YearToAvoid

Kia Best and Worst Years by Model

28 Kia models, 37,197 NHTSA owner complaints and 252 recall campaigns for model years 2005–2025. Pick a model to see which years to avoid and which are the safest bets.

Kia models ranked by owner complaints

Sorted by popularity. Years to avoid / best years come from each model’s own Complaint Index.

Verdicts are based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, compared within each model. This is not a reliability rating. How the Complaint Index works.

ModelYearsComplaintsRecallsYears to avoidBest yearsTop issue
Kia Sorento2005–20259,631382011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 20172024Engine
Kia Soul2010–20255,535152014, 2015, 2016, 20202019, 2022, 2024, 2025Engine
Kia Telluride2020–20251,987172020, 20212025Electrical System
Kia Sportage2005–20253,009262012, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2025—Engine
Kia Forte2009–20242,541182011, 2012, 2014, 20172020, 2022, 2024Engine
Kia Optima2005–20206,884182012, 2013, 2015, 20162010Engine
Kia K52021–202548282022, 20232024Fuel System
Kia Sedona2005–20211,871192005, 2006, 2007, 2016, 20172014, 2020, 2021Engine
Kia Seltos2021–202554542021, 20222025Engine
Kia Carnival2022–202538362025—Electrical System
Kia Rio2005–202382472006, 2013, 2015, 2016, 20202011, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023Engine
Kia Niro2017–202534662017, 2019, 20232021, 2025Engine
Kia Stinger2018–202316872018, 20192023Engine
Kia EV62022–2025541520222025Electrical System
Kia Sportage Hybrid2023–20251291——Engine
Kia Cadenza2014–202021662014, 2015—Engine
Kia Spectra2005–200959022008, 2009—Airbags
Kia Rondo2007–201129752007, 2008—Engine
Kia Niro EV2019–20259062022, 2023—Electrical System
Kia EV92024–20252269——Electrical System
Kia Sorento Hybrid2021–202511162023, 20252024Engine
Kia Amanti2005–200917422005, 2006—Engine
Kia Carnival Hybrid2025630——Engine
Kia Optima Hybrid2011–202027452012, 2013, 2014—Engine
Kia K9002015–20206842015, 2016—Electrical System
Kia Borrego2008–20199242009—Electrical System
Kia Niro PHEV2018–20256832019—Transmission & Powertrain
Kia Forte Koup2010–20175252010, 2013—Engine

Kia model years with the most complaints

Raw complaint counts (not adjusted for age or sales). Click through for the breakdown.

  1. 2011 Kia Sorento · 1,517 complaints · 7 recalls Avoid
  2. 2013 Kia Optima · 1,383 complaints · 9 recalls Avoid
  3. 2016 Kia Sorento · 1,250 complaints · 8 recalls Avoid
  4. 2015 Kia Optima · 1,008 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  5. 2014 Kia Sorento · 986 complaints · 6 recalls Avoid
  6. 2013 Kia Sorento · 981 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid
  7. 2012 Kia Optima · 919 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid
  8. 2014 Kia Soul · 900 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid
  9. 2015 Kia Soul · 898 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  10. 2012 Kia Sorento · 880 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid

How we rank Kia years

For each model we compare its own model years using the Complaint Index: complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and “Do Not Drive” recalls reported to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. The top quarter of a model’s years is marked Avoid, the bottom quarter Best. Because NHTSA publishes no sales data, models are not ranked against each other. Full details in the methodology.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.