NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
131 reports145,000 miles · Jul 1, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other
THE PROBLEM STARTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR, EVERYTIME WE WOULD GO GET A OIL CHANGE THE SERVICE FACILITY WOULD TELL US THAT OUR OIL WAS LOW AND WE DIDN'T SEE HOW WHEN WE WOULD HA E IT CHANGED REGULARLY SO WE WAS LOOSING OIL AND DIDN'T KNOW WHERE BACK IT WAS LEAKING ON THE GROUND AND IT WASN'T VISIBLE WHEN YOU …
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THE PROBLEM STARTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR, EVERYTIME WE WOULD GO GET A OIL CHANGE THE SERVICE FACILITY WOULD TELL US THAT OUR OIL WAS LOW AND WE DIDN'T SEE HOW WHEN WE WOULD HA E IT CHANGED REGULARLY SO WE WAS LOOSING OIL AND DIDN'T KNOW WHERE BACK IT WAS LEAKING ON THE GROUND AND IT WASN'T VISIBLE WHEN YOU WOULD LOOK UNDER THE HOOD SHE WE TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG, IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUE TO BRING IT BACK AND THEY WOULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE TO GET TO THE PROBLEM SO I CALLED KIA CORPORATE OFFICE THEY TOLD BE THAT THEY WOULD WRITE OUT A INCIDENT REPORT AND TAKE IT TO KIA I INFORMED THEM THAT I DID THAT AND CORPORATE BASICALLY SAID TO FOLLOW THE SHOP RECOMMENDATIONS CAUSE MY VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE A ACTIVE RECALL ON IT SO I REACHED OUT TO NHTSA TO REPORT THE ISSUES I HAVE HAD AND TO ALSO LET SOMEONE ELSE NO I HAVE HAD ISSUES THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING AND NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO KIA AND THEN AGAIN SAID THAT IT WASN'T NOTHING THEY CAN DO IT WASN'T A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE SO LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON MY WAY TO WORK THE CAR STALLED AND COMPLETELY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY STOPPING TRAFFIC I HAD HELP SAFELY GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT WOULDN'T CRANK SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME THEN CALLED KIA AND SPOKE TO A SERVICE AND THEY STATED THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT FOR MY VEHICLE, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CAMSHAFT, TIMING AND SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE OIL CANISTER, I DON'T SEE WHY THE VEHICLE HAVEN'T BEEN RECALLED IF THEY KNOW THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THEM THIS IS A 2016 VEHICLE IT IS FAIRLY NEW AND IT HAS SO MAY ISSUES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11331986
Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2020
Unknown Or Other
HI, WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED AND THE A/C ON, THE OUTSIDE ODORS, GET IN TO THE VEHICLE INTERIOR. I KEEP THE AIR INTAKE CONTROL BUTTON ON. THE DEALER CHANGED THE AIR FILTERS. THAT HAPPEN WHILE I DRIVING CLOSE TO OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAPPEN ALL TIME.*DT
NHTSA ODI #11328816
Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
THE ENGINE OF THE CAR JUST DIED ON ME WHEN I WAS TURNING RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. UNKNOWN CAUSE WHY THE ENGINE JUST DIED ON ME. I TRIED STARTING IT, AND IT WOULD START AND DIE AGAIN. IF I START THE CAR AND STEP ON THE GAS, THE ENGINE DOES NOT DIE BUT ONCE I RELEASE FROM THE GAS, THE ENGINE DIES AND I SMELL A STRONG GAS ODOR.
NHTSA ODI #11289135
35,000 miles · Dec 2, 2019
StructureUnknown Or Other
WIFE HERD A LOUD POP NOISE OUT SIDE 7 AM SUNDAY LOOK OUT SIDE DID NOT SEE ANY PROBLEM. WE WERE GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR CHURCH WENT TO WARM UP CAR AND I NOTICED SOME GLASS AND FOUND THAT THE PANORAMIC GLASS WAS SHATTERED. CAR IS KEPT UNDER CAR PORT.. I AM AWARE THAT SOME OF THESE CARS HAVE WINDOWS EXPLODE
NHTSA ODI #11286404
29,000 miles · Oct 29, 2019
Engine
I OWN A 2016 KIA SPORTAGE AND IN JANUARY 2019 ON A TRIP TO A NEARBY TOWN THE CAR ENGINE STARTED TO CATCH. AT THIS TIME THE CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 29,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD THE OIL CHANGED ABOUT 4 WEEKS PRIOR. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE ALL THE FLUIDS AND FOUND THE CAR HAD VERY LITTLE OIL IN IT. WE WERE SURPRISED SINCE NO WARNING LIGHTS…
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I OWN A 2016 KIA SPORTAGE AND IN JANUARY 2019 ON A TRIP TO A NEARBY TOWN THE CAR ENGINE STARTED TO CATCH. AT THIS TIME THE CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 29,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD THE OIL CHANGED ABOUT 4 WEEKS PRIOR. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE ALL THE FLUIDS AND FOUND THE CAR HAD VERY LITTLE OIL IN IT. WE WERE SURPRISED SINCE NO WARNING LIGHTS EVER CAME ON AND WE HAD JUST CHANGE THE OIL. HE PUT OIL IN IT AND WATCHED IT AND AGAIN 2 WEEKS LATER THERE WAS VERY LITTLE OIL IN THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAIN ALL OF THIS. THEY TOOK A PICTURE OF THE INSIDE OF MY MOTOR AND SAID IT WAS LIKE SLUDGE THEN PUT IT ALL BACK TOGETHER AND BLAMED EVERYTHING ON US VOIDED THE WARRANTY . THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN OVER ABOUT 45MPH. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN OIL DELIVERY SYSTEM PROBLEM THAT CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THIS MOTOR THAT KIA IS REFUSING TO DEAL WITH IT. AFTER REVIEWING THIS RESEARCH I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE BECAUSE THERE WERE REPORTS THAT THE ENGINE SEIZES AND CATCHES ON FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #11276987
55,000 miles · Sep 27, 2019
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash
I WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE ON POINTS OF ROCK ROAD IN BREWSTER, A QUIET STREET NEAR THE BEACH AND THE CAR PROCEEDED UP AN EMBANKMENT,DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL OVER ONTO THE ROOF OF THE CAR ABD DID NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL I PUSHED THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES
NHTSA ODI #11258484
72,000 miles · Sep 5, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine
MY CAR WOULDN'T RUN RIGHT WE TOOK IT IN THEY SAID IT WAS THE CRAN SENSOR CHARGED 900 TO FIX IT. THEN THAT DIDN'T WORK NOW IT IS THE ENGINE HARNESS AND THEY WANT 3400 TO FIX IT. IF I SAY FIX IT WHAT WILL BE NEXT. THEY DON'T WANT OT REPAIR IT JUST REPLACE
NHTSA ODI #11253432
84,000 miles · Aug 26, 2019
Engine
P1326 GLOW RELAY STUCK ON
NHTSA ODI #11246583
Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2019
Unknown Or Other
TAKATA RECALL THE SALES MAN AT A BETTER WAY WHOLESALE AUTOS INC423 RUBBER AVENAUGATUCKCT06770 REFUSED TO SHOW THE CAR FAX AND STATED THAT IT WAS CLEAN ONLY HAVING OIL CHANGES LISTED. YESTERDAY KIA MECHANIC STATED THE CAR IS NOT TO BE DRIVEN SINCE IT IS A DEATHTRAP AND THE BACK END CAN FALL OFF AT ANY TIME. CALLED THE DEALER 5 T…
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TAKATA RECALL THE SALES MAN AT A BETTER WAY WHOLESALE AUTOS INC423 RUBBER AVENAUGATUCKCT06770 REFUSED TO SHOW THE CAR FAX AND STATED THAT IT WAS CLEAN ONLY HAVING OIL CHANGES LISTED. YESTERDAY KIA MECHANIC STATED THE CAR IS NOT TO BE DRIVEN SINCE IT IS A DEATHTRAP AND THE BACK END CAN FALL OFF AT ANY TIME. CALLED THE DEALER 5 TIMES, SPOKE WITH 10 PEOPLE WITHOUT GETTING A HOLD OF TJ SALES MGR.
NHTSA ODI #11223185
60,000 miles · May 22, 2019
Engine
OUR 2016 KIA SPORTAGE BEGAN EMITTING LIGHT SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST. WE BECAME CONCERNED AND ASKED OUT DEALER TO LOOK INTO THINGS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY NEEDED TO DO TESTS (THIS CONSISTED OF FILLING THE OIL UP AND ASKING US TO DRIVE 1500MILES) WE DID AS THEY ASKED AND PITHING 700MILE THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE CLACKING NOISES…
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OUR 2016 KIA SPORTAGE BEGAN EMITTING LIGHT SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST. WE BECAME CONCERNED AND ASKED OUT DEALER TO LOOK INTO THINGS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY NEEDED TO DO TESTS (THIS CONSISTED OF FILLING THE OIL UP AND ASKING US TO DRIVE 1500MILES) WE DID AS THEY ASKED AND PITHING 700MILE THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE CLACKING NOISES AND ON 2 OCCASIONS LOST POWER. WE RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP STATING OUR CONCERNS, THEY WANTED TO REPEAT THE TEST BUT WE REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIPS COMMUNICATION WAS VERY POOR, NEVER REPLYING TO OUR CALLS OR EMAILS SO WE DECIDED TO CONTACT CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THE FIRST CALL WAS GREAT, VERY SUPPORTIVE AND INFORMATIVE. SAID THEY WOULD HELP AND WE WOULD BE TOTALLY COVERED. THIS IS AS GOOD AS THINGS GOT, CONSUMER AFFAIRS PROCEEDED TO REPEAT THE SAME POOR COMMUNICATION AS THE DEALERSHIP SHOWED AND NOT REPLY TO CALL AND IF THEY DID TAKE A CALL SAID WE NEEDED TO SPEAK TO OUR CASE WORKED WHO WAS NEVER IN WORK THAT DAY. FINALLY THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NEED A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT (THIS IS A 3 YEARLY CAR WITH 60,000 MILES) KIA REFUSED TO HONER THE WARRANTY AS WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SERVICE RECORDS (NEVER STATING WHAT WAS ENOUGH) AND NOW WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF APPEALING AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE REPEATING THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION WITH US.
NHTSA ODI #11209271
NHTSA investigations
2AQ23002 · 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.
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.
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