KIA Motors
reviews and complaints

A couple of weeks ago the 'Check Engine' light came on. I took it to a mechanic friend who read the code & said it was the catalytic converter. I called Kia of Chattanooga and was told they couldn't even look at it until 8/22. I made the appointment. About a week ago, it started stalling, not running well. I drove it in 8/12 and left it. They said they'd get to it this week. Got a call yesterday that I need a new engine. Nothing was said about the converter. After doing some checking, I see that not only does the converter overheat (had a recall) but it damages the engine block causing 'catastrophic failure'. I wish I'd been told not to drive it! I also noted there was a lawsuit over these issues.

I own a 2013 Kia Optima sx turbo snow flake white. I took Kia Optima into dealer for recall and while in dealer it had a deep detail in which the paint and sealant were stripped and since then the paint has not stopped peeling and chipping off. The car was so beautiful one day and the next it looks like it has cancer. The full bumper has peeled the paint near the front windshield has peeled off and every Kia I have seen has the same paint missing.

Have an Optima 2017, 38K miles, well maintained. Take it to dealer for all its services. Last visit claimed that the dash panel was cracked, no problem it will be changed. Also claimed that the door handles clear coat is peeling and/or bubbly and I was told by the Service Manager that that issue was not under warranty.

I have a 2003 Ford Blazer, and so far no paint issue and not interior has cracked nor anything has gone wrong.

I expect for Kia to have a good quality overall with the car. Seem like the paint or door handles are not. I didn't think when we purchased the car that the paint insurance they offered was to cover their lack of service and/or lack of quality at my expense. Which I didn't considered purchasing, considering that I have never had any paint problems with the cars I have had in the past. At a five year range, I should not be experiencing these issues.

I will like to have Kia take care of the lousy paint quality on the door handles they have.

Bought a brand new 2015 KIA Sorento in Pearl White. Now, August 2022, with 200,000 miles in the SUV the paint is starting to peal on the upright and the top. Looks awful! This is not a good look for KIA. They need to stand behind their product. I see there are a lot of complaints about this make, model, year and color. Needs to be addressed please.

The SW Rockwall Kia location has the most unconcerned, rudest staff I have ever encountered. I have been given the royal run around every time I call! I called to discuss a cancellation of a Power Protect and Lifetime Oil changes contract after I sold my 2022 Kia Seltos. I was given the run around and was told "my" finace person was on vacation and that nobody else could assist me. I insisted on speaking with another finance person and was told that wasn't possible. I then asked if I could leave a message for a finance manager to return my call. The "female" took my number and said "they" would call me back "IF" they had time. Well, needless to say...I have yet to receive a call back. This morning when I called back, I was told we would have to come to the dealership. I explained that it was impossible to come into the dealership as I was recovering from rectal cancer surgery. They DO NOT CARE! They said that was the ONLY way to cancel the contract or start a reimbursment. I have made another call this morning and have now been on hold for 12 minutes ~ RIDICULOUS!

My name is Finda F. I am trying to understand how my car was running fine no issues and then it stops on the highway while I am driving in 4P rush hour traffic. The dealership gets to my car 3 1/2 weeks later I get to shortage to tell me my engine is gone when there were no warning!Continue on my car engine going out to be told because I didn't getting a senor upgrade in 2019 when to inform me of the engine going not to fix the engine but to tell me the engine is gone I must pay close to $9000. This is unacceptable and not the fault of the consumer. There was no letter no email no call nothing to inform me. I am a single mom who lives here in Indy where public transportation is not the best and when I take care of car and service car this not fair especially when this is a known issue with this 2016 Kia Sorento. I am a single mom where transportation is not the best and this issue was not a neglect of me. I do not have an extra $9000 to fix a problem that is known with your cars. To tell a consumer that since they did not get this sensor upgrade that they must eat the cost not right at all.

Cars alternator bad from beginning all kinds of crazy things happened , it would go dead 3 times then it finally went crazy and had to be towed to dealer , the buttons on the panel were damaged , then the passenger window gets stuck after you stop car , rolls up sometimes , sometimes takes several tries have to turn car on and off to get it to work , park Brake gets activated for no reason won’t go off til you turn car off , the alarm goes off for no reason and door locks unlocks have to turn car in and off to get it to stop

I have been told that the recall cited above doesn’t yet have a remedy. This is a clear and present danger to the public, and needs immediate attention. This recall has been outstanding for almost a year, without any contact to the customer on its status.

I’m reporting this as a disgruntled customer, who cannot get this fixed in the NY area.

What solution can you offer?

I purchased a 2017 KIA Sportage April of 2021, with 89,000 miles on the odometer. KIA offered my first oil change with the purchase of the vehicle. I had this done at the proper time required. Next oil change was schedule for 100481 miles. At present time the odometer reads now reads 98186. I have put about 700 miles per month on this vehicle in the time that I have owned it. Last Saturday, July 30th, 2022 at about 7:30 am while driving home from work the engine started emitting black smoke, dropping oil and the engine blew. I had to pay a tow truck to bring it home. I had a mechanic come to look and see what the problem was, he said, you have no oil in this car and the engine is blown. There is absolutely no reason this should have happened to this vehicle. Low miles, proper oil changes, driven with care. Now I owe 5 more years on a car that I cannot drive without an engine. It was bad enough that within a month of ownership the right passenger door and back passenger door behind the driver would not open at all and cost $550. to me at KIA for repairs. This I found out to be a common problem for KIA Sportages. I want to know why this happened to my engine and feel that KIA Motors should stand behind their product and be responsible for the damages. I have located a new engine for $3200 and a mechanic who will install the engine with a tow included to the shop for $1500. This is more than a fair market price for having a new engine paid for and installed. I want to know what I can expect from KIA Motors for this huge inconvenience

JIM ELLIS KIA OF KENNESAW DID NOT DISNOSED THE CORRECT PROBLEM AND MY CAR IS STILL NOOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY

I took my car to your Jim Ellis Dealership for problem

with the car not picking when we try to accelerate

this is a Hybrid Kia Optima 2012

they inform me it was the hybrid batter pack -- after

this was fixed my Transmission was broken i fixed it

then the battery pack light came back on -- I then

return the car to Jim Ellis Kia of Kennesaw in Georgia

Kia extended their warranty on an oil pressure switch for certain Sorento (and other Kia vehicle) models. Owners were notified by letter in April 2022 I had already had that part replaced a few months prior to the extension. The letter described how to be reimbursed if the part had already been replaced and I supplied the required documentation by late April. AS of the beginning of August, I do not have the promised reimbursement. KIA has been ignoring follow-up emails, and if you phone, they claim they are working on it.

This should not take this long, and is unfair to owners who are out the money vs. owners who will have it fixed after the extension, since they will receive the repairs at no cost.

I have a 2020 KIA Sportage and have made principle payment of $100.00 every month, which never is applied whole to principle. I have to call every month for them to request it, per KIA policy this should take 3-5 business day and not once has it be completed in the time frame, I have waited sometimes 30-60 days for the money to be applied. I'm currently waiting for my 5/20/2022 $100.00 principle to be applied and have made calls every 7 days.

I don't understand how customer Service and the back office teams can't communicate with each other except by email, also why is there no number to reach the back office to talk to directly, every call with customer service ends in "we need to place a request and it will take 3-5 business days" with no explanation why it hasn't be done or why it's applied incorrectly.

This is poor practice and unacceptable, I've asked many times to have a manager or upper management contact me and have no hear from anyone.

Alfonso Di Liberto

[protected]@yahoo.com

I am sending this because I have a 2017 kia Sorento when I bought it it had 25000 miles. I noticed it was using a lot of oil a quart every 3 to 5 hundred miles' called a kia rep who said it needed to be brought in for a recall and that would fix it. It did not. I was a mechanic for 23 years and I know this is not normal. It now has 52000 miles on it with the same problem. That's 83quarts of oil at $6.00 a quart. $ 498 that is not right and I would like to know why? and what is going to be done to fix this. I'm getting very Impatient and really need to hear from someone. This is a 4 cyl. 8/4/2022 This is the third time I've tried to get a response. thank you Mr. Whittle

On 8/2 my Kia Sportage 2013, with 80,500 miles experienced a flashing check engine light while on the highway. The acceleration became sluggish as well. I pulled over. I had the vehicle towed to an authorized Kia repair for evaluation. I was told today that the vehicle engine needs to be replaced due to the issues found. When the mechanic called to inquire about getting a new engine and the cost he was informed Kia has stopped making the engine needed to repair my car. So now I a stuck with a car that cannot be repaired that I still owe a balance on. What do I do now? How do you stop making an engine for a vehicle still on the road and still being sold! Kia needs to make this right.! I’ve read so many reviews for your engines having so many issues. Does this apply to the 2013 Kia Sportage? Please with how you plan to rectify this problem.

Christina Armstrong

[protected]

[protected]@msn.com

To whom it may concern,

As of June 9, 2022, my 2016 Kia Forte was taken to a KIA dealership and once there, my car was diagnosed as having a failed knock sensor. When I spoke to the service rep., at Kia of Archer in Houston, TX; my car would get serviced with a FREE engine because its still under warranty. However, it is August 4th, 2022 and I still don't have my car. I understand the limitations that COVID has on companies and employees. Yet, I don't see how KIA is resolving this issue? Kia has no loaners for their car owners and Kia company will give you rental reimbursement but it would take 60 to 90 days. My car is my way of getting to and from work, yet its still sits at the dealership. I'm frustrated and disappointed in how KIA is dealing with this issue. From my understanding from the service rep., I'm not the only one having this issue. For a company that strives for customer service, they have a funny way of showing their clients.

I filed the following complaint on the Kia.com.mx website. I also sent it by Facebook messenger to the dealer. I do not speak Spanish. There has been no contact by either Kia or the dealer.

Jul 15, 2022, 9:33 AM

You sent

My wife purchased a 2021 Kia (3KPA3AC9ME394073) on 18/02/2022. Prior to purchasing the car, she made an inspection of the car since the car had been a floor model and was a previous year's model. At the time of her inspection, the car was in excellent condition. There was no damage or scratches in the finish whatsoever. If there had been she would not have puchased the car. When the car was delivered there was damage to the paint that had not been there during her inspection. She was assured by the saleperson that the damage would be repaired at no cost to her. She was to bring the car in for the 90 service and the damage would be repaired. She brought the car in on 10/05/2022 for the 90 day service. She was told she would have to make an appointment for the repair since it was a different dept. She was again assured there would be no cost to her. She attempted to make an appointment for the repair and was told that she would have to pay for the repair. Please get this resolved.

I have a case with consumer assistance [protected]. It has been 6 weeks since I have asked for my reimbursement and I have called, emailed, waited on hold for hours, left voicemails and still nothing. I am out thousands of dollars because my one year old cars transmission went out and it took 3 months to replace. I was told I had to pay for the rental car up front and then I would be reimbursed. I am a single mother on limited funds and had to borrow the money. I was told 2 weeks ago that I would receive an offer letter within 2 days. Still nothing. This is ridiculous. My advisor is Molly phone #[protected]. I have heard from her 1 time throughout all of this. She supposedly emailed me one time and it was to an email that was not associated with me at all. The only reason I know any of this is because I have waited on hold for an hour, twice, to talk to someone else that has done the work for her. This is when I was told that I would receive the offer letter. I need someone to call me on this ASAP. Julie Yelton [protected]

On June 15 2022, while doing normal errands driving my 2016 Kia Sorento, I was entering a highway entrance ramp and the vehicle’s engine just stopped. There were no warning lights or indicators that anything was wrong. I was

able to pull over safely and then had the vehicle towed to the dealership. It took the dealership 3 weeks to look at it and tell me the problem. They stated that the engine locked up and it would cost at least $11,000.00 to repair. I’ve attached a copy of their estimate. (Attachment #1) The vehicle is out of warranty at this time. This manufacturer has a settled class action lawsuit for this issue in the Kia’s, but the filing deadline had passed in April 2021, and there is nothing I can do. Kia Customer Serivce stated that if I would have had it serviced in the lat year at a Kia delaership, they would have fixed it. I usually get it serviced at my local repair shop. All service and maintainence is up to date on the vehicle. The dealership stated the oil light should have been lite up; but it wasn't. I've done research and found this is apart of the issue; no indicator lights come on when the engine is about to seize up. I take care of my vehicles and this is unacceptable. I have GAP insurance and this isn't covered with that type of insurance. Please let me know if you need more information.

Bought a 2017 kia sportage in June of 2020 with approx 57,000. I am second owner, it was leased first. Unable to drive the car since April 2022 with approx 90,000. Have had several repairs since purchasing the car and an open recall that the dealership has not fixed. KIA denied my claim for the engine repair and told me to speak to the dealership if I had an issue even though I have a lifetime warranty on engine due to previous campaign issues with engine. Dealership was not aware I had a lifetime warrant and told me that the only warranty does not apply because I am second owner. I may qualify for engine replacement under new campaign, issues with the rod bearings, howver until further diagnostic can be done, they can not guarantee,

Currently needs a new engine and dealership is requesting further diagnostic will be needed to determine if covered under warranty. However, I am being asked to approve and pay approx cost of further diagnostic which would be approx $5000. I currently owe approx $17,000.

Since purchasing the car I have had to have the AC leak fixed and refilled, bracket fixed that was missing that caused serpentine belt to move and come off ($1000 repair), gone into limp mode and engine light coming on. Requiring a tow home, and then 3 different times having spark plugs changed after engine light came on and cylinder misfire and now finally be told I need a new engine. All regular maintenance has been done on time.

Dealerships not returning calls in regards to warranty and assistance on how to proceed with things. I have had to find rides for myself and children to work, school, and everyday trips since April of 2022. I live in a town where there are not a lot of available transportation services. Currently paying my monthly car loan for a car I can not drive.

I continue to have issues when I try to go to my car and unlock using the key fob. I have to use my app to open car door...has happened multiple times and wondering is there issue with key fobs?

VIN: 5XXG64J21MG044629

2021 K5