Models
Every Kia model with a safety record. Open one to see it year by year.
| Model | Years | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Sorento | 2003–2026 | 10,216 |
| Optima | 2001–2020 | 7,528 |
| Soul | 2010–2025 | 5,573 |
| Sportage | 1995–2026 | 4,714 |
| Forte | 2009–2024 | 2,559 |
| Sedona | 2002–2021 | 2,414 |
| Telluride | 2020–2027 | 2,057 |
| Sephia | 1986–2003 | 1,705 |
| Rio | 2000–2023 | 1,294 |
| Spectra | 1998–2009 | 906 |
| Seltos | 2021–2027 | 566 |
| EV6 | 2022–2025 | 550 |
| K5 | 2021–2026 | 506 |
| Carnival | 1998–2026 | 417 |
| Niro | 2017–2026 | 350 |
| Rondo | 2007–2011 | 297 |
| Optima Hybrid | 2011–2020 | 275 |
| EV9 | 2024–2026 | 257 |
| Amanti | 2004–2009 | 247 |
| Cadenza | 2014–2021 | 218 |
| Stinger | 2018–2023 | 169 |
| Sportage Hybrid | 2023–2027 | 147 |
| Sedona EX | 2002–2004 | 121 |
| Sorento Hybrid | 2021–2026 | 119 |
| Niro EV | 2019–2025 | 93 |
| Borrego | 2008–2019 | 92 |
| Niro Phev | 2017–2025 | 68 |
| K900 | 2014–2021 | 68 |
| K4 | 2025–2026 | 60 |
| Forte Koup | 2010–2017 | 52 |
| Sorento Phev | 2022–2026 | 45 |
| RIO Cinco | 2001–2004 | 41 |
| Soul EV | 2014–2020 | 39 |
| Sportage Phev | 2023–2026 | 35 |
| Optima Phev | 2016–2020 | 33 |
| Niro Hybrid | 2017–2023 | 19 |
| Picanto | 2010–2022 | — |
| cee’d | 2010–2022 | — |
| Stonic | 2017–2022 | — |
| Venga | 2010–2020 | — |
| XCeed | 2019–2022 | — |
| Carens | 2010–2020 | — |
| Proceed | 2010–2022 | — |
Also on record, with too little data for a page of its own: Carnival Hybrid · SPECTRA5 · KIA · Telluride Hybrid · LD Spectra · RIO5 · Cee'd · Pro-cee'd · niro-plug-in-hybrid · redundant-niro.
NHTSA recalls, complaints and manufacturer communications (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · new cars in Europe: European Environment Agency, 2010–2022
Complaints by model year
All Kia models together. Newer years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints
What owners report
- Engine14,934
- Electrical system6,575
- Unknown or other5,312
- Power train4,220
- Air bags3,412
- Structure2,843
- Steering2,687
- Engine and engine cooling2,427
NHTSA ODI complaints, by the system named in the complaint
Latest recalls
Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2025-2026 EV9 vehicles. Due to improper routing, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may not deactivate the air bag when a child or child seat is in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob or an improper recall 24V407 repair, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2024 EV6 and 2024 EV9 vehicles. The high voltage battery cells may contain misaligned electrodes, which can lead to a fire while parked or driving.
Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Telluride and Telluride Hybrid vehicles. The driver seat belt emergency locking retractor may lock, causing the seat belt strap not to extend. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Telluride Hybrid SX Prestige and X-Line SX Prestige vehicles equipped with the Executive Package. The second-row power seats may fail to detect a person. The seat may continue to move after contacting a person during powered seat functions, such as one-touch tilt-and-slide or automatic power fold-and-stow.
Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Kia Telluride and 2026 Kia K4 vehicles. The rear center seat belt anchor buckle in the 2026 K4 and the third-row center seat belt anchor buckle in the 2027 Telluride may not latch properly.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride vehicles, equipped with power front seat(s). Due to a manufacturing error, the driver and passenger seat back frame assemblies may fail to properly restrain occupants in a crash.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
EU safety alerts
81 Kia alerts in Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, since 2007; the latest 10 are below.
| EV5 SR/02626/26 · 2 Oct 2026 | Injuries |
| Niro EV SR/02118/26 · 31 Jul 2026 | Fire |
| PV5 SR/02091/26 · 24 Jul 2026 | Injuries |
| K4 SR/02058/26 · 24 Jul 2026 | Injuries |
| SPORTAGE SR/04280/25 · 12 Dec 2025 | Injuries |
| Sorento SR/02522/25 · 11 Jul 2025 | Fire |
| Optima SR/02516/25 · 11 Jul 2025 | Fire |
| Cerato SR/02510/25 · 11 Jul 2025 | Fire |
| SPORTAGE SR/02418/25 · 4 Jul 2025 | Injuries |
| EV9 SR/01974/25 · 30 May 2025 | Injuries |
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0 · all EU alerts
New registrations in Europe
5,039,883 new Kia cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Germany (76,043), Spain (63,351), France (50,047), Italy (43,368), Poland (33,518).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 432,541 | 101 (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 413,239 | 107 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 418,259 | 120 (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 498,219 | 140 (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 484,570 | 144 (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 456,338 | 87 (WLTP) |
| 2016 | 422,406 | — |
| 2015 | 380,209 | — |
| 2014 | 347,385 | — |
| 2013 | 337,012 | — |
| 2012 | 331,126 | — |
| 2011 | 273,102 | — |
| 2010 | 245,477 | — |
Most registered Kia models in Europe, 2022
| Model | New cars |
|---|---|
| Sportage | 105,585 |
| Ceed | 56,092 |
| Niro | 52,150 |
| Stonic | 47,592 |
| Xceed | 42,263 |
| Picanto | 41,675 |
| Rio | 29,570 |
| EV6 | 23,768 |
| Proceed | 10,990 |
| Sorento | 8,542 |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Real-world fuel consumption
159,430 Kia cars registered in Europe between 2021 and 2024 report their fuel use through the on-board meter. Petrol cars average 6.8 l/100 km on the road, against 5.9 l/100 km in the official WLTP test — 15% more. Plug-in hybrids use 4.7 l/100 km against 1.3 l/100 km on paper, with 25% of their distance covered with the engine off.
| Fuel | Cars | On the road | WLTP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 102,312 | 6.8 | 5.9 | +15% |
| Petrol hybrid | 28,373 | 6.7 | 6.0 | +13% |
| Diesel | 2,818 | 6.6 | 6.2 | +7% |
| Diesel hybrid | 2,970 | 5.4 | 5.2 | +3% |
| Plug-in hybrid | 22,957 | 4.7 | 1.3 | +258% |
By model
| Model | Cars | On the road | WLTP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cee’d | 29,330 | 6.7 | 5.8 | +16% |
| Sportage | 18,760 | 7.4 | 6.3 | +17% |
| Stonic | 15,645 | 6.4 | 5.7 | +12% |
| XCeed | 13,332 | 7.1 | 6.2 | +15% |
| Picanto | 11,198 | 5.7 | 5.1 | +11% |
| Rio | 10,779 | 6.0 | 5.5 | +10% |
| Proceed | 7,822 | 7.6 | 6.3 | +20% |
| Niro | 6,766 | 5.1 | 4.7 | +9% |
| Sorento | 1,720 | 7.7 | 6.6 | +16% |
Litres per 100 km: total fuel used divided by total distance driven, from the car's own fuel consumption meter (OBFCM), collected in 2024 by the manufacturers, mostly remotely, and by national authorities. WLTP figures are the type-approval CO₂ values converted to litres. Hybrids, including mild hybrids, do not plug in; plug-in hybrid figures include the distance driven on electricity. European Environment Agency, Real-world CO₂ emissions from cars and vans · CC BY 4.0