NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
117 reports105,200 miles · Jul 12, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST SPEED CONTROL. MY SPEED BEGAN A QUICK DECENT TO 25 MPH. THE CAR WOULD NOT PICK UP AT ALL. I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. I CALLED MY HUSBAND, HE ASKED A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS AND HAD ME RESTART THE CAR. …
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST SPEED CONTROL. MY SPEED BEGAN A QUICK DECENT TO 25 MPH. THE CAR WOULD NOT PICK UP AT ALL. I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. I CALLED MY HUSBAND, HE ASKED A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS AND HAD ME RESTART THE CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON, BUT THE CAR ACCELERATED NORMALLY SO I HEADED TOWARD HOME. IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I PULLED OVER, WAITED AND RESTARTED THE CAR. MY HUSBAND HAD ME GO TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THE CODE READ. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES OF THE PRINTOUTS THAT INCLUDE THE CODES AND DEFINITIONS. I LOOKED UP THE ISSUE AND SEE ACROSS CAR REPAIR FORUMS THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH KIA VEHICLES. IT'S TIME FOR NHTSA TO FORCE A RECALL. CORPORATIONS WOULD RATHER PAY A WRONGFUL DEATH/INJURY FINE THAN VOLUNTARILY MAKE WIDESPREAD REPAIRS TO MECHANISMS THEY KNOW ARE FAULTY. PROTECT OUR INTERESTS; THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS, OUR LOVED ONES, THE ROADS AND OUR LIVELIHOODS- IF I CAN'T GET TO WORK RELIABLY, I WON'T HAVE A JOB. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR EXPENSIVE REPAIRS WHEN THE PRODUCT IS FAULTY ACROSS THE BOARD. FORCE A RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #11004814
66,000 miles · Jul 10, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
WARNING LIGHT ON ESC SYSTEM WILL SHOWS ESC IS OFF AND CONTINUE TO STAY ON, STRANGE BRAKING HABITS.WHEN APPLIED. INHERENT AS LEARNED WITH ALL KIA'S OF THIS MODEL AND YEAR
NHTSA ODI #11004023
108,000 miles · Apr 6, 2017
Unknown Or Other
DOOR LOCKS DID NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY FOB OR WITH MANUAL ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK WITH KEY. CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND LOCKED, AND I WANTED TO UNLOCK IT TO GET IN AND DRIVE IT AWAY.
NHTSA ODI #10970975
28,390 miles · Apr 4, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
ESC ERROR LIGHT ON DASHBOARD AND SIMULTANEOUS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE NOISE WHEN IN MOTION. MILEAGE ON CAR 28,390 ORIGINAL MILES. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER. KIA RELATED RECALL SC077 FROM 2009 & SC098 FROM 2013. DIAGNOSIS FAULTY BRAKE SWITCH. SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER FIRST RECALL IN 2009 WITH ANOTHER FAULTY SWITCH. KIA REFUSES TO HONO…
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ESC ERROR LIGHT ON DASHBOARD AND SIMULTANEOUS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE NOISE WHEN IN MOTION. MILEAGE ON CAR 28,390 ORIGINAL MILES. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER. KIA RELATED RECALL SC077 FROM 2009 & SC098 FROM 2013. DIAGNOSIS FAULTY BRAKE SWITCH. SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER FIRST RECALL IN 2009 WITH ANOTHER FAULTY SWITCH. KIA REFUSES TO HONOR SECOND RECALL TO REPLACE FAULTY SWITCH.
NHTSA ODI #10970492
210,000 miles · Nov 16, 2016
Air BagsCrash
FRONT END WRECK, TOTALLED THE CAR BUT THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IMPACT SEVERE ENOUGH THAT FRONT DOORS HAD TO BE PRIED OPEN.
NHTSA ODI #10926451
100,100 miles · Oct 25, 2016
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,100.
NHTSA ODI #10918895
104,400 miles · Sep 5, 2016
Unknown Or Other
SOMETIMES, WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING FOR THE DAY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I'M DRIVING 10 MPH OR 35 MPH, THE CAR WILL JOLT BACKWARDS AND LOSE ALL POWER, AS THOUGH BEING TURNED OFF, CAUGHT FROM THE REAR, AND THEN LET GO. IT RESUMES FORWARD BUT WITH MUCH LESS POWER. MORE OFTEN, THE CAR WILL SIMPLY NOT START. THERE IS…
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SOMETIMES, WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING FOR THE DAY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I'M DRIVING 10 MPH OR 35 MPH, THE CAR WILL JOLT BACKWARDS AND LOSE ALL POWER, AS THOUGH BEING TURNED OFF, CAUGHT FROM THE REAR, AND THEN LET GO. IT RESUMES FORWARD BUT WITH MUCH LESS POWER. MORE OFTEN, THE CAR WILL SIMPLY NOT START. THERE IS NO CLICKING, NO NOISE, NO SPUTTERING, NOTHING. THE LAST TIME I NOTICED THAT ALL ELECTRONICS... CLOCK, ODOMETER, ETC... GOES OUT, LIKE THERE IS NO ELECTRICAL POWER TO BE HAD. IT WILL START EVENTUALLY, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO LOGIC TO TIMING. I'VE HAD THE CAR INSPECTED AT ONE NATIONALLY KNOWN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND AT A KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER. NEITHER PLACE GAVE ME ANY REASON FOR THE INCIDENTS I HAVE DESCRIBED. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BOTH ISSUES ARE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE KIA MAKE, AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A CONSENSUS ON WHAT THE PROBLEM REALLY IS. BOTH ISSUES HAVE BEEN HAPPENING REPEATEDLY FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS.
NHTSA ODI #10903676
123,000 miles · Aug 14, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System
I HAVE 2007 KIA RONDO. I PURCHASED THIS USED IN 2010. IN THE LAST 2 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES. IT JUST STOPS WORKING. I HAVE DEALER PARTS ON MY CAR AND KEEP TRACK OF ALL SERVICES DONE TO MY CAR. IT WILL JUST STOP PUMPING FUEL EVEN THOUGH IT SOUNDS AD IF PUMP IS COMING ON. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT BECAUSE I …
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I HAVE 2007 KIA RONDO. I PURCHASED THIS USED IN 2010. IN THE LAST 2 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES. IT JUST STOPS WORKING. I HAVE DEALER PARTS ON MY CAR AND KEEP TRACK OF ALL SERVICES DONE TO MY CAR. IT WILL JUST STOP PUMPING FUEL EVEN THOUGH IT SOUNDS AD IF PUMP IS COMING ON. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP ON 3 TIMES ON ANY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS I'VE JUST REPLACED IT AGAIN ON JULY 18,2016.
NHTSA ODI #10895826
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
86,250 miles · Mar 11, 2016
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING 73 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS STUCK IN THE DRIVE POSITION, BUT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK BY…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING 73 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS STUCK IN THE DRIVE POSITION, BUT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK BY USING A KEY TO PRESS THE SHIFT-INTERLOCK TAB. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,250.
NHTSA ODI #10846120
Official recalls
3Apr 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.
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.
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
1DP22003 · 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.
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