Kia problems, recalls & safety data
Every Kia model with owner complaints, recall campaigns, federal investigations and manufacturer communications — all from official NHTSA data.
42,404
NHTSA owner complaints
200
recall campaigns
67
defect investigations
34
models with problem data
Kia models
| Model | Complaints | Years with data | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sorento | 10,061 | 22 | 40 |
| Kia Optima | 7,456 | 20 | 22 |
| Kia Soul | 5,452 | 15 | 15 |
| Kia Sportage | 4,652 | 30 | 31 |
| Kia Forte | 2,510 | 15 | 18 |
| Kia Sedona | 2,382 | 18 | 23 |
| Kia Telluride | 1,895 | 6 | 19 |
| Kia Sephia | 1,679 | 7 | 4 |
| Kia Rio | 1,245 | 20 | 11 |
| Kia Spectra | 905 | 10 | 2 |
| Kia EV6 | 528 | 4 | 5 |
| Kia Seltos | 511 | 4 | 4 |
| Kia K5 | 459 | 5 | 9 |
| Kia Carnival | 389 | 5 | 7 |
| Kia Niro | 294 | 6 | 6 |
| Kia Rondo | 286 | 3 | 5 |
| Kia Optima Hybrid | 249 | 5 | 5 |
| Kia EV9 | 243 | 3 | 9 |
| Kia Amanti | 228 | 4 | 2 |
| Kia Cadenza | 189 | 3 | 6 |
| Kia Sedona EX | 121 | 3 | 1 |
| Kia Stinger | 109 | 2 | 7 |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid | 88 | 3 | 6 |
| Kia Sorento PHEV | — | — | 8 |
| Kia Niro EV | — | — | 6 |
| Kia Soul EV | — | — | 5 |
| Kia Forte Koup | — | — | 5 |
| Kia K900 | — | — | 4 |
| Kia Borrego | — | — | 4 |
| Kia K4 | — | — | 3 |
| Kia Sportage PHEV | — | — | 3 |
| Kia Niro PHEV | — | — | 3 |
| Kia Telluride Hybrid | — | — | 2 |
| Kia Sportage Hybrid | — | — | 2 |
| Kia Optima PHEV | — | — | 2 |
Most reported problem areas across Kia vehicles
Engine 14,453Electrical System 6,237Power Train 3,991Air Bags 3,308Structure 2,764Steering 2,614Engine and Engine Cooling 2,376Exterior Lighting 2,340
Symptoms owners describe most
Recent federal investigations
- Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall EffectivenessAudit Query AQ25001 · opened Aug 6, 2025 · closed Dec 18, 2025
- Windshield Wiper FailurePreliminary Evaluation PE25004 · opened Apr 29, 2025 · closed Mar 11, 2026
- 3.3L Engine Loss of Motive Power (LOMP)Defect Petition DP24002 · opened Feb 27, 2024 · closed Mar 5, 2024
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresAudit Query AQ23002 · opened Nov 17, 2023 · open
- Loss of Motive PowerPreliminary Evaluation PE23019 · opened Nov 13, 2023 · closed Jul 23, 2024