CarOutlay

Kia reliability complaints

NHTSA complaint and recall rollup for 138 Kia make/model/year records in CarOutlay's dataset.

Pending review: this new brand hub is generated from real NHTSA rows and excluded from the sitemap until sampled. Data through 2026; reviewed June 2026.
NHTSA complaints
54,463
23,404 in the last 5 years
Vehicle records
138
make/model/year rows
Recall campaigns
337
raw NHTSA campaign count
Median complaints
265
per Kia vehicle record

Most-reported Kia problem areas

  • Engine 13,382

    97 Kia records include this component family

  • Electrical System 4,574

    117 Kia records include this component family

  • Unknown Or Other 4,024

    87 Kia records include this component family

  • Power Train 2,128

    67 Kia records include this component family

  • Air Bags 1,487

    54 Kia records include this component family

  • Steering 1,421

    26 Kia records include this component family

  • Structure 1,277

    29 Kia records include this component family

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1,041

    29 Kia records include this component family

Highest raw complaint records

2011 Kia Sorento 2,073 2013 Kia Optima 1,870 2016 Kia Sorento 1,602 2015 Kia Optima 1,385 2014 Kia Sorento 1,361 2013 Kia Sorento 1,292 2012 Kia Optima 1,259 2014 Kia Soul 1,213 2015 Kia Soul 1,210 2012 Kia Sorento 1,203 2016 Kia Soul 1,131 2016 Kia Optima 1,064

Recall leaders

2013 Kia Optima 9 recalls 2016 Kia Sorento 8 recalls 2011 Kia Sorento 7 recalls 2014 Kia Optima 7 recalls 2011 Kia Sportage 6 recalls 2014 Kia Sorento 6 recalls

These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle, and not financial, safety, or purchasing advice. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).