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Kia Stinger VIN Number Check

A free NHTSA vPIC decode tells you which Kia Stinger you are looking at. Then check its model year against 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and what owners have reported.

VIN prefixKNA

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

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Kia Stinger

About the Kia Stinger

Kia sold the Stinger in the US for model years 2018–2023. Across those years NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recall campaigns and 169 owner complaints. The 2018 has the most complaints of any model year (69). EPA rates it at 20–25 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2018–2023
EPA classMidsize Cars
NHTSA recall campaigns7
Owner complaints169 at NHTSA
Kia Stinger photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Kia Stinger at a glance

One generation in the data, 2018–2023: 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 169 owner complaints.

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Stinger
2018–2023Midsize Cars
Kia Stinger (2018–2023)

Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

20182023
2018–2023

Kia Stinger

EPA classMidsize Cars
EPA combined mpg20–25
NHTSA recalls7

Engines (EPA)

  • 2.0 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2018–2021
  • 3.3 L 6-cyl (turbo) · 2018–2023
  • 2.5 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2022–2023

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, RWD
  • automatic (2018–2023)

Known issues to check

Engine and cooling (52)Electrical system (35)Fuel system (34)3 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 169 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · StingerKNAE55LC?J6······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2018 Kia Stinger GT2, built in Sohari, South Korea
Check a Stinger VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Stinger model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 7 campaigns on file for Stinger model years 2018–2023, and the 2020 shows up in more of them than any other year (6), ahead of the 2021 (5). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2020
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Kia Stinger owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2018 and 2019 hold 113 of the 169 complaints, or 67%. Tap any bar or generation.

169NHTSA complaints, 2018–2023
6mention a crash
8mention a fire
2injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearStinger: 169 complaints · most for the 2018 (69)

Top complaint areas · Stinger

Mentions in 169 complaints, 2018–2023.

Engine and cooling52
Electrical system35
Fuel system34
Brakes28
Powertrain (transmission, driveline)13
Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors)11
Crashes 6Fires 8Injuries 2

2018–2023

NHTSA data summary

The 2018 is the outlier. On its own it has 69 of the ’s 169 complaints (41%), more than any other Stinger model year. By area, nothing stands out. Engine and cooling leads with 52, with the electrical system (35) and the fuel system (34) close behind.

What Stinger owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2018–2023 (1st generation)

Owner data is thin, with fewer than 70 NHTSA complaints in any year and few CarComplaints reports. NHTSA owners of the 2018 mention fuel pump failures and engine fires, while 2019 owners more often report brake concerns. CarComplaints lists an oil pressure switch leaking onto a wiring harness and misfires for 2018, and a rear fuse panel fire for 2019. Kia ended the Stinger after 2023. Recalls cover fuel pumps and ABS units on 2018–2021 models, which may cut drive power or cause an engine fire. [1] [2] [3] [4]

What to check before buying

  • Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the fuel pump, ABS unit and turbocharger oil line recalls.
  • Ask whether the oil pressure switch has been replaced.
  • Look under the hood for oil around the switch and turbo lines, and on the drive watch for misfires, loss of power or brake warnings.
Sources (4) and method
Sources:
  1. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2018 Kia Stinger
  2. CarComplaints.com, 2018 Kia Stinger problems
  3. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2019 Kia Stinger
  4. CarComplaints.com, 2019 Kia Stinger problems

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

Stinger complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every Stinger version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

169complaints, 2018–2023
6mention a crash
8mention a fire
2injuries reported
1complaint reports a death
Most complaints: 2018 (69), 2019 (44), 2022 (18)
69’1844’19’2018’22

2018 · 69 complaints

Crashes 2 · fires 5 · injuries 2 · complaints reporting a death 1

Engine23
Electrical system11
Fuel/propulsion system10
Service brakes9
Exterior lighting7

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Stinger CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 24 Stinger versions for model years 2018–2023. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 355 g/mi (2023). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Stinger2018–2023

20–25 mpg · CO₂ 355–451 g/mi

2023
25combined MPG
355CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$3,300EPA yearly fuel cost
3/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
5/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III ULEV125 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 125Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2023: RWD · Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo — 25 MPG · 355 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
30035040045050020202018 · Gas: 3652019 · Gas: 3652020 · Gas: 3652021 · Gas: 3652022 · Gas: 3552023 · Gas: 355
Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Stinger vs Genesis G70 vs BMW 3 Series

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2018–2023. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the Stinger, against 6 for the Genesis G70 and 33 for the BMW 3 Series. Pick a range to compare.

Kia Stinger

Model years 2018–2023

NHTSA recall campaigns
7
NHTSA owner complaints
169
EPA combined mpg
20–25
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0, 2.5 L · 6-cyl 3.3 L
Also listed
turbo
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 52
  2. Electrical system 35
  3. Fuel system 34

Genesis G70

Model years 2018–2023

NHTSA recall campaigns
6
NHTSA owner complaints
135
EPA combined mpg
20–25
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.3 L
Also listed
turbo
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Fuel system 38
  2. Engine and cooling 35
  3. Electrical system 24

BMW 3 Series

Model years 2018–2023

NHTSA recall campaigns
33
NHTSA owner complaints
291
EPA combined mpg
23–36
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L
Also listed
turbo, diesel, plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 119
  2. Electrical system 72
  3. Fuel system 25

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Kia Stinger VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Stinger

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Red Kia Stinger (first generation) fastback sedan, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The Stinger GT carries its VIN on a plate at the base of the driver's side windshield. Door jamb sticker, trunk lid label, and a firewall stamp in the engine compartment are secondary locations. Check that the firewall stamp matches the dashboard plate.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Kia Stinger VIN questions

Which Kia Stinger model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2018 leads with 69, ahead of the 2019 (44) and 2022 (18). Those first two alone make up 67% of the 169 Stinger complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Kia Stinger had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 7 vehicle campaigns for model years 2018–2023, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Kia Stinger recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 18V-754, 20V-518 and 24V-169. Park-outside advisories came with 20V-518. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Kia Stinger get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2018–2023 Stinger at 20–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Kia Stinger compare with the Genesis G70 and BMW 3 Series on recalls?

For 2018–2023 models the Stinger has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Genesis G70 has 6, the BMW 3 Series 33. Complaints run 169, 135 and 291 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

What crash rating does the Kia Stinger have?

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2023 Stinger 5 stars overall. Both rated versions, RWD and AWD, get that score.

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