Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2026 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 ↗Rear Seat Belt Buckle May Not Latch
- Summary
- Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Kia Telluride and 2026 Kia K4 vehicles. The rear center seat belt anchor buckle in the 2026 K4 and the third-row center seat belt anchor buckle in the 2027 Telluride may not latch properly.
- Consequence
- A seat belt buckle that is not latched properly can fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the anchor buckle assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2026. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC364. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 20, 2026.
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 (12)
12 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 5 | 41.7% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 41.7% |
| Lane departure | 4 | 33.3% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 16.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 16.7% |
| Air bags | 1 | 8.3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 8.3% |
| Structure | 1 | 8.3% |
| Tires | 1 | 8.3% |
How 2026 compares with other K4 years
Best and worst K4 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 46 | 2 |
| 2026 | 12 | 1 |
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
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2026 Kia K4 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 33 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,050
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 269 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 33 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
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · AV-S1 CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 39 / 33 | $2,050 | 269 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · AV-S1 CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 39 / 33 | $2,050 | 267 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · AV-S1 CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 34 / 30 | $2,250 | 289 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 33 / 28 | $2,400 | 314 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 33 / 28 | $2,400 | 314 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2026 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.
Where to next
2026 Kia K4 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2026 Kia K4 have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 26V135000 (seat belt). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2026 Kia K4 problems?
Owners filed 12 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (5), Unknown or other (5), Lane departure (4) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2026 Kia K4 get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · AV-S1 CVT version at 29 city, 39 highway and 33 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2026 Kia K4 get?
NHTSA rated the 2026 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
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
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.