Brand record
Kia Recalls by Model: Reliability and Common Problems
Every Kia model in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2010 to 2025: the recall campaigns for each model, which models and years owners complain about most, and the problems they report.
NHTSA owner complaintsChecked Oct 2, 202632,431 complaints30 models
The Sorento drew the most owner complaints of any Kia in NHTSA's file for 2010 to 2025, then the Optima and the Soul. The Sorento and the Sportage have the most recall campaigns, 36 and 20.
Best-sellers draw the most reports, so a high count is not a failure rate. Check one car with its VIN.
The 2013 Optima engine is covered by recall 17V-224, for machining errors that can wear the bearings, and the 2011 Sorento by recall 23V-877, for an engine compartment fire. NHTSA's fire investigation of the 2011 to 2014 Optima and Sorento (EA21-003) led to recalls 20V-750 and 21V-844.
The 2016 Sorento has no engine recall; after NHTSA looked into head gasket and head bolt failures on the 2016 and 2017 Sorento 3.3L (PE23-019), Kia launched extended warranty campaign WTY035, for 15 years or 180,000 miles. Kia also extended the oil pressure switch warranty on the 2014 to 2018 Sorento to 15 years or 150,000 miles.
Kia recalls by model
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for each Kia model, model years 2010 to 2025, read Oct 2, 2026. Each campaign counts once per model, however many years it covers. NHTSA's recall service returned no answer for Forte 2020 and 2024; Optima 2020; Soul 2024 and 2025, so those years are not counted. Recall repairs are free at the dealer; check one car with its VIN.
- SorentoMost often: powertrain36
- SportageMost often: hydraulic braking20
- ForteMost often: airbag system18
- TellurideMost often: electrical system17
- OptimaMost often: fuel system16
- SoulMost often: engine15
Kia complaints by model
Owner complaints to NHTSA for each Kia model with at least 1,000 of them, model years 2010 to 2025, and the year that drew the most. A best-seller draws more reports than a rare model, so read these as counts, not failure rates. 24 smaller models are left out.
- SorentoMost: 2011 · engine8,592
- OptimaMost: 2013 · engine6,133
- SoulMost: 2015 · engine5,483
- SportageMost: 2017 · engine2,554
- ForteMost: 2014 · engine2,519
- TellurideMost: 2020 · exterior lighting1,925
Kia model years with the most complaints
The ten Kia model years owners complained about most, with the system they named most. These are the years to inspect hardest before you buy, not a verdict on every car.
- 2011 SorentoEngine19%1,517
- 2013 OptimaEngine44%1,379
- 2016 SorentoEngine55%1,244
- 2015 OptimaEngine62%1,006
- 2014 SorentoEngine39%982
- 2013 SorentoEngine51%980
- 2012 OptimaEngine43%919
- 2015 SoulEngine70%896
- 2014 SoulEngine61%893
- 2012 SorentoEngine53%877
Most common Kia problems
The systems owners named most across every Kia model and year in the file, counted from each model year's six most-named systems.
- Engine43% of the complaints13,999
- Electrical system14% of the complaints4,619
- Powertrain7% of the complaints2,350
- Steering5% of the complaints1,498
- Body structure4% of the complaints1,246
- Exterior lighting3% of the complaints1,073
Our guides for these problems
Check engine codes Kia owners name
The OBD-II codes owners wrote into their complaints for the 2 Kia model years we have read in full, one count per complaint. Tap a code to read our guide; grey codes have no guide yet.
Common questions
Are Kias reliable?
The complaint file can't grade a brand, because it counts reports, not failures per car sold. What it shows is where Kia owners report trouble: the engine most, then the electrical system, and the Sorento, Optima and Soul draw the most complaints.
Which Kias should you stay away from?
No model is bad in every year. The model years with the most owner complaints are 2011 Sorento, 2013 Optima, 2016 Sorento and 2015 Optima; inspect those hardest and check their recalls before you buy.
Which Kia has the most recalls?
The Sorento, with 36 recall campaigns across model years 2010 to 2025, then the Sportage with 20.
What is the most common problem with Kias?
Owners name the engine most, in 13,999 complaints, 43% of the Kia record, then the electrical system, in 4,619.
How do I check if my Kia has a recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN in our free recall checker or on NHTSA's recall page. It lists open recalls for that one car, and the dealer does the repair for free.
What the complaint record can't tell you
Sources
Show all 7 sources
Counts by system and year cover vehicles with at least 10 complaints.