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.
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2018 KIA SOUL- Killeen, TX
Engine control system is STILL faulty. The engine light will not go off, even after the so called recall Software fix and the brand new engine put in my car in 2025 among other MULTIPLE brand new parts and repairs to my car trying to resolve the engine issue, oil consumption and fuel/gas consumption at rapid and alarming rate, every time after I fill my gas tank.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2020 KIA FORTE- Westerville, OH
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The failure had occurred while the contact was driving on a major highway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that there was no oil in the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the failure was not covered under an unknown recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2015 KIA SOUL- middlesboro, KY
My engine light came on about 6 months ago because I was smelling a gas. I had it run on a code computer and it just showed a gasket needed changed. I didn't think that that was serious enough to address urgently because was unsure how much the cost would be. But was going over a big mountain about a week ago and car was on cruise control at 55 Mpr and all of a sudden it just started dropping down totally stopping on me in very active traffic had my grandchild in the car also, got off the road barely in ongoing traffic and called for roadside assistance, but my son showed up and got it to start I barely got it back to his house in Rogersville tn. Where I was staying for a visit , I Ran a code computer on it again and it said it was the Cadillac converter, I looked it up and there is a recall on this situation. Why your sight is saying it's 0 idk why. This is my report and I think u need to change that problem there . I am currently still at my sons house staying cause I can't get my car home cause it won't climb clinch mountain or any sharp hills. Thank you
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2022 KIA TELLURIDE- Rocky Mount, VA
I belive the manual of the Graco Extend2fit 3-in-1 Trueshield and possibly other Extend2fit models is in need of revision-specifically in the section that instructs how to measure for one inch of appropriate head clearance within the shell. I will attach two photos. One photo is a graphic from the manual, the other is a photo of my carseat, on which I drew two lines, one blue and one red. The graphic in the manual seems to show that one should measure for one inch of head clearance starting from the blue line I drew onto my photo. If you compare the fabric stitching in the graphic to the fabric stitching in the photo and identify the line relative to the stitching, the part you measure from appears to match the blue line I drew in my photo. I have always measured from the blue line I drew and I've owned the seat for 6 years. But according to Graco, I have been measuring wrong all this time, which means my child has been unsafe all this time. After talking with CPSTs at Graco, they are insisting that you are supposed to measure from the red line I drew onto my photo. This doesn't make sense because: 1.) That does not match the graphic provided in the manual. 2.) The red line's only physical marker is the fabric cover. The cover can shift, as mine does, exposing more of the headrest adjustment handle underneath, which would alter the measurement point since, according to Graco, the only point of reference is apparently the fabric cover. This will lead to inaccurate measurements everywhere. Fabric covers are not consistent reference points. I have spoken with many respected CPSTs outside of Graco, and none of them know for sure which line to measure from, the red or the blue line I drew. Many are convinced it is the blue line, as I am. If CPSTs are confused, I can guarantee most people are confused. Which means many people are measuring from the blue line, and according to Graco, that is incorrect. Incorrect fits lead to unsafe children, so this needs to be addressed.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2026 KIA EV9- Manteca, CA
The vehicle's front windshield glass failed catastrophically from minimal, routine roadway debris on two separate occasions within a single week.While driving at normal highway speeds, a microscopic stone or pebble impacted the windshield. Instead of causing a minor, isolated cosmetic chip, the acoustic laminated glass immediately developed an expansive linear stress fracture that rapidly spread across the driver's direct line of sight within minutes. This identical failure occurred twice in the span of 20 days, indicating a severe structural vulnerability, manufacturing defect, or excessive frame tension that makes the glass highly fragile under normal driving conditions.Component Availability: The vehicle and the cracked windshield component are currently intact and available for inspection upon request.Safety Risk: The rapid propagation of the cracks across the driver's field of view creates an immediate visibility hazard while navigating at highway speeds. Furthermore, the brittle nature of the glass compromises the structural integrity of the windshield, which is a critical safety component for roof crush protection and proper passenger airbag deployment in the event of a collision.Dealer/Independent Confirmation: The vehicle is being scheduled for an inspection and full windshield replacement at an authorized automotive glass repair facility to address the structural failure.Inspections: The damage is currently being documented and inspected by my comprehensive auto insurance provider as part of the replacement claim process.Warning Symptoms: There were absolutely no warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms. The failure occurs instantly upon the smallest impact due to what appears to be extreme built-in structural tension.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
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2016 KIA SEDONA- Houston, TX
Engine failure due to loud knocking as a result if high oil consumption. No warning lights ever. Needs replacement. Regular maintenance records available. Original owner with only 63900 miles in less than 10 years. Vehicle supposed to be under powertrain warranty (10 years/ 100000 miles). Kia and dealership keep denying warranty claim despite providing all records to prove regular maintenance.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2021 KIA SOUL- rutland, VT
Nothing happened - YET. I'm reporting a manufacturing error. Refer to my upload. I wouldn't be suprised that this defect has been the root cause of some accidents though.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2027 KIA TELLURIDE- lillington, NC
This vehicle was sold to me on 4-6-2026 and the recall was never disclosed to me. The recall was not mentioned to me at all. I found out through another dealership in early June that the vehicle had a recall. The recall was put on the vehicle on 3-9-2026 which is almost a month before I purchased it. I was advised that this vehicle was a stop sale vehicle so it should have never been sold to me. I reached out to the dealership who refused to take responsibility for this issue and I also reached out to Kia who admitted on a recorded line that the vehicle was a stop sale vehicle and should have never been sold yet they failed to make this right and take the vehicle back. At this point I do not want the vehicle and I need someone to make it right.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2020 KIA TELLURIDE- Gilbert, SC
My 2020 Kia Telluride that has Snow White Pearl paint that is coming off in chunks. There are lots of records of 2017-2023 Kia's that have the Snow White Paint peeling off. The paint is coming off the roof and hood area. The exposed metal can quickly develop penetrating rust. This weakens the metal's ability to withstand impacts increasing the risk of failure during a crash. Also the flaking clear coat and paint, creates highly reflective surfaces distracting other drivers. Also the paint peeling in large sheets can detach and potentially strike following vehicles and causing road hazards or accidents. The dealership has taken pictures and acknowledged the issue but fails to correct it due to "high mileage" and me not having a paint warranty. The problem started about 7 months ago
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2017 KIA RIO- Denver , CO
The engine of my Kia Rio 2017 is the system that is failing it is sudden with no warning and has been diagnosed by Kia themselves stating that the engine will seize. My safety is put at risk because the car may seize while in traffic causing difficulty steering and breaking. This problem was first confirmed by an independent shop called Accurate transmission (1040 s Joliet st, Aurora CO, 80013 or call 3033646254) and following that I took it to Kia for a diagnostic where they confirmed what Accurate transmission stated. This vehicle has not been inspected by anyone currently. There were no warning lamps previous to current issue. Warning lights appeared upon incident.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE