2016 Kia K900 reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia K900 over 11 years — 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most K900 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Brake control module and Headlights.

2015 Kia K900 — Photo by Bull-Doser, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (3 of 10), then Air bags (2) and Engine (2). The most filings arrived in 2023 (4 of 10).

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 K900 has 54 complaints, 5 per year, and the 2017 has 2 complaints, 0 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2017.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2016 Kia K900. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (3)

Recall Brake control module 2023-09-25 · NHTSA campaign 23V652000

Summary 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.

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.

Recall Brake control module 2022-02-02 · NHTSA campaign 22V051000

Summary Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 K900 and 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.

Remedy Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse for the HECU circuit board, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC227.

Recall exterior lighting, headlights 2016-04-12 · NHTSA campaign 16V210000

Summary 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.

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.

Complaints by component (10 total)

Electrical system

Air bags

Engine

Exterior lighting

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Forward collision avoidance

Service brakes

Wheels

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"There is a safety recall on my K900 Kia. That it could catch fire while driving or parked. I called the parts department of Kia and they said they do not have any remedy at this point. The recall notice states that if…"
Electrical system, Engine · filed 2023-11-25
"My leather dash is rippling/tearing, I am afraid it is a risk of interrupting the passenger airbag deployment. I first noticed my leather dash rippling around the HUD area in April of 2022. In September of 22, it began…"
Air bags · filed 2023-05-26
"I want to make a formal complaint against High Desert Kia in Victorville California that they haven't taken the necessary steps to get this recall that's against my Kia K900 remedied quickly and this recall can cause a…"
Engine · filed 2023-04-16
"While driving with the lights in auto mode, the light flicker and sometime go off. I took the car to the dealer to have it repaired. I was charged over $700 for the repair. I have since found out that this is an issue…"
Electrical system, Exterior lighting · filed 2023-01-25
"The contact owns a 2016 Kia K900. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the headlights ceased to operate as needed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed…"
Exterior lighting · filed 2022-12-27

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2016 Kia K900 4 DR RWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
K900	5L, 8-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	15	22	18 MPG	$3600
K900	3.8L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	17	25	20 MPG	$3250

Specs and fitment

First generation (RH), 2015–2018

Body styles Sedan

Oil 5W-30 (all temps); 10W-30 above -18°C (3.8L V6) , 6.4 qt capacity

Tire size 245/50R18, 245/45R19 (trim-dependent) front / 245/50R18, 245/45R19, 275/40R19 (trim-dependent) rear

Known issues for this generation

Recall 22V-051 covers certain 2016-2018 K900 vehicles (along with 2014-2016 Sportage models listed): the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine-compartment fire. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until repaired; dealers install a new fuse for the HECU circuit board. Recall 23V-652 later covers certain 2015-2018 K900 vehicles (among many other Kia models listed) for a related HECU electrical short / fire risk; dealers replace the HECU fuse.

Compare

Previous year 2015 Kia K900 See every Kia K900 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Kia K900 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2016 Kia K900?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (3 of 10), then Air bags (2) and Engine (2). The most filings arrived in 2023 (4 of 10).

Is the 2016 Kia K900 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 K900 has 54 complaints, 5 per year, and the 2017 has 2 complaints, 0 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2017.

Has the 2016 Kia K900 been recalled?

The 2016 Kia K900 has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2016 Kia K900?

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2016 Kia K900 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Kia K900 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Kia K900 is 19 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Kia K900 use?

First-generation 3.8L V6 specs cite 5W-30 with about 6.4 qt; second-gen 3.3L turbo lists 5W-30 with about 7.3 qt—confirm temperature notes in the manual.

What tire sizes fit the Kia K900?

OE fitments include 245/50R18 and staggered 245/45R19 front with 275/40R19 rear on later models; check the placard.

What fire-risk recalls mention the Kia K900?

Recall 22V-051 and follow-on 23V-652 address HECU electrical short risks on 2015-2018 K900; recall 24V-169 covers 2019-2020 K900 3.3L turbo left turbo oil feed pipe leaks (shared unit count with Stinger).