FaultScore

KIA fuel system problems

Owners have filed 3,051 complaints with NHTSA about the fuel system on KIA vehicles — 5% of everything reported about the brand, across 38 models. The model that accounts for most of them is the KIA Sorento, worst in 2003.

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.

3,051

Complaints

5%

Share of all KIA complaints

69

Crashes

188

Fires

Which KIA models have the most fuel system problems

Sorento 501 16.4%

Worst in 2003

Optima 489 16.0%

Worst in 2013

Sportage 485 15.9%

Worst in 2000

Soul 363 11.9%

Worst in 2015

Sephia 164 5.4%

Worst in 1998

K5 152 5.0%

Worst in 2021

Forte 123 4.0%

Worst in 2017

Sedona 103 3.4%

Worst in 2011

RIO 102 3.3%

Worst in 2001

EV6 96 3.1%

Worst in 2022

Spectra 75 2.5%

Worst in 2007

Telluride 43 1.4%

Worst in 2020

Rondo 42 1.4%

Worst in 2008

Carnival 34 1.1%

Worst in 2022

Stinger 33 1.1%

Worst in 2018

Amanti 30 1.0%

Worst in 2004

Niro 29 1.0%

Worst in 2017

Seltos 28 0.9%

Worst in 2021

Sorento Hybrid 26 0.9%

Worst in 2025

Worst KIA model years for fuel system problems

Vehicle Complaints Share of that year Median miles Grade
2013 KIA Optima 122 6% 88,700 C
2000 KIA Sportage 102 22% 81,500 C
2015 KIA Soul 79 6% 65,000 C
2016 KIA Soul 79 7% 72,617 B
2003 KIA Sorento 77 18% 95,000 C
2002 KIA Sportage 68 21% 65,000 C
1998 KIA Sephia 65 7% 74,250 C
2001 KIA Sportage 65 18% 70,000 B
2016 KIA Optima 62 6% 72,708 C
2014 KIA Soul 57 5% 84,837 C
2016 KIA Sorento 56 3% 67,000 C
2015 KIA Optima 55 4% 104,009 D
1999 KIA Sephia 54 7% 14,000 A
2012 KIA Optima 54 4% 80,000 B
2021 KIA K5 54 21% 113,000 C
2023 KIA K5 51 34% 60,000 F
2014 KIA Sorento 50 4% 76,556 C
2017 KIA Sorento 49 5% 66,500 B
2014 KIA Optima 48 6% 85,000 F
1999 KIA Sportage 43 9% 85,000 A