NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
90 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Aug 19, 2022
Engine
I was driving and the car and it just stopped. The oil light and engine light came on and now it’s making a clicking noise, now. I am not driving the car but I was told that my car had no oil in it and investigation was conducted by a shop that confirmed that the last oil change was conducted as expected, on July 30, 2022. A pr…
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I was driving and the car and it just stopped. The oil light and engine light came on and now it’s making a clicking noise, now. I am not driving the car but I was told that my car had no oil in it and investigation was conducted by a shop that confirmed that the last oil change was conducted as expected, on July 30, 2022. A professional mechanic advised me to contact you all and inform you all of what happen and that you all have made consumers aware of the possible issues that could occur and actually happened.
NHTSA ODI #11480201
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2022
Engine
My check engine light came on. I had the code diagnosis done and it came back P200A. When I try to accelerate, my car will not accelerate up hills or on the interstate. I’ve noticed this happening occasionally before the check engine light came on but the car wouldn’t do it when I took it to the dealer when it was still under wa…
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My check engine light came on. I had the code diagnosis done and it came back P200A. When I try to accelerate, my car will not accelerate up hills or on the interstate. I’ve noticed this happening occasionally before the check engine light came on but the car wouldn’t do it when I took it to the dealer when it was still under warranty and since the check engine light wasn’t on at the time, they said there was nothing they could do. I’ve also noticed on occasion the car dashboard and radio will randomly flash when I am driving.
NHTSA ODI #11479078
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2022
Engine
My car engine failed due to extreme oil consumption. It ran out of oil completely after 2K miles from my last synthetic oil change and damaged my 3rd cylinder. I have maintained the car perfectly and done all recommended repairs. My car only has 66K miles and already needs a new engine.
NHTSA ODI #11474758
86,000 miles · Jan 24, 2022
EngineFire
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving a knocking noise was suddenly present coming from the engine and warning messages were present on the dashboard display before the vehicle stalled. Later while attempting the start the engine a burning odor and smoke were present coming from the engine c…
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The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving a knocking noise was suddenly present coming from the engine and warning messages were present on the dashboard display before the vehicle stalled. Later while attempting the start the engine a burning odor and smoke were present coming from the engine compartment. The engine was turned off and the smoke dissipated. The cause of the failures was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,000.
NHTSA ODI #11448676
Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2021
Engine
Vehicle engine accelerated and raced without warning with foot on brake. Has occurred on several occasions with different household operators. Vehicle has about 18,000 miles.
NHTSA ODI #11441294
Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
I was driving and the radio went out along with navigation screen, then power steering went out along with headlights, tail lights. Engine was still running but would not rev up. All kinds of warning lights went off, had a harder time steering vehicle out of the Road way. Engine eventually shut off. My dealer said my starter had…
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I was driving and the radio went out along with navigation screen, then power steering went out along with headlights, tail lights. Engine was still running but would not rev up. All kinds of warning lights went off, had a harder time steering vehicle out of the Road way. Engine eventually shut off. My dealer said my starter had a continuous draw on my battery and drained it. This was on 11/10/21. They replaced the starter and the battery. Got vehicle back on 11/10. Last night 11/18/21 I was driving my vehicle again at night and the same thing happened again, no lights, no power steering, no electronics in the vehicle worked. Got someone to jump My vehicle, we let it charge from the jumper and got the vehicle started again. Drove 4 miles down the road, same thing again. Had my wife come there and we again put jumper cables on for 20 minutes, was able to drive the vehicle home, did notice this time I had a check engine light. Have scheduled an appointment with my dealer again. I feel that on a dark country road with limited areas to pull over with no headlights or tail lights or 4 way flashers I could have easily been rear ended. I did have cars pass me and blow their horn at me, did finally make it to a cross road with a street light and got off the main road. The dealer has not set an appointment yet, vehicle would be available for inspection, if needed.
NHTSA ODI #11441100
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2021
Electrical SystemEngine
Kia knowing that they are selling nothing but junk to consumers are refusing to provide ANY Assistance to customers whom pay 25+K for their trash called vechicles. Kia has recalled my vechicle 2× now for Motor and ECU problems and now my vechicle is having electrical problems and had to be towed to a dealership to be looked at. …
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Kia knowing that they are selling nothing but junk to consumers are refusing to provide ANY Assistance to customers whom pay 25+K for their trash called vechicles. Kia has recalled my vechicle 2× now for Motor and ECU problems and now my vechicle is having electrical problems and had to be towed to a dealership to be looked at. This dealership is not looking to find out where the electrician problem is coming from and when I contact Kia America they are refusing any assistance to help me get their 25K piece of trash back on the road. When is the NTHSA going to do something and hold these car companies RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JUNK THEY ARE SELLING!!!
NHTSA ODI #11431042
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2021
Electrical SystemEngine
When you turn off the car via push button the car engine won’t shut off. The computer system shuts down but the engine continues to run. I’ve taken to the dealership three times to repair and it is still an issue. Engine isn’t diesel’ing as the gas pedal still works with the car off. When this happens the vehicles computer syste…
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When you turn off the car via push button the car engine won’t shut off. The computer system shuts down but the engine continues to run. I’ve taken to the dealership three times to repair and it is still an issue. Engine isn’t diesel’ing as the gas pedal still works with the car off. When this happens the vehicles computer system itself is fully off. Kia roadside won’t dispatch in this situation as they say “they aren’t mechanics”. The only thing you can do to shut the car off no matter how many times you attempt to restart is to go inside the engine compartment and pull the fuel pump fuse and starve the engine. There is no difference in engine sound between the on and off computer state, car is quiet so it could be easily missed by someone not paying attention. The car doors will not lock in this situation. Originally when this happened the car would throw tons of codes (I have it on video) now after the supposed fix (aka the computer update for the recall that was supposed to fix my issue) it no longer throws any codes. Now when the issue happens the vehicle appears to actually shut down fully except you can hear the engine not shutting down but not a single code registers. Shifter is completely locked out in this situation and will not re-engage until the engine has been choked out.
NHTSA ODI #11420050
13,000 miles · Apr 13, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion System
ADDENDUM TO COMPLAINT ON KIA MOTORS,KIA AMERICA, CITRUS KIA , THEIR SELL OF FIRST A BRAND NEW 2015 KIA SOUL,NOW RECALLED 5 YRS LATER AFTER WE BEGGED FOR HELP. WE ARE 2 DISABLED PERSON S WHO WERE DUPED BY KIA AND CITRUS, TRADED IN GOING INTO FURTHER DEBT AFTER GETTING NO WHERE WITH NHTSA, KIA ETC. KIA MOTORS TRADED AND FINANCED A…
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ADDENDUM TO COMPLAINT ON KIA MOTORS,KIA AMERICA, CITRUS KIA , THEIR SELL OF FIRST A BRAND NEW 2015 KIA SOUL,NOW RECALLED 5 YRS LATER AFTER WE BEGGED FOR HELP. WE ARE 2 DISABLED PERSON S WHO WERE DUPED BY KIA AND CITRUS, TRADED IN GOING INTO FURTHER DEBT AFTER GETTING NO WHERE WITH NHTSA, KIA ETC. KIA MOTORS TRADED AND FINANCED A BRAND NEW 2018 KIA SPORTAGE ONLY TO HAVE DANGEROUS PROBLEMS WITH IT. KIA KNOWINGLY SOLD US 2 DANGEROUS VEHICLE S, WE HAD THE KNOCK SENSOR INSTALLED PER THE "UPGRADE", FARCE, SHOULD BE RECALL. THE CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP PUT IN A WIRING HARNESS EXTENSION. WE ONLY HAVE 13,000 MILES ON THIS CAR BECAUSE WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE. THE DEALERSHIP DID AN OIL CHANGE LAST YEAR AND DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY. I RECEIVED A TEXT THAT OUR FUEL NEEDED ADDITIVE. IT IS IN " FAIR CONDITION", RECOMMEND WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE. NOT TRUE, NEVER RECOMMENDED BEFORE AND 13,000 MILES. IT SHOULD NOT NEED ADDITIVE ANYWHERE. SEE ATTACHED SCREENSHOT. I FULLY BELIEVE THEY ARE COVERING UP EVEN MORE AS IT RELATES TO THE PROBLEM IE SETTLEMENT? SERIOUSLY. OUR CAR IS WORTH NOTHING. I IMPLORE OUR NEW HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION TO LOOK INTO OUR COMPLAINTS SINCE 2015 TO INCLUDE THE INQUIRY BY SENATOR MARCO RUBIO. JOSEPH AND JULIE MRAZ ♿ KIA SOUL 2015 TO KIA SPORTAGE 2018. BLACK BOOK VALUE, RESALE VALUE, INSURANCE PREMIUM INCREASE, HOW MANY TIMES WILL KIA BE ALLOWED TO STEAL FROM US ?. THIS IS DANGEROUS ON AND OFF THE ROAD.
NHTSA ODI #11407969
44,000 miles · Nov 4, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MAY OF 2020 WITH 44K ON THE ODOMETER. THREE DAYS LATER I WAS ON A 3400 MILE ROAD TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I STARTED HEARING KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. I TOOK IT IN AND HAD THEM LISTEN. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS COMPLETELY NORMAL. THE KNOCK WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT 400 MILES THEN CAME BACK. I TOOK IT IN TO 4 DIFFEREN…
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I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MAY OF 2020 WITH 44K ON THE ODOMETER. THREE DAYS LATER I WAS ON A 3400 MILE ROAD TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I STARTED HEARING KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. I TOOK IT IN AND HAD THEM LISTEN. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS COMPLETELY NORMAL. THE KNOCK WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT 400 MILES THEN CAME BACK. I TOOK IT IN TO 4 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. I GOT TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE MOTOR BUT THAT IT HAD BEEN FIXED ALREADY. THE DAY AFTER I GOT HOME THE CAR DIED AT 30 MPH ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK AND LEFT ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET HIT. TOOK IT IN AND IT TOOK THEM 4 DAYS TO FIND A BAD FUSE. THE CAR OVER THE NEXT 3 MONTHS POPPED 12 FUSES AND KEPT DYEING ON THE ROAD. THEN I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT NOT TURNING OVER. TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND A BAD FUEL PUMP AND STARTER AS WELL AS A BATTERY DRAIN THATS KILLED THREE BATTERIES. TOOK THE CAR TO KIA 9 DIFFERENT TIMES TO GET LOOKED AT.7 OF THOSE TIMES THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY SAID THEY KNEW ABOUT THE DRAIN BUT COULDNT FIND IT. THEN THEY FINALLY FIGURED OUT THE FUEL PUMP WAS SHORTING OUT AND CAUSING THE FUSE TO POP. THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020 ALONG WITH THE INJECTION PUMP. I WAS 50 MILES FROM END OF WARRANTY THE DAY AFTER I GET THE CAR OUT OF THE SHOP IT WONT RUN FOR LONGER THEN 15 SECONDS. NOT GETTING FUEL.LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD 45 MILES OUT OF TOWN. IM BACK TO SQUARE 1 BECAUSE HALF THE TIME MY CAR WONT START. THE MOTOR IS STILL KNOCKING AND HAS NO POWER WITH MY FUEL MILEAGE DROPPING DOWN TO 11MPG IT STARTED REVVING UP AND SPEED NOT CHANGING,NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY OR JUST NOT SHIFTING. MY NEW SHOP DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING FAST. IVE HAD THIS CAR 6 MONTHS AND AM STILL PAYING FOR IT AND I CANT EVEN DRIVE IT SAFELY. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 64,456 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #11372948
Official recalls
3Sep 19, 2022
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
Mar 4, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.
Dec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires
Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.