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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.

A. of Winston-Salem, NC July 17, 2006

A. of Winston-Salem NC (07/17/06)
I purchased a 2004 KIA Spectra in May of 2004. The transmission failed at 39,000 miles (2 years old), and KIA will not fix the transmission under the warranty. The corporate offices and the District Managers have stated that I should have gotten my transmission fluid changed at 30,000 miles per the SEVERE maintenance schedule in the Owner's Manual of the car.

I informed KIA that I did not qualify, per the Owner's Manual, for the SEVERE maintenance schedule, but had in fact followed the NORMAL maintenance schedule, which stated that I change the transmission fluid at 105,000 miles. The KIA representatives, on many occasions (this has been going on since Father's Day), had informed me that my area was a SEVERE maintenance state/location. So, I requested this list of SEVERE maintenance required states and/or areas. This is not, the KIA representative informed me, available to consumers. It is a decision made by the District Manager alone, on a case-by-case basis.

I took the car to two separate transmission specialists to get the transmission diagnosed. The transmission, which I have in writing, was diagnosed to have a clutch that had broken off of the clutch plate, and gotten lodged in the metal filter of the transmission. The problem was not related to the fluid, which was completely clean, but was a part failure.

I presented this information to KIA (corporate and dealership), and was still informed that they would not honor the 100,000 mile warranty, due to my lack of maintenance. KIA offered me their goodwill effort of paying for the parts to repair the transmission, and I would be billed for the labor and fluid. In order to re-instate my warranty, KIA had to perform the repair to my transmission.

I took their offer, not wanting to put 2,000 into a brand new car that is barely 2 years old. I spoke with a service technician at the dealership after my repair was completed, and learned that KIA replaces the entire transmissions of the cars, instead of parts or rebuilding the transmission. I wanted to have the transmission taken apart and confirmed as to the clutch breaking off by another mechanic, but KIA would not allow me to take the transmission off of the property.

Susan of Mcloud, OK April 18, 2006

Susan of Mcloud OK (04/18/06)
I bought my 2004 Kia Sedona brand new in April of 2004. We bought it because of the automotive industry ratings and the price, and not to mention the 10 year 100000 mile warranty!

In September of 2005 my A/C stopped cooling. It was getting cooler where I lived so I did not bother to take it in right away. So, in March of 2006 I took it to the dealership I purchased it and was told compressor had to be replaced, and offered me several options of brake work, filter replacement etc. I turned it down and they were not too happy about it.

 I just wanted my free warranty work done. Later that evening got a phone call that my van had R12 in it. I had no idea what he was talking about. I said let me have my husband call you.

He began to tell him the warranty will not cover it because the van was tainted. Unless getting your oil change can taint it, we did not do it.

I called Kia and was told that they would call the dealership to verify it and it was my word against theirs.

That was no help either. It is now April with 95 to100 degree weather. I had to have it fixed, and pay for out of my pocket.

Charlene of Woodbridge, VA April 11, 2006

Charlene of Woodbridge VA (04/11/06)
I bought my 2000 Kia Sportage in 2002 I am the second owner and the original owner only but about 14,000 miles on it. Shortly after I bought it, the 2 rear passenger windows quit working, now I am having some trouble with my front driver's side window, my check engine line comes on and stays on for about 2 weeks and nobody can seem to figure out why, my oil light comes on even when I have enough oil in the car, it overheats constantly, it spins out on wet pavement even with new tires and barely pressing on the gas and when the pavement is went and I press on the brakes my back end fish tales, my air conditioner won't work half the time, there is all this noise coming from under the hood of my car. The trouble I have had with this car is simply crazy.

Unfortunately I am still stuck paying on this car because I am a single mom and can't afford another car I am stuck with this one and can't sell it in the condition it is in and nobody will take it as a trade in. Not to mention the money I am out on repairs.

Melissa of Statesboro, GA April 6, 2006

Melissa of Statesboro GA (04/06/06)
My mom bought me a Kia in July of 2001. When we drove the car off the lot it had 15 miles and a full tank of gas. That's about all that's went right with the car since I got it. Within the first year I had to get the alternator replaced. Ever since then I think my car has spent more time sitting down then driving. Everytime I turn around something is wrong with my car. Everytime I take it to the Kia dealers they always say that it is something simple like I need to tighten my gas cap. I may not be the brightest person when it comes down to cars but I know when something is wrong with my car. Now my transmission is gone and they refuse to fix it. With the KBB retail value of the car being at about 2500. It would be better to just get a new car then spend the time and money to get it fixed.

Michelle of Spokane, WA February 24, 2006

Michelle of Spokane WA (02/24/06)
My 2003 Kia Sedona caught on fire due to faulty front seat wiring. I am at the tail end of working with my insurance company, and would like to pursue this because of the extreme stress this has caused me. I feel as though the Kia company should also step in and make this claim right.

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