Kia years to avoid
For every Kia model, the model years with more than twice that model's typical number of owner complaints, and the years with the fewest. Based on 44,208 owner complaints.
The worst Kia model years
Years to avoid from the last 20 model years, with the most owner complaints. The last column shows how far each year is above a typical year of the same Kia model.
| Car | Complaints | vs typical year | Main problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Kia Sorento | 1,520 | 5.9x | Engine |
| 2013 Kia Optima | 1,387 | 6.5x | Engine |
| 2016 Kia Sorento | 1,263 | 4.9x | Engine |
| 2015 Kia Optima | 1,011 | 4.7x | Engine |
| 2014 Kia Sorento | 989 | 3.9x | Engine |
| 2013 Kia Sorento | 985 | 3.8x | Engine |
| 2012 Kia Optima | 922 | 4.3x | Engine |
| 2014 Kia Soul | 904 | 3.3x | Engine |
| 2015 Kia Soul | 903 | 3.3x | Engine |
| 2012 Kia Sorento | 880 | 3.4x | Engine |
| 2016 Kia Soul | 824 | 3.0x | Engine |
| 2017 Kia Sorento | 810 | 3.2x | Engine |
Kia models: years to avoid and best years
Amber: more than twice the typical complaints for that model. Green: the years with the fewest complaints among years with enough cars on the road.
| Model | Years to avoid | Best years |
|---|---|---|
| Sorento | 201120122013201420162017 | 200720202022 |
| Optima | 201120122013201420152016 | 200820092010 |
| Soul | 2013201420152016 | 201020192022 |
| Sportage | 201220132017 | 201920212022 |
| Forte | 20142017 | 202020212022 |
| Sedona | 20062016 | 201020142020 |
| Telluride | 2020 | |
| Rio | 2001200220132016 | 201920212022 |
| Spectra | None stand out | |
| Seltos | 2021 | |
| EV6 | 2022 | |
| K5 | None stand out | |
| Carnival | None stand out | |
| Niro | None stand out | 202020212022 |
| Rondo | None stand out | |
| Optima Hybrid | 20122013 | |
| EV9 | 2024 | |
| Amanti | None stand out | |
| Cadenza | 2014 | |
| Stinger | 2018 | |
| Sportage Hybrid | 2023 | |
| Sorento Hybrid | None stand out |
Questions about the Kia years to avoid
What Kia years should you avoid?
The Kia model years with the most owner complaints, each well above a typical year of the same model, are the 2011 Sorento (5.9 times typical, mostly engine), the 2013 Optima (6.5 times typical, mostly engine), the 2016 Sorento (4.9 times typical, mostly engine), the 2015 Optima (4.7 times typical, mostly engine) and the 2014 Sorento (3.9 times typical, mostly engine).
What is the most common problem with Kia vehicles?
Across all models, most Kia owner complaints are about engine, electrical and transmission.
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