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.
I purchased this care new, and the manufacture did not disclose that the vehicle was NOT made with an engine immobilizer, or any theft prevention outside a basic door lock. (Kia Hyundai Vehicle Theft Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, No. 8:22-ML-3052 JVS(KESx) (C.D. Cal.). I've already stopped the theft once and scared away the thief's, but now I can't find insurance companies to insure the vehicle. The 2 companies that I did find for insurance, charge 15% of the value of the vehicle for comprehensive and collision coverage. Even with the useless class action lawsuit settlement to upgrade the software, this is NOT stopping the thieves from breaking into the cars, and NOT impressing the insurance companies either as they won't insure this expensive asset. I've never seen so much deception in the automotive industry. The government should mandate a recall to install a KIA or aftermarket security system in this car with a starter kill & visual blinking lights to stop the theft. They should also be required to make national awareness messages to communicate that all affected vehicles will have security systems installed and theft will no longer be possible. This would STOP the problems and continuing extreme costs to the customers.
While driving on the interstate, multiple dash lights came on, the engine started knocking and shutting down. The vehicle was towed to the dealership and was found that the oil plug had fallen out, causing the oil to drain out and ruin the motor.
Service engine light turns off then comes back on. Get message engine failure. Scanner at dealership scanned 15 codes relating to misfires on all cylinders. Positive battery terminal caked up real bad causing arcing and melting plastic. Last I heard from dealership was possibly a engine replacement.
- Mesa, AZ, USA
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My Kia forte 21 that I owned for less than 2 years, stalled out while driving on 20 April 23. The engine light came on. I checked the oil and there was none, despite having regular maintenance being performed. No light indicators appeared informing me that my vehicle had no oil left. My vehicle had 21,234 miles when the engine failed. Kia has yet to contact me or assist me with this matter. I could-??ve possibly died while driving on the highway and my car randomly stalling out.
My main issue is concerning a critical design flaw that has been found due to a social media challenge called the Kia Challenge where people are able to start up and steal a Kia after only using a USB cord adapter (found near the key start on the steering wheel) without needing a key. This has caused a concerning increase in the theft of Kias across the country which has also affected my insurance rates. After repeatedly trying to contact Kia for two days on August 2nd and August 3rd, I was finally able to get in contact with customer service concerning the recent issue with Kias (model years of 2011 to 2021 with manual key start steering wheels) that are being stolen by just using a USB cord to turn on the car without a key. After waiting on hold for an hour, the customer service agent was extremely rude and uncaring about my concerns as my area is also being affected by these recent car thefts. My insurance rates have also gone up due to the overall riskiness of owning these cars and their likelihood of being stolen because it has a key start for the engine. After doing research on the information available to me, I found out that Kia higher-ups approved measures to cut the costs by not including automobile immobilizers that have been the industry standard for a little over 20s years. It makes no sense that my older 2018 model Camry has industry standard parts but my 2021 Kia Forte does not. I am highly aggravated that I am stuck having to pay for a vehicle that has a higher likelihood of being stolen all because the company wanted to save a few dollars and not include immobilizers on their cars until the 2022 models. I am highly upset that Kia, their reps, and dealers have displayed an abhorrent lack of concern in trying to fix this issue as this prevents me from having to go to important job sites for work. This issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible. Link to story https://www.insider.com/tiktok-kia-challenge-using-usb-cables-to-steal-cars-2022-7
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ennis, TX, USA