2025 Kia K4 Engine Fastener Recall (25V548)
Kia America, Inc. · 30 vehicles · Reported August 25, 2025
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 30 2025 Kia K4; 2025 Kia Sorento vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power. A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V548 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V548000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC349 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 25, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2025 Kia K4; 2025 Kia Sorento |
| Units affected | 30 |
| Build dates | June 2, 2025 to June 2, 2025 |
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling > Critical Fasteners |
| Safety risk | A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2025 Kia K4 in recall 25V548?
The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 K4 and Sorento vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power.
Is it safe to drive a 2025 K4 with recall 25V548?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your K4 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the critical fasteners, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V548?
Recall 25V548 covers 30 vehicles: 2025 Kia K4; 2025 Kia Sorento.
NHTSA lists 30 vehicles in this campaign, built June 2, 2025 to June 2, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kia | K4 |
| 2025 | Kia | Sorento |
What is the fix for the K4 engine fastener recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the sub engine assembly, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the sub engine assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 12, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC349.
When was recall 25V548 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 25V548 to NHTSA on August 25, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 12, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 2, 2025 | First affected vehicle built (per Kia America, Inc.'s filing). |
| June 2, 2025 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| August 25, 2025 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V548000. |
| September 12, 2025 | Owner notification letters scheduled (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 13 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 0 days. If your K4 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my K4 is part of recall 25V548?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V548 is open on your K4, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 25V548000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should K4 owners do about recall 25V548?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V548000 applies to your K4.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Kia dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any critical fasteners symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are K4 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 28 of them about the engine.
Since recall 25V548 was reported on August 25, 2025, owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 6 of them (30%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the engine and were received on or after August 25, 2025, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related engine issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 119 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 28 of them involve the engine. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2025 Kia Sorento: 74 complaints in total, 19 about the engine
- 2025 Kia K4: 45 complaints in total, 9 about the engine
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 50 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the contact's husband coasted the vehicle off to the shoulder of the highway.
2025 Kia Sorento owner, MA, NHTSA complaint 11661904, filed May 19, 2025
Have had an issue of losing power while on an interstate traveling back from work twice now. After the second time I reported to my local dealership. While driving home, my vehicle lost power and was extremely slow and unresponsive.
2025 Kia Sorento owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11670142, filed June 30, 2025
It feels like the engine is starting to cut out and as soon as that happens, the electronics in the car seem to start fighting each other.
2025 Kia Sorento owner, KS, NHTSA complaint 11676436, filed July 27, 2025
Can recall 25V548 make my K4 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 25V548000 does not automatically make your K4 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Engine defects can mean stalling, loss of power, oil consumption or overheating. When the same engine complaint brings the 2025 Kia K4 back to the dealer more than once, that history matters under California's lemon law.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your K4 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Kia K4 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V548
Did the recall 25V548 fix work?
Since recall 25V548 was reported on August 25, 2025, owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 6 of them (30%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed September 12, 2025.
Is the 25V548000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my K4 is part of recall 25V548000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 25V548000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Kia. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.