This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Two weeks ago my car began making a loud knocking noise from the bottom end and emitting a burning smell from the engine out of nowhere, without any warning lamps. I took it to a mechanic I trust. As soon as he heard the noise and looked at it he told me it was bad and that I could not drive my car, it concerned a HECU unit and/or fuse and could potentially lock up or start on fire. He gave me a printout with NHTSA Recall# 22V051 on it and told me I would need a new engine. When I called Kia Customer Care they did not have the recall number. I gave it to them and they put me on hold for 45 minutes so they could do some research; the representative and her supervisor eventually found the recall and authorized a safety tow to Peak Kia in Denver, CO At Peak Kia they told me they looked at my car and it would need a new engine, but there was nothing they could do because my car was past warranty. That was the first time I had ever heard of anything about a warranty or it being past due. The service clerk told me it would be an out of pocket expense of 6 -12,000$ for a new engine and explained that this was because my car had gone past 100,000 miles, and the engine had already failed so the warranty could not be extended. She also told me to contact my dealership because they could be at fault. I left that building scared, because I still owe about 8000$ on my loan. I purchased the vehicle in Rapid City, SD with my parents at a non Kia dealership called Granite Nissan. When we called the dealership they said they had not been informed of a recall by the previous owner or Kia manufacturers. Neither had I at the time of purchase, or since. My dad and I checked Kelley Blue Book to make sure. I was then informed that the dealership does not have legal responsibility to alert buyers of this info. Now we are being repeatedly told that this will be my expense, and it is a scam. Kia made a car that promised reliability and safety, but have left the defects up to the owner.
A recall notice was issued in March. The notice advised to park vehicle outside until a remedy is available. When I had the vehicle serviced in June, the service adviser for West hills Kia, noted that a rodent nest was under the hood, and advised me they could install a rodent screen for APROX. $400. I declined. How can Kia, continue to state, to this date, there is no remedy, but are willing to sell me something that was caused by me parking the vehicle outdoors for 5 months? I would appreciate any information concerning this. Sincerely, [XXX]. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
This is a complaint about NHTSA recall #22V051, manufacturer recall #SC227B. I was notified of this recall in March 2022 and there has been no remedy and no further correspondence. It has been suggested by the NHTSA that I not drive my car and that I park it away from other cars and structures in case of spontaneous combustion while driving or parked. I live in an area where a small spark could destroy thousands of acres of forest and homes and I no longer feel safe owning this vehicle. There has been no effort made by the manufacturer to provide me with a replacement for the inoperable vehicle that I paid for. I have written a formal complaint to the manufacturer with no response. Every time I call their corporate offices, I sit on hold for hours at a time before hanging up because no-one picks up the line. This is all unacceptable and this problem needs to be resolved immediately!
This problem has not been repaired. We get the run around from KIA about when the part is going to come in to fix this safety hazard. It's now been 5 months with no definitive or even estimated date of when this recall part will come in. This uncertainty is causing great consternation since we're concerned about driving the car (because it could catch fire) or even parking the car in our garage. HELP!!!!!
Looking for assistance in getting recall sc227b completed. HW Kia (dealer) keeps telling me there is no part available. According to the recall notice letter I received from HW Kia on March 31, 2022, I can not park my car in my garage (or near any other vehicles or structures). There have been a high number of KIA/HYundai vehicles stolen in STL recently, and not being able to park my car in the garage I am risk of having it stolen. Please advise how I am to continue using my car with this kind of cautionary notice. Technically, I am unable to drive/park my car anywhere according to this letter. Thank you.
- Valley Park, MO, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Engine stalled at a stop sign. Smoke started coming from the front of the vehicle and engine burst into flames. No warning lights, no sign of something going wrong. My safety and that of my husband was out at risk due to risk of burning to death, being badly burned, others being injured from being in the vicinity etc.
The computer monitor says, " bootloader started insert USB with file" Nothing on the screen works. It never shuts off. Even when the car is off and the keys are out of the ignition. It kills the battery. We have taken the fuse out and it shuts off but I can't use the hatchback. It stays in the locked position. I also can't use the power locks. I took it to a Kia dealer and they could not figure it out. They sent me on my way.
I was passing a vehicle on a 2 lane (one lane going in each direction) highway at approximately 55mph when my car engine lost power. I had to immediately get over and pull to the side of the road towing vehicle to Webster Tire and Auto in Teutopolis, IL. They originally thought it was the alternator but they said engine was knocking and needed to be replaced. I found out that there was a lawsuit for this issue and that Kia has a service campaign. Although I had searched the NTHSA website and Carfax, because I purchased the vehicle recently the only way for me to have expected the issue was for me to have contacted Kia directly or to be notified by the person who sold me the car. I was also denied a claim on this lawsuit because I had not had the service update which would have extended the warranty on the engine and fixed the knock sensor issue. This information should be readily available to consumers and owners. I had this vehicle at Walmart for an oil change and Webster tire and auto for other maintenance prior to incident and neither of those companies were aware of this service campaign.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that when she awoke in the morning, she noticed that the vehicle was running on its own while parked. The contact stated upon entering the vehicle, she noticed the temperature was significantly cold and it appeared the vehicle had been running all night. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that no issues were found however, the remote battery was replaced. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while the vehicle was parked. Additionally, the alarm and door locks were continually activating independently. The contact also stated that the vehicle would start up and turn off independently. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 93,800.
Notice that when the car is in motion or stationary, the vehicle shakes and then the engine seems to be normal again. This issue has been happening now for the past 4-5 months. I figured it had to do with the last recall that we had, but that clearly not the problem. I'm concerned that the car may shut down while I'm driving as this may cause and accident.
Intermittent non starting. Replaced vehicle battery and fob battery. All accessories work but will not start. Press the start button and it will not start and have a hard brake pedal. Will not start even when apply more pressure on the brake pedal. Wait 5 to 10 minutes later and it will start. Been back to the dealer many times and their computer says there is nothing wrong. They can not duplicate the problem.
I was driving along the interstate at a high speed when all of a sudden I heard this terrifying sound like glass breaking and then my sunroof violently exploded with the glass hitting the drivers behind me. The sound itself was extremely startling and I am very lucky to have not caused an accident because of it. I am thankful that my sunroof shade was closed during this incident so I wasn't injured. There were no cracks in my sunroof and I did not hear anything hit it, like a rock or some other hard object prior to it exploding. I have researched and it looks like this is a known issue with Kia Sportages years 2011-2015 and it doesn't seem like anything has been done to resolve the issue. My insurance is going to cover the replacement, but I wanted to report this incident to help save someone from a similar situation.
While driving approximately 10 miles per hour while approaching train tracks the vehicle shut off the entire instrument panel lights came on when I tried to accelerate it wouldn't do so. I had just enough momemtium to get me over the tracks. I pulled onside the shoulder shut the car off completely. When I tried to cut on car again it shut immediately off. I sat there 10-15 mins and it cut back on. When I started driving it again it cut off again after 5 mins. This went on for almost and hour for me to get home which was only 1/4 mile away. Now when I try to cut it on it shutters and cuts off. The engine shakes uncontrollably. All of this happened on a main street.
After heavy rain drove through large amount water slowly. Once I got threw the water all of my dashboard lights went off for 6 mins, so I pulled over and checked the switches. They came on, but as drove the smell of wires burning was very heavy in the cabin, I had to open all windows until the smell cleared. There has been frequent news coverage on Kia vehicles catching fire on the highways in Georgia. Also, reported that after required repair were done, these cars still caught fire. Still no nationwide acknowledge of this serious problem by the manufacturer. I don't feel safe driving my Kia. I have not any investigations by any Agency.
The 2015 Kia Sportage was in the parking lot at the medical center where my wife had a doctor appointment. She was inside approximately 10-15 minutes when an announcement was made about a red Kia in the parking lot. When she looked, it was her car & the engine compartment was engulfed in flames. The police and fire department were already on scene & the fire was extinguished. The car was a total loss.
When the A/C unit is on there is a coolant smell inside of the cabin of the vehicle. I have brought it up to the dealer but they say it is normal. I was a service manager for years and it is not normal.
Drove vehicle approx 10 minutes smelled a burning smell, thought it was the vehicle driving in next lane, about 5 minutes later while stopped at a red light light, I noticed the heavy smoke coming from engine, I exited vehicle and just 1-2 minutes engine was fully engulfed in flames.
Cpsc:I had a trailer hitch installed on my 2015 Kia Sportage., I was existing the castle rock motel in friendship, wi when an electrical fire erupted in the back of the car where my 1 year old grandson was strapped into the car seat. One of the hotel employees saw me struggle to get him out of the car seat and came to assist, at the same time daughter (who was also in the car with me) called the fire department. The hotel employee retrieved some tools and disconnected the battery. The fire department dismantled the back panel where the smoke was coming from and determined the root cause was the wiring harness "black box." They advised me to have a mechanic check the car before continuing to drive it. Updated 07/19/2017
I bought my car in October. I have had issues with the gas bubbling up after the pump shuts off and it has sprayed out and on me and down the side of the car. I called the dealer the first time it happened and they said to use another gas station. The car is stationary, the pump and stations have no bearing on the issue. I have reported it to the dealer several times. I March my car was there for a list of issues. I was told that some part was replaced. When I called back to tell them it still bubbles up at me, they said but its not spraying out at you right? not this time. The service manager told me to take my car to another dealer because, "I don't want to accept what they tell me about my car." I said, the service tech said the changed a part, but it is still bubbling. That "sound" you hear is normal for a Kia. We just changed the part to "make you happy." This was on 4/7/17 when the gas sprayed out of the car and down the side of my car. I have never been given any paperwork on the complaints and repairs of my car. I have a video of the gas tank doing both issues. I sent it to the salesman who said he would forward it to his general manager the next day. As of today, I have heard nothing.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Littleton, CO, USA