Kia vs Toyota Lemon Law Problems: What California Owners Report

Published October 19, 2026 · Updated October 19, 2026 · California lemon law

Which has more lemon law problems in California, Kia or Toyota?

Side-by-Side Comparison

What California Kia Owners Report

Kia owners in California filed 892 NHTSA complaints about 2019 to 2027 models from 2021 to 2026. Two problem areas lead almost evenly: the electrical system with 175 complaints and the engine with 156. Transmission and powertrain (86), lights, cameras and visibility (69) and brakes (53) follow.

The three-row Kia Telluride drew the most complaints, 173, about one in five Kia complaints. The Kia Sorento (106), the electric Kia EV6 (81), the Kia Soul (64) and the Kia Forte (51) came next. That list covers a family SUV, a midsize SUV, an EV and two compact cars, so Kia complaints are not tied to one type of vehicle.

San Diego narrowly topped Los Angeles in Kia complaints, 43 to 41. Sacramento (24), San Jose (19) and Riverside (14) followed. If you drive a Telluride or Sorento and your issue is electrical or engine related, you are describing the kind of problem California Kia owners report most.

The EV6 is worth a separate look. As Kia's electric model, its complaints are likely to involve charging and electric drive parts rather than a traditional engine. If you own an EV6, describe the exact warning messages you see and save photos of the screen. Those details help a technician and later help your attorney show what kept happening.

What California Toyota Owners Report

Toyota had 1,644 California complaints in the same window. The engine led with 223, then airbags with 198, transmission and powertrain with 188, the electrical system with 167 and brakes with 145. Those five areas are much closer together than Kia's top two are to the rest.

Toyota's top models are some of the most common cars in the state. The Toyota RAV4 drew 265 complaints, the Toyota Highlander 192, the Toyota Corolla 181, the Toyota Camry 160 and the Toyota Tundra 134.

Los Angeles (70) and San Diego (51) led the Toyota city list, followed by Sacramento (38), San Jose (33) and Fresno (23). The airbag category stands out for Toyota because airbags rarely show up near the top for most brands. If your Toyota has an airbag warning light or a recall notice, check your VIN on the NHTSA recall site.

Toyota also has a full-size pickup in its top five, the Tundra, with 134 complaints. Truck owners who use the vehicle for work should know that business vehicles can be covered when the business has no more than five vehicles registered in California and the vehicle is under 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, under Civil Code 1793.22(e)(2).

How Engine Problems Fit California Lemon Law

Engine complaints rank in the top two for both Kia and Toyota, so it helps to understand how the law treats them. An engine defect qualifies when the manufacturer or its dealers cannot fix it after a reasonable number of attempts and it substantially impairs the car's use, value or safety. Then Civil Code 1793.2(d)(2) requires a replacement or a buyback, at your choice.

Some engine problems are safety defects. A car that stalls in traffic or loses power on the freeway can cause a crash. For those, the presumption in Civil Code 1793.22(b) can apply after 2 repair attempts within 18 months or 18,000 miles. For problems like excess oil use or a rough idle, the presumption usually needs 4 attempts or more than 30 days in the shop.

Engine problems often show up later than electrical ones. The mileage offset in a buyback is based on the miles driven before you first took the car in for the problem, so report symptoms early. A first visit at low mileage helps you later.

Keep your maintenance records too. When an engine fails, the first question is often whether the owner kept up with oil changes and service. Receipts from a dealer or an independent shop, showing the date and mileage of each oil change, help answer that question quickly and keep the focus on the defect itself.

Claims Against Kia America and Toyota Motor Sales

Kia claims usually name Kia America, Inc. Toyota claims usually name Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Both brands repair cars through franchised dealers, and the dealer's repair orders become the core evidence.

Some buyers worry about the arbitration clause in their dealer sales contract. In the Ford Motor Warranty Cases (2025), the California Supreme Court held that manufacturers generally cannot force buyers into arbitration using the dealer's contract clause. That is a separate issue from voluntary manufacturer programs.

Manufacturer arbitration programs, such as BBB AUTO LINE for several brands, are free. If you accept the decision, it binds the manufacturer, but you are not bound if you reject it. Talk with an attorney before choosing that route, because it changes how your case is presented.

For manufacturers that opted in to the AB 1755 rules, many claims now go through pre-lawsuit written notice, early document exchange and mediation under Code of Civil Procedure 871.20 and the sections after it. Your attorney handles those steps. Your job is to keep driving safely, keep paying, and keep every record.

• Kia: Kia America, Inc.
• Toyota: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
• Both: repairs at franchised dealers
• Both: attorney fees paid by the manufacturer when you win (Civil Code 1794(d))

Example: A Sorento That Stalls at Intersections

This is a hypothetical example. Rosa bought a new 2022 Kia Sorento in Sacramento. At around 9,000 miles it began stalling when she slowed for stop lights, then restarting after a few seconds.

Her Kia dealer could not make it happen on the first visit and returned the car. Rosa kept a log and took a short video the next time it stalled. On the second visit the dealer found a fault code and replaced a sensor. On the third visit, the dealer performed a software update under a technical service bulletin.

When it stalled again, Rosa contacted a lemon law attorney. Because stalling in traffic can be a serious safety risk, her attorney looked at the two-repair path, counted the first visit where nothing was found, and reviewed whether the manual required direct notice to Kia America. This is an example only; real outcomes depend on the facts.

Rosa's video turned out to be useful. It showed the dash lights and the time, and it matched her written log. Her first visit, where the dealer found nothing, still counted as an attempt. She kept the Sorento, kept paying the loan, and let her attorney deal with Kia America from that point on.

Why Toyota's Larger Total Does Not Mean More Lemons

Toyota's 1,644 complaints are well above Kia's 892. That difference mostly tracks how many of each brand are on California roads. Raw counts are not adjusted for sales, so a brand with more cars will usually have more complaints.

Reporting habits also vary. Some owners file a federal complaint after a single scare. Others never file, even after many repairs. A complaint is the owner's description, not a confirmed defect, and one complaint can list several problem areas.

Shares can tell you more than totals. The Telluride is about one in five Kia complaints, while the RAV4 is about one in six Toyota complaints. Still, none of this ranks the brands. Your claim rests on your repair orders.

There is also a model mix effect. Toyota's top five include a compact car, a midsize sedan, two SUVs and a full-size truck. Kia's include a three-row SUV, an EV and compact cars. Comparing totals across such different lineups is like comparing two neighborhoods by counting houses. The useful question is what happened to your car.

One more caution: the airbag category for Toyota and the electrical category for Kia may each be driven by a few specific models. Look up your own model and year on the NHTSA site to see what other owners of your exact vehicle have reported.

Documents and Deadlines for Kia and Toyota Owners

Start a folder today. Ask your dealer's service department for a printed history of every visit on your VIN if you are missing any repair orders. Keep the purchase or lease contract, financing papers, and any extended service contract you bought.

Do not wait too long. Warranty claims generally have a four-year limit under Commercial Code 2725, but the timing rules are technical and depend on when the problem began. A free case review can tell you where you stand.

Keep paying your loan or lease during the claim. If a formal settlement offer arrives under Code of Civil Procedure 998, review it with your attorney before you respond, because turning one down and then doing worse can shift some costs to you.

If your Kia or Toyota was bought used, say so when you ask for a review. In Rodriguez v. FCA US LLC (2024), the California Supreme Court held that a used car sold with only the leftover factory warranty is generally not a new motor vehicle under the lemon law's vehicle section. Used and certified pre-owned buyers may still have other warranty claims.

• Purchase or lease contract and financing papers
• Every repair order, including no-problem-found visits
• Recall and technical service bulletin notices
• Rental, towing and rideshare receipts
• Your own dated log and any videos of the problem

Signs Your Kia May Qualify

• Your Kia has been in for the electrical system 2 or more times and it is a safety issue
• The same Kia problem has been repaired 4 or more times
• Your Kia has been out of service more than 30 days for warranty repairs
• You own a Kia Telluride and the problem keeps coming back

Signs Your Toyota May Qualify

• Your Toyota has been in for the engine 2 or more times and it is a safety issue
• The same Toyota problem has been repaired 4 or more times
• Your Toyota has been out of service more than 30 days for warranty repairs
• You own a Toyota RAV4 and the problem keeps coming back

Key Facts (as of October 2026)

• Complaint counts are California owner reports to NHTSA for 2019 to 2027 model years, filed 2021 to 2026. They are not verified defects and are not adjusted for sales.
• Both brands' most-reported areas include the engine.
• For either brand, a reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed within 18 months or 18,000 miles after 2 tries for a serious safety defect, 4 tries for the same defect, or more than 30 days in the shop (Civil Code 1793.22(b)).

Talk It Through With a Lemon Law Attorney

Every case is different. Our attorneys, listed in firm order: #1 Jacob Shayesteh (founding attorney), #2 Armig Khodanian and #3 Kamau Edwards, will look at your repair history and tell you which option fits. 5.0 stars on Google from 77 reviews (October 2026). You pay $0, win or lose.

What Our Clients Say on Google

“Although it turned out that my vehicles did not quite meet the legal criteria, the level of service I received was outstanding. He will give you an honest assessment of your situation.”

Nick · VW ID.4 owner · 5-star Google review

“They were incredibly professional, fast, and efficient, taking over all the stressful communication with the manufacturer so I didn't have to. In the end, they secured a full lemon law refund for me, which covered not just the vehicle cost, but all of my registration fees, taxes, and finance charges.”

Aaron K. · 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE · 5-star Google review

“He's extremely knowledgeable when it comes to dealing with service centers and dealerships and making sure they write down the things that are needed for the case.”

Yaira B. · Two Teslas · 5-star Google review

Read all 78 reviews on Google (5.0 stars, October 2026). Reviews describe past clients' experiences; every case is different.

FAQ

Is it harder to win a lemon law case against Kia or Toyota?

Neither badge changes the rules. A Kia claim and a Toyota claim both turn on the repair history, the defect and whether the dealer could fix it.

What do California Kia owners complain about most?

In NHTSA complaints from California owners, the top areas are the electrical system, engine and transmission and powertrain. The most complaints were for the Kia Telluride, Kia Sorento and Kia EV6.

What do California Toyota owners complain about most?

In NHTSA complaints from California owners, the top areas are the engine, airbags and transmission and powertrain. The most complaints were for the Toyota RAV4, Toyota Highlander and Toyota Corolla.

Sources and Official References

• NHTSA recall lookup by VIN
• NHTSA, report a vehicle safety problem
• California Civil Code section 1793.2 (California Legislature)
• BBB AUTO LINE manufacturer arbitration program
• California Code of Civil Procedure section 998 (California Legislature)

Laws change. This page reflects California law as of October 2026 and was reviewed by Jacob Shayesteh, Esq.

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Attorney advertising. Wynn Law Group, APC, 10850 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1010, Los Angeles, CA 90024. General information, not legal advice. Results vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.