KIA Complaints

I went for a test drive of this 2027 Kia Telluride X-line Hybrid at Gateway Kia of Warrington PA ([XXX]). After turning the ignition on and attempting to drive, the car didn't respond. When it did respond, it then drove extremely rough, shuddering hard in and out of gear. It then started to drive normally, only to fail again and not exceed 5 mph. We had to turn the car completely off and then restart it. This fixed the problem temporarily but then the issue would repeat. I floored the pedal repeatedly and the car didn't respond multiple times. This happened at an intersection of a busy road. I was attempting a left turn and the car wouldn't respond, putting myself and others in danger of an accident. I was able to crawl across the dual lane road to a parking lot. Turned car off and restarted it. The issue repeated at another intersection, again not responding, followed by shuddering, and then driving slowly. The check engine light would come on and then go off upon a fresh restart, only to come on again when the power would surge. My research indicated that this is: - Limp Mode Activation: When the car did not accelerate, the car's main computer (ECU) detected a severe glitch. It intentionally cut off power to protect the engine and hybrid battery. - Hybrid Power Transition Glitch: Hybrid vehicles rely on complex software to seamlessly shift between the electric motor and the gasoline engine. If the software or the physical clutch fails to coordinate these two power sources when you demand sudden acceleration, it can cause the vehicle to shake or lag violently. - Transmission "Gear Hunting" or Slipping: The hard shuddering in and out of gear points toward an issue with the transmission's torque converter or dual-clutch transmission engagement system. When it cannot decide which gear to use or slips, it can feel like driving over severe potholes. This issue is increasingly showing up in online forums, so I know I am not alone. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552

Module 1 7.5 amp fuse continues to short and blow over and over again. Known issues with auto headlamp leveling sensor. Problem continues to happen. Lose my highbeams, shift lock, rear defrost, rearview auto dimmer, steering wheel controls. Anytime the fuse blows

I owe a lady made a complete stop in front of me and I hit her. I wasn’t traveling close behind her. Her car was not damaged at all, but my Kia was totaled from the front. They had to cut the car off because it was smoking like it was gonna catch a fire. I’ve been had this sign on my car the steering wheel with an! It says that the car is hot before the car accident I had driven to [XXX] back to my house in the car motor was just shaking up under even though the car was off about 1015 minutes a hour late I had to wreck. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My 2020 Kia Rio S caught fire spontaneously while parked and unattended for 5 hours at my work parking lot. The vehicle was turned off and had not been involved in a collision. I was notified of the fire after it had already started. The fire caused catastrophic damage to the passenger compartment and resulted in a total loss of the vehicle. Component/system suspected: The exact component that initiated the fire has not yet been determined. Based on the circumstances, I am concerned about a possible vehicle electrical or mechanical failure, but I do not want to speculate as to the cause without investigation reports. The vehicle was subsequently taken to a salvage/inspection facility. I am currently determining whether it remains available for inspection. Safety risk: The vehicle caught fire while parked without an apparent external cause. The fire became extensive enough to destroy the passenger compartment and vehicle. This created a significant fire hazard to nearby vehicles, property, and people. Had the vehicle been parked in a garage or other enclosed area, or had someone been inside or near the vehicle when the fire began, the potential consequences could have been severe. Reproduction/confirmation: The problem has not been reproduced by a Kia dealer or independent repair facility. The vehicle was destroyed by the fire and declared a total loss. Inspections: Boise Fire Department responded to the vehicle fire. Progressive Insurance subsequently inspected/handled the vehicle and classified the loss as a non-collision total burn/total loss. I have requested the complete Boise Fire Department records and additional records from Progressive concerning any investigation into the origin and cause of the fire. Kia has not yet inspected the vehicle to my knowledge. Warnings/symptoms before the fire: There were no warning lights, messages, smoke, unusual odors, electrical problems, noises or any other symptoms I was aware of. No after market electronics or anything.

My 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid SX-Prestige has repeated issues with the engine and drive train. On December 30th, 2025 it was diagnosed with a blocked breather hose sensor, causing the check engine light to come on. On July 1, 2026, the car rapidly decelerated while driving on the highway (limp mode), creating an unsafe condition, with an alert to charge the battery. The car also seemed to struggle getting up to speed, and shifted gears less smoothly, and at higher engine RPMs than it had previously. The deceleration behavior was confirmed by the Kia Technician. On July 21st, 2026, the car again rapidly decelerated while driving on the highway (limp mode), creating another unsafe condition, but no alert to charge the battery was received. This time the fuel rail pressure sensor was replaced. The car is now sitting in my driveway, completely dead. I drove it 2 days ago, and nothing appeared amiss. Yesterday morning, the doors would not unlock using either key fob, so I used the physical key to enter the car. It would not start. My husband measured the voltage from the battery terminal (inside the fuse box under the hood) to the bolt on the wheel strut at ~3 Volts. No settings were changed in the car and I verified the headlights remain in "Auto" mode. As it is Sunday, I will contact the Kia dealer tomorrow for directions. Due to the repetitive nature of issues with this car, I would like help from the NHTSA to ensure this is promptly and permanently fixed.

I have a 2020 Optima, apparently there is a recall for the older models, yet mine is experiencing the exact same issues. Over oil consumption leading to engine failure. I have been in a rental for a month and a half due to fighting with Kia to correct the issue all while they drag their feet. Smells like another class action.

XXX While returning home, we just turned right onto [XXX] heading south, an audible alarm sounded which surprised us and then a message appeared that stated "Engine Off! Shift to [XXX], then start engine". This same problem had just occurred not 10 minutes earlier while crossing the bridge into [XXX] from [XXX]! Again, once I was able to refocus my attention to the road, I was then able to turn on my hazard signals, stop the car (no power brakes), shift to Park and restart the car. With this occurrence we were fortunate there was no traffic on the street at the time. We were traveling at about 30mph. This was the 3rd occurrence of this problem within 30 days and then again the second occurrence within 10 minutes on the same day! This is really unnerving to have your engine turn off suddenly and without any warnings! Just a sudden audible alarm, followed by a message, completely out of the blue! I cannot imagine what will happen should this occur at higher speeds? Or in heavier traffic? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

XXX While returning home, we were crossing a 2 lane bridge between [XXX] and [XXX] heading south, an audible alarm sounded which surprised us and then a message appeared that stated "Engine Off! Shift to P or N, then start engine". Once I was able to refocus my attention to the road, I was then able to turn on my hazard signals, stop the car, shift to Park and restart the car. This all happened with traffic behind us and passing us in the opposite lane. There was no shoulder for us to use to get out of the way. I should also mention we were traveling a slight incline up as we were crossing the bridge. This was the second time this has happened and again it forced my attention away from the road so that I could address this issue. Fortunately, this all occurred at low speed, approx 30-35mph. Also, luckily I was able to get my hazard signals on quickly to avoid being rear ended by the sudden occurrence of this issue. I cannot imagine what would have happened if I had been on the interstate going 70+ mph. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Aug 1 2026 While going to the store, we were waiting at the traffic light to make a left turn, as we were making the left turn and entering the store parking lot an audible alarm sounded which surprised us and then a message appeared that stated "Engine Off! Shift to P or N, then start engine". Fortunately, there were no cars behind us and I was able to shift into Park and restart my car. With engine off, we had no power steering or power brakes, again a surprise. Had there been traffic, the surprise loss of these features makes driving difficult. The mere fact that the engine turned off alone in the middle of a parking lot driveway poses risk for traffic accidents ... I had to take my eyes off the road to see what the alarm was. Not to mention had there been traffic and having to stop in a somewhat sudden manner could pose risk for accidents from other drivers.

Was driving and power steering became difficult to steer and a red steering wheel icon with a exclamation mark came on in the dashboard.