The 2018 draws 2.03 complaints per run and the 2020 1.07, a 1.9-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age, so 33.5% land after the 5-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Engine, with 47 complaints, typically at 3.8 years.
Kia Stinger years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | 5 | too new | |
| 2022 | 18 | 16 | too new | |
| 2021 | 17 | 12 | too new | |
| 2020 | 15 | 14 | yes | |
| 2019 | 43 | 30 | yes | |
| 2018 | 67 | 33 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2018 Stinger asks a median $14,998, against $20,790 for a 2019, the next model year: about 28% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.
Among the 3 Kia Stinger years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2018, 2019, 2020; the three worth hunting are 2020, 2019, 2018.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 14.9% | covered | |
| 1 year | 36% | covered | |
| 2 years | 49.1% | covered | |
| 3 years | 57.8% | covered | |
| 4 years | 66.5% | covered | |
| 5 years | 75.2% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 86.3% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 95% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 5 years / 60,000 miles. Only 66.5% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 33.5% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (10 years / 100,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 36% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Kia Stinger, the early trouble is Engine and Electrical System — reported at around 3.8 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Fuel/propulsion System at 4.6 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.8 yrs | 1 | 4 | |
| Electrical System | 2.7 yrs | 2 | 6 | |
| Service Brakes | 2 yrs | 1 | 1 | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4.6 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Power Train | 3.4 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Exterior Lighting | 2.3 yrs | — | — | |
| Structure | 1.2 yrs | — | 1 |
What else in this class
6 models share the Stinger's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 1.5 for the Stinger. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the Stinger | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 161 | 1983–2026 | |
| Honda Accord | 415 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 77 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Prius | 109 | 2001–2026 | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 117 | 1992–2026 | |
| Nissan Altima | 148 | 1993–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Kia Stinger reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.5 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which Stinger years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2018, 2019, 2020. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2020, 2019, 2018. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Stinger problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age. The most reported system is Engine, typically at 3.8 years, followed by Electrical System.
Will the warranty cover Stinger problems?
Mostly yes: basic cover is 5 years / 60,000 miles, and 66.5% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 36% of the complaints here.
Is the Stinger more reliable than the Toyota Camry?
Yes: 1.5 complaints per production run for the Stinger against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.
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