2025 Kia K4 Instrument Cluster Recall (26V046)

Recall 26V046 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2025 Kia K4 in recall 26V046?

Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail.

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."

Is it safe to drive a 2025 K4 with recall 26V046?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, 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 instrument cluster and panel, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V046?

Recall 26V046 covers 42,677 vehicles: 2026 Kia Carnival; 2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid; 2026 Kia EV9; 2025 Kia K4; 2026 Kia K5; 2025-2026 Kia Sorento; 2025-2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid; 2025-2026 Kia Sorento PHEV; 2026 Kia Sportage; 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid; 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV.

NHTSA lists 42,677 vehicles in this campaign, built July 15, 2025 to October 23, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the K4 instrument cluster recall?

Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.

The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.

When was recall 26V046 announced?

Kia America, Inc. reported recall 26V046 to NHTSA on January 26, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 26, 2026.

This recall was filed 8 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 100 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 26V046?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V046 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 26V046000. 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 26V046?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 26V046000 applies to your K4.
2. Call a Kia dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the instrument cluster and panel happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are K4 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 303 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 85 of them about the electrical system.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 303 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 85 of them involve the electrical system. 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, 21 about the electrical system
• 2025 Kia K4: 45 complaints in total, 12 about the electrical system
• 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid: 43 complaints in total, 9 about the electrical system
• 2026 Kia Sportage: 27 complaints in total, 5 about the electrical system
• 2026 Kia EV9: 26 complaints in total, 12 about the electrical system
• 2026 Kia Carnival: 26 complaints in total, 6 about the electrical system
• 2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid: 22 complaints in total, 11 about the electrical system
• 2026 Kia K5: 13 complaints in total, 3 about the electrical system

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

On start up (date 6/10/26) the dash warned "Check Driver Assistance System," but the car started. Turned off the car, restarted, and this warning was replaced by a yellow "check engine" light, and a remark that the hybrid controller had a fault; the Kia app on my phone indicated the trouble as well.

2026 Kia Sportage PHEV owner, IN, NHTSA complaint 11744158, filed June 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated the messages "Take A Coffee Break" and "Hands on Steering Wheel" consistently illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that there was no issue with the vehicle.

2025 Kia Sorento PHEV owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11747203, filed June 29, 2026

Hybrid Control Unit failure was the fault that came up on the screen. 3rd time within 3 months now. The HCU was just replaced a week ago at the KIA dealership and the vehicle is only 1 year old.

2025 Kia Sorento PHEV owner, SC, NHTSA complaint 11748424, filed July 6, 2026

Can recall 26V046 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.

Owners often ask whether this instrument cluster and panel recall means their K4 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same instrument cluster and panel problem is common in lemon law claims.

This recall is handled by an over-the-air software update, so many owners never visit a dealer. If the problem returns after the update, take the 2025 Kia K4 to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up on a repair order. An update that does not work is still a failed repair.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 23V298000.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the K4 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 26V046