Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2025 Kia K4: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2025 Kia K4, most recently filed January 2026. Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. In NHTSA crash tests it earned 5 stars overall.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
Compare

Recalls (2)

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2025 Kia K4. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2025 Kia K4. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 26V046000 Filed Jan 26, 2026

Instrument Panel Display Failure/FMVSS 101, 138

Electrical system · instrument cluster/panel
Official NHTSA text
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.
87.8% repairedof 42,677 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 26V046000
Listed for 2025 Kia K4. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 25V548000 Filed Aug 25, 2025

Loss of Drive Power from Loose Engine Bolts

Engine and engine cooling · critical fasteners
Official NHTSA text
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.
86.7% repairedof 30 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 25V548000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (46)

46 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.

10involved a crash
0involved a fire
8injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2025 Kia K4, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 46.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2025 compares with other K4 years

Best and worst K4 years →
46 12
20252026
This year (2025)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Crash tests: 5 stars overall

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 4★★★★★☆
Side crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 9.9%★★★★★
Front seat of a modern car with the seat belt buckled across the passenger seat
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2025 Kia K4 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 34 mpg combined

34
mpg combined
30
city
40
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$1,950
CO₂ tailpipe
264 g/mi
EPA class
Midsize Cars

What it costs you to run

$1,921per year
$160per month
441gallons a year

Miles ÷ 34 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2025 Kia K4 configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
2 L 4-cyl · AV-S1 CVTFront-Wheel Drive30 / 40 / 34$1,950264
2 L 4-cyl · AV-S1 CVTFront-Wheel Drive29 / 39 / 33$2,050273
1.6 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive26 / 36 / 29$2,300303

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2025 K4 for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All K4 years

Where to next

2025 Kia K4 FAQ

How many recalls does the 2025 Kia K4 have?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 26V046000 (electrical), 25V548000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2025 Kia K4 problems?

Owners filed 46 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (13), Unknown or other (12), Air bags (7) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2025 Kia K4 get?

EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · AV-S1 CVT version at 30 city, 40 highway and 34 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

What safety rating did the 2025 Kia K4 get?

NHTSA rated the 2025 Kia K4 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 5 stars rollover (9.9% rollover risk).

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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