2015 Kia K900: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
54 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
16,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 54 complaints (29.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 20.4% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 9.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 16 |
| Air Bags | 14 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
| Structure:Interior Panels:Dashboard | 4 |
| Steering | 3 |
Exterior Lighting: 16; Air Bags: 14; Electrical System: 9; Unknown Or Other: 7; Engine: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Structure:Interior Panels:Dashboard: 4; Steering: 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 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2015: 3; 2016: 10; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2022: 9; 2023: 7; 2024: 13; 2025: 1; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10735357 · 2015-07-20 (July 20, 2015)
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR NO REASON, TWICE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ON A DRY, FLAT ROAD, DRIVING FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES AT 45 MPH. THE RED AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES THEN WENT OFF. IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE ON. HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTS FLASHING; FLASHED FOR A COUPLE MINUTES THEN WENT OFF. WE HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS IS ONLY A LIGHT PROBLEM OR IF THE AIR BAGS OR NOT WORKING PROPERLY. PROBLEMS WITH …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10735357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10736055 · 2015-07-23 (July 23, 2015)
PURCHASED 3/9/15 IN CO.DROVE TO GET THE CAR BECAUSE WE WANTED A VIP OPTION PCKG.MANY VIP FEATURES ARE ADAPTIVE/ACCESSIBLE OPTIONS FOR MY 100% COMBAT DISABLED VETERAN HUSBAND.ON 3/11,THE FIRST TIME WE PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, AND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL, THE STEERING COLUMN SHUDDERED LIKE A VEHICLE HAD HIT THE CAR. THE CAR WAS AT COTTONWOOD/PITRE KIA 4 TIMES OVER THE NEXT 3 MONTHS FOR A TOTAL OF 2 MONTHS OF THE FIRST 3 MONTHS. THE DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM,THE GM DROVE THE CAR, AND SAID IT WAS OK. MANUAL SAYS THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10736055 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10747835 · 2015-08-11 (August 11, 2015)
LIGHTS WENT OUT ALL OVER CAR AROUND 11:30 PM CAME BACK ON BLINKING,SCREEN GOES OUT,SOMETHING WRONG WITH RIGHT FRONT TIRE FEEL VIBRATION
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10747835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10851209 · 2016-03-23 (March 23, 2016)
IN DECEMBER, 2015, MY 6 MONTH OLD 2015 KIA K900 WITH NO MORE THAN 8,000 MILES REFUSED TO START. TWO AND HALF HOURS LATER, WITH TWO TOW TRUCKS ON THE SCENE, AIDED BY KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THE CAR FINALLY RE-STARTED. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 3RD, 2016 I LEFT THE DRIVEWAY HEADING WEST, AND ABOUT 4 HOUSES DOWN AT APPROX. 25 MILES PER HOUR THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO 'SHUT DOWN.' THERE WAS LOUD SCREECHING SOUND, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, AND ALL THE ELECTRONICS WENT DEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE, AS THE STEERING, GAUGE CLUSTER, ELE…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,968 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10862289 · 2016-04-29 (April 29, 2016)
HEADLIGHTS ON AUTO SHUT OFF AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10865345 · 2016-05-17 (May 17, 2016)
HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF COMPLETELY WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED - THEY ALSO FLICKER/FLASH WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT - VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING ONLY, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. THE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH IS IN THE AUTO MODE
Owner-reported narrative. 26,384 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10896676 · 2016-08-17 (August 17, 2016)
WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP OR A UNEVEN SURFACE THE CAR JUST DON'T LIKE IT,IN FACT THE CAR EVEN MOVE THE STEERING WELL ONE SIDE TO ANOTHER WITH A SHAKING FILING TEETH FEELS LIKE THE WEELLS ARE LOOSE OR SOMETHING,AT THE SAME TIME THE STEERING WELL MOVE GIVING YOU A FEELING THAT YOU MAY NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR,VERY DISAPPOINT IT WITH KIA.THEY NEED TO FIX THIS.I CALL AND THEY SAY IS NORMAL FOR THE K900 TO DRIVE LIKE THAT .REALLY KIA I THINK YOU ARE WRONG.TRY NOT TO HIT A BUMP OR A LITTLE HOLE IN THE ROAD BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONT…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10896676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10903024 · 2016-09-01 (September 1, 2016)
THE REAR GLASS HAS A GLARE ON IT. ANY HEADLIGHTS BEHIND YOU AND AIMED IN TO YOUR REAR GLASS ARE PICKED UP BY THE DEFROSTER LINES CREATING A DISTRACTING HAZARD. THIS CONDITION PRESENTS WHETHER THE GLASS IS STOCK OR HAS TINT ON IT APPLIED BY KIA. THE ATTACHED PHOTOS INCLUDED THE CONDITION WITH AND WITHOUT THE TINT. OVER A FOUR MONTH PROCESS, KIA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE BUT REFUSED TO MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO FIX THE IT DESPITE THE VEHICLE BEING UNDER WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10903024 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V210000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 2016-04-12 (April 12, 2016)
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.
Consequence: Loss of headlight illumination may reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V652000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Reported: 2023-09-25 (September 25, 2023)
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.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗