fault said I failed to yield at a stop sign. The car never was fixed from the 2 times the motor has to be replaced by Galena Kia in fort Myers fl. They even caused the ac to go power retarded and wouldn't work half the time. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 KIA SORENTO
    - Danville, CA

    We purchased our 2016 Kia Sorento brand new in 2015. From the start, we had problems with the car burning oil at a rapid rate. We would get an oil change and less than 2,000 miles later the oil would be very low. After one year oil was low after 1,000 miles or less. No oil light warning would ever come on and there were times when the dipstick had no oil on it. I called Kia customer care several times over the years regarding this issue and was told there was nothing Kia could do unless the engine blew due to the connecting rod and the engine needed to be replaced. We are now well past the 100k warranty and have dealt with this problem for the last 9 years. 2 weeks ago the engine started making a knocking noise and would not accelerate. We checked the oil and it was low and the coolant was also empty. We took it into the Kia dealership and we were told the radiator was empty and burning and that the coolant was leaking into the cylinder and that the engine needed to be replaced. Never once did an engine light, oil light or coolant light come on. There were no visible leaks. The car never overheated and the temperature gauge never changed from the middle. This engine has had constant problems with burning oil from the start. I have done my part to reach out to Kia customer care numerous times. This model Kia has had known problems with oil consumption and coolant leaks. I know there is a reported problem with the 2016 Kia Sorento V6 regarding coolant leaking into the cylinder heads, while I do not have a V6 I had the same problem. This engine has multiple problems which lead to its failure not just the coolant leak. Oil consumption, coolant leak and worst of all there was no warning that there was a problem with the engine (i.e) no engine, oil or coolant light. While there is a lifetime engine warranty on the rod bearing failure which I believe we had along with the coolant leak. Kia is not honoring this warranty and will not reimburse us.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2025 KIA CARNIVAL
    - Chandler, AZ

    The battery has died twice within 3 months. I couldn’t leave my house to collect my kids. The problem has been commented on by a dealership. No.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2013 KIA SOUL
    - Odenville, AL

    my car has been at the Kia service center since October 5, 2024, on a manufacturer recall, and since then another recall has been added, on the day the service center received my car I was number 11, in line with the recall vehicles, I have been put in hardship because kia has not honored the recall in ample time, lost of job opportunities , stress, getting back and forth with appointments, I strongly feel as though I have been discriminated against, I receive no updated status about my car, and strongly feel, that my recall is being tossed to the side, I have contacted the NHTSB about this matter, loss wages, loss job opportunities, and stress have been placed on me from the kia service center in Trussville Alabama, Kia have failed to comply with the recall and have had ample time to remedies the problem.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 KIA SOUL
    - Melbourne, FL

    On Saturday, [XXX], I was driving from Daytona Beach to our home in Melbourne, Florida. The time was about [XXX]. The weather was characterized by strong and constant rain for the first 25 minutes of our trip home. The next day I noticed many areas on the roof and the rear driver's side quarter-panel where the paint had de-laminated. Our insurer denied a claim of weather related paint failure. Since then, I have examined scores of claims regarding premature paint failure on Kia vehicles. The descriptions of the paint de-lamination, as well as the proffered photos are/were identical to the paint failure on my Kia Soul. The passenger's side of the vehicle was repaired .and repainted following a 2022 deer strike in South Carolina. That whole repainted area was totally unaffected by the strong rain storm experienced on [XXX]. Only the original Kia factory applied paint exhibited multiple de-lamination failures. The paint designation is '1D'. Kia needs to steps up and take appropriate responsibility for the failures of their paint finishes. This vehicle is mostly garage kept. My wife and I are retired and this vehicle is always at home unless we are on an errand or Doctor's appointment. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2020 KIA NIRO PHEV
    - LITTLETON, CO

    On [XXX], Flakes of paint starting peeling away and flew over the windshield while simply driving along an interstate highway at 65 MPH on a calm, dry and sunny day in CO. (A factory paint application defect of the SWP paint color is a common owner complaint) Issue reported to Kia Customer Service on NOV 15th, 2024 who provided case No.[XXX]

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2022 KIA K5
    - Los angeles, CA

    IN OCT 2023 I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH MY FUEL TANK. I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED MY FUEL GAGE WAS ON EMPTY BUT MY FUEL MILEAGE STATED THAT I HAD 100 MILES LEFT. I WENT TO THE GAS STATION TO FUEL UP AND I WASN'T ABLE TO PUMP ANY FUEL. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AND HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND A HISSING NOISE. I PULLED OVER TO ASSESS MY VEHICLE AND DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 10/26/2023. IN MAY OF 2024 I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON AND STARTED NOTICING MY FUEL GAGE WAS HAVING AN ISSUE AGAIN. ON MY WAY TO THE GAS STATION I HEARD A LOUD BOOM. I COULDN'T PUMP FUEL AGAIN. I PROCEEDED TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON. AS THEY GOT IN THE BACKSEAT SHE ASKED ME WHY WAS THE SEAT LIFTED. I INSPECTED MY REAR SEAT AND NOTICED A 3-4 INCH GAP FROM THE SEAT AND THE BASE OF THE SEAT, ALSO IT HAD A LARGE LUMP. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY ON MAY 24, 2024.VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. IT'S CURRENTLY AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. AS AN UBER DRIVER MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY PASSENGERS AS WELL AS FAMILY MEMBERS HAS BEEN PUT IN DANGER. UNKNOWN. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED FOR THIS ISSUE ON 10/26/2023, 05/24/2024, AND 09/24/2024. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE EARLY PART OF JULY I TOOK A TRIP TO SEE MY MOM IN ARIZONA APPROX. 280 MILES AWAY FROM MY RESIDENCE. AS I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME ON [XXX] I NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND GAS WAS HISSING AND SPILLING OUT OF THE FUEL TANK. I THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE FUEL CAP SO I WENT TO PURCHASE A NEW FUEL CAP. I TRIED TO PUMP MORE GAS BUT I WASN'T ABLE TOO. I REPLACED THE FUEL CAP AND RETURNED TO MY MOTHERS HOME BECAUSE AFTER I REPLACED THE CAP THE FUEL WAS STILL COMING OUT OF THE GAS TANK. I HAD TO PAY $1,000.00 TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED BACK TO CALIFORNIA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2019 KIA NIRO EV
    - Redwood Shores, CA

    Car made loud whinning noise for 6 months, due to defective transmission. KIA refused to fix because car was out of warranty- but has TSB: ELE234. My extended warranty did not cover because it was a known defect from KIA.' Car stopped working, transmission was repaired. Please see below attached 16k invoice.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE