NHTSA Data Explorer

Kia

Data refreshed August 8, 2026

Complaints

43,152

Active records

Recalls

212

Active records

TSBs

3,370

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

94

Injuries

2,319

Crashes

2,414

Fires

1,900

Top reported issues — Kia

Click a category to expand its values.

Operating state

13,055

Condition issue

12,834

Reporting mechanism

9,207

Engine behavior

7,635

Noise

6,805

Performance issue

6,034

Fluid issue

5,509

Safety restraint issue

4,299

Thermal issue

4,160

Lighting behavior

2,793

Vibration/harshness

2,574

Access/entry issue

2,573

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

2,357

Driver assistance issue

2,177

Braking behavior

2,140

Steering behavior

1,989

Electrical issue

1,982

Safety restraint behavior

1,849

Starting behavior

1,499

Smell

1,202

Powering on/off behavior

945

Ride/handling behavior

748

Recent change

638

Electrified system issue

548

Infotainment behavior

531

HVAC behavior

483

Wiper/washer behavior

196

Charging behavior

109

Communication/network issue

49

Most-reported Kia models

Ranked by total record count. Sparkline shows the last 12 months. Click a model to view year-level data.

1

Sorento

10,211

2

Optima

7,758

3

Soul

5,463

4

Sportage

4,818

5

Forte

2,511

6

Forte5

2,511

7

Sedona

2,511

8

Telluride

1,914

9

Sephia

1,703

10

Rio

1,326

11

Spectra

912

12

EV6

528

13

Seltos

526

14

Niro

503

15

K5

469

Browse all Kia models

All Kia models with NHTSA records, listed alphabetically.

AmantiBorregoCadenzaCarnivalEV6EV9ForteForte KoupForte5K4K5K900NiroOptimaRioRio5RondoSedonaSeltosSephiaSorentoSoulSoul EVSpectraSpectra5SportageStingerTelluride

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2024 KIA EV9

Filed Aug 5, 2026


When I started the car up, I noticed a little bit of chattering on the brake pedal, which seemed very unusual. I drove the car forward a little bit and then all of a sudden, all these lights displays and stop vehicle and check brake system now message showed up. The car was very sluggish to drive and had almost no brake pressure. I was able to drive it out of the parking lot (slowly and carefully). When I called a tow truck, I left the vehicle off for about 20 or 30 minutes, and then when I…

2021 KIA SELTOS

Filed Aug 5, 2026


The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph the engine experienced a complete loss of automotive power, and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and the contact was advised that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number : 25V099000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the…

2018 KIA RIO

Filed Aug 5, 2026


The Components that have malfunctioned are the airbags, exaust system, electrical systems, sensors, gaskets, and a few other things. We had 5 failed clockspring repairs. The first (3?) under warranty, we paid for another when they said it was our fault, then that mechanic said that it needed to go back to a dealership because it was defective. I advocated for months for it to be evaluated. No one at kia helped me despite this being a repeat warranty issue. I finally found a shop that would…

2026 KIA SPORTAGE

Filed Aug 5, 2026


Occurred on 8/3/2026: 1. I parked my car in my driveway 2. My car is sitting in the driver door storage area and my phone with digital key is sitting on the front passenger seat. 3. Vehicle is turned off; I exit the vehicle and close the door. 4. My toddler is the back seat (not on the driver side), so i start to walk over to take her out. 5. In the meantime, the car locks itself. 6. I walk back to driver door and it is locked as well. This was serious and immediate issue as the ambient…

2023 KIA TELLURIDE

Filed Aug 5, 2026


A P0741 warning light comes on and off leading driver to believe the problem is intermittent when in fact it is a torque converter failed. The intermittent nature of the warning light could lead drivers to believe the problem is not a safety issue, particularly on a SUV with only 105,000 miles. However, when a converter fails it is definitely a safety issue.

2016 KIA OPTIMA

Filed Aug 5, 2026


The engine assembly completely seized and the vehicle is currently stored at an independent repair shop . While traveling at high speed on Interstate 4 on July 24, 2026, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of power and stalled in live traffic, creating an immediate threat of a high speed rear end collision. An independent service center officially confirmed the engine seizure after a dealership failed to perform an inspection during an eight hour wait, and no law enforcement or…

2016 KIA SOUL

Filed Aug 5, 2026


My 2016 Kia Soul is a 2.0L Gasoline Direct Injection engine. 1 prior recall for Kia Souls have occurred, which is seemingly identical to my issue. Recall SC176 addresses Kia Souls with the 1.6L engine, and it just so happens my issue is the same. Kia also issued a response to knock issues with the Soul 2.0L MPI engine, the KSDS Campaign, where Kia rolled out the Knock Sensor Detection System software update (Campaign SC200) to monitor for connecting rod bearing. I have the GDI so this was…

2015 KIA SEDONA

Filed Aug 5, 2026


The check engine light illuminated with diagnostic code P0018 (crankshaft/camshaft position correlation, Bank 2), first recorded on a scan XXX. The vehicle was taken to a franchised Kia dealership in [XXX] on XXX at 88,719 miles. The dealer performed an engine teardown and provided a written diagnosis on XXX: metal debris on the exhaust camshaft position sensor, damaged camshaft phasers, a sheared camshaft pin, and metal contamination throughout the engine. The dealer states the engine requires…

2021 KIA TELLURIDE

Filed Aug 4, 2026


Opened the sunroof wind deflector broke tracks broke will not close

2021 KIA SELTOS

Filed Aug 4, 2026


Crash

While driving normally at approximately 55 mph on the highway, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic, and spontaneous structural failure of the rear driver-side suspension and drivetrain. Without striking any road debris, potholes, or other vehicles, the entire driver-side rear wheel, wheel assembly, and structural axle components completely fractured and ejected from the moving vehicle. An eyewitness at the scene explicitly confirmed the nature of the failure, stating on video that they…

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated August 8, 2026. Refreshed nightly.