Model Years

Kia

Kia recalls, problems and MPG by model

NHTSA recalls, owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for every Kia model year covered on this site, with the newest recalls first.

This site covers nine Kia models from the 2010 to 2026 model years: the Carnival, Forte, K5, Optima, Seltos, Sorento, Soul, Sportage, and Telluride. For these models, NHTSA's files list 109 safety recalls (a recall that covers several models or model years counts once) and 30,156 owner complaints. 13 of the recalls are do-not-drive or park-outside recalls: owners are told not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until it is repaired.

Latest recalls for nine Kia models

Newest NHTSA recall filings for the Kia models on this site, newest first. Kia has filed 9 recalls so far in 2026, against 11 by this date in 2025. See every automaker. This year's 9 Kia vehicle recalls are listed below the models.

Models

Listed by name. Complaint counts rise with sales and with time on the road, so compare a model's years with each other, not one model with another. Last column: the model year with the most owner complaints in its first three years; a dash means the model has too few comparable years or complaints to pick one.

ModelBest combinedRecallsComplaintsMost complaints (first 3 years)
Kia Carnival
2022 to 2026 models
 33 mpg
Hybrid
 7522 –
Kia Forte
2010 to 2024 models
 35 mpg
Gas
 182,616 2019 Forte
72 complaints · most described: transmission failure
Kia K5
2021 to 2026 models
 32 mpg
Gas
 9513 –
Kia Optima
2010 to 2020 models
 42 mpg
Hybrid
 186,512 2013 Optima
148 complaints · most described: stalling
Kia Seltos
2021 to 2026 models
 31 mpg
Gas
 4573 –
Kia Sorento
2011 to 2026 models
 37 mpg
Hybrid
 408,912 2011 Sorento
281 complaints · most described: door lock problems
Kia Soul
2010 to 2025 models
 31 mpg
Gas
 155,614 2020 Soul
165 complaints · most described: stalling
Kia Sportage
2010 to 2026 models
 43 mpg
Hybrid
 212,833 2023 Sportage
244 complaints · most described: stalling
Kia Telluride
2020 to 2025 models
 23 mpg
Gas
 172,061 2020 Telluride
246 complaints · most described: a cracked windshield

Kia recalls in 2026 so far

This list has the 9 vehicle recalls NHTSA has received so far in 2026 that cover Kia vehicles, newest first (NHTSA's recall file of Nov 12, 2026). Each is listed once, however many models it covers; its model years are shown when it covers Kia vehicles alone, and a recall of a model on this site links to that model's page. 'Vehicles in the recall' is NHTSA's estimate for the whole recall, which can include other brands. Recalls filed by upfitters, conversion builders and distributors are not included. The count above, 9, is every recall Kia filed this year, including any equipment recalls; this list has the vehicle recalls of Kia vehicles filed by any automaker on the recalls-by-automaker list.

RecallVehicles in the recallReceived
2025 to 2026 Kia EV9
NHTSA 26V-545 · Air bags
21,290Aug 21
2022 to 2024 Kia EV6, EV9
NHTSA 26V-431 · Electrical system · Park outside
8Jul 2
2020 to 2024 Kia Telluride
NHTSA 26V-430 · Seats · Park outside
462,869Jul 2
2027 Kia Telluride, Telluride Hybrid
NHTSA 26V-356 · Seat belts
6,264Jun 2
2022 to 2026 Kia Carnival
NHTSA 26V-232 · Fuel system
141,032Apr 10
2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid
NHTSA 26V-173 · Seats
568Mar 20
2026 to 2027 Kia K4, Telluride
NHTSA 26V-135 · Seat belts
14,870Mar 6
2025 Kia Telluride
NHTSA 26V-105 · Seats
85,515Feb 23
2025 to 2026 Kia Carnival, Carnival Hybrid and 9 more
NHTSA 26V-046 · Electrical system
42,677Jan 26

Most searched model years

These are among the Kia model years people in the US search Google for most, counting searches for their recalls and problems or their MPG (Google Keyword Planner, September 2025 to August 2026). At most three years of one model are listed.