KiaK42026Overview/kia/k4/2026/base/

2026 Kia K4

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2026 K4.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2026 Kia K4 is a sedan equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and achieves EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined, positioning it competitively within its segment for efficiency; reliability data for this model year shows a total of six owner complaints filed, with forward collision avoidance emerging as the most frequently cited concern alongside a single recall, suggesting that while early reliability indicators are relatively clean, prospective buyers should monitor this model's performance trajectory as more long-term data becomes available.

Model year20262025

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy26/33/28 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length185.4 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase107.1 in
Curb weight2954 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined26 / 33 / 28 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume99 cu ft
Cargo volume15 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the K4 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.7–9.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.70 sec — 2025 GT-Line Turbo
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2025GT-Line Turbo 1.6L Turbo I-46.70 sec15.30 sec190 hpFWD
2025GT-Line Turbo 1.6L Turbo I-47.10 sec15.50 sec190 hpFWD
2025GT-Line Turbo 1.6L Turbo I-47.30 sec15.70 sec190 hpFWD
2025LXS 2.0L I-48.10 sec16.20 sec147 hpFWD
2025GT-Line 2.0L I-49.10 sec17.00 sec147 hpFWD

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2026 Kia K4 carries a cleaner federal record than its 2025 predecessor across every tracked metric: complaints fell from 42 to 6, recalls from 2 to 1, and TSBs from 18 to 6, with no NHTSA investigations in either year. That downward arc suggests the second model year on record has generated materially less owner-reported and manufacturer-acknowledged activity, though the two-year window is short. The 2026 complaints are spread thinly across single reports for forward collision avoidance, unknown/other, tires with lane departure, and steering with lane departure, so the data does not point to a common root cause or concentrated defect. Three of the six complaints involve crashes, but the filings do not specify whether the crashes were caused by a vehicle fault or external factors. With zero fire complaints and only one recall, the 2026 K4 looks relatively benign on paper. For a buyer weighing this model year, the 2026 K4 appears to be the better bet of the two years shown, provided a pre-purchase inspection still confirms the single recall has been addressed.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
6
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
6
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 6 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Forward Collision Avoidance1
Unknown Or Other1
Tires,Lane Departure1
Steering,Lane Departure1
Steering,Lane Departure,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

26V135000Seat Belts:Rear/Other:AnchorageReported 06/03/2026

Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Kia Telluride and 2026 Kia K4 vehicles. The rear center seat belt anchor buckle in the 2026 K4 and the third-row center seat belt anchor buckle in the 2027 Telluride may… Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the anchor buckle assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2026. Owners may contact Kia at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 6 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_ELE4222026-05-27Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM…
TSB_ELE4142026-04-28Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: BODY DOMAIN CONTROLLER (BDC) REPLACEMENT (CA2515) - This…
TSB_ELE4172026-04-14Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin…
TSB_ELE4132026-03-20Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: DCU COMMUNICATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides…
TSB_ENG261_R12026-02-10EngineTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: DATA COLLECTION: EXTRACT CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS DATA FROM ECU…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific K4. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2026 K4 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the K4 get?

EPA figures are 26 city / 33 highway / 28 combined mpg.