Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim — NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,215,138 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports — when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report — that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints — specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened — feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 60,583 complaints for KIA
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
The contact owned a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate as needed. No warning light was illuminated. The contact's husband noticed a cloud of smoke in the rearview mirror, but the contact stated that the smoke was coming from the engine compartment. The contact's husband pulled over, and she, her husb... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
The contact owned a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate as needed. No warning light was illuminated. The contact's husband noticed a cloud of smoke in the rearview mirror, but the contact stated that the smoke was coming from the engine compartment. The contact's husband pulled over, and she, her husb... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Mar 17, 2025
I have a Kia Seltos 2021 AWD EX 24,700 mi. that was recalled and new engine put in on April 12th 2025 to fix grinding noise that occurred 4 times the end of March starting on the 17th 2025. On Dec. 12th 2025 Grinding noise started again. Couldn't find anything wrong and told them to try harder. Said needed software update back to what it was before engine put in. My problem: I don't have the 5 yea... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2026
My vehicle was leaking oil an oil change. My vehicle started having a knocking sound. I am a single parent of a [XXX] child. The car would suddenly stop while I was driving which put me and my daughter's safety at risk. I took if to Southern Kia Greenbriar dealership to have a diagnostic test on Jan 17, 2026. [XXX] from the dealership confirmed my vehicle needs a new engine. It could be covered ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2026
My vehicle was leaking oil an oil change. My vehicle started having a knocking sound. I am a single parent of a [XXX] child. The car would suddenly stop while I was driving which put me and my daughter's safety at risk. I took if to Southern Kia Greenbriar dealership to have a diagnostic test on Jan 17, 2026. [XXX] from the dealership confirmed my vehicle needs a new engine. It could be covered ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 23, 2025
While driving my 2025 Kia K4, the steering system failed and became unresponsive. I was unable to steer the vehicle as intended. The exact cause of the steering failure is UNKNOWN at this time. The vehicle and steering components are available for inspection upon request. The loss of steering control put my safety and passengers riding at serious risk because I could not properly control the dire... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
As I entered onto i4 reaching the speed of 60 miles an hour my vehicle began to make a high pitched whining noise that got louder as I pressed on the gas pedal, noise dissipated when I let off the gas pedal. Vehicle began to slow down on its own , even when applying pressure to the gas pedal, I had no choice but to pull over on i4, error message displayed “RED CAUTION EMBLEM” error message “... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
As I entered onto i4 reaching the speed of 60 miles an hour my vehicle began to make a high pitched whining noise that got louder as I pressed on the gas pedal, noise dissipated when I let off the gas pedal. Vehicle began to slow down on its own , even when applying pressure to the gas pedal, I had no choice but to pull over on i4, error message displayed “RED CAUTION EMBLEM” error message “... Read more
Incident date: Mar 30, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the radiator was leaking. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and the dealer stated that a rock or road debris had caused the puncture in the radiator. The contact was advised by the dealer that it was a known failure and that there was no radiator debris shield to protect the radiator from damage. The contact was informed by the dea... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2026
Known ICCU issue by manufacturer. While driving get alert on screen the check electrical system. Had to pull over and call tow truck for safety reasons. Charging system is not working properly and 12v battery can die at anytime.
Incident date: Mar 29, 2026
Catastrophic fire started in fast food restaurant drive through, but able to drive to the parking lot before it became engulfed in flames.
Fire
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
My brand new 2024 Kia K5 has been at Kia of temple hills since February 23, 2026. The dealership has stated they do not know how to diagnose or repair the issue and indicated they needed a special diagnostic tool from the manufacturer. The vehicle has now been out of service for an extended period with no repair timeline provided and no communication from them at all. I also have not been provided... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
My brand new 2024 Kia K5 has been at Kia of temple hills since February 23, 2026. The dealership has stated they do not know how to diagnose or repair the issue and indicated they needed a special diagnostic tool from the manufacturer. The vehicle has now been out of service for an extended period with no repair timeline provided and no communication from them at all. I also have not been provided... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
Recently our 2021 Kia Telluride, had a fluttering/metal knocking/mechanical sound and I scheduled a shop visit at our trusted local mechanic. After their inspection, they found that the oil was extremely low and there was metal shavings in the oil filter housing. This was found when absolutely no warning lights were activated that would indicate low oil level or any other engine challenges. The ve... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
I've never had a problem staying awake driving. I don't have this problem in my vehicles or other vehicles. Every time I drove the car. I could not stay awake. I ve driven the car about 5xs. I would fall asleep and not even realize it. Now fell asleep driving the car two nights ago. No warnings went off and I drove over one lane and off into the center medium. No lane change warnings went off. B... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
I've never had a problem staying awake driving. I don't have this problem in my vehicles or other vehicles. Every time I drove the car. I could not stay awake. I ve driven the car about 5xs. I would fall asleep and not even realize it. Now fell asleep driving the car two nights ago. No warnings went off and I drove over one lane and off into the center medium. No lane change warnings went off. B... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
I've never had a problem staying awake driving. I don't have this problem in my vehicles or other vehicles. Every time I drove the car. I could not stay awake. I ve driven the car about 5xs. I would fall asleep and not even realize it. Now fell asleep driving the car two nights ago. No warnings went off and I drove over one lane and off into the center medium. No lane change warnings went off. B... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 29, 2026
The sunroof mechanism in the vehicle jammed and broke out of the track. When my wife drove the vehicle in the interstate the sunroof began to vibrate and move around. She was afraid the glass was about to fly out and possibly hit a vehicle behind her. She had to reduce her speed excessively and my daughter had to hold on to the sunroof all the way home. The vehicle is well maintained with approx ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2026
I respectfully request that NHTSA review this issue for potential safety related defect trends involving excessive oil consumption that progress to catastrophic engine failure in 2020 Kia Sportages equipped with the 2.4L engine. The vehicle consumed oil at an abnormal rate between oil changes despite routine maintenance and regular oil level checks, and the condition ultimately resulted in a non-o... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
Vehicle charging. When charging at home or public charging stations. It sometimes automatically shuts off before it gets to limit set.
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
Shift arm gear stuck- unable to shift from park to drive to neutral, reverse, etc.
Incident date: Feb 22, 2026
I am filing a complaint regarding a 2021 Kia Sportage that experienced catastrophic engine failure, leaving the vehicle non-drivable despite regular maintenance and documented oil changes. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership, located at 402 NJ-35, Keyport, NJ 07735, for evaluation. On or about March 17, 2026, I was informed by the dealership that coverage for engine replacement ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 28, 2026
Due to soy-insulated wiring used in wiring harnesses, rodents are attracted to the wiring components in the engine bay. Even using deterrents doesn't see to affect them. What started as a simple check engine light for what was assumed to be a faulty sensor turned into a total wiring harness replacement. Without knowing that the wiring provided an added risk to damage from external factors, there w... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly lost motive power and stalled, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was unable to restart and needed to be towed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was towed to the dealer, wher... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
Oil was being diluted by fuel seeping in from the injectors and the high pressure fuel pump. Vehicle was brought in twice to fix the problem. During the 24-27 Feb 26 repair the high pressure fuel pump was diagnosed and replaced. On 16 Mar 26 I noticed the oil level had risen on the dip stick (after driving ~300 miles) about 5 mm and brought the car back to the Kia dealer for diagnosis and re... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2026
I am the original owner of a 2016 Kia Sedona, purchased new from the DeMontrond Kia dealership in Houston, Texas, in August 2016. The vehicle currently has 63,400 miles and has been maintained according to standard schedules. Two weeks ago, I noticed a slight knocking sound and took the car to the dealership for an inspection. I was informed that there is sludge buildup in the engine and was told... Read more
Incident date: Mar 23, 2026
In September 2025, an authorized Kia dealership performed recall SC284XM (HECU electrical short fire risk) on this 2012 Kia Sorento. During the repair, the dealership disconnected the battery, resetting the PCM/ECU and clearing all OBD-II readiness monitors including the oxygen sensor monitor. Despite driving hundreds of miles afterward, the O2 sensor monitor has not reached a Ready state. A malfu... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power with the check engine and other unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle stalled several times and with several unknown warnings illuminated. The contact stated that a friend had checked the vehicle and stated that there was no oil inside the engine... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power with the check engine and other unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle stalled several times and with several unknown warnings illuminated. The contact stated that a friend had checked the vehicle and stated that there was no oil inside the engine... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power with the check engine and traction control warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic and then towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and retrie... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
White paint is peeling off roof and back hatch. Had been washing car at automatic car wash and noticed edges were all chipping. Stopped wash in car as afraid it would get worse. Just hand washed the roof and now the whole roof is peeling chipping. This has been occurring for over a year. When I bought the car there was a spot on the hood without paint. They repaired it. Didn’t realize the whol... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2026
I had just finished charging the vehicle overnight on a Level 2 charger at a family members home. After leaving the driveway and driving a few hundred feet, an error message showed on the vehicle screen saying "Check Electric Vehicle" system, and then later a second message that said to stop the vehicle. I immediately turned the car around parked it in the driveway again and called roadside assis... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2026
I had just finished charging the vehicle overnight on a Level 2 charger at a family members home. After leaving the driveway and driving a few hundred feet, an error message showed on the vehicle screen saying "Check Electric Vehicle" system, and then later a second message that said to stop the vehicle. I immediately turned the car around parked it in the driveway again and called roadside assis... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
Code P0087 on a Kia Telluride indicates that the fuel rail pressure is too low. This means the engine is not receiving enough fuel, often resulting in poor acceleration, stalling, rough idle, and decreased power. It is frequently caused by a faulty high-pressure fuel pump... This is the code is threw when it stalled in busy traffic on a hill. The CEL came on at this point. Then continued to stall... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
The engine failed completely, it has to be replaced. Yes, it’s available The engine could start a fire. It’s confirmed by an independent service. No, hasn’t been inspected by the manufacturer. The suv started shaking and making a sound, the engine light started flashing all of this in just one hour, and I have to stop.
Incident date: Nov 7, 2025
While making a left turn at a four-way intersection, the passenger side front door opened the latch failed. This vehicle is equipped with motorized door handles that retract/flush when the vehicle is in drive indicating that the doors are locked. The door handles were retracted while driving the vehicle and making the slight left turn. During the turn, the passenger side front door opened and wa... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2025
While making a left turn at a four-way intersection, the passenger side front door opened the latch failed. This vehicle is equipped with motorized door handles that retract/flush when the vehicle is in drive indicating that the doors are locked. The door handles were retracted while driving the vehicle and making the slight left turn. During the turn, the passenger side front door opened and wa... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2025
While making a left turn at a four-way intersection, the passenger side front door opened the latch failed. This vehicle is equipped with motorized door handles that retract/flush when the vehicle is in drive indicating that the doors are locked. The door handles were retracted while driving the vehicle and making the slight left turn. During the turn, the passenger side front door opened and wa... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
My 2022 Kia K5 GT-Line has had a recurring check engine light fault (P0471 — exhaust pressure sensor circuit) since approximately 9,874 miles in September 2022. The vehicle has been brought to the servicing Kia dealer a minimum of five times for this same fault across nearly 65,000 miles. It has never been permanently resolved. Most critically: dealer repair records from May 2025 (56,501 miles) ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
My 2022 Kia K5 GT-Line has had a recurring check engine light fault (P0471 — exhaust pressure sensor circuit) since approximately 9,874 miles in September 2022. The vehicle has been brought to the servicing Kia dealer a minimum of five times for this same fault across nearly 65,000 miles. It has never been permanently resolved. Most critically: dealer repair records from May 2025 (56,501 miles) ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
My 2022 Kia K5 GT-Line has had a recurring check engine light fault (P0471 — exhaust pressure sensor circuit) since approximately 9,874 miles in September 2022. The vehicle has been brought to the servicing Kia dealer a minimum of five times for this same fault across nearly 65,000 miles. It has never been permanently resolved. Most critically: dealer repair records from May 2025 (56,501 miles) ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Opened the sunroof. Used the automatic switch to close it. The sunroof jammed and would not close. It is popped up in the back. A piece on the left track broke off. The dealership wants over $6000 to repair the sunroof.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
Driver side door will not open from the outside. Handle no longer operates.
Incident date: Nov 28, 2025
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Nov 28, 2025
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Nov 28, 2025
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Feb 4, 2026
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Jan 20, 2026
Electrical propulsion failure resulting in 3 tow-ins. Vehicle goes into limp mode, slows to 20 mph on highway and then stops after about 2 miles. The issue appears related to the ICCU, fuse and 12V battery failures. History includes 6 attached ICCU related Repairs. #1 ICCU updated under recall SC271 at 31,678 miles. #2 Then the ICCU was replaced under recall SC302 at 45,059 miles. #3 Then t... Read more