2015 Kia K900 Electrical Problems

My 2015 Kia K900 developed a no-start condition and displayed a “Check Brake Fuse” warning starting July 4th 2026. The vehicle will not start, and the cause of the failure is currently unknown. It was perfectly fine. I took the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership for diagnosis and paid a diagnostic fee. The dealership inspected the vehicle but told me they were unable to determine what is causing the problem. The dealership advised me that all recalls on my vehicle are currently up to date. However, I am concerned because this model has previously been subject to a safety recall involving the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU)/ABS electrical system and fuse due to the possibility of an electrical short and engine-compartment fire. At this time, I do not know whether my current failure is related to that system or recall. I am reporting the issue because the vehicle is displaying a brake-fuse warning, will not start, and an authorized Kia dealership has been unable to identify the cause. The vehicle is available for further inspection if requested. I would like NHTSA to document and evaluate this failure in case other 2015 Kia K900 vehicles are experiencing similar brake-system electrical or no-start problems.

NHTSA ID

11761297

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

Vehicle had the official HECU fire recall performed overheated less than 2 weeks later causing an overheated ECM power relay. Spoke with KIA corporate a represenative in the premium department is actively denying the existence of their court-ordered safety settlement and refusing to repair the vehicle. The dealership and Kia Corporate Customer Care are denying warranty coverage and refusing to recognize the active Kia HECU (Zakikhani) Settlement Extended Warranty for this dangerous thermal event."

NHTSA ID

11759449

Incident

Aug 9, 2026

Around 9/25/23, KIA service technicians confirmed that my vehicle had an engine fire rendering it inoperable. The incident appears consistent with NHTSA Recall Number 23V652: several engine compartment components melted due to the fire.¶For approximately 16 months, I persistently sought a resolution with KIA. Despite my efforts, KIA refused any corrective action & instead presented me with a $66,749.72 invoice for a new engine. This was alarming given I had purchased the most comprehensive extended warranty when acquiring the vehicle from an authorized KIA dealer (I am the original owner).¶The extended warranty company denied coverage, citing a general exclusion for overheating incidents. They classified the engine fire as overheating, voiding the warranty I had purchased for added protection. This interpretation seems inconsistent with the warranty's intent & the nature of the incident.¶The fire risk aligns with the ABS module defect described in Recall 23V652 which states an electrical short can lead to significant overcurrent, increasing engine compartment fire risk.¶My vehicle had only accumulated about 40,000 miles. I had consistently followed a rigorous maintenance schedule & exercised meticulous care in vehicle upkeep throughout the entire lifespan of the vehicle.¶This situation has left me without transportation, imposed a severe financial burden & has harmed my professional career (I am founder & director of one of the world's most renowned quantum institutes).¶Most importantly, I am deeply concerned about the safety risks to other KIA owners.¶KIA's handling of serious recalls appears consistent with their unsatisfactory treatment of me. For recall #23V652, KIA delayed warning that nearly 1 million vehicles should be indefinitely parked & operated far away from ALL flammable materials. Reports indicate injuries, fatalities & property damage from this defect. Nevertheless, KIA has yet to provide an adequate solution to this critical safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11630676

Incident

Sep 25, 2023

12/23/2023 my car started leaking oil. It took KIA 3 attempts to properly replace the valve cover gasket. Then my vehicle began having issues starting. They replaced my 1yr old battery, twice. The problem still occurred so they replaced crankshaft sensor. Since then, the vehicle has shut off on me completely 7 times. They have replaced the alternator now twice. The headlights flicker randomly, I lose power steering, and the vehicle will lose all power. I have to jump the car to get it started and it does not run like it did before. It lacks torque, it feels unsteady, and completely unsafe. Over the last few years the dash panel has completely melted off. I'm not a mechanic, but I believe there is either a short or and electrical issue caused by the heat of the dash. My car has been towed twice now, and is needing to be towed again for them to try to repair it, again.

NHTSA ID

11623539

Incident

Dec 23, 2023

Traveling at 35 MPH on local street --- Engine stalled without warning --- Steered to side of road --- Electric steering continued to offer assist until brought to stop --- Many amber warning lights --- Msg center instructed to shift to park and turn off ignition --- Vehicle set Electric Parking Brake without operator input --- Phoned for assist from local towing company -- Vehicle could not be moved due to electric parking brake and electric shifter --- There are no Kia dealers in area -- Contacted Cowboy Kia of Conroe TX -- Told this shop does not service the Kia K900 --- Contacted Sterling Kia of Bryan/College Station TX --- Told this shop does not service the Kia K900 --- Contacted DeMontrond Kia of North Houston --- Told it would be 2 weeks before service --- Resorted to local independent service --- Advised failure of ECU p/n 39110-3FKN5.

NHTSA ID

11541983

Incident

Aug 12, 2023

The vehicle has lost electrical power at highway speeds and while idling at stop lights.

NHTSA ID

11460364

Incident

Mar 30, 2022

THERE IS A FLAW IN NIGHT DRIVING WHERE THE ILLUMINATED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REFLECTS ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS IN THE DRIVER'S LINE OF VISION CREATING A DISTRACTING HAZARD. THE ONLY WAY TO ALLEVIATE THIS CONDITION IS TO COMPLETELY DIM THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO A SETTING OF ONE WHICH MAKES THE CLUSTER TOO DIM TO READ. SO YOU HAVE A CHOICE: STARE AT A REFLECTION IN YOUR WINDSHIELD OR BE UNABLE TO SEE YOUR SPEEDOMETER.

NHTSA ID

10908293

Incident

Mar 22, 2016

Mileage

14,250 mi

THE SCREEN DISPLAY WILL FREEZE AND GIVE AN ERROR MESSAGE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND DISTRACTING WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE AFTER THE FREEZE THE SCREEN WILL GO BLACK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THEN THE SYSTEM WILL BOOT WITH THE "WELCOME" SCREEN, THEN IT WILL ASK YOU TO AGREE WITH THE TERMS WHICH REQUIRES A MANUAL DRIVER OPERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AT RANDOM INTERVALS.

NHTSA ID

10903276

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

15,000 mi

IN DECEMBER, 2015, MY 6 MONTH OLD 2015 KIA K900 WITH NO MORE THAN 8,000 MILES REFUSED TO START. TWO AND HALF HOURS LATER, WITH TWO TOW TRUCKS ON THE SCENE, AIDED BY KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THE CAR FINALLY RE-STARTED. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 3RD, 2016 I LEFT THE DRIVEWAY HEADING WEST, AND ABOUT 4 HOUSES DOWN AT APPROX. 25 MILES PER HOUR THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO 'SHUT DOWN.' THERE WAS LOUD SCREECHING SOUND, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, AND ALL THE ELECTRONICS WENT DEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE, AS THE STEERING, GAUGE CLUSTER, ELECTRONICS ALL SHUT DOWN. THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE ENGAGED OR THE CAR WENT INTO PARK, I'M NOT EVEN SURE, BUT THE CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THROWING TWO OF US FORWARD WITH THE SAFETY RESTRAINTS ENGAGING. KIA ROADSIDE CAME OUT AGAIN AND AFTER A WHILE, THEY STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, BUT THERE WERE NO ELECTRONICS. I RETURNED THE CAR HOME. A TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED AND TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT 'HARD' STARTED, WITH NO ELECTRONICS. KIA'S HAD MY CAR SINCE JANUARY. KIA HAS DRIVEN THE CAR OVER 400 MILES, FOUND "NO CODES" BUT, DID REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I'VE LOST ALL FAITH IN THE CAR AND I BELIEVE IT IS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.

NHTSA ID

10851209

Incident

Dec 20, 2015

Mileage

8,968 mi