Quick News About Kia Problems

There's a lot of news out there, so we try to boil down it to the most important bits and pieces -- the recalls, service bulletins, and lawsuits that can help you solve you car problems.

Interested in getting these quick story bits as an email? Signup over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. A small, but important recall has been issued for just under a hundred 2018 Sorentos.

    The cowl crossbars that connect to the motor-driven power steering column may not have been welded properly. If the welds are too weak the power steering columns could separate. That seems less than ideal if you’re a fan of being able to control your SUV.

    Want to know if your vehicle is involved? Grab your VIN, give Kia a call at 800-333-4542, and ask about recall number SC167.

    keep reading article "Steering Column Separation in the 2018 Sorento"

  2. Part of the Niro’s hybrid system is overheating to the point where it might start a fire, leading to a recall of 27,000 vehicles.

    The power relay assembly tested by Kia is located underneath the rear seat, but a bad connection between the main relay contacts can cause increased electrical resistance that generates heat.

    Don’t let anyone tell you that the Niro comes with seat heaters in the back row.

    keep reading article "Niro’s Rear Seats Might Get Torched by Overheating Power Relay Assembly"

  3. A reduced settlement has been approved for a Kia Sephia brake lawsuit that was filed 17 years ago.

    Regina Little, et al., v. Kia Motors America, Inc. was originally filed in 2001. After years of leagl wrangling, a jury sided in favor of the plaintiffs in June 2008. The ruling awarded $6 million dollars to owners of the 1997-2000 Sephia as compensation for brake problems (about $750/person).

    The legal wrangling, however, wasn't over. While the judge accepted the ruling, he decertified the case and forced owners to submit claims in order to be eligible for an award. A "special master" was assigned to handle those claims and determine the award amount.…

    keep reading article "Is the Brake Settlement Wait Over for Sephia Owners?"

  5. The 2018 Sorento has been recalled before we even had a chance to flip our calendars to the new year.

    The inflator in the side curtain airbag module is equipped with a "top hat diffuser" that may not have been formed properly during manufacturing. If the side curtain airbag deploys in a crash, the airbag may not deploy correctly to protect an occupant in a crash.

    My favorite antidote, however, is this little nugget—The diffuser can also detach and hit occupants when the airbags deploy.

    Talk about insult to injury.

    keep reading article "2018 Sorento Recalled for Side Curtain Airbag Issues"

  6. Kia is recalling the Forte and the I had no idea they even made this Forte Koup for brake light issues.

    The problem is caused by the material used to make the brake pedal stopper pad that is located between the brake light switch and the brake pedal arm … Kia says the material can fall apart over time and allow the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.

    When these things happen, the brake lights can turn – and stay on – even when you’re not stopping. This is just another in a long line of brake light switch problems for Kia. In 2013, they recalled more than 600,000 vehicles and then issued a follow-up recall in 2015.

    keep reading article "The Forte’s Brake Lights Can Stay On Even When The Car Isn’t Stopping"

  7. One Kia owner has had enough of gnawed wires leading to dashboard warning lights and multiple calls to the insurance company.

    Tsvetelin Tsonev filed a class-action lawsuit because his 2015 Soul is being used like a chew toy. The plaintiff says he leased a 2015 Kia Soul in April 2015 that has allegedly been damaged three times because the automaker keeps replacing soy-based wiring with more soy wiring, inviting more critters to snacktime.

    OK, so it turns out rodents don’t really snack on the coating, but they do love chewing on it and making nests out of it.

    And if you’re wondering just how much damage a rodent could do, brace yourself.…

    keep reading article "Soy Wires are Still Being Chewed Up. Maybe Kia Should Stop Advertising with Rodents."

  8. Kia is recalling the 2014-2016 Kia Soul and Soul EV because previous recalls didn’t work.

    [The car’s] pinion plugs can allow the pinion gears to separate from the steering gear assemblies. That's king-size trouble for a driver because all steering control will be lost while traveling at any speed.

    The [first recall](http://www.kiacomplaints.com /news/2014/kia-recalls-51k-souls/) was made back in 2014 with a follow-up recall the next year. A 3rd recall? It’s time Kia does some Soul searching … you had to know that was coming.

    keep reading article "Kia Recalls Soul Steering Pinion Problems for the 3rd Time"

  9. A small number (62) of 2017 Sorento SUVs have defective crankshafts, forcing a recall that starts next month.

    Kia also says it's possible failed crankshafts could cause fires, so dealers will need to inspect the crankshafts and if needed, replace the engine sub assemblies.

    If your crankshaft breaks it’s going to be a bad day. A fire would just be the cherry on top.

    keep reading article "Failing Crankshafts May Catch on Fire in the 2017 Sorento"

  10. Kia is facing another lawsuit for metal shavings causing catastrophic failure in its Theta II engine.

    The engines can allegedly fail at any time while driving any speed, leaving owners in dangerous driving conditions once the engines stall. According to the plaintiffs, damage to the connecting rod bearings causes metal shavings to appear in the oil.

    A few months ago, Kia recalled 618,000 vehicles with Theta II engines that shipped with metal shavings due to a faulty manufacturing process. The recall only covered certain vehicles up to the 2014 model year.…

    keep reading article "Lawsuit Says Connecting Rod Bearing Create Even More Metal Shavings for the Theta II Engine"

  11. Another day, another manufacturer getting sued for using soy-based wire coating.

    Plaintiff Campbell claims her 2014 Kia Optima was damaged in December 2016 when rodents chewed the wire harness and wiring. Campbell asked Kia to cover the repairs under warranty but after allegedly making her wait almost a month with the Kia Optima sitting at the dealership, Kia denied her claim for coverage.

    This is not a Kia-only problem. Other automakers have made the switch to a soy-based wire coatings and are facing similar lawsuits including Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, and Subaru.

    The lawsuit covers owners or lessees in California, Texas, and NJ with most of the 2012-2017 Kia lineup.

    keep reading article "Kia Sued for Using A Soy-Based Wire Coating"

Having car trouble?

Tell Us What's Wrong With Your Kia

The best way to find out what's wrong with a vehicle is from the people who drive them. Not only do owner complaints help us rank vehicles by reliability, but they're often used to spark class-action lawsuits and warranty extensions. Plus, they're a great way to vent.

Add a complaint