Engine. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports

Suspension complaints

6 reports

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76,000 miles · May 2, 2018

StructureSuspension

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2/26/18 REPLACED EXHAUST AT FIRESTONE. 4/18 CAR MAKING NOISE BOTH FRONT AND BACK, FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS ABOUT TO FALL OUT; SHAKING THROUGH THE FLOOR BOARDS. TAKEN TO ANDY'S SERVICE WHERE HE FOUND ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED. NEW PART WOULD COST $500.00 PLUS LABOR. CALLED SOUTH HILLS KIA SERVICE AND DROPPED CAR OFF ON 4/26/18 TO ESTABLISH COST OF REPAIR/NEW VEHICLE. SERVICE MANAGER MATT GAVE ME # FOR KIA CONSUMER 800-333-4542. ERIC TOOK INFO AND CASE #12707877 AND ESCALATED TO REGIONAL OFFICE. ON 5/1/18 RECEIVED CALL FROM BRUCE 520-770-4888 AND SAID ACCORDING TO DISTRICT MANAGER, CAR SURPASSED 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. S.H. KIA TO WRITE ESTIMATE AS TO REPAIR COST. ALSO FOUND LEFT COIL SPRING BROKEN $251.99 COST OF REPAIR. TOLD HIM I WAS WAITING TO HEAR FROM REGIONAL OFFICE ABOUT CRADLE BEFORE I WOULD CONSIDER FIXING ANYTHING. BRUCE ALSO SAID THAT HE COULD NOT GIVE ME A WRITTEN REFUSAL TO COVER ENGINE CRADLE, AND THAT KIA DEALERSHIP WOULD PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION. SPOKE WITH MATT ON 5/2/18 ABOUT THIS REFUSAL AND HE DID NOT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO COME FORTH WITH SUCH. NOTIFIED NHTSA/NAKILA WHO TOOK MY INFORMATION AND TOLD ME TO CALL PA ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE AND PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THEM. CALLED S.H. KIA AND LEFT VOICE MAIL MESSAGE WITH MATT REGARDING 2012 RECALL #12V014000 AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY AND TO VERIFY IT HAD BEEN DONE AND IF NOT TO COMPLETE FIX. S.H. KIA DID TAKE PHOTO OF UNDERSIDE OF CAR TO SUBMIT TO KIA REGIONAL AND I WILL FORWARD THIS ON TO YOU. THE NOISE ON THIS CURRENT PROBLEM WAS NOTICED MORE WHEN DRIVING, TURNING, ON REGULAR STREET THAN WHILE IDLING. IN MY ESTIMATION THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE FOR FEAR PARTS MAY COME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT NOT ONLY TO MYSELF BUT TO OTHER DRIVERS THAT MAY BE BEHIND ME.

NHTSA ODI #11091392

60,000 miles · Apr 19, 2016

Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RONDO. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10860370

100,000 miles · Jul 30, 2015

Suspension

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JULY 30,2015 HELLO, THIS E-MAIL IS TO REPORT THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE FOUND CRACKED ON MY 2007 KIA RONDO. RECENTLY, I WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE CRACKED ON MY CAR. I CALLED KIA AND A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR. THE CAR HAS 100,000 MILES. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, TOWED A TRAILER, NOR CARRIED EXCESSIVE LOADS. EVERY SPRING, I HOSE UNDER THE CAR. I?M REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS FLAW IN THE CARS? SUSPENSION. I BELIEVE THIS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY THREAT TO DRIVERS FROM TIRES AND BRAKES BEING COMPROMISED. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

NHTSA ODI #10744908

99,000 miles · Jul 11, 2013

EngineSuspensionFire

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RONDO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READING INCREASED INTO THE RED ZONE WITH A CONSTANT NOISE OF FLOWING COOLANT. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED. AFTER WAITING TWO HOURS FOR THE ENGINE TO COOL, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN CAUTIOUSLY AND TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. IN ADDITION, THE STABILIZER BAR WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ODI #10524310

20 miles · Sep 9, 2010

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RONDO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS THE CONTACT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING AND FLICKERING ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN THE RPMS ON THE VEHICLE CHANGES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THIS FAILURE WOULD BE CORRECTED ON THE 2010 MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 20 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78000. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ADJUSTED TO HIGH. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT KIA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 MODEL AND WAS WORKING ON A FIX. THE TIRES WERE CUPPING IN THE REAR, THE REAR BRAKES, BATTERY AND BRAKE SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED EVOQ 02/28/11

NHTSA ODI #10354707

1 miles · Jul 30, 2008

Suspension

PURCHASES A BRAND NEW 2007 KIA RONDO THREE MONTHS AGO. CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHEN DRIVING HOME THE CAR STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN. WAS TOLD THE ALIGNMENT WAS OUT OF SPECS …

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NHTSA ODI #10236356

Official recalls

13V114000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 1, 2013

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

12V014000 · Air Bags:frontal

Jan 17, 2012

KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. (KIA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2005, THROUGH JANUARY 29, 2008, AND MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 KIA RONDO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 13, 2006, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2008. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) MAY BECOME DAMAGED THROUGH USAGE OVER TIME. IF THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY BECOMES DAMAGED, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL EXPERIENCE A HIGH RESISTANCE CONDITION POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.

Remedy: KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.

09V130000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 17, 2009

HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.

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

DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.