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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.

Donna of Smithtown, NY October 22, 2006

Donna of Smithtown NY (10/22/06)
Brake problem since the beginning from 2004. had the car 4 months, and when we would stop the whole car would shake. brought it to the dealer they said something was not cut from when it left the plant. supposedly fixed it, had brake jobs since. and it is still happening, took it to a mechanic last week, did not mention anything as to the what the problem was previously , the mecahnic said something was not cut from the factory. how could that be if kia did cut it when we brought it in just 4 months after we bought it. now the warranty is done. we can have our mechanic testify that they never did what they should of done two years ago. now it willcost us 500 to fix it. I hate this company.

Monika of Mississauga, OTHER October 4, 2006

Monikai of Mississauga (10/04/06)
I own a 2002 KIA rio rxv which i purchased new. since the day i got the car from the dealer (downtown KIA) i reported that the car stalls and the check engine light always comes on. i have been in to scarborough kia, dixie 401 kia and every time they tell me nothing is the matter. well when the car stalls i can put the car in park and restart it right away however, the latest stall which occured i was not able to restart it and i was stuck on the road with my 4 month old in the back seat. i had the car taken to my home as it was only 2 blocks away and called dixie 401 kia. i was told to have it towed in and inspected (190 charge to me) as they know its the starter. well i was not about to do that so i had a mechanic friend of mine come and take a look at the car and there is nothing wrong with the starter.

Elizabeth of Hudson, NY October 4, 2006

Elizabeth of Hudson NY (10/04/06)
I recently purchased a 1999 Kia Sportage 4 x 4. Have only owned it a couple of months and started smelling gas. The vehicle only has 76,000 miles on it and the gas tank is shot. Called Kia dealer in Albany and said this vehicle is not on recall yet and have to pay to fix. From researching, have realized this is a frequent problem in these models. Cost to fix (depending on if fuel pump is needed because often has to be replaced when taking tank off) could be near 1000. Would appreciate a recall on this model. Vin# KNDJA7239X5581416.

The gas tank is extremely dangerous. Just had it looked at and full of holes. Odor can be smelled from 20 to 30 feet away. Service station would not even let us leave the car on their lot to be fixed. The entire tank is wet looking from all the gas leaking from the numerous holes. The entire tank is rusted and falling apart. Some how we have to get it to Albany (nearest Kia dealer, Lia Kia, to get it fixed and that is another probem.

Marina of Elko, MN September 26, 2006

Marina of Elko MN (09/26/06)
We bought a brand new 2004 Kia Sedona off the lot with the plastic still on. Every time I think I like the car something happens. We replace the rotors so often they never are out of warranty. The metal cable that holds the seat belt in the middle seat onto the floor literally snapped in half. It looked like someone sawed it in half, but the plastic around it was not broken. The Kia dealer actually told us that if it happens again they will not cover it. Someone from Kia kept calling us for details on how it broke. Very frustrating. We have had the car just stop working on us to. We have replaced the starter and have had 2 batteries. The power windows are very slow going up and down. The passanger side sliding door - my 11 year old has a hard time opening and shutting it. Sometimes it gets stuck and my husband has to slam into it to get it to open. This weekend when I opened up the visor mirror, the plastic around it literally fell off and now the light does not work and it does not open all the way. Now the driver side mirror is cracking. The rust!!! It is amazing! My husband has a 1997 Ford Ranger that does not have the amount of rust my Kia does. The cup holder under the radio does not work - it sticks all the time. The transmission is going. The air conditioning went this summer. That cost 900 for a refurbished one. Then 3 weeks later we plunked down 300 more because some tube burned through.

Adriana of Pensacola, FL September 12, 2006

Adriana of Pensacola FL (09/12/06)
My Kia has had nothing but trouble. They never want to cover anything that happens to it. Before 36,000 it had to have a new transmission and clutch and power steering punp. Now at 70K the motor is gone. They want to fight about everything. They have not honored any part og the warranty without a fight.

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