FaultScore

KIA brake problems

Owners have filed 4,320 complaints with NHTSA about the braking system on KIA vehicles — 7% of everything reported about the brand, across 39 models. The model that accounts for most of them is the KIA Sephia, worst in 1998.

These are raw counts. A model that sold in millions appears near the top for that reason alone — the grade never compares one model with another.

4,320

Complaints

7%

Share of all KIA complaints

414

Crashes

144

Fires

Which KIA models have the most brake problems

Sephia 806 18.7%

Worst in 1998

Sorento 703 16.3%

Worst in 2011

Sportage 632 14.6%

Worst in 1998

Optima 534 12.4%

Worst in 2013

Soul 357 8.3%

Worst in 2013

Sedona 330 7.6%

Worst in 2005

Forte 218 5.0%

Worst in 2012

RIO 184 4.3%

Worst in 2013

Spectra 88 2.0%

Worst in 2003

Telluride 70 1.6%

Worst in 2020

Rondo 44 1.0%

Worst in 2007

Cadenza 36 0.8%

Worst in 2014

Optima Hybrid 35 0.8%

Worst in 2013

Niro 32 0.7%

Worst in 2019

Stinger 30 0.7%

Worst in 2019

K5 27 0.6%

Worst in 2021

EV6 25 0.6%

Worst in 2022

Worst KIA model years for brake problems

Vehicle Complaints Share of that year Median miles Grade
1998 KIA Sephia 317 32% 50,000 F
1999 KIA Sephia 211 28% 30,000 F
2011 KIA Sorento 135 6% 68,000 C
2013 KIA Optima 114 6% 100,050 C
2012 KIA Sorento 105 9% 85,500 C
2000 KIA Sephia 100 22% 33,975 F
2013 KIA Soul 99 11% 69,500 C
2005 KIA Sedona 94 35% 8,000 F
1997 KIA Sephia 91 24% 63,000 D
2013 KIA Sorento 89 7% 72,500 C
2015 KIA Optima 89 6% 89,000 D
2012 KIA Optima 88 7% 77,000 C
2014 KIA Sorento 83 6% 80,000 B
1998 KIA Sportage 82 15% 73,000 C
2000 KIA Sportage 61 13% 11,000 C
2012 KIA Forte 51 13% 75,800 C
1996 KIA Sephia 50 25% F
1999 KIA Sportage 48 10% 28,000 D
2011 KIA Optima 47 6% 72,000 C
2012 KIA Soul 46 7% 112,000 C