KIA Motors
reviews and complaints

I was driving from Florida to Ohio and noticed paint peeling on my roof and hood when I stopped for gas. I did not want to drive back to Florida with this issue. I took it to a body shop and they were able to fix the areas but stated the paint is a manufacturer defect. When the shop went to start their work all of the paint started peeling off both the hood and roof. I did not have the time to get all of this fixed so asked them to repair it as best as they could to get me through the next month. I have read various concerns from other KIA customers who have had this same issue with the pearl white paint not adhering to the car. I would like my hood and roof completely painted and to be refunded for the money I paid to repair the peeling paint so I could get home to Florida from Ohio.

The paint is peeling off in sheets on the roof by my windshield and in spots on the hood & other areas. It's been happening for awhile, but the sheets coming off on the roof of the car has been in the last 2 weeks (it's 8/21/2023 now). I've called the dealership twice (in Concord, CA) and have not received a call back regarding options. I've seen on forums that this is a known paint/adhesive issue with Kia. What are my options to resolve this matter?

Several recalls on my car one being the motor. I have not driven my car since February 25, 2023. Could not get a appointment with my local dealership to begin repairs until June 5 2023 and it’s now august 18 2023 and my car hasn’t even been touched to begin repairs.. every time I call I’m told that someone will return my call and that never happens.. so my car has been torn up for 6 months but yet I’m still having to make payments on it

I own a 2019 Kia Sorento that has two recalls that a Kia dealer refuses to fix. We didn't buy the car from them or something like that. I keep getting notices of recall action required but, dealer doesn't want to fix. One of the recall items is for faulty wiring that can cause a fire. It's suggested that the vehicle be parted outside, away from everything so as to limit the fire damage. The other recall is to update the cars security software so this model is not so easy to steal. If the dealer not going to fix the recalls on this vehicle and it catches fire or is stolen, then Kia is going to owe me a new car!

After purchasing my car the carfax said my brake inspection and tire rotation was 10,000 miles overdue. Finally, I was able to get said service appointment authorized and when I brought my car in they only inspected the brakes and created paperwork. When I asked why my tires were not rotated they said”it wasn’t needed”! I also asked them to air my tires to equal levels in all 4, nothing was done. So I had my own inspection done at another certified shop and they reported: tire rotation necessary to get full life of tires, brake pads at 4mm all around and brake fluid needed. This info differed from Kia and when I went back to Kia to inform them they suggested I get a 3rd opinion as shops tend to rip off customers! Waste of time.

2012 Kia Sportage

VIN- KNDPC3A24C7219417

Miles- aprox. 120,000

Kia Sportage is in for service at KIA of Delray Beach FL.. There are issues with the brake light switch and computer boards. Also, the paint has been fading and peeling. The vehicle has been at the service department for three weeks. The computer parts are on back order. At first I was never told they were on back order. I had to find that out for myself. A severe lack of communication. The service department cannot give me a date for the arrival of the parts. This is my work vehicle and I have had to make other arrangements which have become a burden . It is a ridiculous situation! No time frame and no updates.

Secondly, the vehicles paint is terrible. The red paint is severely faded and peeling off. Not exactly a good example of KIA quality! I have had to use black primer to cover the worst areas. I maintain my vehicles with regular washes and paint protectors. But, there is no hope for this paint job other than getting it repainted or wrapped.

Bought a 2020 Kia Sportage SX turbo in May 2020. Today is 6 August 2023. Within the last two months, noticed a substantial amount of paint peeling off driver side exterior mirror (brought this to the attention of the service rep at Stokes Kia in June, haven't heard from them in over a month); and now I noticed spots are occurring in my touch screen monitor! Kia Sportage surely was a nice vehicle when I purchased it; however, would not expect it to have such issues at this present time. I am definitely a person who tries to take care of my things. Questionable, if I would recommend this brand to others.

I have a 2020 Kia Telluride that is peeling paint on the top of my roof. There has been problems with this pearl white paint in the past. I feel that it should be taken care of from Kia. There has actually been a recall on this paint in older models. I should not be out money or driving around with this on a newer vehicle when Kia knows that there is an issue with this paint peeling.

Husband took vehicle to car wash, a small area started peeling. 6 months later almost the entire right upper quarter panel is now missing paint and the hood now is started to peel and delaminate. Kia dealership where service is provided confirmed that this is a known issue with White Pearl paint however there is not a recall on this through Kia. Cost to repaint my entire car would be almost 10k.

If I could give them a 0 I would! When Kia's started getting broken into and stolen in my area, Kia refused to provide us with a Club for the steering wheel. After our vehicle got broken into twice and the window got smashed both times they refused to help pay for the new windows or do the service themselves. They also blew off my calls. Then my husband locked the key in the car accidently and they made him wait over an hour before informing him he was "too far" for them to come out and help him. They instead told us to file a claim with our insurance, which would negatively effect our insurance score and rates! I had to leave work early and drive an hour to bring him the second key. When I asked to speak to a manager they ignored my call and have yet to call me back. Kia sucks, and there vehicles are made horribly and cheaply as well! NEVER BUY A KIA!

The Kia Soul has been a good car until this year. I purchased brand new in 2016. Two months ago the lights were going off and on while I was driving at night. Almost causing me to wreck. They corrected that, but now the car has started stalling on me when I stop or go to turn and is very hard to crank. A month ago, I stop to put gas in the car and when I got in the car would not start. I called the dealership the next week and carried it to them and was told it was the starter. they supposely contacted company regarding my coverage for new starter. In the meantime, it starts stalling, skipping and not wanting to get gas to move along in traffic. I carried it back and they say I need a new transmission. This was two weeks ago, I called today, and the transmission is on backorder. I tell the guy that the car is cutting off on me in traffic or when I turn, he says that has nothing to do with the transmission, there is something else going on. But he did not ask me to bring the car in to see what that problem is. I have been dealing with this vehicle acting crazy for over a month and I am afraid of having an accident. Another thing I find odd is that the paint on my car is peeling. The entire top and half of the hood has peeled.

We had the engine go out in our Optima. We took it to the dealership and expected the warranty to fix the problem and move on. The dealership did not submit the records of service accurately, so we were denied do to neglect of the car. I have called so many times, tried other dealerships and everyone tells me the dealership has to do it and the dealership tells me it's impossible to get a denial reversed. I will never buy a KIA again.

I purchased a new 2023 KIA Seltos VIN no #KNDEPCAA2P7368384. The plastic on the steering wheel is developing air bubbles and starting to peel off. It appears that part of the steering wheel was covered with a thin layer of plastic wrap. This doesn't look nice for a brand new car. Does the manufacture put a thin plastic patch over the plastic steering wheel? Is this covered by the KIA warranty?

I have bought Kia Sonet G1.2 5MT HTK Plus Petrol Variant during June 2021 and the stereo touch screen not working properly. Last month there was an issue with touch screen response time. There is a high lag of response time of the stereo touch screen. The issue was taken up with the service manager of the service station located at NH 47 Bypass Road Venpalavattom Trivandrum Kerala where from I have taken delivery of the vehicle . The vehicle was checked by the service people and told that there is no issue and returned the vehicle with an advise that, is the problem persist brought back the vehicle for checking . All these are happened during the warranty period. Next week the touch screen of the stereo completely stopped working and when I brought the vehicle again to the service station they were informed that the warranty of the stereo expires and they were asking payment for replace of the parts . I felt the service station people purposefully delayed to expire the warranty and deceived me with the pre-text of no issue with the touch screen. And they are not acknowledged the issue in the job card and they reported with a comment in deffered job reason as "AVNT Sometimes Stuck When Blue".

So the hybrid battery is messing up on my car and kia has failed to do a recall on it. I have several friends that have the same year make and model and their car is doing the same thing. How can you make a vehicle and not stand behind what you make. We should not have to come out of pocket on this battery that is in fact very expensive. stand behind your product.

I purchased my car in September 2021. It had minor chips, nothing major or noticeable unless you were close up. After a bad snow storm in Dec 2021, and my car being outside for 1.5 days in the snow, the paint on my hood peeled off in massive pieces (dealership told me the paint looked off and prior owner painted it lol). The pillars between the windshield then started to become worse (dealership told me it was from ice scrapers lol). Then above my driver door and now the trunk is beginning to make its paint peel.

I work for the Honda manufacturing plant in the paint in plastics department. I know why this is happening to my car and thousands of others. I am pretty sure Kia/Hyundai know why too.

Now washing my car is either a non option unless it’s so dirty it has to be. Everytime I clean my car with soap and water paint comes off! Ridiculous!

Dave of Incident Friday, July 14, 2023

Time of Incident 5:00 p.m. CST

On 7-14-23 Kansas City, Missouri had some severe thunderstorms. I was driving home from work and was caught in a traffic jam. As I approached the area of where the jam was I discovered that there was water in the road. I could not turn around after being caught here. So like the others with me we drove respectfully through the water at about 1 to 2 mph as to not make waves. The water was probably a foot deep. I got through it and drove another 10 miles to my home.

As I was turning into the neighborhood to get to my house, I heard scraping under my car, it got louder and louder the more I drove. It was only about 2 blocks before I reached my house. I got out of the car and looked under the car to see what the noise was. It was a piece of fiberboard about 3ft wide and 4 or 5 ft long. I tried to pull it out, but found out it was part of the car.

I got into the house and called the KIA dealer, I was informed that it was the skid plate that protects the chassis under my car. They told me to drive it to the dealer and they would replace it for $540.00 it was not under warranty. I could not drive it the way it was unless I cut the piece off of the car. I crawled under the car and with a tin snips cut off what I could in order to safety drive the car. Once at the dealer they informed me that because the skid plate was dragging it did some other damage to my car that would cost me another $400.00 to fix. This skid plate is only made of fiberboard and when it gets wet it expands and falls off.

I am a 71 year old woman who bought this car thinking it was a good car, since I have owned 3 other KIA vehicles in the past. I am now scared to drive it when it rains because of this poorly constructed skid plate.

After i changed my oil, i started the car and oil leaked out fast, I thought the filter housing was loose, I jacked up my, using a wood block on my jack so not to damage the car, I tightened the filter housing, I added more oil and started it again, Oil leaked once more and i turned off the car. I never drove the car, this all happened in my driveway. I called Martin Swanty of Kingman, Arizona. They send a tow truck because I had the warranty. I explained to the tow truck I can' drive the car because the oil drained out. I also told the person at SWANTY KIA that there was no oil in the car, please don't start it and what happened I did not know. This all happened on June 14th, 2023. The following dad Sidney called me and asked about a piece of wood stuck in the frame and I explained it to her. I asked her how the car was moved? She said the technician drove it. I said to her I hope he did'nt drive it with no oil. She how else can he get it to the work station? On friday the 16th of June sidney called me and said I put the oil ring on the filter. On Tuesday the 20th 0f June, sidney and said there was a knocking noise. I said you drove the car, I did'nt.They are responsable not me.