2023 Kia Stinger problems
The Kia Stinger (Korean: 기아 스팅어) is a mid-size liftback/fastback manufactured by Kia between 2017 and 2023.
Overview
The Stinger traces its roots to the GT Concept from the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and the Kia GT4 Stinger from the 2014 North American International Auto Show. Design work was led by Peter Schreyer and Gregory Guillaume (Kia's Chief Designer) at Kia's European studio in Frankfurt and engineered by former BMW M Vice President of Engineering Albert Biermann, the car was unveiled at the 2017 North American International Auto Show. Biermann is now the executive vice president of performance development and high performance vehicles of the Hyundai Motor Group.
Testing of the car involved over 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) at the Korea International Circuit and 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
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Common 2023 Kia Stinger problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 2023 Kia Stinger, several common problems have been reported:
- Transmission Concerns: Owners have raised concerns about transmission issues in the Kia Stinger. Reported problems include shifting delays, slight jerking during gear changes, and in some cases, shaking or rattling when accelerating. While these issues are not widespread, they have been noted by some Stinger owners.
- Engine Reliability: Although there have been isolated cases of engines catching fire under heavy load or experiencing head gasket failures, these instances are not common. Overall, the Stinger's engine and transmission are considered reliable, with any potential issues typically covered under warranty if the car was purchased from a certified owner.
- Differential Problems: Some owners have experienced issues with the differential, such as snapping from the subframe, which raises concerns about warranty coverage and repair costs. Addressing such issues may require persistence with dealership services and potentially escalating concerns to Kia corporate for resolution.
These reported problems highlight the importance of regular maintenance, adherence to service schedules, and prompt attention to any unusual symptoms or warning signs to ensure the longevity and performance of the 2023 Kia Stinger.
Are there any recalls on the Kia Stinger 2023?
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2019-2020 K900, and 2018-2023 Stinger vehicles equipped with a 3.3-liter turbo gasoline direct injection engine. The left turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly may deteriorate and leak oil.
Is a Kia Stinger a reliable car?
Reported problems with the Stinger are few, so far, with most relating to non-engine electrics, and most models in the Kia range have a good reputation for reliability.
Why is the Kia Stinger not selling well?
However, as shown by sales figures on GoodCarBadCar, the Stinger has not been the sales success that Kia would have hoped it would be. This is likely down to the high price tag for the V6 model when a comparable BMW, Mercedes or Audi is available for the same money or less.
Does Kia Stinger have transmission problems?
If you don't routinely and consistently change your fluids at least every 30,000 miles or so, you may find that your Kia Stinger transmission will quickly slip.
2023 Kia Stinger car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Kia Stinger problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Structure problems
- Visibility problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2023 Kia Stinger vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2023 Kia Stinger complaints
The NHTSA has received 3 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2023 Kia Stinger.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-15
- VIN: KNAE35LD2P6
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: After driving on the highway for approximately 20 miles with no warning lights illuminated or any signs of issue, the driver's door opened while driving at highway speeds. We were in a right hand turn on a highway exchange ramp at approximately 65 mph, when the door popped open an audible warning began to sound and visual door ajar warnings illuminated on the dash. This was not just an erroneous alarm of the door ajar alarm; the door came unlatched opening enough to see daylight around the seal. My wife immediately grabbed the door and pulled it shut while driving. After closing the door the audible and visual alarms extinguished. I witnessed the incident from the passenger seat and can verify she did not on purpose or by accident touch the interior door handle to release the latch. This occurred with the vehicle having approximately 6,000 miles on the odometer. Doors should not inadvertently pop open while driving, this puts us at extreme risk of injury or death. If this were to occur while someone was leaning against it the outcome could be fatal.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-15
- VIN: KNAE35LD3P6
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: Kia America is failing to address a significant defect in the sunroof of my Kia Stinger. Despite multiple attempts to resolve this issue with the company directly and using the BBB AUTO line I have received dismissive and unhelpful responses. Kia America is demonstrating a complete disregard for customer satisfaction and safety. The interior of my Kia Stinger has been producing an excessively loud and distracting noise since the day of purchase. I have contacted Kia America on numerous occasions to seek assistance and resolution. However, their response has been consistently unsatisfactory and dismissive of my concerns. In their latest communication, which I have attached for your reference, their representative has gone so far as to suggest that the noise is normal and imply that I should trade in my vehicle due to my dissatisfaction. This response is wholly inadequate and fails to address a clear defect in the sunroof and other potentially defective components. I have previously owned vehicles with sunroofs, and none of them exhibited such a disruptive noise. It is evident that there is a manufacturing or design flaw in the sunroof of my Kia Stinger, and Kia America's unwillingness to acknowledge and rectify the issue is deeply concerning. I believe this defect poses a significant safety risk. It is a safety risk because it sounds like the glass is banging against itself, which over time can create fatigue cracks damaging the glass. This may lead to premature wear to the point where the entire glass breaks, flies back and hits someone else or micro pieces may fall into the car and land into someone's eyes. The distracting noise from the sunroof can impair the driver's concentration, potentially leading to accidents or hazardous driving conditions. Furthermore, there has been other documented complaints of people's sunroofs blowing out; I am trying to avoid being the next victim. The defect compromises the overall quality and value of the vehicle.
STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-04-15
- VIN: KNAE35LD4P6
- Components: STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY
- Summary: Sunroof explosion
2023 Kia Stinger recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2023 Kia Stinger.
- Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER:HOSES/PLUMBING
- Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2019-2020 K900, and 2018-2023 Stinger vehicles equipped with a 3.3-liter turbo gasoline direct injection engine. The left turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly may deteriorate and leak oil.
- Consequence: An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving.
- Remedy: 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.
Negative 2023 Kia Stinger car reviews
Positive 2023 Kia Stinger car reviews
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I've been driving the '20 Stinger GT-2 in ceramic silver for about 7 months now and I must say, I absolutely love this car! The exterior styling is a real head-turner and I've lost count of the number of times people have stopped me just to tell me how beautiful it is. The interior is very nice with great finishes, although I wouldn't call it luxury, maybe entry-level luxury. The seats are excellent - firm and comfortable, and the headrest is the best I've ever had (I'm 5'9
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I have the fully optioned GT2 RWD version. This car is fantastic! It's a sum of all that it is, along with a sum of all that it is not, and in understanding this, it still comes out on top as a master of what it truly is. Is it sporty? Yes, but it's not a sports car, and it doesn't pretend to be. It gives you enough for a taste when the mood strikes, but it's not built to set any new lap records. It'll take off from a standstill (0-60mph in 4.7s) and roll-on fast enough with a strong smooth linear power delivery that will keep any true sports/muscle car honest in that they have to be serious about keeping the Stinger behind them, but it's no drag strip champion. It'll go around corners better than almost any family sedan you can name, but it's not set up for sports car scalpel-like corner carving. It doesn't have a manual transmission, but you can tell it you want to control shifts yourself, and it'll let you do that. The suspension, even in sport mode, leans more towards the comfort side of sport. The ride is almost never jarring. It's a highly capable sporty mile-eater, and if we accept that's what it actually is, then we can accept that the race-track and drag-strip is not what it was designed for. Is it a luxury sedan? Yes, but it's not top-shelf luxury, and it doesn't pretend to be. It gives you a good taste of quality leather trim, soft touch materials, brushed aluminium accents, quality controls, 3-zone automated climate control, a soft quality ceiling, plenty of room front and rear, stitched panels, with middling-firm but extremely comfortable ventilated/heated seats that make it an enjoyable place to be for hours upon hours at a time. It's luxury where it counts, and if you don't expect more than that, then all is well.Does it come with a lot of quality of life features? Absolutely! This trim level has it all. You'll enjoy a tiltable/powered sun/moon roof, powered rear hatch, a sound system with crisp and clear sound quality reproduction that's capable of making your face vibrate with distortion-free intensity. Plus, parking assist, blind-spot monitoring, a clear reverse camera, lane keep warning/assist, frontal collision warning/auto-braking assist, 360-degree split-screen camera views, power ports front and rear, internal lighting everywhere, navigation, and a fully featured infotainment system. It may not have the very latest whizzbang sub-options, but it still offers a basic form of said feature. Is it a practical daily driver? Absolutely! With four doors and comfort drive mode, it's perfect for family/commute duties all day, every day, in high comfort. We traded in our old Camry LE for this, and the Stinger is just as capable of the daily family runabout chores as the Camry was, just in better comfort. Can it carry much stuff? You bet it can! Fold down the rear seats, and it's almost as roomy as a small pick-up truck with a covered rear. I used a throw-down sheet to protect the upholstery, but I parked next to a guy in a pickup truck at Lowes, and it so happened that we were both buying stuff for flooring projects. I was able to fit underlay, the boards, tools, trim, the whole works for a 200sq.ft project in one trip. The guy loading up next to me was pretty much the same thing, and the back of his pickup truck looked almost as full as my Stinger. Later I picked up a 55 gal aquarium for the wife with a flat pack cabinet. No problem. It still had plenty of room left over.This car is truly a jack of all trades, but it excels in the one thing that matters most in a one-car family garage: versatility. It's a highly comfortable, mile-eating, sporty grand-tourer that is incredibly versatile. I love it!
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Great car! It handles amazingly well. Be sure to check them out before they're gone.
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Congratulations on your recent purchase of the 2020 GT-line! It's great to hear that you found the perfect car that suits your needs. It's wonderful that the base engine is peppy and you're not missing much from the GT regarding the interior. It's also impressive that the car gets so much attention on the road. However, it's important to stay safe and make sure people wear their masks and keep their social distance when they come up to you in the parking lot to ask you questions or comment about the car. Overall, it's fantastic to hear that the car drives perfectly, looks great, and has an awesome Harmon Kardon stereo. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
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When I was deciding which car to buy, I considered a lot of options. In the end, the Stinger won out over other new Kia models, as well as more expensive luxury sedans like Mercedes, Audi, and Lexus. Even though it falls into a niche class of performance sedans from non-luxury brands, the Stinger easily rivals typical luxury brands in terms of quality. I absolutely love my car - it's a blast to drive, has a smooth ride, and great all-around performance. I chose the Stinger over typical luxury brands because of the increased costs and the Uber-bougie reputation those brands are associated with. While there are some cons to the vehicle, such as poor rear visibility and difficulty getting in and out due to the sloping roofline, the outstanding interior and exterior quality more than make up for it. The interior is incredibly comfortable, and the 8'' infotainment screen is plenty large enough. The car has a lot of available tech, but it was easy to use once I spent some time with it. The only slight complaint I have is the gas mileage, but this is somewhat relative depending on the vehicle you are coming from. Overall, I am very happy with my Stinger.I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying your new car! It's interesting to note that when driven on the Eco setting and driving mildly, your MPG has been consistently higher than the EPA ratings above. It sounds like you've found some great ways to optimize your fuel efficiency, like driving on the highway with 60-70 MPH. I can understand how it might feel like there's a loss of performance when driving on Eco, but it's great to hear that you still love driving your Stinger. It's always exciting to be part of a car club and see other Stingers on the road. I agree that some of the typical
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2023 Kia Stinger problems:
Any reported Kia Stinger Engine Issues? : r/StingerGT
Jan 25, 2023 ... The only common problems that I know of personally can be shifting delays with the transmission or slight jerking when the car downshifts ...
Common issues/problems to look out for? | Kia Stinger Forum
Feb 6, 2023 ... Brake pulsating, trunk rattle, rail roof cracking/fading, window trim discoloration, etc…. 2020 Kia Stinger Snow White Pearl GT RWD -- Lap3 ECU ...
Stinger reliable? : r/kiastinger
Apr 15, 2023 ... Very reliable and the one in the Stinger uses forged internals. Unlikely the engine will encounter any major issues. When it comes to interior, ...
Kia Stinger Issues | Kia Stinger Forum
Jun 20, 2023 ... I've had my 2022 Kia Stinger GT Line for a little over a year now. However, I've been facing some ongoing issues that have become quite ...


Virgil Feest 2024-09-05
Although the car has good trunk space, there are several negative aspects that need to be addressed. Firstly, the auto hold problem is a major issue as the engine does not turn on and it takes a considerable amount of time to turn back on. Secondly, the horsepower is weak and the acceleration response is slow, taking around 2 seconds. Additionally, there is no dimming mirror or side mirror defrost heat, and not enough storage space in the front seat. Lastly, there is no engine start button and using Uvo requires a lot of steps, such as taking out the cellphone, turning it on, finding Uvo, logging in, finding the turn on button, and entering the password again. Despite these issues, the car can still be improved to meet the expectations of its users.
Talon Bradtke 2024-09-05
Within the first couple of days, I experienced some lights popping up on the dashboard, which was a bit of a turnoff. But I guess that's what you should expect when purchasing a used car.
Emanuel Hammes 2024-04-24
I appreciate the stylish design of the car and its performance. However, it falls short of the high standards set by the Kia brand. The build quality could be improved, and there are some issues with the cruise control and rattling in the rear hatch and sunroof. Despite these concerns, the car looks great and has a lot of potential. I understand that Kia has had some quality issues in the past, but I hope they continue to work on improving their products. While I may not purchase a Kia product again, I am still grateful for the opportunity to drive this car and will make the most of it.
Nat Kovacek 2024-03-26
Although the car looks great, it did not meet my expectations. Despite purchasing the peppy 2.0t, I found it to be lacking in power compared to my previous 500+ hp V8. However, I appreciate the transmission, which is really good. The interior is also pretty good, although some features are not easily accessible. The rear visibility is poor, and the legroom is only adequate for younger children. Unfortunately, remote start is not available without purchasing the OEM part. Overall, I believe that the car has room for improvement, but I am confident that it will meet the needs of some drivers.
Kacey Heller 2024-02-05
The car's handling leaves room for improvement, and the braking system could be more responsive. However, it is an aesthetically pleasing vehicle.