Kia: owner complaints and trouble codes

What Kia owners reported to the US safety regulator, model by model, for model years 2012–2025. Pick a model to see its years, the systems owners complain about and the trouble codes they quote.

Models35
Owner complaints31,055
Model year with most complaints2015

Models

ModelYearsComplaintsTop system
Sorento2012–20256,990
Engine
Optima2012–20205,537
Engine
Soul2012–20255,065
Engine
Soul EV2015–20192,129
Engine
Forte2012–20242,058
Engine
Sportage2012–20201,993
Engine
Forte Koup2012–20161,365
Engine
Sedona2012–2021841
Engine
Seltos2021–2025569
Engine
EV62022–2025555
Electrical system
Rio2012–2023538
Engine
K52021–2025500
Fuel/propulsion system
Optima Plug-in Hybrid2017–2020484
Engine
Optima Hybrid2012–2020457
Engine
Carnival2022–2025398
Electrical system
Niro Hybrid2017–2021285
Power train
EV92024–2025226
Electrical system
Cadenza2014–2019218
Engine
Forte 52013–2013195
Engine
Niro2021–2025113
Unknown or other
Sorento Hybrid2021–202590
Engine
Niro Electric2019–202272
Electrical system
Carnival HEV2025–202571
Vehicle speed control
K9002015–201968
Exterior lighting
K42025–202554
Electrical system
Sorento Plug-in Hybrid2022–202537
Power train
Sorento HEV2023–202334
Engine
Niro Plug-in Hybrid2018–202531
Power train
Niro EV2023–202522
Electrical system
Stinger2020–202016
Fuel/propulsion system
Rio 52021–202115
Unknown or other
Niro PHEV2022–202212
Power train
Sorento PHEV2023–20239
Unknown or other
Forte52017–20187
Engine and engine cooling
Optima PHEV2019–20191
Vehicle speed control

Complaints by model year

YearComplaints
20123,582
20134,236
20143,736
20154,560
20164,377
20172,429
20181,649
20191,759
20201,066
2021727
20221,073
2023722
2024574
2025565

Generic codes Kia owners quote

CodeMeaningComplaints
P0420Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1146
P0014"B" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)58
P0303Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected34
P050ACold Start Idle Control System Performance33
P0300Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected31
P0304Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected30
P0017Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B)26
P0302Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected23
P0301Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected17
P0011"A" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)10
P200AIntake Manifold Runner Performance (Bank 1)9
P0326Knock/Combustion Vibration Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance9
P0087Fuel Rail/System Pressure - Too Low8
P0018Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 2 Sensor A)8
P0455EVAP System Leak Detected - Large Leak8

Kia-specific codes Kia owners quote

These codes are defined by Kia; their exact meaning depends on model and year, so read it from Kia service information.

P1326 ×265P1327 ×14B1764 ×7C1260 ×4C1613 ×4B1620 ×4P1236 ×4P17ED ×4C1210 ×3C1208 ×3C1237 ×3C1688 ×3C1207 ×3C1211 ×3C1102 ×3

US-market data from NHTSA. More complaints can simply mean more cars sold. Code meanings link to obd2dtc.org.