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...
Electrical system
Kia K4 Electrical problems by year
18 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Kia K4's electrical system. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.
Electrical complaints by model year
Electrical recalls
Latest K4 electrical complaints
Vehicle sat for 6+ hours and caught fire on its own. When the firefighters showed up, they asked if I had been in a wreck, there had been no wrecks on this vehicle in the less than 23K miles it had on it. Something according to their thermal guns got caught behind the drivers side screen panel and got hot. This caused the entire front dash to melt and something to projectile outwards through the bottom left hand corner of the front windshield. Luckily, this car was out in the open, their emergency sensor went off...
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causing the car horn to go off nonstop, alerting me of the issue, otherwise I would have never known it was happening. But, had this had happened in someone's garage when they weren't home, it could have burned someones entire home down.
Vehicle Safety Complaint - 2025 Kia K4 Unexpected Engine Shutdown I own a 2025 Kia K4 purchased new in August 2025. I am reporting a serious and recurring safety concern involving unexpected engine shutdown while the vehicle is being operated. The vehicle has experienced intermittent engine shutdowns, including while traveling at highway speeds. During these incidents, the vehicle switches into Accessory Mode, resulting in an unexpected loss of engine power while in motion. This issue first began before the...
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vehicle reached 24,000 miles. The vehicle currently has approximately 58,000 miles. I previously brought the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership for diagnostic evaluation. However, the dealership was unable to reproduce the problem or identify its cause. The underlying safety concern remains unresolved. I am particularly concerned because an unexpected engine shutdown at highway speeds creates a significant risk of a collision and endangers the occupants of the vehicle and surrounding motorists. I have also become aware of other owner-reported incidents involving 2025 Kia K4 vehicles experiencing unexpected shutdowns and switching into Accessory Mode while driving. I am requesting that NHTSA document this complaint and evaluate whether this recurring condition represents a potential safety-related defect affecting 2025 Kia K4 vehicles. I am willing to provide additional documentation, dealership records, and vehicle information if needed. Vehicle: 2025 Kia K4 Purchase date: August 2025 Current mileage: Approximately 58,000 First occurrence: Before 24,000 miles Dealer investigation: Conducted, but no cause identified.
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...
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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.
The contact owns a 2026 Kia K4. While driving 37 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. After restarting the vehicle, the failure persisted, and the message "Press Engine Start/Stop" was displayed with the key warning light illuminated. The following night, the contact started and then turned off the vehicle; however, the vehicle restarted independently without the Engine Start/Stop button being pressed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified by phone, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 25,352.
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.
Driving home, the entire screen flickered, then went out, when it came back the drivers assist lane assist kicked in and the car steered itself into oncoming traffic, which forced an oncoming car in front had to lock its brakes to avoid a collision. Then after forcing the steering out of the incoming lane, the lane assist came back on causing collision with the curb in the opposite direction. After resetting the computer with a pin, and watching the screen flicker and blink, it came back on and now the car is...
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parked at home. Hewitt police would not come out because it was in Waco (the car is garaged in Hewitt), and Waco police said it was not in their jurisdiction so no police report was made.
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...
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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.
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.
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...
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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.
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...
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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.
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)
I am reporting ongoing safety issues with my Kia K4 LXS involving driver assistance systems and steering control. While driving in heavy rain with reduced visibility, the vehicle disabled multiple sensors and displayed a "camera obscured" message along with inattentive driving warnings, despite both of my hands being on the steering wheel and my full attention on the road. The loss of driver assistance features during hazardous weather conditions created a distracting and dangerous situation. This issue occurs...
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frequently. I regularly receive false inattentive driving and hands-on-wheel warnings even when I am driving properly. These alerts are distracting and interfere with safe vehicle operation. I am also experiencing lane control and steering interference. The steering wheel will sometimes pull the vehicle in a direction that does not match the road, even when lane assist is turned off. This is especially dangerous in construction zones with temporary lanes marked by reflectors, including when driving next to large trucks. I have experienced multiple near-miss incidents and have had to physically override the steering wheel to remain in my lane. These problems now occur almost every time I drive and have caused me to feel unsafe operating the vehicle. I believe this represents a serious safety defect.
High mounted rare brake (pulse)
The contact's daughter owns a 2025 Kia K4. The contact stated that there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the dashboard. Additionally, the contact stated that while his daughter was driving to the dealer, the speedometer displayed 70 MPH; however, the driver was pulled over by the Police and informed the driver that the vehicle was driving 90 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the body domain controller was replaced. The contact stated that while the owner was driving, a week later, the...
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instrument panel and the infotainment system screen turned off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the owner was informed that the vehicle was test-driven every other day to determine the cause of the failure. The owner was provided with vehicle rental assistance. The contact stated that the dealer contacted the owner after 6 weeks and advised that the cause of the failure could not be determined; however, the owner was able to verify through the Mobile App that the dealer had only driven the vehicle twice, and the vehicle failed to exceed 38 MPH while driving. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted for buy-back assistance, but the request was denied. The contact stated that a local Kia sales advisor stated that a consumer who owned the same vehicle had experienced a similar failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50.
Blind spot and front collision features inactive. Seat belt didn't unlock after crash. Airbags deployed no passenger didn't work on driver airbag b1652 dtc codes on recall for another vehicle
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data