2019 Kia STINGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
44 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
12,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 44 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 27.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 13.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 13.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 12 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
Engine: 12; Electrical System: 8; Service Brakes: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Power Train: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 29 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2019: 4; 2020: 7; 2021: 10; 2022: 5; 2023: 3; 2024: 3; 2025: 7; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11205097 · 2019-05-01 (May 1, 2019)
I BOUGHT MY KIA STINGER AWD ON APRIL THE 1ST AND WHEN I BEGIN TO DRIVE I FIRST NOTICED THE BRAKES FELT MUSSY AND I HAD TO REALLY STAND ON THEM AT MODERATE SPEEDS AROUND TOWN AND JUST THE OTHER DAY(APRIL 28) I WAS COMING BACK HOME AND I STARTED GEARING DOWN FROM 30MPH AND SIGNALED TWO TURN LEFT AND WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THE DISTANCE WAS CLOSING ON THE CAR IN FRONT AT THE RED LIGHT I PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD AND WERE IT NOT FOR THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING ACTIVATED AND ABRUPTLY STOPPED WE WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,380 miles reported. Look up ODI 11205097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11243325 · 2019-08-12 (August 12, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA STINGER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STATIONARY AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN HE NOTICE SMOKE ENTERING THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRE GAUGE AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE REVERSED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED HE AND HIS WIFE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OPEN THE HOOD AND SAW THE FIRE STARTED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON AND THE HORN BEGAN TO MAKE NOISE ON IT'S OWN. THE CONTACT STATED HE ALSO…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,238 miles reported. Look up ODI 11243325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11329240 · 2020-06-16 (June 16, 2020)
I STARTED MY CAR AND REALIZED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS FLASHING AND INDICATED "CHECK MY BLIND SPOT FOR A COLLISION". I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A SECONDARY ROAD AND THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS IN THE NEAR VICINITY. I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WOULD CORRECT ITSELF ONCE I STARTED DOWN THE ROAD. I TURNED ONTO THE MAIN ROAD AND EVERYTHING KEPT FLASHING, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE IT TO THE SAFEST PLACE TO PULL OVER, WHICH WAS A DOLLAR GENERAL. ONCE I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, I…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11329240 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11341238 · 2020-07-24 (July 24, 2020)
WHEN STOPPED, THIS VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO AUTOMATICALLY STOP THE ENGINE WHILE IDLING, AND RESTART THE ENGINE WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE. SOMETIMES, WHEN THE ENGINE RESTARTS, THERE IS A DIP IN ELECTRICAL POWER THAT RESULTS IN THE CENTER CONSOLE LIGHTS AND DISPLAY BLANKING OUT AND COMING BACK ON. THAT SYMPTOM IS ANNOYING, AND A SIGN OF SOMETHING NOT BEING RIGHT WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT NOT A SAFETY ISSUE ON ITS OWN. BUT THERE IS ANOTHER SYMPTOM THAT OCCURS OCCASIONALLY THAT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. AT LEAST 3 TIMES SO FAR -- TWICE ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,873 miles reported. Look up ODI 11341238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11376233 · 2020-11-24 (November 24, 2020)
NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 20V-518. I OWN A 2019 KIA STINGER GT2 AND I'VE HAD MAJOR ISSUES AND A RECENT 'INTERIM' SAFETY RECALL LETTING ME KNOW THE ENGINE CAN CATCH FIRE AND I SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT AND SHOULD LEAVE IT OUTSIDE (NOT IN MY GARAGE) AND WAIT UNTIL THEY SEND ME ANOTHER LETTER AND HAVE A FIX. IT'S BEEN WEEKS WITHOUT THE USE OF MY CAR. WHEN I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, THEY CLAIMED NOT TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE RECALL. IN THE MEANTIME I READ TODAY THERE'S ANOTHER ENGINE FIRE ASSOCIATED ISSUE WITH THE FUEL PUMP. SO FAR NO RECALL AND I HAD T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11376233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11543700 · 2023-09-10 (September 10, 2023)
Top roof molding on each side of moonroof cracked and faded paint. Near fuel tank paint chipped off. Color is snow pearl white and looks horrendous for a car of this price tag
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11543700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11390539 · 2021-01-28 (January 28, 2021)
ON FEB 18, 2020 THE CAR HAD A THROTTLE HESITATION AND CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC WHILE TURNING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND WHEN STARTED AGAIN HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CAR WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE. CAR HAD ERROR CODES P061B, P0172, P0175, P2180, P2178. KIA ADVISED TO NOT DRIVE THE CAR AND HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE CONNECTION AND DEALER SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT. ON MARCH 23, 2020, CAR WAS RUNNING WITH ROUGH IDLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON PULLING CODES P0108 AND P0068. CAR WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO DEALER AND DEALER COULD…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,041 miles reported. Look up ODI 11390539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11688866 · 2025-09-22 (September 22, 2025)
The issue involves the high-pressure fuel pump covered under Recall 23V634000 (Kia SC281). When the recall was marked as “completed” at the dealership, only a software update was performed. The required inspection of the fuel pump and potential replacement were never carried out. Two years later, the vehicle began experiencing problems consistent with the recall defect, including loss of power and engine performance issues. This indicates the recall remedy was not properly completed, and the defective fuel pump was left in place. The safety r…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11688866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11477889 · 2022-08-05 (August 5, 2022)
I only have 16,2000 miles on this car and for a while now after driving for 10-15 minutes I get a good shaking out of the front end and steering wheel when I use the brakes. I have no problems when the car is cold (less then 10 miles). I gets to the point I am worried there is something wrong with the car. I have started using the paddle shifters to downshift to help slow the car down because I don't want to use the brakes so much. I am not sure if this is a maintenance issue that requires new brakes pads or rotors. Are there any known issu…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11477889 at NHTSA ↗