The Kia K4 spans 2025–2026 with 4 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.0/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2025, 2026 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2026, 2025. It delivers up to 34 mpg combined and 5-star NHTSA safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Kia K4 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2025 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Kia K4 VIN — every digit explained
Every Kia K4 carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Kia and the country it was built in (real Kia codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this K4.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- USA5NP · 5XX · 5XY · U5Y
- South KoreaKNA · KND · KNJ
- Mexico3KM · 3KP
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your K4, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Kia K4 have?
The Kia K4 has 4 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2025–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2026 Kia K4 recalls 1
Seat Belts:rear/other:anchorage
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. A seat belt buckle that is not latched properly can fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix. 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.
2025 Kia K4 recalls 2
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel
What's wrong. 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."
Risk. 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.
Fix. 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:critical Fasteners
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix. 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.
Best and worst years for the Kia K4
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 2 tracked years, the worst years are 2025, 2026 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2026, 2025.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 K4 | Electrical System | Avoid | |
| 2026 K4 | Lane Departure | Avoid |
What are the most common Kia K4 problems?
The most-reported Kia K4 problems are Seats (1 reports), Tires (2 reports) and Engine (7 reports) — out of 46 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Kia K4 specifications & dimensions
The 2026 Kia K4 measures 185″ long on a 107″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 2,954 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Kia K4 window sticker.
| Wheelbase | 107″ (272 cm) |
| Rear track | 63″ |
| Body / trim | K4 4dr Sedan |
| Curb weight | 2,954 lb (1340 kg) |
| Front track | 62″ |
| Overall width | 73″ (185 cm) |
| Overall height | 56″ (142 cm) |
| Overall length | 185″ (471 cm) |
| Weight distribution (front/rear) | 61/39% |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Kia K4 cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the K4 holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 99 cu ft of passenger volume and 22 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Kia K4 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Kia K4 get?
The Kia K4 returns up to 34 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $1,850/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2026 Kia K4 (2L 4-cyl) gets 33 mpg combined and costs about $1,900/yr to fuel, emitting 269 g/mi CO₂ (GHG 6/10) — that's about $1,500 saved over 5 years versus the average new vehicle.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 K4 | 29 | 39 | $1,900 | 269 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2025 K4 | 30 | 40 | $1,850 | 264 | 6/10 | 2L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the K4 stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this K4's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Kia K4 have? Power & range
The Kia K4 is offered with 1 powertrain — 2L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Kia K4 cost to own?
A used Kia K4 sells for a median of about $20,999 for a 2025 — most listed between $17,950 and $23,999, from 32 real US listings we track. That real market price is what depreciation eats into, so it's the true anchor of the cost to own:
| Year | Typical price | Market range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 K4 | $17,950–$23,999 | 32 |
For every model year mileage-adjusted, trade-in vs private-party vs dealer pricing and a good-deal check, see what a K4 is worth today, or browse used-market prices across all models.
A Kia K4 depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this K4 loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $9,250 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the K4 ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Kia K4 safe?
The Kia K4 earns up to 5-star NHTSA overall safety — real government crash-test data. Ratings by year:
| Year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 K4 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| 2025 K4 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested model years.
Want the safest pick? Compare crash-test scores across the safest cars.
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How many miles does a Kia K4 last?
A well-maintained Kia K4 typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.0/5.
Check your Kia K4’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this K4’s VIN free →All Kia K4 model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Kia K4 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 K4 | 2 recalls | ★★★★★ | |
| 2025 K4 | 2 recalls | ★★★★★ |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the K4?
By owner-complaint volume, 2025, 2026 drew the most reports. 2026, 2025 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the K4 have?
4 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2025–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
What MPG does the K4 get?
Up to 34 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
Is the K4 safe?
The K4 earns up to 5-star NHTSA overall crash-test safety; ratings vary by model year.
How many miles does a K4 last?
A well-maintained K4 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the K4 reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the K4 is 4.0/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Kia K4 warranty?
New Kia models carry a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Kia dealer.
Where is the Kia K4 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your K4's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Kia may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much does a K4 weigh?
The K4's curb weight is around 2,954 lb. Its GVWR — the maximum loaded weight — decodes from the VIN.
How much ground clearance does the K4 have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.