2025 KIA K4
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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These records cover every 2025 KIA K4. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 2025 KIA K4. Newest first.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of…
Risk and remedy
Risk
An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 K4 and Sorento vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power.
Risk and remedy
Risk
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the sub engine assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 12, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC349.
Owner complaints
47 complaints10 involved a crash8 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system · Fuel/propulsion system · Power train
I purchased my 2025 Kia K4 in March 2025. Approximately two months after purchasing the vehicle, around May 2025, I began experiencing serious and recurring safety issues. While driving, the vehicle intermittently loses acceleration and becomes unresponsive when I press the gas pedal. When this…
I purchased my 2025 Kia K4 in March 2025. Approximately two months after purchasing the vehicle, around May 2025, I began experiencing serious and recurring safety issues. While driving, the vehicle intermittently loses acceleration and becomes unresponsive when I press the gas pedal. When this occurs, I have to pull over, turn the vehicle off, and restart it before I can continue driving. On other occasions, the vehicle has unexpectedly shut off and restarted on its own while I was driving. The dashboard also goes completely black during these incidents. I have taken the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership for inspection, but I was informed that the dealership could not duplicate the problem. The issues have continued, leaving me concerned about the safety of the vehicle. I previously requested that Kia repurchase or replace the vehicle, but my request was denied. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate these recurring loss-of-power, stalling, and electrical issues because they create a serious risk of a collision.
- Air bags · Electrical system · Forward collision avoidance › Adaptive cruise control
Check Driver Assistance System light came on. It wasn’t until driving at night that I realized the steering wheel had no power. The horn, buttons, and lights all did not work or function. This also caused all driver assistance settings to not work or function. With no power to the steering wheel…
Check Driver Assistance System light came on. It wasn’t until driving at night that I realized the steering wheel had no power. The horn, buttons, and lights all did not work or function. This also caused all driver assistance settings to not work or function. With no power to the steering wheel, their is no way of knowing if the airbag would deploy. The problem was seen by the dealer and after two months of repair attempts, the clock spring was replaced. The light slowly started coming on and then finally stayed on. Later I noticed the horn and lights were not working on the steering wheel.
- Wheels
The tpms system will stop working and display a message saying check tire pressure monitoring system. While this message is displayed i cannot see any tire pressures and presumably will not receive any warnings about tires losing pressure. It starts working again on its own at seemingly random…
The tpms system will stop working and display a message saying check tire pressure monitoring system. While this message is displayed i cannot see any tire pressures and presumably will not receive any warnings about tires losing pressure. It starts working again on its own at seemingly random intervals. The dealership has been asked to look at it and found no issues. They asked to bring it back when the message was displayed but it is difficult to get the message to pop up and get to the dealership without it going away again.
- Lane departure › Assist · Steering
I am submitting this complaint regarding a suspected safety defect involving a 2025 Kia K4. On XXX, the vehicle was involved in a single-vehicle crash in the Town of [XXX]. According to the driver, the vehicle unexpectedly steered off the roadway when the Lane Keeping Assist/Lane Centering…
I am submitting this complaint regarding a suspected safety defect involving a 2025 Kia K4. On XXX, the vehicle was involved in a single-vehicle crash in the Town of [XXX]. According to the driver, the vehicle unexpectedly steered off the roadway when the Lane Keeping Assist/Lane Centering steering system appeared to intervene. The driver attempted to maintain control but was unable to keep the vehicle on the roadway. The vehicle entered a ditch and struck a utility pole, causing significant damage to the passenger side. The front and rear passenger-side airbags deployed. The front passenger window shattered, sending broken glass onto the front and rear passengers. My daughter was seated in the front passenger seat, and my [XXX] granddaughter was properly restrained in a rear child safety seat. Both sustained injuries and required medical evaluation following the crash. After the collision, I began researching similar incidents and found other owners reporting concerns involving the steering assistance and lane-keeping systems. While I cannot determine the exact cause of this crash, I believe the possibility of an unintended Lane Keeping Assist or steering system intervention should be investigated because it may present a safety risk to other motorists. I respectfully request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review this incident, along with any similar complaints involving the 2025 Kia K4, to determine whether a defect exists in the vehicle's steering assistance, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, or other Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Supporting documentation can be provided if requested. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Air bags
Air bag did not deploy, yes High Risk Yes Yes No Hit a street sign. Went through radiator, bent frame in front on passenger side, busted windshield, punctured roof. Car is totaled
- Electrical system
The primary Dashboard of the vehicle stopped working (while driving the car) and i lost access to all important information such as speed, RPM, current cruise setting, milage, visual alerts for any driver assistance warnings. The entire screen went black and showed “NO SIGNAL” in red text in the…
The primary Dashboard of the vehicle stopped working (while driving the car) and i lost access to all important information such as speed, RPM, current cruise setting, milage, visual alerts for any driver assistance warnings. The entire screen went black and showed “NO SIGNAL” in red text in the middle. It later came back after a few minutes. This issue has occurred 5 times so far and 4 of them being while driving the car within 1 week. The dealer is confirmed this is an issue and recommended an entire dashboard replacement for the vehicle. This is very unsafe because i cannot determine my speed or any other important warnings the vehicle may give me during my drive. There were no warnings or symptoms prior to the first failure.
- Electrical system · Unknown or other
I'm not sure what's going on. It's telling me to start stop the car when it's running and then it will turn off and go into accessory mode even when I'm driving that's dangerous. I took it to Kia a month ago for the same thing but they said they couldn't find anything, but it has to be something if I'm not the only one saying this is happening to their car. my car doesn't even have 8000 miles on my car.
- Engine and engine cooling
The contact owns a 2025 Kia K4. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH on several occasions, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart but would immediately stall again, requiring the driver to wait approximately 10 minutes before the vehicle could be successfully restarted and…
The contact owns a 2025 Kia K4. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH on several occasions, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart but would immediately stall again, requiring the driver to wait approximately 10 minutes before the vehicle could be successfully restarted and driven. The vehicle was towed on one occasion and taken to the same dealer twice, but the dealer was unable to replicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,085.
- Electrical system · Engine · Unknown or other
The car completely cut off while driving on the highway going 65 mph. This isn’t the first time it has turned off while driving. I had to pull over and put the car in park before it would turn back on. The error says Accessory Mode. I have taken the vehicle to Kia Dealership in Winston Salem but…
The car completely cut off while driving on the highway going 65 mph. This isn’t the first time it has turned off while driving. I had to pull over and put the car in park before it would turn back on. The error says Accessory Mode. I have taken the vehicle to Kia Dealership in Winston Salem but they told me they are unable to recreate the issue so they are unable to assist with the problem. The car turning off while driving has happened at least 20 times. I have repeatedly called Kia and they are unwilling to diagnose an issue with the vehicle unless it happens while they have it. I am putting myself and others at danger driving this vehicle. I contacted Hertz Auto sales where I purchased it and they directed me to contact Kia since I have a warranty. I plan on taking the car again but I can only hope the issue happens while they have it because this vehicle is VERY dangerous to be on the road and I have no other option than to be at the dealerships mercy.
- Unknown or other
This car is a rental to [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(B)(6)
- Power train
Transmission slippage, rpms rev higher then mph, hesitates at red lights and stop signs
- Engine · Structure › Body · Unknown or other
“The engine undercover (belly pan) detached and is dragging/scraping on the ground on a 2025 Kia K4 with approximately one year of normal use. The radiator support is also affected. Dealer (Selma Kia, Selma CA) denied warranty coverage and stated damage was caused by driver hitting a speed bump.…
“The engine undercover (belly pan) detached and is dragging/scraping on the ground on a 2025 Kia K4 with approximately one year of normal use. The radiator support is also affected. Dealer (Selma Kia, Selma CA) denied warranty coverage and stated damage was caused by driver hitting a speed bump. These are factory-installed components on a one-year-old vehicle and should not detach under normal driving conditions. This appears to be a fitment or installation defect.”
- Back over prevention · Electrical system · Engine and engine cooling
The contact owns a 2025 Kia K4. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH, the vehicle downshifted upon depression of the accelerator pedal, with heavy white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that the low oil pressure warning light was illuminated prior to the failure.…
The contact owns a 2025 Kia K4. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH, the vehicle downshifted upon depression of the accelerator pedal, with heavy white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that the low oil pressure warning light was illuminated prior to the failure. The contact pulled off the highway and drove into a store parking lot as the engine made an abnormal knocking sound. The contact requested assistance from a bystander, who advised the contact that the head gasket appeared to have blown. The contact checked and noticed that the coolant and oil levels were low. The contact added both oil and water to the vehicle and drove to the residence. The contact made a diagnosis appointment with a local dealer. Upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the contact decided to tow the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to sludge. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle had experienced various electrical failures, as the trunk, power door, and power windows buttons were inoperable. The contact also stated that the rearview camera image remained displayed while in drive(D) for an extended period. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair, and the vehicle remained in the dealer's possession. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
- Lane departure › Assist · Suspension · Wheels
The warnings on the car all failed and I was lead off the road while going on a roundabout. This has trigged my car to completely lose all control and even though I was attentive to my steering wheel I still didn’t stop the car from leading me to that curb and off road onto grass etc.
- Air bags · Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking · Forward collision avoidance › Warnings
Vehicle's forward collision warnings did not sound. Airbags did not deploy. Vehicle in front end collision at 40mph
- Forward collision avoidance › Adaptive cruise control · Power train · Vehicle speed control
To whom this may concern, I was using my cruise control on my way to work. I usually set it to 80 because police are okay with that speed on I-75. I braked before my automatic brakes hit after I got cut off. I pressed resume in the cruise control and it accelerated pretty quick. I’ve experienced…
To whom this may concern, I was using my cruise control on my way to work. I usually set it to 80 because police are okay with that speed on I-75. I braked before my automatic brakes hit after I got cut off. I pressed resume in the cruise control and it accelerated pretty quick. I’ve experienced that quite a bit, but there’s been a few times that the car exceeded the set cruising speed while trying to resume. I forget it happens because it’s happened about 4 times since purchasing the vehicle. I noticed an officer on the shoulder leaving the shoulder as I got closer, and he got right behind me and cut his lights on, I look down and the cruise control shows 80 above the speedometer (photo attached taken while pulled over), BUT the arm was past the tick for 90. The officer clocked me at 92 apparently. This is the only time this issue has occurred, and I informed the officer that this happens. I have a court date set for July 9th now. I Googled to see if other owners have this problem. There are others who expressed experiencing this in their K4s and K5s. The AI tool explained the following • "Resume" Behavior: When you press the resume button, the car attempts to get back to 80 mph as quickly as possible. This aggressive acceleration can cause it to temporarily overshoot the target speed before settling down. • Settings Sensitivity: The acceleration strength and reaction speed can be set to "Fast" in your infotainment system, causing more aggressive throttle input.
- Air bags
I was hit on the driver side of the car infront of the driver door side of the hood and it took out my wheel and the car is totaled with how hard the hit was made my car bounce but the air bags never deployed and the fireman and the police officer said with as hard as I was hit it should have deployed
- Steering
While driving my 2025 Kia K4, the steering system failed and became unresponsive. I was unable to steer the vehicle as intended. The exact cause of the steering failure is UNKNOWN at this time. The vehicle and steering components are available for inspection upon request. The loss of steering…
While driving my 2025 Kia K4, the steering system failed and became unresponsive. I was unable to steer the vehicle as intended. The exact cause of the steering failure is UNKNOWN at this time. The vehicle and steering components are available for inspection upon request. The loss of steering control put my safety and passengers riding at serious risk because I could not properly control the direction of the vehicle. Steering is essential for avoiding hazards, staying in the lane, and maintaining control. The failure resulted in a single‑vehicle accident and could have caused serious injury or involved other motorists if traffic conditions had been different. The problem has not yet been confirmed by a Kia dealership or an independent service center. At the time of this report, the vehicle has not been inspected by Kia or another repair facility. Police and/or insurance involvement may have occurred due to the accident, but no mechanical inspection of the steering system has been completed yet. There were no warning lights, messages, or alerts prior to the steering failure. The problem occurred suddenly and without warning while the vehicle was being driven. I did not notice any clear symptoms before losing steering control. The exact cause of the steering failure is UNKNOWN. Based on my personal experience, the failure was sudden and unexpected and occurred during normal driving conditions. I had no prior indication that there was a problem with the steering system before the accident occurred.
- Engine · Power train
As I entered onto i4 reaching the speed of 60 miles an hour my vehicle began to make a high pitched whining noise that got louder as I pressed on the gas pedal, noise dissipated when I let off the gas pedal. Vehicle began to slow down on its own , even when applying pressure to the gas pedal, I had…
As I entered onto i4 reaching the speed of 60 miles an hour my vehicle began to make a high pitched whining noise that got louder as I pressed on the gas pedal, noise dissipated when I let off the gas pedal. Vehicle began to slow down on its own , even when applying pressure to the gas pedal, I had no choice but to pull over on i4, error message displayed “RED CAUTION EMBLEM” error message “Transmission Control Unit” Kia k4 app displayed Diagnostic Alert AT PO72200
- Air bags
After having my information panel replaced apx. a month later the airbag for passenger seat illuminated and has not gone off.
- Engine · Power train
Engine Failure, Engine cooling and lost power
- Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking · Forward collision avoidance › Warnings · Service brakes
When parked and cutting the car on check driver assistance system come on, check and, and esc comes on. The parking brake does not go off and malfunction. When trying to move the car sometimes it still drives and sometimes the parking brake will not allow you to move until the system resets its…
When parked and cutting the car on check driver assistance system come on, check and, and esc comes on. The parking brake does not go off and malfunction. When trying to move the car sometimes it still drives and sometimes the parking brake will not allow you to move until the system resets its self. There are 6 codes that appear. Started in December 2025 have taken car to the dealership 3 times and they report back because the codes are no longer present they can not fix it.
- Back over prevention › Automatic system braking
The insurance claim agent called on behalf of their insured driver, who rented a 2025 Kia K4. The contact stated that while their insured driver was attempting to reverse, the reverse sensor became inoperable with no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the reverse sensor failed to…
The insurance claim agent called on behalf of their insured driver, who rented a 2025 Kia K4. The contact stated that while their insured driver was attempting to reverse, the reverse sensor became inoperable with no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the reverse sensor failed to function properly. The contact stated that due to the failure, the rear of the vehicle crashed into a barrier. The driver did not suffer any injuries, and no medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy during the incident. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The rental company was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was not available.
- Back over prevention › Rearview system braking · Back over prevention › Warnings · Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking
The 2025 Kia K4 sensors failed to go off resulting in the rear bumper to hit a barrell. The operator of the Kia K4 was reversing at 1mph
- Electrical system
The digital instrument panel (including infotainment screen) has occasionally turned off and back on. An article showed Kia and Hyundai were going to have a recall at the end of March for this problem, but noted only 2025 K4 vehicles built after Aug 4, 2025 were involved, while the door frame shows…
The digital instrument panel (including infotainment screen) has occasionally turned off and back on. An article showed Kia and Hyundai were going to have a recall at the end of March for this problem, but noted only 2025 K4 vehicles built after Aug 4, 2025 were involved, while the door frame shows my vehicle built 7/2025. Please include my vehicle VIN in the planned software update for the problem to correct the instrument panel screen occasionally turning off and back on. (vehicle recently bought Jan. 2026)
Every KIA K4 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.