Some have proven to be more trouble than they’re worth, even for casual drivers. You know the kind—they break down more as compared to your pay check permits and constantly drain your bank balance at the repair shop. The last thing anyone wishes is a limelight in the driveway or hogging up space in the garage. But prior to taking the plunge on a pre-owned Kia, it pays to do your homework on common concerns and desire maintenance costs down the road. What seems like a good deal on paper can end up being a financial albatross around your neck. This is especially mandatory these days with used car rates through the roof.
It is observed that safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency and consumer sources to limit the marketing over hype get a true view. We looked at recalls, reviews, and owner complaints for 10 Kia models and found that avoiding them was best. We also aimed to find the most problematic model year for each that highlighted the most concerns.
1. Our selection methodology
While Kia has definitely improved in quality over the years, not all of their past models have aged as well as others. During some research on utilising Kia options, a little seems to come up more often when questions arise to complaints and issues.
2. 2013 Kia Optima
Although the 2013 Kia Optima shows an attractive design and approaching price range, it has been entertained by a number of concerns that make it a potentially concerned purchase. According to CarComplaints, many owners’ complaints centered around engine-related issues, with their engines directly blowing up.
Steering is another big problem with these cars. Some drivers observed that the steering wheel may instantly pull hard to one side, even when driving straight. Things can even get even more sketchy at highway speeds, with the steering overcorrecting erratically. On top of all that steering and engine misbehaviour, some 2013 Optimas also had concerns with the paint job and body panels. The paint had a not-decent habit of peeling and flaking off, which looked drastically shocking. But it was much more than just an eyesore—exposed metal could cause rust concerns if left unchecked.
The NHTSA has had to issue 9 recalls for the 2013 Kia Optima, related to concerns such as leaking fuel tubes, improperly secured headliners, fuel hose cracking, and main issues in the electronic stability control system and airbag control unit. These are not smaller flaws—they deal with the systems important to keeping you safe on the road. A cracked fuel headliner that is removed during a crash could endanger your passengers’ lives and yours.
3. 2011 Kia Sorento
If you’re in the market for a used SUV and the 2011 Kia Sorento has caught your eye, you might want to pump the brakes to consider its issues before you fork over your hard-earned cash. As noted on CarComplaints, this vehicle’s more critical problems involve engine-related concerns. A number of instances have happened of engines unexpectedly stopping working, often preceded by the check engine light turning on, oil leaking, frictional idling, or knocking noises. In addition, the 2011 Sorento is prone to transmission concerns, with some owners reporting reports that the vehicle jerks when shifting gears and others reporting entire transmission failures.
In reference to NHTSA, the 2011 Sorento has been subject to a staggering 8 recalls, spanning many different components like the powertrain, exterior lighting, equipment, electrical system, and service brakes. Alerting, one of these recalls was an important safety solution because of the potential for an electrical short in the antilock braking system modules or hydraulic electronic control unit, which could lead to an engine compartment fire, whether the vehicle is parked or being driven. As a result, over eighty thousand of these vehicles were recalled because of this high-fire-risk defect.
The 2011 Sorento owners have had their share of grievances in contact with the external, containing plenty of issues about doors denying to open from the outside. Then there are door handles that seem to have a mind of their own, taking the decision to drop off without warning, as well as all sorts of body and paint concerns. The interior could also act up, as if the exterior issues weren’t sufficient. A few owners asked about unusual electrical intervals that led to warning lights flashing on the dashboard for no clear reason.
4. 2020 Kia Telluride
While we admired the 2020 Kia Telluride for its interior, large space, appealing tech, and extensive proper features, there are many reasons why you might want to prefer buying a used model. Some owners have reported concerns with extra oil consumption on CarComplaints. Its 3.8-litre V6 Gasoline Direct Injection (GDUI) engine can guzzle down oil pretty quickly, leading to problems like knocking noises, lower performance, and even engine failure down the line. Repairing this can set you back a hefty 10 thousand dollars or so.
As detailed in an NHTSA technical service bulletin, the torque transformer in some 2020 Kia Telluride vehicles may lead to unwanted irritating noises and vibrations, particularly when driving at lower speeds under 1500 rpm. You may observe a shuddering feeling around 45 mph that momentarily simulates riding over a rough patch in the road. Headlight concerns are also an observing problem for the 2020 Kia Telluride. Approx. 20 percent of owner complaints to the NHTSA involve malfunctioning headlights: Most owners say their high-beam headlights are not bright enough, change brightness randomly, or do not turn on at all—which was the basis for one of the five recalls.
Per an NHTSA press release, in 2022, Hyundai Motor America and Kia America initiated new recalls to choose Model Year 2020-2022 Kia Telluride vehicles because of potential fire risk. It is preferred that owners park their cars outside and away from buildings until the vehicles are corrected. The problem stems from an accessory tow hitch sold through dealerships, which may permit moisture to step in the harness module, leading to a short circuit.
5. 2014 Kia Soul
If you’re in the market for a used 2014 Kia Soul, you might want to make your mind 2 times, particularly if that odometer is getting near to hitting 100,000 miles. Some critical concerns with these engines tend to rear their ugly heads right around that mileage mark. Owners have complained of their engines suddenly failing without warning, loud knocking noises, and excessive oil leaks and consumption. The root cause may be related to an abnormal engine combustion that damages vital components like pistons and connecting rods. Once that kind of internal damage happens, a full engine replacement is inevitable. And that’s a rectifier that can easily top five thousand dollars.
In addition to the engine woes, according to NHTSA data, the 2014 Soul has been recalled five times to fix dangerous troubles. These drastic issues include a potential airbag failure in a crash, the pinion gear away from the steering column, excessive heated catalytic converters stalling out the engine, and an accelerator pedal issue to bending. Other maintenance dreams contain worn-out headlights and dead batteries draining without logic. These may seem like less concerns, but each repair plus your ownership costs.
While the 2014 Kia Soul has some worthwhile features, reviews focus out that its large wheels can lead to a rougher ride quality, which may not be wished for by some buyers. In addition, some desirable options are changed into costly packages, making them less accessible. CarandDriver also showcased the Soul’s underwhelming acceleration across all engine options, making overtaking maneuvers on two-lane highways need careful planning and execution.