Kia Recalls Over 137,000 Vehicles: See Models Affected
Over the years, Kia has faced backlash, lawsuits, and recalls due to their cars' engines issues. Some Kia models have experienced engines stalling, seizing, and catching fire. While some of these issues can be more of an inconvenience, an engine catching fire is a serious problem that can be dangerous to not only the car but also the driver.
It leaves consumers and drivers wondering - do Kias have bad engines?
How Long Do Kias Last?
Despite having some known engine issues, Kias can be considered a relatively reliable car brand. If taken care of properly, most modern Kia vehicles have a life span of over 200,000 miles. According to Progressive Insurance, on average, a conventional car typically lasts for about 200,000 miles or 12 years. Whereas a well-maintained car could last up to 300,000 miles or more.
Kia may not have the best reputation when it comes to their engines, but Consumer Reports says that the reliability scores of Kia have been getting better.
In 2022, Kia was the highest-ranked brand in J.D. Power's U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. In 2023, Kia won the J.D. Power Quality Award - which is awarded based on the brand who had the fewest reported problems by 100 car owners in the first 90 days of ownership.
Although Kia has won these awards, some of the models still have issues and have been involved in recent recalls.
Kia Recalls 137,000 Vehicles
In most recent news, over 137,000 Kia vehicles are being recalled due to an issue related to the engine. According to Federal safety regulators, the recall was published after discovering the piston oil rings may have been manufactured wrong, which can cause the engine to fail.
It wasn't long ago that Kia issued another recall involving their airbags. Over 80,000 Kia vehicles had been recalled in January 2025 due to floor wiring under the passenger seat that could prevent airbags and seatbelts from working properly.
What Kia Models Are Affected?
If you own a Kia, check to see your model is affected by the recall:
Kia Seltos (2021-2023)
Kia Soul (2021-2023)
If your car is not affected by the recall, you can still check for any recent car recalls in the NHSTA recall check.
What Should You Do?
Car dealers will replace the engine for free and add special software to detect piston-ring noise, according to federal safety regulators. They will send letters to car owners around April 4 to let them know about this.
If you have questions, you can call the customer service number at 1-800-853-1403. The recall number is SC336. You can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236 or visit their website at www.nhtsa.gov for more information.