Kia Stinger

Where it stands out against its peers

• Exterior lighting: more complaints than 95% of 2018 cars — 10% of its 67 complaints, where an ordinary 2018 car has 3%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

77% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 18V754000

  The damaged wiring harness may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness for damage. If no damage is found, a cover will be installed. If damage is found, the wiring harness will be replaced and a cover will be installed, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC170.

• 20V422000

  A loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the MDPS Assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC193.

• 20V518000

  An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a new fuse kit in the electrical junction box, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 30, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC196.

• 20V560000

  Insufficient fuel supply to the engine can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel pump and replace the jet nozzle housing assembly, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC198.

• 21V862000

  An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 10, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC219.

• 23V634000

  A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

  Dealers will update the engine control unit software, inspect, and replace the fuel pump as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC281.

• 24V169000

  An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving.

  Dealers will replace the left turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 26, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC300.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

  Audit query, opened November 2023, still open.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Kia filed 31 bulletins about the 2023 Stinger.

• Electrical system: 18
• Power train: 4
• Engine and engine cooling: 3
• Equipment: 2
• Back over prevention: 1
• Fuel system, diesel: 1
• Structure: 1
• Visibility: 1

• TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA III 2.5L T-GDI ECM SOFTWARE LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC369) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the engine control module… · July 2026
• Voluntary emissions service campaign: sc369_stkr: voluntary emissions service campaign completion label/sticker · July 2026
• VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (SC369) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Voluntary Emissions… · July 2026
• Voluntary emissions service campaign: sc369_poc: proof of correction card · July 2026
• VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC369) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the… · July 2026
• VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (SC369) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting a… · July 2026
• VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (SC369) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign… · July 2026
• TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable… · June 2026

23 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.