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Kia

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Common Kia Problems • Brakes • Stalling • Sudden acceleration • Transmission • Collision Damage • Just everything! --- News • Kia.com Rated Best Web Site for New-Vehicle Shopping • Kia Owners Awarded $6 Million in Class Action • Hyundai Offers $85 Million to Settle Horsepower Suit • Kia Aces J.D. Powers Survey • Horsepower Overstated

Kia's parent company, Hyundai, admits it overstated the horsepower on certain Kia and Hyundai models. Oh, but don't worry, the CEO said, people don't buy these cars for their power anyway. that's an understatement.

In fact, there are so many problems with Kias it's hard to know where to start. Most cars have one or two problems that tend to be dominant -- Ford's 3.8l V-6 engine, to pick an infamous example. But with Kia, pretty much everything seems to go wrong.

More recently, Hyundai and Kia raised eyebrows when they finished unexpectedly high in the J.D. Powers Initial Quality Survey. The Powers Survey is highly regarded but perhaps "initial" quality isn't the problem? Check the complaints listed to the right and judge for yourself.

Sherry of Mansfield, TX February 6, 2010

I have a Kia Sorento that I paid extra money for an upgraded model with a fancier radio system. From the first day I drove my car it had a problem and I began taking it in for repair services. My car has been in the shop many times and the radio has never been repaired. The service people had agreed many times that there was a problem and the last couple of times I was told that the radio would not be repaired and that the radio was defective. It appeared that possibly it was not the dealership at fault but most likey Kia alone. I contacted Kia corporate with no avail. Please help.

Alexandra of bardstown, KY January 30, 2010

Bought 08 Kia rondo in jan/09-brand new, with approx 10mi, plastic covered the seats- The salesman understood the need for safety since I work 2nd shift and drive approx. 100miles per day and the car would be my family's main transport. Left the dealership feeling good about such a 'great' deal for a car/wagon with so many "excellent safety features". Two-lane country rds are my main course and I was really stubborn about safety factors when speaking with salesman. "If you have a wreck in this car, it's going to be like landing on a great big pillow with all the airbags in this thing," Salesman said, "And the Electronic Stability control device will help keep you on the road." He continued.

Dec 19th 2009, on my way to work in my Kia Rondo, on a 2-lane country rd; wet pavement, light sprinkles and cold, I quickly lost control of the car when I swayed a little too far on the Right side shoulder; the veh swirved a little before going into the next lane heading straight to the steep cliff; I jerked the wheel to the right and that's when the rollover started. I rolled over twice and not one air-bag depolyed. If it wasn't for my seatbelt, I wouldn't be here. My car is a total loss, and looked as if it had been smashed in every direction; the front was smashed as if I had a head on collision and the left side of the car was crinkled like aluminium foil. No side curtains, no front, no side doors and rear passenger airbags deployed.

I'm grateful my two children and my husband wasn't in the car because they probably wouldn't had made it. Just about all windows were broken and shattered and everything was flung out of the car. I suffered a severe head injury, 6"laceration with skull exposed on left side of head, horrible whiplash and concussion. I haven't been able to go back to work yet and it's been 6 weeks. I am a nurse and unfortunately no disability ins. I believe this 'false sense of security' sold to me by the Kia Store has damaged me for life.

Katherine of East Falmouth, MA January 29, 2010

I bought a new Kia in Aug. 2009. The dealership I just found out was closed down. I purchased the extended warranty for 1200 as well as the Gap insurance for 600. I have just learned that the dealer never turned in the contracts or any money, therefore I am not coveraged, and thus far out of 1800. This is financially devastating to me.

Sue of Hilo, HI January 29, 2010

I wasn't going to put this on here, but after reading all the complaints, I thought I would add mine. I bought my 2004 KIA RIO and now only have 53,000 miles on it 1.29.2010. I have had to have the engine replaced, the sun visor drivers side twice, the engine mount bolt came almost all the way out. I heard this terrible noise for a week and thought it was my muffler. Etc. etc. Stay away from KIA's!

Denise of Manchester, MO January 22, 2010

My husband and I purchased a 2002 Kia Sedonna (brand new). This vehicle has about 85,000 miles currently on it. In the past year the air conditioning has gone out on it and so have the wheel bearings and various other issues on the front end. The kicker is that we had the airconditioning worked on last year and it went out again in less than 2 months. We had the tires totally replaced in Dec. of 2008 and there was nothing wrong with the front end or wheel bearings. However, less than 6 months later the wheel bearings were totally shot and the tires were ruined. We have been told it will cost us about 3500 to get everything fixed by Kia and nothing is of course "under warranty" although outside vendors have told us they see these two issues constantly from the Kia Sedonna 2002 line.

Juetaun of Stone Mountain, GA January 20, 2010

I purchased a 2002 Kia Sportage in 2003. Since then I've had to replace 4 oxygen sensors, a catalytic converter, the drivers power option for the windows only operates two windows, otherwise I have to drive with the windows up. They had a fan recall, I've replaced the gasket manifold (special order) no one has KIA parts. To add insult to injury I am unable to check my transmission fluid levels because it's a closed system. I was told to take it to the dealer who will charge me an arm and a baby. I'm losing acceleration when I drive. This car has been a bad purchase but it's paid for and I have no other means of transportation. The car is not even 10 years old and I provide regular maintenance at high prices. I will never purchase another.

karen of buckley wa, WA January 11, 2010

My complaint is with the vehicle itsself. My car 2002 kia optima 4 cylender with only 52,681 miles on it needed two new coils,[arcking] 2 boots, wires and plugs at a cost of 502.84. Any car with that few miles on it, no matter what the year, should not have needed thoes parts, so I am very dissapointed with the quality of my kia. I have keept the oil changed and did everything I am suposed to do, but not always at the kia dealer. also the radio quit working properly after three years.-

Jennifer of Cumberland, MD January 4, 2010

I bought a new 2003 Kia Optima in 2003. I am disabled and only drive it a couple of times a week within a 12 mile radius. As of December 2009, the Kia only had 36,000 miles on it. I have had a couple of annoying problems but nothing significant. (The passenger door will not open without a key in it to turn the lock.) (The steering wheel is kind of loose and makes noises sometimes.) I bought the car when I lived in SC and then moved to MD where there was no Kia dealer to have it repaired. I did not know there were any recalls. When one recently opened in our area, I called to see if there were any. I found out that there were two.

So I took the car in and had the recalls done. When I got in the car and drove it back home, the clutch felt very funny and it kept stalling. I asked the dealership if they did anything to the clutch and they swear they didnt touch it. My clutch went out within a short peroid of time. My last car, I had for ten years and it had over 180,000 miles on it and the clutch was still good in it. i don't understand why the clutch went out so quickly and with so few miles on it. I have driven a manual car for over 23 years.The clutch has to have been defective to have gone out with so few miles on it. From what I have read, others have had similar problems. Kia needs to replace the defective clutch and wheel with a dependable replacement.

Pat of Southgate, MI December 30, 2009

I have contacted the dealership and the Kia Corporation and I know that my 2001 Kia Sportage whose tank leaks should be part of the tank recall. My car has always been in a garage during inclement weather and now mysteriously the tank leaks. This is dangerous and I want Kia to give me a tank and put one on my car.

Their fuel tanks are faulty. What a dangerous vehicle to sell someone knowing of the potential of the tank to leak. I want to file a complaint and add the 2001 model; which researching on the internet it should be included. Kia Gasoline Leak Investigated (2006 article) Kia Gasoline Leak Investigated

My tank leaks and I can't even find the part due to the number of people who have had to replace the tank; that in itself tells you there is a problem with the 2001 model. Kia should give me another car. I want Kia Corporation to take responsibility and recall the 2001 Kia Sportage tank on the EX model. I want a new tank or another vehicle.

Olga of troy, NY December 26, 2009

I was driving my 2002 Kia Sporatage 85,000 miles when the car started shaking and making a really bad clacking noise coming from under the hood i also got a check engine light. I parked the car and left it alone until the next day when i decided to drive it to auto zone to read the check engine code I drove about seven blocks when a fire got started in the engine and everything UNDER THE HOOD WENT ON FIRE. Noone was hurt and the car was kept up to date with its many reapirs. I have no explanation for it going on fire the only clue that i came up with it was becasue it a PEICE OF SHIT \!!!!

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