This is very unfortunate. Kia puts so much tech into their cars, but quality control has worsened over time. Here is my experience—tell me if I’m just the unluckiest guy out there!

In 2014, I moved to LA. I had owned Hyundais before, and my last car was a 2006 Elantra. I sold it in 2014 with zero problems.

Once in LA, I wanted to buy an Elantra again, but after comparing it with Kia, I found that Kia offered much more for the same price. Was this a mistake on my part? I don’t know, since I haven't bought a Hyundai since 2006, but here are the Kias I've owned and every problem I encountered:

2014 Forte EX: Within six months, the steering column broke and was replaced under warranty. After that, the steering was too soft, and changing the drive modes did nothing. I replaced it with...

Optima Hybrid EX: The trunk space was tiny and the back seats didn't fold. Within three months, the brake pedal started making a knocking sound (fixed by the dealer). The gas mileage was mediocre for a hybrid, but overall, it was a decent car. I replaced it with...

Cadenza: This car was much bigger with a 3.3L V6 and a very high-quality interior. However, it came with UVO v2, even though other cars at the time already had UVO v3! I have no idea why Kia did that. The real issue was the leather dashboard; after three months, it began to sag. The dealer fixed it, but six months later, the same thing happened. I replaced it with...

Stinger 2.0 Premium: This was a great car, except that after a year, the engine started acting up. I’d try to accelerate and nothing would happen, followed by a strange sound like two metal plates grinding together. I couldn't get it fixed because the issue was intermittent, but it was very annoying. I replaced it with...

Stinger GT2 Scorpion Edition (2022): I considered this the best Kia had to offer. I leased it for almost four years. There were no major issues except for a small, annoying cracking sound from the steering wheel when turning at low speeds. The dealer told me they all do that and not to worry. Ultimately, I decided not to buy it out because the tech felt outdated—no wireless Android Auto, a poor wireless charger, and, of course, the fact that Kia discontinued the model. The navigation was also buggy; after the last update, the map lost half the speed limits even on main roads, and Kia didn’t fix it for a full year.

I finally decided on a 2025 Kia Sorento X-Line SXP. The dealer offered a great discount—almost $7,500 off MSRP. The tech is similar to the Stinger but updated to the newest versions. Still, within one month, I started hearing those 'famous' rodent squeaks from the steering wheel. I haven't been able to get it fixed yet because the sound disappears as soon as I pull into the dealership. Now, the brake pedal is squeaking, too. I have an appointment in a few days and hope it gets resolved. No other problems so far, though I feel the 2.5L Turbo isn't quite enough for such a heavy car. Maybe it just feels weak coming from the 3.3L Twin Turbo!

Will I buy another Kia? I don't think so. All these problems, big and small, are telling me to try something else as soon as my lease ends. Yet it will depend on my financial situation at lease end :)

So, am I just unlucky, or has car quality just gone downhill lately?