NHTSA Data · Updated May 2026
Kia Vehicle Safety Record
25 vehicles tracked with 1.3K total NHTSA complaints and 50 recall campaigns. Average RecallIndex Safety Score: C (53/100).
Kia runs a mid-tier C average safety profile across 25 tracked model years. The brand sits in the middle of the NHTSA distribution; specific model years matter more than the brand average.
Across the brand, NHTSA recalls total 50 and consumer complaints total 1,301 over the dataset window. The per-model-year pages on this site show the breakdown — for any specific used-car purchase, the model year matters far more than the brand average.
Kia at a Glance
Kia averages a C on the RecallIndex Safety Score across 25 vehicles in our database — roughly typical for the auto industry. Across the fleet, NHTSA records 1.3K consumer complaints and 50 recall campaigns. Brand averages can mask sharp model-to-model variation; the table below shows the spread.
Across 25 model-year combinations, Kia averages roughly 52 consumer complaints per vehicle in NHTSA records. Complaint volume scales with production — high-selling models get more complaints in absolute terms simply because more units are on the road. The RecallIndex Safety Score normalizes for this so brands and models can be compared on a like-for-like basis.
Kia has 50 NHTSA recall campaigns on record across all model years tracked here. Recall count alone can mislead — a single recall can affect millions of vehicles or just a few hundred VINs. The Safety Score weights each recall by component severity (engine, brakes, steering, airbags carry the highest weight) and the count of affected vehicles, so a small targeted recall on a minor component does not move the score the way a fleet-wide brake or airbag recall does.
Top Kia Models by Complaint Volume
These are the Kia models with the highest NHTSA consumer complaint counts. High volume can reflect a real defect, a high-production-volume model, or both. The Safety Score normalizes for production where possible.
Every Kia in the RecallIndex Database (25)
Full Kia catalog from NHTSA records, sorted by complaint volume. Each row links to the model\'s detail page with full recall history, complaint breakdown, and Safety Score factor scoring.
| Year | Model | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Soul | 200 | 2 | D |
| 2022 | Sorento | 173 | 6 | F |
| 2023 | Sportage | 173 | 6 | F |
| 2023 | Sorento | 94 | 3 | D |
| 2022 | Soul | 82 | 1 | C |
| 2021 | Forte | 67 | 2 | D |
| 2024 | Sportage | 62 | 3 | D |
| 2025 | Sorento | 60 | 3 | D |
| 2023 | Forte | 54 | 3 | D |
| 2023 | Soul | 45 | 4 | D |
| 2021 | Sportage | 41 | 2 | D |
| 2022 | Sportage | 41 | 1 | C |
| 2025 | Sportage | 41 | 1 | C |
| 2024 | Sorento | 33 | 2 | C |
| 2024 | Soul | 25 | 0 | B |
| 2022 | Forte | 22 | 1 | B |
| 2024 | Forte | 21 | 0 | B |
| 2021 | Rio | 15 | 2 | B |
| 2023 | Rio | 12 | 0 | A |
| 2026 | Sportage | 12 | 1 | B |
| 2022 | Rio | 10 | 1 | B |
| 2025 | Soul | 9 | 0 | A |
| 2021 | Sedona | 8 | 0 | A |
| 2026 | Sorento | 1 | 2 | B |
| 2021 | Sorento | 0 | 4 | B |
How to Check Your Kia for Open Recalls
For any specific Kia vehicle, the authoritative way to check for open recalls is to enter its 17-character VIN at the official NHTSA Recalls portal. The portal queries directly against manufacturer recall records and will show whether your VIN is part of any active campaign and whether the remedy has been performed. Recall remedies are performed free of charge by the manufacturer\'s authorized dealer network under the federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
For non-vehicle product recalls — child seats outside their factory installation, accessories, aftermarket parts — check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Tire-specific defect investigations are also tracked in NHTSA\'s separate tire recall database. The full RecallIndex methodology is documented on the methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does Kia have?
Kia has 50 NHTSA recall campaigns on record across 25 vehicles in the RecallIndex database. To check whether a specific vehicle has any open recalls, enter its VIN at NHTSA's official recalls portal — the brand-level total includes both active and completed campaigns.
Is Kia reliable?
RecallIndex doesn't measure reliability directly — that requires longitudinal repair-rate data we don't collect. What we measure is safety: recall severity, complaint frequency, and crash/fire reports. Kia's average Safety Score is 53/100 (Grade C). For reliability rankings, consult Consumer Reports or J.D. Power; for a defect-and-complaint view, the model-level pages below are the right starting point.
What is the most-complained-about Kia?
Among Kia vehicles in the RecallIndex database, the model with the most NHTSA complaints is the 2021 2021 Soul with 200 consumer complaints. High complaint volume can reflect a real defect, a high-production model, or both — the model page breaks down complaints by component and shows whether the count is normal for the production volume.
How do I check for open recalls on a specific Kia?
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recalls portal at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The portal queries directly against manufacturer recall records and shows whether your specific VIN is part of any active recall, plus whether the remedy has been completed. Authorized dealers perform recall remedies free of charge under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Where does this Kia data come from?
Every figure on this page comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public Recalls and Complaints databases, plus NHTSA's vPIC vehicle catalog. RecallIndex aggregates and re-presents the data; we do not modify NHTSA's underlying records. For non-vehicle product recalls, see the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at cpsc.gov/Recalls; for FDA-regulated products, see fda.gov.