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Kia - Just Everything!

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

Cecille of Pawling NY (5/5/04):
I purchased a New Kia Sportage in January of 2003. The car is now worth $7,500. I still owe $16,000. The car has received a new transmission, a new transfer case, an oil plug, rewiring, no interior light. All in just 14 months. Parts are shipped from Korea, not stocked, so you have to wait for the parts.

I have had no car for 1 month when you total the days in service. They do not have any cars for replacement. I wanted to trade in the car but I still owe too much. So i'm stuck with it.

Pam of Pahrump NV (4/25/04):
Since purchasing my 1999 Kia Sportage (NEW) I have had nothing but problems. The check engine light comes on constantly and constantly I take it back for them to fix "anything" to make it go out. It runs really rough and the rpm goes up to 2000!!! They keep it for a day sometimes more and most of the times they just "reset" the computer on the car because they can't find anything wrong with it. They say anything can set it off and it could be just about anything. I'm just really getting tired of taking it back in and not getting the problem fixed.

Now it's not under warranty and they won't even reset the computer because they say "it's not under warranty any longer". They suggest I disconnect the positive battery cable and leave it off for about 1 hour and it will reset itself. It does, but as soon as I get in the car and drive it less than 25 miles, it comes back on.

Marilyn of Hollywood FL (4/23/04):
I purchased a new 2002 Kia Sportage. Within 10 months the bushings and tie-rods had to be replaced, two power stearing boxes were installed and then broke, the vehicle overheated 3 times, the CPU went out as "there were ants" in it; coil, ignition and spark plugs went, and the vehicle has never been able to be put into alignment. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR! I have been stranded by the roadside 6 times - once during a tornado. Kia Corporation doesn't seem to care. Obviously the KIA Sportage is a defective vehicle.

Damage Resulting: K(illed)I(n)A(ction).

Carolyn of Aloha OR (4/15/04):
This a REAL SAFETY issue! I read all of the complaints regarding the KIA on your site. If you compile them all together you have a pretty accurate description of my nightmare with the vehicle I have been stuck with since 1997. You know, it's easier to get through a divorce than live with this KIA. The sales ad should read: For sale, Brand new KIA sportage ... will need transmission replaced in two months, expect engine light to appear continuously (troubleshooter: use tape to cover up the engine light on dash so as not to annoy you) ... visor to break off in approx. 6 months ... seatbelt problems, alignment problems, rust problems, comes with four wheels (but may fall off while driving), small problems with going out of control on fwy (but don't be alarmed, this is normal), shifting problems, do not be alarmed when your AIR BAG light activates it's just malfunctioning, and don't bother going to the dealer cause he can't help -- you're stuck with this lemon you fool!

I have spent thousands of dollars and thousands of hours f***ing around with this car. I have just been very fortunate not to have been injured or injured anyone with this car. It's too late to remedy this problem. Today I just barely made it home, it looks as though I will need a new engine at 97k ... what a suprise??? Buyer be REALLY aware and do your homework!

Michelle of Winchester VA (7/16/03):
I bought a 2000 Kia Sephia in August of that year.I bought this car because it advertised all the things that I needed, and seemed like a good deal. My father helped me to get the car, as i was going through a divorce, and because of that, was having financial problems. I have never been happy with the car. It has been in the shop on numerous occassions, from everything to the seals blowing off the windshield while driving down the highway, brakes on many occasions, emergency brake cable, transmission, coil wires, water pump, catalytic converter, timing gear ... there is a whole list of things wrong. I have only had this car 2 and a half years, and still have another 2 to pay on it. The warranty is getting ready to run out and I will be stuck with a piece of junk.

Chesley of Letohatchee AL (7/13/03):
I bought a Kia Sportage about a year ago. The power window on the driver side doesn't work and both cup holders are broken but those are minor. The big thing is it is incredibly unstable. 2 times the vehicle has done a 360 in the middle of the highway at low speeds for no reason. I'm scared to death of it. Someone is gonna be killed in this thing.

Bryan of Corona CA (7/7/03):
It was a wonderful day, buying my KIA Optima! Beautiful wood grain interior, Sport shift, Leather, Sunroof, all automatic... That was until the transmission began slipping just a week later. Took the car into the dealer. They said they couldn't reproduce the problem. Over the next few thousand miles, there was a sound from under the hood scraping, The gas door wouldn't stay closed, the windshield wiper fluid dispenser would not dispense, the shifting problem got worse and the windows were slow going down and up.

We reproduced the problem for the mechanic this time. They replaced the transmission, fixed the noise under the hood, lubricated the window and said they replaced the washer fluid system. The gas door...we would have to be careful to check we closed it and knocked it a few times. Fast forward about 4 weeks. Transmission still not fixed, windshield washer fluid dispenser still not dispensing, and then the car just won't start. Took it back on Saturday (got it towed). Now it's Monday and they tell me the alternator is out. The rest of the stuff? They can't get to that until the alternator is fixed...

Jen of Concord, NH writes: (5/3/02):
I bought my 2000 kia in Oct. of 99. Since I have owned the car I have had four transmissions in it. I have also had to replace my brake pads 4 times, balance and align 5 times, replace my steering column rack and pump, an axle, rotors twice, have my shifter realigned twice, replaced what is to be my third set of tires, a battery and my whole radiator set up. This car has been a nightmare and just the other day I read about the brake issues with 98-00 Kias and I am positive my car has that brake defect. My car is still not running good. I was also told I needed new spark plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, new brake pads and rotors. All this for a car that is two years old and I'm sure that won't be all that goes wrong.

Jaime of Haltom City TX (6/28/03):
I bought a 1998 Kia Sportage almost a year and a half ago.I have had nothing but problems with it as well. The biggest problem right now is the air conditioner is leaking into my passenger side floor. Also the door locks unlock and lock while I am driving. My car stalls all the time. There is all kinds of rattling underneath the car,like something is loose, but yet I can't find anything that is. My check engine light comes on for a week then goes off, but yet comes back on again. I took this vehicle to try and buy a new one (not a Kia) and they were willing to give me $2300. I still owe almost $7000 on this car that I believe won't last me another year. I wouldn't buy a Kia ever again and I wish I could get out of the one I have now.

Cindy of Washington, NC writes (5/2/02):
I bought my car brand new in Dec of 2000, it is a 2001 Kia Rio. The day I drove it home it had an awful smell, like rotten eggs. I called to ask about the smell, they told me not to worry, that it was the oils on the engine and that it should be gone at about five hundred miles.

I had always heard people talk about new car smells but this was ridiculous. I have since had it in numerous times for the smell, which has been blamed on everything from them telling me the smell was in my head to the smell is bad gas. The overdrive light will come on at will and I won't be able to turn it off, airbag light has had to be fixed two times so far, windshield wipers have broken twice, driver lock is broken and waiting on a part.

Now my car sounds like a jet getting ready for take off, I am taking it in tomorrow. One time I took my car in for the smell problem and sat with a sick child in the waiting room for five hours for something they said would take 30 minutes, problem still was not fixed. Everytime I write a check to pay my car payment it makes me sick. I also am sick and tired of taking this car in for the same problems over and over.

Regina of Williston, ND (5/1/02):
I bought a 2000 Kia Sephia in Nov. of 1999 and have had nothing but problems with it. First, the horn was faulty and was fixed once and replaced once. Then there was an electrical wiring problem under the driver's seat causing the check engine light to come on. Recently, the coupler on the fuel tank was not properly installed and came off while I was driving, causing the fuel to gush out onto the exhaust system. Luckly, I wasn't driving on the freeway becuase it would have ignited the fuel and caused a fire or an explosion. Of course there is nothing they can do for it because it is not under warranty anymore which is the same excuse I got when I had the electrical problem.

Joe of Las Vegas (4/24/02):
I purchased a 1998 Kia Sportage as new in 1-99. A week later problems began w/tranny slipping, poor brakes, wind blowing in back hatch, replacement of rotors 2x, doors unlocking by themselves, overheating problems, acceleration problems, suspension causing tires to be replaced 2x, inspection failure at time of suspension, etc.

These problems still exist today and I am constantly told by kia problems are my fault for poor maintenance of car which is absolutely not the case as these problems have been since I purchased the Kia.

Richard of San Leandro CA (4/15/02):
Purchased new 2001 Kia Optima in Jan 2001. Unacceptable wind noise from beinging. After 6-7 attempts to correct over a 14-mo. period, Kia replaced with new vehicle but new car had same problem. New vehicle has been repaired twice and Kia now says if I am unhappy, go to BBB for resolution.

Charlene of Kermit TX (4/14/02):
I have a KIA Sportage 2000, purchased it new. Since we have had it the heat shield rattles so loud you have to turn the vehicle off when you go thru the order window at the drive thru! Also we have had transmission problems and electrical problems. The entire electrical system shorted out. We have had this in to the shop several times. They have never been able to get the heat shield fixed.

Tonoy of Sarah MS (4/12/02):
I purchased my 1999 Kia Sephia in August 1999. That year, the warranty was for 5 yr or 60,000 miles. The 2000 models were given the 5yr or 100,000 miles warranty. I have not had many significant problems until November 2001. The oil light kept coming on and the engine was burning oil. Since I travel an average of 100 miles per day to and from work, the warranty had already expired.

We changed the oil and filter and the oil light went off. A few weeks later, the same thing happened. Finally, we decided that there must be some sludge build up in the oil pan and decided to change the oil every thirty days. Since we started doing this, we had no problems until March 2002. In March, I was driving my car to work when the oil light came on and the check engine light came on and the motor was running extremely rough. After having the car towed the 50 miles to get it home, my husband took it to a repair shop and was told we needed a valve job.

The car had about 97,000 miles on it. We went ahead and had the work done. Keep in mind, the warranty had already expired. At the time the valve job was done, the mechanic discovered that one of the pistons had been worn down a lot. He said the piston looked like it belonged in an engine that was at least 250,000 miles old. When we picked up the car, I needed to go out of town. On the trip, the engine started running rough and the oil light came on. The motor had plenty of oil in it, but the oil light still came on.

When I got the car home, my husband changed the oil and filter again, even though this was done when the valve job was done. The oil light went off. Just yesterday, while I was driving home, the motor began running rough, but no oil light or check engine light came on. I tried to make it home but when I was about 15 miles from home the motor started making the worst sound I hasd ever heard. It sounded like the car had thrown a rod or something.

I parked the car and called my husband to pick me up. He towed the car home and had a mechanic come and look at the car. It was determined the motor was going to have to be replaced. The motor has 98,500 miles on it and needs to be replaced. I thought a motor was supposed to last for hundreds of thousands of miles not just under a 100,000. I really love the car, but am very disgusted that the motor did not last anywhere near the amount of time it should have.

Jerri of Joplin MO (4/4/02):
I bought my brand new 2001 Kia Rio in June of 2001. It had 12 miles on it. I thought I was getting a great deal as it was the first new car I have ever purchased. Since June I have had the brakews replaced once, I am on my third set of tires, and have just had a third alignment. The driver's side visor broke off and the dials do not work on my ac/heating unit.

The dealership says that the problems I have experienced is because I did not rotate the tires frequently. I had them rotated in October when I had my first oil change. Then I had to get two new tires in December along with an alignment and now again this week. How can I rotate my tires every 6,000 miles as suggested when they do not last that long? I use my car to go back and forth to work about ten miles a day and once a month I go to help my mom. I have just over 13,000 miles on it and am afraid to go any further as I have had to pay for a tow twice.

Melissa of Whiteland, IN (4/4/02):
Well, everything has gone bad. Since i have had my 1999 Kia, I have had to replace the starter, alternator, had to have right passenger side of window fixed twice, muffler pipe fell off .. rusted ... brakes have been replaced, heater went out and when I took to Kia for repair, the antifreeze hose was not connected, and had a leak in the radiator day after they replaced the starter.

James of Port Orange, FL, writes:
I purchased a new 1996 Sportage in December of 96 for my wife, after letting her pick out a car for the first time in our married life. When we test drove the Kias, they worked fine, although I guess that a 5-7 mile drive isn't much of a test. Normally, I wouldn't drive my wife's car, but since we also had a brand new Suburban (my car), we decided that I should leave the Kia at the Orlando airport while I was on a short business trip to Texas. The Sportage only had a few hundred miles on it at this point.

On the way to the airport, while cruising at 70 miles per hour, the check engine light and the shift hold light came on causing it to run a little weird (rough) but I made it to the airport anyway. When I came back home a few days later, the lights didn't come on when I started it up, so I headed for home in Daytona. About halfway home the lights came on again and it ran weird the rest of the way home. The next day it was off again.

I called the dealer and was told to come in when they were on again. They would go on and off all the time but couldn't get it to the dealer while they were still lit. This began when the car was a couple of weeks old. It took forever for the lights to stay on and the dealer to see them.

We did take it in when it had about 3,000 miles on it and the dealer couldn't find anything and couldn't make the lights come on for them. Finally one time they stayed on for the dealer to see but they never have been able to find out what causes it.

They have replaced several wiring harnesses, re-routed the wiring, re-spliced the wiring, replaced the rear axle, the entire fuel system including the fuel tank to the engine injectors, the exhaust system to the cruise control and still today June 2, 2000 the light is still coming on constantly and causing the car to run rough and to not shift like it should.

The car has had other problems including paint falling off, wheel suddenly going out of alignment and eating a tire, power windows blowing fuses from bad wiring shorting out in the winter having to drive 40 miles with the window open to get home and even the tail pipe has rotted off and we live in Florida.

My wife won't leave town with the car because it's too unreliable, so we have a car we have owned for 3 years that wasn't that cheap, almost $18,000 and we can't take it on a trip away from home because we are afraid of it. We have allowed years for them to fix it and still it isn't fixed.

The worst problem is that Kia has led us on through the service managers who say that they will work something out which, looking at other complaints, is the last thing on their mind they won't even call back. Their Web site touts reliability and quality which appears to be a complete joke.

I made a huge mistake getting a Kia, allowing my wife to get a Kia. So far the only satisfaction I have been able to get is that since there aren't that many out there, hundreds of people stop my wife just to ask how she likes it and I will let you guess the answer. It would be nice if I could say they take care of their mistakes and their customers, but that's not the case with us and apparently with the other complaints that are on this site.

I have to say the dealer has appeared to do everything under their power to fix the car, but has been unable to get Kia to step up to the plate and rectify this situation.

I usually only ride with my wife when I can't drive myself. Such as happened the other day after I had an emergency appendectomy. She brought me home from the hospital and I noticed that at 35 miles per hour the Kia was turning 4000 rpms. It's going to blow up. I'm 55 years old and I have seen some poor excuses for cars in my life, this is by far the worse one I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with.

I was told early on by the dealer that Kia couldn't meet emission standards for the EPA when the vehicles first came into the country, so they tagged some Rue Goldberg designed emission control system onto the vehicle and that is why they can't fix it, it's not fixable.

The first sign of that is that it plugged up the Catalytic converter around 20 thousand miles and it has never gotten very good mileage. Now they don't even call to fix it anymore, no one knows what to do. This car can't be fixed.

C.P., Gaithersubrg, MD:

• Both front windows would stick and not roll up during and after a rain. I had to play with the windows, the driver side always went up off track. Service fixed this problem, now the driver side window has too much play in it.
• Heat shield very loud rattling.
• Shifting very difficult 1st-3rd gear.
• The seat belt chime sounds warped, like a malfunction.

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