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Save up to $379 on Your Auto Insurance. Compare Quotes from Top Providers Now! Find the Best Deal and Apply! - Adv.
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.
Mike of Markleysburg, PA March 8, 2008
Mike of Markleysburg PA (03/08/08)
i have a 2001 kia sportage and gas tank is leaking
Judy of Mountville, PA March 7, 2008
Judy of Mountville PA (03/07/08)
Purchased a Kia Sportage new in 1999, have had very little problems til now. Had the timing belt changed, water pump replaced and transmission flushed...now it hesitates when I accelerate from a stop when warm and twice yesterday stalled once when backing out of a parking space, the other backing into my parking space at home. This morning took back to garage who did the earlier work, and no hesitation...I am totally frustrated!! AND SO IS MY MECHANIC!!!
Rhonda of Gray, GA March 5, 2008
Rhonda of Gray GA (03/05/08)
I drove my 2007 Kia with appx.50 miles off the showroom floor on February 18th 2008 and on February 20th my car would not crank. Brian Tiller came to retrieve my car himself with top-notch customer service. He left me with a loaner car (Optima) and returned my car on the 25th of February. We offered to wash the loaner car but Brian Tiller refused to let us. Once again top notch customer service. I live in Jones County which is a farming county so all the roads are dirt therefore the car was indeed dirty underneath. The following week, my car would not crank once again, the following week after that which is now on the 4th of March would not crank, so my husband called Brian Tiller and he told his representative that the one stipulation of coming to get the car was for the loaner they left me to be clean when they picked it up, they now refuse to bring me a loaner per Wayne Gordy, but we could come get one ourselves from the dealership if we liked. It is unacceptable for my brand new car not to run, but it is even more unacceptable for them to be angry with me for complaining about it. If I could talk to the factory I would, I want a new car that actually runs. This is the worst customer service I have ever received in my life. Someone needs to get back with me immediately.
I have no way to leave my work, go get lunch, go pick my two small children up from school. I have to spend extra gas money for my husband to leave his truck somewhere and come get me and my children. This is ridiculous. Mark of Dixmont, ME March 3, 2008
Mark of Dixmont ME (03/03/08)
I purchased a 99 Kia Sportage in August of 07, the person I purchased it from must have been overjoyed to part with this POS. It was fine for the first couple of weeks, and then the Kia started to spit and sputter. The engine would surge at idle, and then act like it was going to stall. the engine light came on and stayed on. The starter was on its way out also, so I contact a local Kia dealership and scheduled a service repair for the starter and a diagnostic for the surging. I paid 75 for to diagnose the surging and they told me, they didn't know what was wrong. Winter came and it was time to use the 4WD, well of course now I know the hubs on these vehicles are worthless, this is known issue as well. I ended up replacing them with manual lock hubs. Oh and by the way, my oil pan is seeping right through. The metal is rotten right through, just like the gas tanks do on these vehicles. As the winter progresses, I still have the spitting and sputtering until one day, the thing just stalls and won't start. I did some research and learned of the common ground issues people are having with these vehicles. In this case, the 15amp main fuse was blown, so I replaced it, thinking maybe it was a one time deal. This fuse has blown several times over the course of the winter. This past Saturday, the car simply quit while I was going down the road with my three kids, in the middle of a blizzard. Even replacing the fuse did not work, as it kept blowing, so I had to jump it with a piece of wire. Today I called my local dealership again and they tell me I need to pay another 75 so they can run the diagnostic. I referred back to my last service call, where they found nothing was wrong, yet they charged me anyways. I explained that this is a known issue, as I can find many other postings about the ground issues and the stalling and blown fuses. They gave me the Kia customer care number, which I then called. I spoke with a customer care rep. at Kia named Randy at extension 45295. I was told they no nothing about this problem and that it was my responsibility to pay for any diagnostics or repair on the vehicle. I explained how so many other people are having the same issues and they should come good for it. Randy was more than rude and told me the vehicle is out of warranty that was that. I dont know anything about it, but there should be a class action lawsuit against Kia Motors, they know these issues are present yet they refuse to do anything about it. My kids sat in a cold car, in the middle of a snow storm, while I rigged up a wire to jump the main fuse. If you dont want to risk your kid's lives, dont by a Kia, period. These vehicles are not safe, the company does not own up to its known issues and quite frankly, everyone I know would agree they are all junk. My brother in law just purchased an 07 Sephia, it has been at the dealership 7 times for various problems. Graylen of Union City, GA February 12, 2008
Graylen of Union City GA (02/12/08)
I purchased a bran new 02/KIA/RIO/ SEDAN at KIA of Union City Georgia. As a good consumer, I took my car in for each schedule mileage service. I also had everything including the oil change done in order to preserve the years of my car. According to KIAs records, I have not neglected me car.
While my car was still under warranty, I purchased an extended warranty from Century Warranty (Contract Number 37986759 Phone numbers 866-732-8503 & 954-429-2146) because I could not afford to buy a new car, and I had planned to keep my car for long time. On December 05 2007, I took my car in to KIA of Union City Georgia because it was overheating. The Manager David told me that I needed a new thermostat. When I was told how much it would cost to install the thermostat, I informed the service person that I had a new one installed a few months ago when KIA replaced my radiator and replaced a gasket on the motor. So the thermostat was installed with no cost to me. I returned to the dealership that same day when I saw that the tempter gage was close to the heat side again. I was told by the technician that was normal.
On December 18 2007, I took the car back in because it was overheating. I was told by the technician that the settings on the defrost, air vent, and my crack windshield was causing the car to overheat. The technician adjusted the gage and told me to keep them on that exact setting. On January 09 2008, I had AAA toll my car to KIA of Union City Georgia because it was overheating, and I was afraid to drive it. At this time, the manager David reminded me what the technician had told me. He had a technician examine my car and told me that I might think about getting a new water pump. He said that it was not leaking but making rumbling sounds. I immediately stated that I wanted them to put a new water pump in the car. I gave them the information for Century Warranty so that they could call and get the work pre-approved. I waited along time before David finally told me that he would not waste anymore of my time, and he would call me once he had gotten in touch with Century Warranty.
On January 25th, 2008, I took my car back to KIA of Union City Georgia because it was overheating. After David had the technician examine my car, I was told that I needed a new water pump. I asked David what was taking them so long to approve the water pump. He stated that every time he called, he got a voicemail. So I called Century Warranty myself, on my cell phone, and was able to get a hold of someone right away. At this time, David stated that he had also gotten in touch with them also.
They had approved the repair. He stated that he had to order the part and would contact me as soon as the water pump came in. On January 30th, I had AAA toll my car back to KIA of Union City Georgia because my car started overheating again and stalled on me. On January 31st, I called KIA to see whether or not my water pump had come in. I was told yes, and that Century Warranty would pay for a renter car for one day while the water pump was being installed. When I called back to see whether or not my car was ready, David told me that my car was not yet ready. I told him I was taking to renter car back. He assured me that the car would be ready on Friday February 1st.
I informed David that I was going home to South Bend Indiana in order to attend my uncles funeral. David stated that the car would be waiting for me when I returned. On Monday February 4th, I called to inform one of the service people that I was coming in to put up my car. She hesitated for a second, then she put the technician on the phone. He informed me that the motor was blown. He also stated that I should have parked the car when I found out that the water pump was leaking. I told him that David, the manager, never told me that the water pump was leaking. I also informed him that every time I brought that car in, David never told me that I need to park the car. I also informed him that I never neglected my car. When I called back, David told me that I needed a new motor, and a representative from Century Warranty was coming out to examine the car before they would approve the repairs. David also told me that Century Warranty told him that I could rent a car while waiting for the representative to come out and examine my car, and the company would reimburse me. I do not have the money to rent a car for a day not alone a week or two.
So I have been driving my mothers car while waiting for the repair of my car. On February 06 2008, I called to see whether or not the representative from Century Warranty had come out to look at my car. David informed me that the representative from Century Warranty, name is Mr. Woodcock, had come out to look at the motor. David told me that he requested for the motor to be torn down. David stated that he had to have my approval before he could do this. He stated that if Century Warranty did not approve the repairs to my car, that I would be responsible for the 500.00 cost to do so. I was between a rock and a hard place. If I did not approve to have my motor torn down, Century Warranty would not pay for the repairs.
On Friday February 11, 2008, I called David at KIA and asked him what was going on with my car. He stated that the motor had been torn down, and the problem with the motor was the calendar head, and that he would send it out, to a tool shop on Monday February 11 2008 to determine what was wrong with it. He also told me that he would call Century Warranty and inform them what he was going to do. I informed him that I need to find something out as soon as possible because my mother needed her car back. Monday February 11, 2008, I called KIA a few time to see what the status of my car was. I was told that David was attending a funeral and would not be in today. I was also told by the service person that the motor was not torn down yet. I was also told that it took a lot of man hours, and KIA had other cars to work on, and the technician would work on my car in between other repairs.
I called back today to talk with the technician. He informed me that when representative from Century Warranty Mr. Woodcock examine my motor that he stated that the water pump had been leaking for along time. Mr. Woodcock wanted the motor torn down to find out what was the problem and whether had not I had been responsible for the damage due to neglect. I asked him why the leak had not been caught before, after the many times I had brought the car in when it was overheating.
The technician informed me that water had been elaborated before it hit the ground. So it was impossible for them to know. The technician also told me that I should have parked the car when I first noticed that it was overheating. He stated that anybody with common sense would have known better. When I explain that the manager David never told me to park the car.
The technician stated that I could not hold David accountable because it was not his job to tell me to park the car. He also stated that the reason Mr. Woodcock wanted the motor torn down was to determine what was wrong with the motor and my responsibility for the damages due to neglect. The technician also informed me that it would take him a few more days to tear down the motor and a couple of more day for the tool shop to determine what is wrong with my motor. I firmly believe that KIA is the one who is responsible and caused the damage due to neglect.
I have been taken advantage of and given the runaround. Through this experience, KIA never called me once and only returned my calls once. I believe that I should not be held responsible for the repairs of my car. As a matter of fact, KIA should give me a new car because the car must be a lemon because I had to even have the transmission replaced. I also want KIA to pay for me to get a renter car. My mom needs her car back. Again, I have been very faithful to KIA and have never neglected my car.
This problem needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
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