TRAILER HITCHES
Defect Description
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris a
... nd moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.Read more
Consequence
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia cu
... stomer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.Read more
70,887 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
TRAILER HITCHES
Defect Description
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris a
... nd moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.Read more
Consequence
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia cu
... stomer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.Read more
70,887 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
TRAILER HITCHES
Defect Description
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris a
... nd moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.Read more
Consequence
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia cu
... stomer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.Read more
70,887 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
TRAILER HITCHES
Defect Description
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris a
... nd moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.Read more
Consequence
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia cu
... stomer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.Read more
70,887 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
TRAILER HITCHES
Defect Description
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris a
... nd moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.Read more
Consequence
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia cu
... stomer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.Read more
70,887 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
TRAILER HITCHES
Defect Description
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris a
... nd moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.Read more
Consequence
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia cu
... stomer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.Read more
70,887 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
TRAILER HITCHES
Defect Description
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris a
... nd moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.Read more
Consequence
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia cu
... stomer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.Read more
70,887 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Defect Description
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Consequence
An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software
... update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.Read more
379,931 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: Kia Motors America
Complaint Statistics
187 total complaints
16 crashes 17 fires 11 injuries
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
| ENGINE | 62 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 30 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 16 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 10 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 8 |
| STEERING | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 6 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 5 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine made an abnormal knocking sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a cylinder #4 misfire, a knock sensor, and bearing clearance measurement failure. The dealer informed
... the contact that the vehicle was not covered under warranty because the warranty was on the vehicle with the previous owner. The dealer contacted the manufacturer and was advised that the repair could not be covered under warranty because the failure was considered the consumer’s negligence. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
Consumes more than 1 liter of oil per 1000 miles
Incident date: Feb 27, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 70,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 107,000 while having a routine
... oil change. The service records indicated that the mileage had been altered.Read more
Incident date: Feb 8, 2026
Car was driving, stopped at a stoplight, never moved again. 3 lights came on, Check Engine, Check Oil (Which had been serviced previously by a month and a half), and Check Battery. Bob Sight Kia has stated Engine issues associated with the rods failing and the starter not functioning due the the m
... anifold, I am uncertain to the technical terms. It was late at night, the area only semi lit up and I had to wait for a tow in unsafe conditions as I was stuck in a turn lane. Prior to the failure, no issues. This is my only means of transport as a waitress, I had recently moved into this area and plan to move again at the end of year, so my car is much needed. From the theft issues of this car to the mechanical issues over the last year, I can honestly say I will not be buying a Kia again. What I need to know now is has the threshold been met by the standards you have set through complaints by consumers like myself and the manufacturer information that a recall or a means of financially assisting this situation exist yet? The repairs quoted are literally almost half of what I owe on the car left and I do not know what to do, but am hoping to hear from you.Read more
Incident date: Feb 8, 2026
Car was driving, stopped at a stoplight, never moved again. 3 lights came on, Check Engine, Check Oil (Which had been serviced previously by a month and a half), and Check Battery. Bob Sight Kia has stated Engine issues associated with the rods failing and the starter not functioning due the the m
... anifold, I am uncertain to the technical terms. It was late at night, the area only semi lit up and I had to wait for a tow in unsafe conditions as I was stuck in a turn lane. Prior to the failure, no issues. This is my only means of transport as a waitress, I had recently moved into this area and plan to move again at the end of year, so my car is much needed. From the theft issues of this car to the mechanical issues over the last year, I can honestly say I will not be buying a Kia again. What I need to know now is has the threshold been met by the standards you have set through complaints by consumers like myself and the manufacturer information that a recall or a means of financially assisting this situation exist yet? The repairs quoted are literally almost half of what I owe on the car left and I do not know what to do, but am hoping to hear from you.Read more
Incident date: Jan 14, 2026
I came home from vacation and found my car completely dead. We took the battery in and ended up changing this. Soon later my cars power steering and dashboard would go in and out. I took it to Mark Kia who believed it to be the alternator, so they replace this. I picked the car up and not even 20 mi
... nutes later the same issues were occurring so I took it back where then they replaced the connector. I picked up my car and about a month went by and same thing occurred while I was driving even having my car completely die while driving it. I took it back in and now they believe it to be the engine harness.Read more
Incident date: Jan 14, 2026
I came home from vacation and found my car completely dead. We took the battery in and ended up changing this. Soon later my cars power steering and dashboard would go in and out. I took it to Mark Kia who believed it to be the alternator, so they replace this. I picked the car up and not even 20 mi
... nutes later the same issues were occurring so I took it back where then they replaced the connector. I picked up my car and about a month went by and same thing occurred while I was driving even having my car completely die while driving it. I took it back in and now they believe it to be the engine harness.Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2026
In April of 2025, it was noticed that my Sportage was consuming oil. There were no leaks or smoke just having to put oil in. Two mechanics stated that’s just Kia. On the night of 1/30/2026 my Sportage had an engine light come on. After the winter storm, I was able to get the code read and it
... came back as a Cylinder 1 Misfire. In May of 2025 I replaced all coil packs and spark plugs. On 2/1/26 we replaced the coil packs and spark plug. On 2/4/2026, Kia told me I have to replace the engine. I am still paying the vehicle off. This does seem to be an issue with Kia engines 2.4 from what I’m reading.Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the front of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the knock sensor ha
... d failed. The knock sensors were replaced. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, two months after the knock sensors were replaced, the contact heard an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal and failed to move forward. The caution warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact called an independent mechanic, who arrived at the location where the contact had pulled over. The independent mechanic used a handheld code reader, and an unknown code showed that the problem was due to the oil and engine. The independent mechanic checked the oil, and the oil level was low. The contact stated that the oil had been changed a week prior to the failure. The independent mechanic added oil, and the vehicle restarted, and the warning lights disappeared. The contact was able to continue driving the vehicle. However, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the knock sensor had failed, and the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. However, the oil was changed. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who confirmed that the knock sensor had failed, and that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil, causing damage to the engine. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact was adding oil to the engine two or three times per week, and the oil was changed every two weeks. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2026
On [XXX], I had a scheduled repair appointment for my 2020 Kia Sportage, which is experiencing swaying and instability, and unable to keep the vehicle straight at highway speeds in the front end, and ABS/brake issue on the driver-side front wheel. During the service appointment, my service advisor,
... informed me that a metal undershield was not secure and recommended its removal due to not being vital to the safety, which I agreed to. However, the main concerns of swaying and brake issues remained unresolved. the master mechanic, test-drove the vehicle but was unable to reproduce the issue. I was told that a possible cause could be a messed-up air gap or a toe ring starting to split. That it would be $500 if that’s not the issue. I need to mention I have a warranty. I scheduled another service appointment for January 16th, 2026, hoping for a resolution. However, the service advisor, informed me that the technician was unable to find any issues with the vehicle after a test drive. I questioned the findings, pointing out that the mileage in and out was only 3 miles, making it impossible to properly diagnose the issue at highway speeds and was told it was taken down [XXX] which is not doable in 3 miles. Given the circumstances, I am concerned about the trustworthiness of the diagnostics and repairs performed on my vehicle, including the recall. I have audio and video evidence to support my claims. I would appreciate answers to the following questions: 1. How are complimentary car washes handled? 2. How was my vehicle driven on [XXX] to diagnose the swaying and inability to keep the vehicle straight in 3 miles or zero miles? 3. Why was I advised that I would be charged $500 for a new axle if that was not the issue when I brought the vehicle in for diagnostic testing? 4. How is my vehicle being diagnosed at highway speeds with no mileage or 3 miles added to the odometer? 5. How vital is the removed metal heat shield to the safety of the car? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2026
On [XXX], I had a scheduled repair appointment for my 2020 Kia Sportage, which is experiencing swaying and instability, and unable to keep the vehicle straight at highway speeds in the front end, and ABS/brake issue on the driver-side front wheel. During the service appointment, my service advisor,
... informed me that a metal undershield was not secure and recommended its removal due to not being vital to the safety, which I agreed to. However, the main concerns of swaying and brake issues remained unresolved. the master mechanic, test-drove the vehicle but was unable to reproduce the issue. I was told that a possible cause could be a messed-up air gap or a toe ring starting to split. That it would be $500 if that’s not the issue. I need to mention I have a warranty. I scheduled another service appointment for January 16th, 2026, hoping for a resolution. However, the service advisor, informed me that the technician was unable to find any issues with the vehicle after a test drive. I questioned the findings, pointing out that the mileage in and out was only 3 miles, making it impossible to properly diagnose the issue at highway speeds and was told it was taken down [XXX] which is not doable in 3 miles. Given the circumstances, I am concerned about the trustworthiness of the diagnostics and repairs performed on my vehicle, including the recall. I have audio and video evidence to support my claims. I would appreciate answers to the following questions: 1. How are complimentary car washes handled? 2. How was my vehicle driven on [XXX] to diagnose the swaying and inability to keep the vehicle straight in 3 miles or zero miles? 3. Why was I advised that I would be charged $500 for a new axle if that was not the issue when I brought the vehicle in for diagnostic testing? 4. How is my vehicle being diagnosed at highway speeds with no mileage or 3 miles added to the odometer? 5. How vital is the removed metal heat shield to the safety of the car? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2026
On [XXX], I had a scheduled repair appointment for my 2020 Kia Sportage, which is experiencing swaying and instability, and unable to keep the vehicle straight at highway speeds in the front end, and ABS/brake issue on the driver-side front wheel. During the service appointment, my service advisor,
... informed me that a metal undershield was not secure and recommended its removal due to not being vital to the safety, which I agreed to. However, the main concerns of swaying and brake issues remained unresolved. the master mechanic, test-drove the vehicle but was unable to reproduce the issue. I was told that a possible cause could be a messed-up air gap or a toe ring starting to split. That it would be $500 if that’s not the issue. I need to mention I have a warranty. I scheduled another service appointment for January 16th, 2026, hoping for a resolution. However, the service advisor, informed me that the technician was unable to find any issues with the vehicle after a test drive. I questioned the findings, pointing out that the mileage in and out was only 3 miles, making it impossible to properly diagnose the issue at highway speeds and was told it was taken down [XXX] which is not doable in 3 miles. Given the circumstances, I am concerned about the trustworthiness of the diagnostics and repairs performed on my vehicle, including the recall. I have audio and video evidence to support my claims. I would appreciate answers to the following questions: 1. How are complimentary car washes handled? 2. How was my vehicle driven on [XXX] to diagnose the swaying and inability to keep the vehicle straight in 3 miles or zero miles? 3. Why was I advised that I would be charged $500 for a new axle if that was not the issue when I brought the vehicle in for diagnostic testing? 4. How is my vehicle being diagnosed at highway speeds with no mileage or 3 miles added to the odometer? 5. How vital is the removed metal heat shield to the safety of the car? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2025
I was driving my 2020 Kia Sportage recently and experienced a safety issue 3 times within 30 minutes. I was driving on a highway (Pennsylvania Turnpike/I-76) at night. Prior to the issue occurring, I drove through an area where snow was falling, there was fresh salt on the road, and I had been behin
... d salt trucks briefly at different times. While driving through the snow and with exposure to the salt, my car notified me that the forward Collision Detection system could not operate because the sensors were blocked. Some time later in the drive, after that notification had turned off and remained off for a bit of time, I engaged my cruise control which uses the forward Collision Detection system. At 3 different times, I either approached a barrier (which run a large portion of I-76 to separate the east and west bound lanes) or a vehicle (I believe it was a semi truck) in the lane next to me while entering a curve. While entering the curve, the sensor saw these items and falsely detected a vehicle in front of me, and responded by rapidly slowing my vehicle. Two times the vehicle speed dropped about 20 mph within 30 seconds. On each occasion, I was fortunate that there was no vehicle close behind me that likely would have rear-ended me.Read more
Incident date: Jun 3, 2024
My 2020 Kia Sportage continues to consume too much oil. There is not a leak detected where I park my car during work, nor in my garage. I need to add oil to the vehicle every other week.
Incident date: Nov 24, 2025
Engine started tapping/knocking and oil light started flashing. Once home I checked the dipstick. Appeared burnt with no oil on dipstick. Waited an hour to cool and started adding oil. Added 2 quarts nothing on dipstick. Added 2 half quarts and finally a touch on the end of dipstick. Added mor
... e oil and finally got it to the bottom the range. It would take at least another quart to get to proper levels. Took to dealership where I was told I needed a new engine. Prior to the failure there was NEVER any indicator light letting me know oil was low. Just as a car goes low on gas and the gas light comes on you would think it would do the same for 'low oil'....that NEVER happened. This is a 2020 KIA Sportage with a 2.4L Theta II engine. There is a class action lawsuit for the years 2011-2019. I unfortunately, fall oustide of the covered suit. It's still the same engine with the same faultsRead more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2025
I own a 2020 Kia Sportage that is currently within the 100,000-mile power-train warranty. The vehicle has been experiencing EXCESSIVE OIL consumption, requiring oil to be added between scheduled oil changes, despite no visible leaks or warning indicators. I have consistently maintained the vehicle a
... ccording to Kia's recommended maintenance schedule. Oil changes were performed regularly, including some done at home. For those oil changes, I have kept vehicle maintained with regular oil changes and more the last 9 months. There is NO evidence that improper maintenance caused the oil consumption. Will be reaching out to Kia customer service to see what next steps are. Maintenance dept constantly wants to fix things on car that are not needed yet will not report issues with Engine. Very disappointed customer.Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2025
Driving to grandmas Christmas weekend on the highway all of a sudden my car couldn’t keep speed was shaking the check engine light came on. Now my cylinder one psi is only 50. I have noticed over 100 complaints with very similar car issues. I just bought this car 5 months ago from a dealership. I
... have barely put 4,000 miles on the car myself.Read more
Incident date: Oct 18, 2023
clear coat peeling inspected by dealer
Incident date: Dec 31, 1969
Vehicle has excessive wandering, that is intermittent, during traffic, surrounding traffic on freeways and on slight wind and rain. The vehicle exhibits behavior that is very very unstable.. I’ve had the vehicle for about three years and it’s been doing this for about two years now intermittentl
... y I recently took it into the Kia dealership in Stocton to have it looked at nothing was determined other than the state of the problem.Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 31, 1969
Vehicle has excessive wandering, that is intermittent, during traffic, surrounding traffic on freeways and on slight wind and rain. The vehicle exhibits behavior that is very very unstable.. I’ve had the vehicle for about three years and it’s been doing this for about two years now intermittentl
... y I recently took it into the Kia dealership in Stocton to have it looked at nothing was determined other than the state of the problem.Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 31, 1969
Vehicle has excessive wandering, that is intermittent, during traffic, surrounding traffic on freeways and on slight wind and rain. The vehicle exhibits behavior that is very very unstable.. I’ve had the vehicle for about three years and it’s been doing this for about two years now intermittentl
... y I recently took it into the Kia dealership in Stocton to have it looked at nothing was determined other than the state of the problem.Read more
Crash
Incident date: Oct 22, 2025
We only have 58,000 on our car . We had extremely low oil and light never came on it blinked randomly. We still had 2,000 miles left before oil change was due . Car was almost bone dry if we did not check we would have been in big trouble.We were told these cars are known to burn oil and we should c
... ome in every 3/4 weeks depending on how much we drive to have oil added . This is ridiculous! If this place is right about burning oil that should be recalled and fixed and covered . If this is the case, and not honored repair we will never get a Kia ever again . I am reaching out to others as this is clearly a big issue ,not being addressed by anyone:(Read more
Incident date: Oct 22, 2025
We only have 58,000 on our car . We had extremely low oil and light never came on it blinked randomly. We still had 2,000 miles left before oil change was due . Car was almost bone dry if we did not check we would have been in big trouble.We were told these cars are known to burn oil and we should c
... ome in every 3/4 weeks depending on how much we drive to have oil added . This is ridiculous! If this place is right about burning oil that should be recalled and fixed and covered . If this is the case, and not honored repair we will never get a Kia ever again . I am reaching out to others as this is clearly a big issue ,not being addressed by anyone:(Read more
Incident date: Oct 22, 2025
We only have 58,000 on our car . We had extremely low oil and light never came on it blinked randomly. We still had 2,000 miles left before oil change was due . Car was almost bone dry if we did not check we would have been in big trouble.We were told these cars are known to burn oil and we should c
... ome in every 3/4 weeks depending on how much we drive to have oil added . This is ridiculous! If this place is right about burning oil that should be recalled and fixed and covered . If this is the case, and not honored repair we will never get a Kia ever again . I am reaching out to others as this is clearly a big issue ,not being addressed by anyone:(Read more
Incident date: Nov 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The engine oil light was flashing and turning on and off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who confirmed that an oil consumption test was needed. The vehicle was not d
... iagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2025
I own a 2020 Kia Sportage that is currently within the 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The vehicle has been experiencing EXCESSIVE oil consumption, requiring oil to be added between scheduled oil changes, despite no visible leaks or warning indicators. I have consistently maintained the vehicle ac
... cording to Kia's recommended maintenance schedule. Oil changes were performed regularly, including some done at home. For those oil changes, I have provided bank statements showing the purchases of oil and filters from Autozone, which is a valid form of maintenance. There is NO evidence that improper maintenance caused the oil consumption. The vehicle was kept by the Kia dealership for 18 days during their evaluation. Despite providing documentation and cooperation throughout the process, Kia denied my warranty claim. Denying warranty coverage solely due to oil changes performed at home is not consistent with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which requires proof that improper maintenance directly caused the failure.Read more
Incident date: Nov 22, 2025
The engine failed catastrophically while the vehicle was in operation. The failure involved internal engine components and resulted in the vehicle losing power. The vehicle is currently at a Kia dealership and is available for inspection upon request. I was driving at highway speeds with my childre
... n in the vehicle when the engine failure occurred. The sudden loss of power created a dangerous situation where I was unable to maintain speed with traffic, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision. I had to safely maneuver the vehicle out of traffic while vehicles were passing at high speed. Yes. The Kia dealership confirmed engine failure after inspection. The engine was deemed inoperable and required replacement. The vehicle has been inspected by a Kia dealership, and the issue was escalated to Kia America. Kia reviewed the case and denied warranty coverage. The vehicle remains available for further inspection if requested by NHTSA or the manufacturer. There were no immediate warning lights or messages prior to the failure. The engine failure occurred suddenly while driving on the highway, without sufficient warning to prevent the unsafe condition.Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while taking the vehicle in for an oil change, the contact was informed that the engine was not consuming oil, which caused concern because the vehicle had previously been fueled by the contact. The vehicle was taken to an independent mec
... hanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.Read more
Incident date: Jun 3, 2025
My car is a 2020 Kia sportage with 65,000 miles. We bought it bran new. Since we bought the car we've had problems. We took it to the Kia dealership and they did an oil consumption test. They said the car needed a new engine. Kia cooperation refuses to replace the engine and want us to pay for it be
... cause they due to lack of documented oil changes.Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. The contact also stated that the vehicle required an oil ch
... ange every month. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
I've had this car for a little over 3 years, after the 1st year of having the vehicle it started consuming more oil between oil changes. My low oil light would come on in-between oil changes and so I also carried extra oil with me. I just had a routine tune up with oil change and all new spark plugs
... and I new belt with pully motor 2 months ago. Now I need a whole new motor. It currently is only running on 3 cylinders and has exhaust coming up through the engine. All out of nowhere. Routine oil changes and tune ups, have all my receipts to prove how well kept up on it has been. Single mother without a vehicle and still 20 grand in debit over a car I can no longer drive.Read more
Incident date: Sep 28, 2025
While driving uphill on Interstate 15 North near Temecula, California, the vehicle suddenly lost engine power without warning. My speed dropped from approximately 75 mph to around 60 mph in heavy traffic. This unexpected loss of acceleration created an immediate safety hazard, as vehicles behind me
... were traveling at freeway speeds and I was nearly rear-ended. I had to maneuver from the far-left lane to the shoulder while the vehicle continued to lose power. Once stopped, the check engine light was flashing, and the engine temperature gauge showed extreme heat, raising concern for a potential fire. The vehicle was towed to a Kia dealership, where technicians confirmed a complete engine failure and recommended a full short-block replacement. The vehicle has been regularly serviced and has more than a dozen documented service visits, including visits for ongoing oil-consumption concerns. Despite this, the low oil warning light never illuminated when the engine oil level was low; the only alert that appeared was the routine maintenance reminder. The lack of a low oil warning contributed to undetected oil loss and sudden engine failure. This failure occurred at approximately 92,000 miles and mirrors previously reported engine and bearing defects in similar Kia models. The vehicle and documentation are available for inspection upon request.Read more
Incident date: Sep 21, 2025
Subject: Complaint Regarding Excessive Oil Consumption in Kia Vehicle I am writing to formally report a persistent safety and reliability concern regarding my Kia Sportage. Despite diligently maintaining the vehicle according to Kia’s recommendations, the engine has been excessively consuming oil
... . This issue has been ongoing for approximately two years, causing repeated inconvenience, potential safety risks, and significant concern regarding the vehicle’s reliability. I reported this problem to Kia multiple times, seeking a resolution under the warranty and for guidance on repair or remediation. Unfortunately, my concerns have been consistently minimized or dismissed, and no meaningful solution has been offered. I was informed by Kia representatives that the issue does not warrant action, despite evidence that similar engine oil consumption problems have affected other vehicles of the same make and model. This situation has left me without recourse and raises concerns about the safety, durability, and quality of this Kia vehicle. I respectfully request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigate this matter to determine whether it constitutes a defect that could affect the safety or reliability of Kia vehicles and to ensure that affected consumers are protected. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.Read more
Incident date: Oct 13, 2025
My Kia Sportage was stolen, however a couple of years ago I had the Kia Anti Theft Logic software updated on the car. I’ve been told that although it does not prevent anyone from breaking in, they should not have been able to move the car. Prior to this, the engine is running on 3 cylinders instea
... d of 4 which has caused major issues with the car burning oil rapidly.Read more
Incident date: Oct 13, 2025
My Kia Sportage was stolen, however a couple of years ago I had the Kia Anti Theft Logic software updated on the car. I’ve been told that although it does not prevent anyone from breaking in, they should not have been able to move the car. Prior to this, the engine is running on 3 cylinders instea
... d of 4 which has caused major issues with the car burning oil rapidly.Read more
Incident date: Sep 20, 2025
There were no known issues with my vehicle not even a check engine light or anything was on. I was driving then the car randomly stopped accelerating. It would only go up to about 25 miles per hour. Something started rattling under the hood and it cut off in the middle of an intersection. I was almo
... st hit because it was a 4 way intersection which put myself and all of the other cars on the road at risk. A police offer had to direct traffic until a tow truck made it. I had to get my car towed to a mechanic shop and I was told my engine blew. I checked for engine recalls using my VIN but nothing came up but my car had the same issue and symptoms as all of the 2020 Kia sportages that did have recalls.Read more
Incident date: Oct 3, 2025
In 2024 the car was losing power. I took the car to the shop. I had to replace some type of rings. the cost was like 600.00. Then the car stated using oil like crazy. When I went in for a oil changed I told the man that was doing the oil change. The looked over the car and said that everything was f
... ine. I continued to drive my car. But I was getting oil changes early and having to add oil to car. Then on October 3 2025 my car powered down and was towed to the shop on October 6th. Then on October 9th I was told my car engine was gone.Read more
Incident date: Sep 28, 2025
On Sunday, [XXX], I was driving my 2020 Kia Sportage on [XXX] in California at approximately 75 miles per hour. Without warning, the engine made a loud, abnormal noise and the vehicle suddenly and dangerously lost power. My speed dropped abruptly to around 62 miles per hour, nearly causing a rear-e
... nd collision as surrounding vehicles were traveling at freeway speed. I was forced to immediately pull over to the shoulder to avoid being struck. At that point, the engine was running extremely hot, creating a hazardous situation. Out of concern for my safety, and with fear that the vehicle could potentially catch fire, I exited the vehicle and waited at a safe distance until I could arrange for a tow truck. This incident placed me and other motorists in serious danger. The abrupt loss of power at freeway speed could have easily resulted in a major accident. It is important to note that this Sportage has been meticulously maintained, with 12 documented service records in just 2.5 years of ownership. This clearly demonstrates proper care and maintenance, ruling out negligence as a cause of the failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)Read more
Incident date: Sep 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who discovered metal shavings in the engine oil. The vehicle was later towed to th
... e local dealer who confirmed that the piston rings had failed and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 55,445.Read more
Incident date: Sep 2, 2025
Engine Overheated lights on dash HECU ABS ADAS CRUISE CONTROL TIRE SENSOR WINDOW DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY AUTO DIMMER RADIO BLANKS OUT WATER PUMP WENT OUT TOW TRUCK DAMAGED MY CAR. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY DAMAGES UNTIL I WAS ACCUSED BY DEALERSHIP I HIT SOMETHING AS I DID NOT. I HAVE WITNESSES N PICTURE
... S.Read more
Incident date: Sep 2, 2025
Engine Overheated lights on dash HECU ABS ADAS CRUISE CONTROL TIRE SENSOR WINDOW DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY AUTO DIMMER RADIO BLANKS OUT WATER PUMP WENT OUT TOW TRUCK DAMAGED MY CAR. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY DAMAGES UNTIL I WAS ACCUSED BY DEALERSHIP I HIT SOMETHING AS I DID NOT. I HAVE WITNESSES N PICTURE
... S.Read more
Incident date: Sep 2, 2025
Engine Overheated lights on dash HECU ABS ADAS CRUISE CONTROL TIRE SENSOR WINDOW DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY AUTO DIMMER RADIO BLANKS OUT WATER PUMP WENT OUT TOW TRUCK DAMAGED MY CAR. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY DAMAGES UNTIL I WAS ACCUSED BY DEALERSHIP I HIT SOMETHING AS I DID NOT. I HAVE WITNESSES N PICTURE
... S.Read more
Incident date: Sep 23, 2025
I leased my 2020 Kia Sportage LX in August 2019 and purchased the Vehicle after the lease. In April 2025, the Vehicle started emitting a strong gas smell after filling. Often, the pump would stop short around 8-10 gals instead of the usual 13-14 gals. I attributed both to perhaps cheap gas and fault
... y pumps. On September 23, 2025, I went to the dealership to check the gas odor and possible gas leakage and ticking engine noise. I ended up having to replace the entire fuel tank. The car is now 6 years old and, of course, out of its 5-year warranty. The report indicates that the leak was from the top of the tank and in the cabin; therefore, nothing was caused by normal wear or damage. Upon searching, I found that in January of 2019, previous years were recalled to replace the fuel tank due to similar issues (Gas Tank Recall # SC172). Some of these models had recalls for the KSDS as well, and my vehicle had been recalled and repaired. My concern is that this is my 3rd Kia and 6th car total in life. Never have I had to replace a gas tank. I firmly believe some of these 2020 vehicles were built at the end of 2018 with the same parts in the 2019 recall; however were missed due to recall time and manufacturing rollouts.Read more
Incident date: Sep 23, 2025
I leased my 2020 Kia Sportage LX in August 2019 and purchased the Vehicle after the lease. In April 2025, the Vehicle started emitting a strong gas smell after filling. Often, the pump would stop short around 8-10 gals instead of the usual 13-14 gals. I attributed both to perhaps cheap gas and fault
... y pumps. On September 23, 2025, I went to the dealership to check the gas odor and possible gas leakage and ticking engine noise. I ended up having to replace the entire fuel tank. The car is now 6 years old and, of course, out of its 5-year warranty. The report indicates that the leak was from the top of the tank and in the cabin; therefore, nothing was caused by normal wear or damage. Upon searching, I found that in January of 2019, previous years were recalled to replace the fuel tank due to similar issues (Gas Tank Recall # SC172). Some of these models had recalls for the KSDS as well, and my vehicle had been recalled and repaired. My concern is that this is my 3rd Kia and 6th car total in life. Never have I had to replace a gas tank. I firmly believe some of these 2020 vehicles were built at the end of 2018 with the same parts in the 2019 recall; however were missed due to recall time and manufacturing rollouts.Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Top clear coat started peeling on handles, mirrors and above the trunk.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Top clear coat started peeling on handles, mirrors and above the trunk.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the oil warning light flickered on the instrument panel. While the contact's son was driving the vehicle at highway speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact's son p
... ulled off to the right shoulder of the highway, and the vehicle entered LIMP Mode. Despite the failure, the driver was able to drive the vehicle back to the residence. The contact called the dealer and made an appointment to have the vehicle serviced. While driving the vehicle to the dealer, the failure occurred again, and the vehicle failed to accelerate above 10 MPH. Due to the failure, the contact took the vehicle to a dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The following day, the contact called the dealer and was informed that the engine had not failed, and a knock sensor test was performed which restored the engine function. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was taken back to the original dealer, where an appointment had been scheduled. The dealer performed a series of oil consumption tests and monitored the oil consumption every 1,000 miles. After four consumption tests, the contact was informed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact took the vehicle back to the independent mechanic and was informed that the oil consumption had worsened, and that the vehicle had consumed 4 quarts of oil in less than 5,000 miles. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.Read more
Incident date: Sep 12, 2025
Driving 70mph on the freeway and check engine light started flashing. Car immediately went into “limp mode” and within a few hundred feet went from 75mhp 30mph. Used ODB reader and code p1326 came up for “engine knock sensor”. Engine was two quarts low on oil. No low oil warning. I just had
... an oil change a month ago and there is no apparent oil leak. When I opened the oil cap small amount of smoke was visible coming up from engine. Car has 75400 miles on it. I reset the code, put 2 quarts of oil and drove 2 miles to a Kia dealership. The said they couldn’t look into it since I reset the code. I drove another 4 miles and the same code and symptoms showed up. Having my car towed home because the dealer can’t inspect until next week. Other Kia’s have had this same error code and were recalled with engine replacement.Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2025
The contact owned a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that driving at 25 MPH with her daughter, another driver on the opposite lane, alerted them that the engine was on fire. Upon checking the rearview mirror, the contact noticed black smoke. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road
... , turned off the vehicle, and exited. The front hood had partially opened on its own, revealing flames coming from the engine. Coolant was leaking from under the passenger side of the vehicle. The contact called 911. No warning lights were illuminated before or after the incident. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was required. The contact has experienced panic attacks and issues sleeping as a result of the vehicle fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed, but the report number was unknown. The vehicle was towed off the scene to Leo's Auto Body Parts. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 63,120.Read more
Fire
Incident date: Aug 7, 2025
Update: after second opinion from another auto shop they said my car entered limp mode to prevent fire. Again, I had no warning! Kia tried to tell me the engine light must have came on and cleared itself (engine lights don’t clear themselves) and they refuse to check the recall fix of the HECU. Th
... ey tell me the recall has been fixed so it can’t be the problem. Myself and my kids were put at risk as this problem causes risk of wrecks or even fires and Kia is not wanting to take any responsibility for it. These are the same issues as other Kia’s but because of my vin number they won’t even speak to me (literally, called Kia Clarksville and left a message with a woman for service to call me back for repairs and they won’t even call me back to schedule the repair - they are charging me over $6000)Read more
Showing 50 of 187 complaints.
NHTSA Safety Investigations — KIA SPORTAGE
Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.
EA — Closed
— Model Year: 2002
FAN BLADE CRACKING/SEPARATION
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. (KIA) HAS IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN THE PLASTIC ENGINE COOLING FAN IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL.KIA'S DEFECT REPORT STATES, ...HEAT GENERATED BY THE ENGINE CAUSES REPEATED BENDING DEFORMATION OF THE POLYPROPYLENE COOLING FAN...INITIATING CRACKS IN TH
... E FAN.THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCES GENERATED BY THE ROTATION OF THE BLADES CAN CAUSE THE CRACKS TO PROPAGATE UNTIL COMPLETE SEPARATION OCCURS...KIA ESTIMATES APPROXIMATELY 35,090 VEHICLES WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL, AS SOME OF THE 46,887 VEHICLES PRODUCED HAVE ALREADY HAD THE FAN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.KIA DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE FAN WITH A FAN MADE OF IMPROVED MATERIAL.THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2006 AS PE06-042 AND UPGRADED TO ENGINEERING ANALYSIS EA07-001 ON JANUARY 22, 2007.PLEASE SEE NHTSA RECALL 07V161 FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATIONRead more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2002
FAN BLADE CRACKING/SEPARATION
THE INVESTIGATION OF ENGINE COOLING FANS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WAS OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2006 AS PE06-042.THE BASIS FOR OPENING WAS 10 CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING FAN BLADE CRACKING AND BLADE SEPARATION.SIX OF THE REPORTS INDICATED THE SEPARATED FAN BLADES CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE COMPARTMENT
... COMPONENTS.KIA HAS PROVIDED ADDITIONAL CONSUMER REPORTS AND INFORMATION IN ITS RESPONSE TO PE06-042.THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-001) TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE CONSEQUENCE OF FAN BLADE SEPARATION IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.Read more
EA — Closed
— Model Year: 1996
FUEL TANK LEAKAGE
A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE
... .THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS INVOLVE NON-SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS OF FUEL LEAKAGE WHERE MORE THAN ONE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENT WAS REPLACED.ODI'S ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON LEAKS OCCURRING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TANK DUE TO CORROSIVE FAILURE CAUSED BY DISRUPTION OF THE PROTECTIVE PVC COATING.THE ANALYSISINDICATES THAT SUCH LEAKS ARE RARE AND DO NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF AN INCREASING TREND. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.Read more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 1999
FUEL TANK LEAKAGE
ON JANUARY 4, 2006, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE STEEL FUEL STORAGE TANK IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2000 KIA SPORTAGE VEHICLES.ODI SENT A LETTER TO THE MANUFACTURER ON JANUARY 25, 2006 REQUESTING INFORMATION AB
... OUT THESE AND OTHER KIA SPORTAGE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 40 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGE FUEL STORAGE TANK LEAKAGE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ANALYSIS OF MANUFACTURER DATA INDICATES THAT ALLEGED FUEL LEAKAGE AT OR NEAR THE STORAGE TANK MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT FAILURE MODES INVOLVING THE FUEL CONTAINMENT AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.KIA HAS IDENTIFIED CORROSION AS A PRIMARY CAUSAL FACTOR RELATED TO FUEL STORAGE TANK COMPLAINTS AND CONTINUED FUEL SYSTEM PART SALES.ACCORDING TO KIA, FUEL TANK CORROSION CLAIMS RELATED TO LEAKAGE CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TWO CATEGORIES: LOWER TANK CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTERIOR CORROSION DUE TO DISRUPTION OF THE POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) PROTECTIVE COATING AND UPPER TANK CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH CORROSION AT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT MOUNTING PLATE AREA.THE MANUFACTURER'S INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED FUEL TANK CORROSION RESULTING IN LEAKAGE IS ONGOING.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-007) TO FURTHER STUDY THE FREQUENCY, SCOPE, AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.Read more
EA — Closed
— Model Year: 1999
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION
THE MANUFACTURER HAS INITIATED A SAFETY RELATED CAMPAIGN TO RECALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES FOR CORRECTION OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DEFECT.THE CORRECTIVE ACTION IS TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS/BUCKLES.THIS SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 04V305.
RQ — Closed
— Model Year: 2001
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION
INFORMATION RECEIVED AND ANALYZED DURING THIS RQ DISCLOSED THAT MY 1999 AND 2000 KIA SEPHIA AND SPORTAGE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE SAME SAFETY BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY AS THOSE RECALLED IN CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.THESE LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE IDENTIFIED AS TYPE A97. ODI ANALYSES IND
... ICATE A CONTINUING TREND OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FOLLOWING A SERIES OF DESIGN MODIFICATIONS MADE BY KIA TO IMPROVE THE A97 LATCH ASSEMBLY.MY 2001 AND 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH DIFFERENT DESIGN LATCH ASSEMBLIES (TYPE DB-6 OR AUTOLIV) AND EXHIBIT A MUCH LOWER COMPLAINT COUNT.THIS RQ HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN EA IN ORDER TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TYPE A97 LATCH ASSEMBLIES.Read more
RQ — Closed
— Model Year: 1998
ENGINE STALLING POST-RECALL
RQ02-013 WAS OPENED TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND ADEQUACY OF RECALL 99V-325, WHICH INVOLVED MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENGINE FUEL INJECTION WIRE HARNESS (HARNESS).VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THE RECALL POPULATION HAVE SHOWN NO SIGNS OF A DEFECT TREND.THE MAJORITY OF RECALL REMEDY FAILURES IDENTIFIED WERE REPAIRED
... WITHIN ONE DAY OF THE INITIAL WORK.SUBSEQUENT FAILURE EXPERIENCE IS MINIMAL (249/55,548 VEHICLES REMEDIED).FIELD DATA SHOW NO INDICATION OF AN ONGOING CONCERN: OF 627 POST-RECALL STALLING-RELATED WIRE HARNESS WARRANTY REPAIRS, ONLY SEVEN OCCURRED IN 2003.CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FUEL INJECTION WIRE HARNESS SALESHAVE DECLINED SINCE 2001.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF TWELVE POTENTIALLY RELEVANT CONSUMER COMPLAINTS SINCE 2001.UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED.THE RECALL QUERY IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT.Read more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 1996
SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION
BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 25, 2002, KIA ADVISED NHTSA THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED.SPECIFIC CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY KIA HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA AT THIS TIME.THE SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.
DP — Closed
— Model Year: 2000
VEHICLE ROLLOVER
There is no summary currently available
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 1999
WINDSHIELD WIPER
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2000
INCORRECT BATTERY JUMP-START
ALLEGE BATTETY MAY EXPLODE IF OWNER'S ATTEMPT TO JUMP-STATE THE VEHICLE BY FOLLOWING THE OWNER'S MANUAL DIAGRAM
EA — Closed
— Model Year: 1998
TURN SIGHAL
There is no summary currently available
SQ — Closed
— Model Year: 1997
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON
A monthly Technical Times published by Kia and distributed to dealer technicians identifying a wiring harness problem that could cause connectors C123 and C124 to pull apart slightly during engine load changes.This could lead to erratic or tempory loss
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 1998
WINDSHIELD WIPER
ALLEGED WINDSHIELD WIPER BECOMES INOPERATIVE WHEN THE WIPER ARM AND PIVOT SEPARATE