2016 Kia K900 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Exterior Lighting (2) · Engine (2) · Air Bags (2)
Safety recalls (3)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2023-09-25 · campaign 23V652000 · 1,730,192 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2022-02-02 · campaign 22V051000 · 126,747 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 K900 and 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse for the HECU circuit board, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC227.
Exterior Lighting:headlights 2016-04-12 · campaign 16V210000 · 3,099 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 K900 vehicles manufactured December 18, 2013 to January 11, 2016 and equipped with LED headlights. In the affected vehicles, when using the multi-function light switch in "AUTO" mode, electrical resistance may build in the switch and result in the headlights flickering or turning off when driving.
Risk: Loss of headlight illumination may reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the multi-function switch, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC130.
Service bulletins (51)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2025-12-09 · PS797 · Other
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
Power Train 2025-04-17 · TSB_TRA046_R5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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
Electrical System 2025-03-20 · TSB_ELE378 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: service action: kia connect modem reset (sa611) - this bulletin outlines the procedure for resetting the modem in certain 2016-2025my kia vehicles listed on page 3 that are equipped with kia connect services. the affected vehicles may encounter the following issues: remot
Power Train 2024-05-16 · TSB_TRA046_R4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each kia model. a flush is required only when a transmission is replaced.
Power Train 2022-11-18 · TSB_TRA046_R3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: transmission fluid application guide - this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each kia model. a flush is required only when a transmission is replaced, refer to applicable vehicles in the chart
Engine And Engine Cooling 2022-09-16 · TSB_ENG219_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: maintenance reminder feature - 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 on setting the "service interval reminder" feature ava
Showing the 6 most recent of 51 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-11-25 · Engine“there is a safety recall on my k900 kia. that it could catch fire while driving or parked. i called the parts department of kia and they said they do not have any remedy at this point. the recall notice states that if the repair is not going to be done in a timely manner that i have the right to put in the complaint with nhtsa which i am doing. my …”
2023-05-26 · Air Bags“my leather dash is rippling/tearing, i am afraid it is a risk of interrupting the passenger airbag deployment. i first noticed my leather dash rippling around the hud area in april of 2022. in september of 22, it began rippling where the leather cover meets the hood. this april of 2023, it has begun rippling on the passenger airbag area. i have…”
2023-04-16 · Engine“i want to make a formal complaint against high desert kia in victorville california that they haven't taken the necessary steps to get this recall that's against my kia k900 remedied quickly and this recall can cause a fire. a recall was sent to me in february 2022 and this recall still has not been complete so please i need your assistance to get…”
2023-01-25 · Exterior Lighting“while driving with the lights in auto mode, the light flicker and sometime go off. i took the car to the dealer to have it repaired. i was charged over $700 for the repair. i have since found out that this is an issue as noted in nhtsa campaign number: 16v210000 (exterior lighting) however, the vin was not included in the recall. …”
2022-12-27 · Exterior Lighting · 38,250 mi“the contact owns a 2016 kia k900. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the headlights ceased to operate as needed. the dealer was not notified of the failure. the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the contact related the failure to nhtsa campaign number: 16v210000 (…”
2022-12-02 · Unknown Or Other“my dashboard is bubbling up on my passenger and drivers side. …”
2022-04-13 · Service Brakes“i drove to an appointment when i got ready to leave the car was fine then the epb light came on i put it into drive because i know that will release it, per the car manual instructions. it did not release the brakes and the car would not move. had to call a tow truck the car was stuck in place. per manual it states the epb will come on by itself at…”
2018-03-29 · Air Bags“2016 kia k-900. consumer writes in regards to front passenger airbag did not engage/activate - airbag light off with occupant seated. *ld the consumer stated the dealer advised the airbag could not be fixed and would not deploy if heavy clothing was being worn. the consumer stated due to a handicap the vehicle cannot be safely driven without t…”
2016-06-22 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · 1,000 mi“thetraction control system (v8 engine) in combination with very poor traction tires (hankook optimo h426) may get you killed. while making right turns onto wet highway the left rear wheel breaks loose and the traction control tries to stop the wheel spin by applying the left rear brake which breaks the right rear wheel loose and then it's brake get…”
2016-06-22 · Wheels · 1,000 mi“the tires break loose in wet weather. the hankook optimo h426 tires, standard on this car are rated #41 of 42 available tires for this car (see tirerack.com tests). kia has put the worst tires available on their top line car! they have absolutely no grip in wet weather. they may work with the 6 cyl engine but are worthless with the v8 engine. i ha…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.