2025 Kia K4 Safety Report

Unknown Or Other

5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

Electrical System

3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

Power Train,Engine

2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

Air Bags

1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.

Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance

1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.

Back Over Prevention

1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.

Recalled due to potential failure of the instrument cluster, which can cause the airbag to illuminate and not deploy.

Recalled due to critical fasteners that may become loose, leading to engine failure.

Reported issues include unintended acceleration and steering instability, which can affect safety.

Some drivers have reported steering and power train issues, including a metal bracket that can interfere with driving.

Summary: 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 instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."

Consequence: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.

Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 K4 and Sorento vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power.

Consequence: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the sub engine assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 12, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC349.

After having my information panel replaced apx. a month later the airbag for passenger seat illuminated and has not gone off.

Engine Failure, Engine cooling and lost power

When parked and cutting the car on check driver assistance system come on, check and, and esc comes on. The parking brake does not go off and malfunction. When trying to move the car sometimes it still drives and sometimes the parking brake will not allow you to move until the system resets its self. There are 6 codes that appear. Started in December 2025 have taken car to the dealership 3 times...

The insurance claim agent called on behalf of their insured driver, who rented a 2025 Kia K4. The contact stated that while their insured driver was attempting to reverse, the reverse sensor became inoperable with no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the reverse sensor failed to function properly. The contact stated that due to the failure, the rear of the vehicle crashed into a ...

The 2025 Kia K4 sensors failed to go off resulting in the rear bumper to hit a barrell. The operator of the Kia K4 was reversing at 1mph

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 proble...

When I drive over 65 mph, I feel the car lose stability, and sometimes I feel those movements in the steering wheel. Also, it doesn't show the actual tire tread depth. In addition. And there is a burning smell.

There are times my vehicle keeps accelerating even though I’m hitting the brakes. Once stopped, it then doesn’t want to accelerate. I’ve reported to the dealership and they try to tell me it’s the type of transmission it has and that it’s normal. Continuing to accelerate while braking is extremely unsafe. My engine is also making a ticking noise that it never used to make. I bought my car brand ne...

I am reporting a serious safety defect involving the brake pedal area of my newly leased Kia K4 GT-Line. There is a metal bracket/component located directly above the brake pedal that interferes with foot placement. My foot becomes caught on this bracket when attempting to apply the brake, which delays or prevents proper brake application. On [XXX], while exiting the roadway and attempting to stop...

Location: Intersection of [XXX] and [XXX] Lakeville, MN Date/Time: [XXX], at approximately [XXX] Vehicle: 2025 Kia K4 (911 call placed at 10:08 am) On [XXX], while traveling toward the roundabout at [XXX] and [XXX], my vehicle experienced a sudden and violent unintended acceleration. Despite having my foot completely off the gas pedal, the engine began to accelerate the vehicle rapidly on its ow...

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 assi...

High mounted rare brake (pulse)

Bought car in Nov 24. Noticed a popping sound as if a rock was hitting windshield. Nothing hit windshield. The popping sound was intermittent but went on for months. Finally in August 2025, I noticed a crack in upper side of drivers windshield. Next day crack got bigger. Called safelite to replace. Had to park car with cover over windshield since I couldn’t get an appointment right away. Had to r...

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, whe...

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

Every time I drive my car randomly something sounds like a big pebble hits my windshield. My car is available for inspection upon request. My safety is put at risk cause it scares me(makes me jerk). This can cause me to accidently jerk my steering wheel and cause me to leave my lane & possible hit another vehicle. I have an appointment with the dealership repair center on Nov 9, 2025. I can get i...

While driving on the freeway in the left lane on a two-lane highway, the lane departure and steer ahead feature incorrectly adjusted steering and pulled vehicle into the right lane. Is incorrect adjustment due to lane departure has happened numerous times. Each time this occurred I was not using copilot features. The lane departure cannot be turned off.

KIA K4 WITH 500 MILES ON IT. EXPERIENCED POPPING NOISE FROM THE WINDSHIELD AS IF A STONE HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHEN CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE AC IS ON AND THE SUN IS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE AT LEAST 8 SMALL CHIPS IN THE WINDSHIELD AS A RESULT. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN ANYWHERE THAT HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF ROCKS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS DAMAGE. IT'S HAPPENED TWICE AT THE SAME EXAC...

I had a diagnostic appointment on 9/8/25 for my 2025 Kia K4 due to a popping noise on the windshield that happens when the weather is hot/sun on windshield. Once the diagnostic was complete, the recommendation from the dealer was to replace the windshield since it was not factory. The dealer did hear the noise during the diagnostic. I purchased the vehicle Jan 2025 and I start hearing the popping ...

THIS SAME INCIDENT HAD HAPPENED 6 TIMES PRIOR TO MY BEING ABLE TO TAKE A PICTURE OF MY DASHBOARD. THE CRUISE CONTROL CHANGES ON ITS OWN TO 90 OR 110 MPH AND THE ACCELERATION BEGINS ON ITS OWN VERY AGGRESIVELY. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SPEED LIMIT AS YOU WILL SEE ON THE PICTURE, THE SPEED LIMIT IS 65 AND I HAD ALREADY STEPPED ON MY BRAKE TO WHERE MY SPEED WAS THEN 59. I HAVE TAKEN IT FOR S...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information on the process for downloading infotainment software updates and preparing USB for installation on applicable Kia vehicles. The software downloads and USB preparation process is similar across all...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: BODY DOMAIN CONTROLLER (BDC) REPLACEMENT (CA2515) - This bulletin provides information regarding the Body Domain Control unit (“BDC”) on certain 2025MY and 2026MY K4 (CL4) vehicles manufactured from May 1, 2025, through Feb 9, 2026. Due to a communication issue between th...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: DCU COMMUNICATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) system software on some 2025–2026MY vehicles listed in the table below. Kia has identified that Connected Car Services (CCS) functionality may intermitte...

PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal ...

RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SERVICE ACTION SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR WARNING LIGHTS (SA621) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Engine Control Unit (ECU) logic of certain 2025 K4 vehicles. This update improves the processing logic of the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to reduce...

RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SERVICE ACTION: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR RCM (SA620) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Roof Control Module (RCM) of certain 2025 K4 vehicles. This update is designed to improve software logic for a smoother sunroof response during one-touch ...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: ECM JUDGEMENT LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR DTC P218100 (SA621) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Engine Control Module (ECM) system software on certain 2025MY K4 (CL4m) vehicles produced from July 03, 2024 through April 28, 2025 equipped with an...

PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: DCU IDENTIFICATION AND DAIGNOSTIC AID - This Pitstop provides information on identifying the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) in Kia vehicles equipped with Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) and ccNC Lite head units, as well as a diagnostic aid when diagnosing Kia Con...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: BODY DOMAIN CONTROLLER (BDC) REPLACEMENT (CA2507) - This bulletin provides information regarding the Body Domain Control unit (BDC) on certain 2025MY K4 (CL4) vehicles manufactured from June 1, 2024 through May 1, 2025. Due to a communication issue between the key fob an...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: SUNROOF OPERATION SOFTWARE LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA595) - CLOSED AND SUPERSEDED BY ELE390/SA620 - This bulletin provided the procedure to update the Roof Control Module (RCM) software on certain 2025MY K4 (CL4) vehicles produced from September 17, 2024 to Nov...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: SUNROOF OPERATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA620) - This bulletin supersedes TSB SA595 (December 2024) and outlines the procedure to update the Roof Control Module (RCM) software on certain 2025MY K4 (CL4) vehicles produced between September 19, 2024, through Ma...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: REAR COMBINATION LAMP BULB REPLACEMENT (CA2506) - This bulletin provides information regarding the replacement of the rear turn signal bulbs and stop lamp bulbs in the rear combination lamps on certain 2025MY K4 (CL4m) vehicles produced from July 5, 2024, to February 15, ...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid ty...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: COMBINATION TSB/SERVICE ACTION: CCNC – DEALER MODE, FACTORY & NETWORK RESET (SA613) - This bulletin has been revised as a Combination TSB/SA and includes additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bu...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID REPLACEMENT (SA606) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the winds...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID REPLACEMENT (SA606) - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the windshield wiper fluid on certain 2025MY K4 (CL4) vehicles produced from January 20, 2025 to January 21, 2025, which may have been contaminated/mixed with eng...

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: KIA CONNECT ACTIVATION FAILURE (SA600) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to access the ‘Dealer Mode’...