Kia Corporation
South Korea · Founded 1944 · Part of Hyundai Motor Group · Korean Stock Exchange: 000270
www.kia.com ↗Not a trust score: it covers only the claims we've checked, and small samples move a lot. Last PixProof Sep 26, 2026.
Quick facts
- What is Kia Corporation?
- Kia Corporation is South Korea's oldest motor vehicle manufacturer, originally founded as Kyungsung Precision Industry making bicycle parts and steel tubing.
- Where is Kia Corporation from?
- South Korea. Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.
- Who owns Kia Corporation?
- Kia Corporation's parent company is Hyundai Motor Group.
- When was Kia Corporation founded?
- In 1944, by Kyu-young Yoo.
- Has Kia Corporation had any safety recalls?
- Yes — 87 official US recalls (filed since 2022), per NHTSA.
▸ ABOUT KIA CORPORATION
Kia Corporation is South Korea's oldest motor vehicle manufacturer, originally founded as Kyungsung Precision Industry making bicycle parts and steel tubing. Hyundai Motor Company acquired a 51% controlling stake in 1998, and Kia has operated as part of the Hyundai Motor Group since.
▸ WHO OWNS WHAT
From Wikidata (see record). Lists can include companies since merged or closed.
▸ TRACK RECORD
Kia Corporation's history and the 2 marketing claims we've checked, in date order — so you can see what they promised when, and how it held up.
- 1944Founded in May as Kyungsung Precision Industry, producing bicycle parts and steel tubing.
- 1973Established Korea's first fully integrated automobile plant and introduced the Brisa, the country's first domestically produced passenger car.
- 1998Hyundai Motor Company acquired a 51% controlling stake, making Kia part of the Hyundai Motor Group.
- Mar 5, 2024CLAIM · Kia Telluride"Telluride secures highest honor from IIHS for second consecutive year."→ 🟡 QUESTION IT Read the PixProof →
- Dec 11, 2025CLAIM · Kia EV6"The EV6 can DC fast-charge from 10% to 80% in about 18 minutes."→ 🔴 BYE THE HYPE Read the PixProof →
Claim dates come from when the claim's own source was published; "Checked" means we couldn't date the claim, so it sits at the date we verified it.
▸ SAFETY RECALLS
Official US recalls from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), filed since 2022. Every entry is the agency's own record and links to it.
- Aug 21, 2026Air BagsEV9 (2025–2026)
Due to improper routing, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may not deactivate the air bag when a child or child seat is in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of…
Risk: A child in the front seat may be at a greater risk of injury if the air bag deploys during a crash.
Units: 21,290 vehicles
Official recall notice (26V545000) ↗ - Jul 2, 2026Electrical SystemPARK OUTSIDEEV9 (2024) · EV6 (2022–2024)
The high voltage battery cells may contain misaligned electrodes, which can lead to a fire while parked or driving.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Units: 8 vehicles
Official recall notice (26V431000) ↗ - Jul 2, 2026SeatsPARK OUTSIDETelluride (2020–2024)
The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob or an improper recall 24V407 repair, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Units: 462,869 vehicles
Official recall notice (26V430000) ↗ - Jun 2, 2026Seat BeltsTelluride Hybrid (2027) · Telluride (2027)
The driver seat belt emergency locking retractor may lock, causing the seat belt strap not to extend. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 209,…
Risk: A seat belt strap that does not extend can fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Units: 6,264 vehicles
Official recall notice (26V356000) ↗ - Apr 10, 2026Fuel System, GasolineCarnival (2022–2026)
Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail.
Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Units: 141,032 vehicles
Official recall notice (26V232000) ↗ - Mar 20, 2026SeatsOVER-THE-AIR FIXTelluride Hybrid (2027)
The second-row power seats may fail to detect a person. The seat may continue to move after contacting a person during powered seat functions, such as one-touch tilt-and-slide or automatic power fold-and-stow.
Risk: A person, especially a child, may become trapped by a rear powered seat, increasing the risk of injury.
Units: 568 vehicles
Official recall notice (26V173000) ↗
Showing the 6 most recent. Recalls are routine in these industries and a maker with more models or more units sold will have more — compare brands with care. Source: NHTSA, fetched Oct 20, 2026.
