South Korea · Founded 1944
Kia
Kia Corporation is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, after its parent company, Hyundai Motor Company, with global sales of over 3.1 million vehicles in 2025.
About Kia
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Founded
- 1944
- Parent / group
- Kia Corporation (Hyundai Motor Group)
- What they build
- Stylish value cars and SUVs, including performance N and Telluride family haulers
Kia started in steel tubing and bikes before becoming a full automaker and later joining Hyundai Motor Group. A design-led turnaround in the 2010s — Thinkware-era styling, Telluride, Stinger, EV6 — shifted perception from cheap alternative to design-forward value brand. It shares platforms with Hyundai while keeping a distinct product mix.
Browse Kia model years below to compare recalls, complaints, and year-over-year changes before you buy used. See recent recalls across all makes.
Models
Optima
Mid-size car · 1 year
K5
Mid-size car · 3 years
Stinger
Mid-size car from Kia (2017–2023) · 1 year
Soul
Subcompact crossover SUV · 3 years
Sorento
Mid-size crossover SUV · 3 years
Sportage
Compact crossover SUV · 3 years
Telluride
Mid-size crossover SUV · 3 years
EV6
Battery electric compact crossover SUV · 3 years
EV9
Battery electric mid-size crossover SUV · 3 years
Forte
Compact car · 1 year
Rio
Subcompact car produced by Kia, 1999–2023 · 1 year