Exploding sunroofs, brake, and fuel-related issues are among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
As a high-performance vehicle, the 2022 Kia Stinger is meant to create excitement. After all, the automaker claims it was “built to thrill.” But for owners whose sunroofs explode, whose brakes are faulty, or who fear their cars are going to blow up, this is not the kind of excitement they crave.
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The most common problem that owners of the Kia Stringer are faced with is exploding or shattering sunroofs. According to complaints made to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) other issues relate to vibrating brakes and possible fuel leakage issues.
The components and systems that owners believe are faulty include the electrical system, brakes, and visibility. There are also complaints listed as being unknown or other problems.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly |
Considering every vehicle runs on a sophisticated electrical system, this is one area where the automaker should never lack. Yet, there are some massive problems to deal with when it comes to the 2022 Stinger.
One NHTSA complaint says, “The contact owns a 2022 Kia Stinger. The contact stated that with the key inserted in the ignition and turned to the ON position, the locks failed to automatically lock as designed. The failure only occurs while the vehicle was turned on. The vehicle was securely locked using this method a few days ago, whether the vehicle was tuned ON or OFF. The contact stated that the vehicle was only automatically securely locked when the vehicle was turned off. … stated they had a similar failure with the Kia that was traded for the current vehicle. … stated that the vehicle had also displayed an odometer reading of 7,400 miles however, the following day the mileage was 200. The dealer was contacted however, there was no reply. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Beyond this, Kia admits to other failures. Service Bulletin #PS704 for the Kia Stinger talks about how the front radar sensor might illuminate a light that creates issues with the Forward Collision Avoidance Assist and Smart Cruise Control systems. Considering how much people rely on these technologies, it doesn’t seem very safe that they are faulty. The “thrill” of this vehicle is whether or not it’s going to work from day to day.
Everybody loves a sunroof, except people whose sunroofs explode or shatter. Complaints about the 2022 Kia Stinger bear testament to this.
An owner from Utah describes how, when driving on the freeway, he heard “a loud banging noise” above his head. He “saw glass flying behind me in the rear view mirror. The sunroof (had) exploded leaving approximately 40 to 45% of the window on the road.”
An owner from California tells a similar story. The “sunroof glass shattered on freeway with no warning and no hit or cause to it. Kia still made me drive it when it was broken.“
Then there is an owner’s description that says while driving on a highway at about 70 mph, “I heard the loudest bang I’ve ever heard before. I then heard glass shattering and thought glass was going to fall all over my 9 month old baby and I. I was in shock and I could have wrecked or drove off the highway from how scared I was. It was the loudest sound I’ve ever heard before and my ears are still ringing from it.” The driver exited the highway and pulled into a parking lot.
In shock at the time, she says that she “had no idea what happened because nothing hit my car. No-one was behind me and no-one was in close proximity to my car.” However, the “sunroof glass was completely shattered and it looked as if it blew out from the inside of the car rather than the outside. There was no warning. Nothing happened prior to this that would indicate there was any type of issue with my sunroof and I rarely use (open/close) my sunroof at all.”
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While fuel is needed to make the car go, it should never smell of gasoline inside the cabin. Yet, that’s what was happening to the Nevada owner of a 2022 Kia Stinger.
Not long after the owner had bought the Stinger, the family noticed that there was a strong gas smell in the car. It didn’t go away, but rather got stronger, causing headaches when they traveled in the Stinger. They took the obvious approach and contacted the sales person who had sold them the vehicle. He couldn’t help, but eventually, the service manager said that “all new vehicles have a coding which makes cars smell of gas.” The smell should go away after 2,000 miles.
Needless to say, the smell didn’t dissipate. The small became so strong the owner said they felt like they were going to die. The family said they believed, because the smell was so strong, the car would probably blow up.
It was only when the owner said he wasn’t going to drive the vehicle any more because the gas smell was so strong he was convinced it would blow up that the dealer suggested they stop driving it. He had it towed to the dealer, and after several days was told “it’s ok to drive now it is dry (and) there is no moisture.”
But the owner feels that “something is terribly wrong with this car,” and he doesn’t feel safe driving in it. He was still convinced that, because the gas smell was so strong, they would “die in the car.”
An owner from Florida became concerned about the brakes of the 2022 Kia Stinger GT-2 because of choppy braking and significant vibration while braking. The first dealer feedback was that “the rotors needed to be resurfaced as they were warped.” The Stinger had only 4,000 miles and had been mostly driven in the city at low speeds. How was this possible he asked.
“I was charged $425 for the resurfacing because the 12/12 warranty had expired on the exact day the car was brought in for service.” The unhappy owner challenged this. But the dealer maintained that he had to file a complaint with Kia Motors. He also stated they had seen “similar issues with a Stinger GT with low mileage as well .”
Convinced he had been “ripped off” by the dealer, he said that not only should he not have been charged for the repair, but the Stinger should be recalled. It is, the complaint states, “a safety hazard to owners as well as other motorists on the roads.
If you think that your 2022 Kia Stinger might be a lemon, the Lemberg Law team will assess the problems you are facing. We won’t charge you because the law makes Kia pay lemon law legal fees.
Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of vehicle owners who have found themselves in possession of a lemon All you need to do is call our Helpline or fill out a contact form and we’ll see how we can help.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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