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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.

Rachel of Conway, PA February 5, 2008

Rachel of Conway PA (02/05/08)
i HAVE A 2002 Kia sportage with only 40,000 miles on it. This is my second sportage, and I should have known better after my first one was wrecked. I had a head on collision in my first 2002 Sportage and the air bags did not deploy. Luckily nobody was hurt. My first one was covered under warranty, and after 1 year of owning it, my 4 wheel drive did not work. I paid 350.00 out of pocket for the repairs when it was still under warranty. Now in my second Kia Sportage the 4 wheel drive just quit working. Warranty expired 3 months ago. I also started smelling terrible gas fumes this week, and gas spits out when I pump it. My check engine light also comes on and goes off after about a week. Taking it to garage tomorrow, but they seem to always fix what is not wrong and charge you before they find the actual problem. This car is very well maintained with oil changes, and flushes. My first Kia also had electrical problems, but 3 things were fixed before they actually fixed the real problem. I was also charged for the first things because that was supposedly not covered under warranty. I will be selling this and never buying a kia again.

Terry of Wichita, KS February 5, 2008

Terry of Wichita KS (02/05/08)
Took our lemon (No lemon laws in KS) Kia Sedona back in trade for a new '07 Kia Rondo. 6,300 trade in (salesman Cooper called it a buy back but Mgr. said after the dispute We don't buy back, it was a trade in.) Bringing the Rondo to 11,472(?). That was correct. But, the agreed to pay our Sedona loan off at Intrust Bank. So, when I get the first bill from Hyunda financing (a day after the due date!) it says 21,424(?). What they did was take our Sedona in trade but added the buy back into the Hyunda financing terms. Thus giving us nothing to show for the Sedona towards the Rondo. Actually as it all adds up, we are paying Steven Kia 9,600.00 to TAKE BACK our Sedona. And we end up paying more than FULL price fro the Rondo. The finance assistant said We have to get our money back somehow. No, the Sedona was a straight buyback and they added it, not subtracted it to the Hyunda financing. My wife an I went in and I had her convinced that what they did was wrong. By the time we got out, I was ejected from the office and she was calling me foolish and herself stupid and shaking hands with the enemy. I doubted we had a chance because she signed off on the original paperwork and that is what the ass. mgr. defaulted to You signed the agreement to have the loan added in. I don't think this was done in good faith and they know how to get their money back and take our old Sedona for free.

Wendy of Beloit, WI January 30, 2008

Wendy of Beloit WI (01/30/08)
I bought my car from a used car dealer near my house and everything was fine. I have owned it for nine months now and it only has 41,000 miles on it so it is within the 60,000 mile warranty. Well today my transmission blew and they are saying that because the person who owned it before I did had not had the transmission flushed at 30,000 miles like the manual says they will not honor the warranty. I try to tell them that I was not even the owner of it at the time the flush needed to be done but they did not car. Apparently I was supposed to just know when I bought it that the previous owner had not maintained the car. Kia will do anything in it's power to not honor their warrantees. They finally agreed to pay for parts but not labor. I am a college student who went there thinking that everything would be covered but I was wrong.

Christopher of Matawan, NJ January 29, 2008

Christopher of Matawan NJ (01/29/08)
My 2003 Kia sorrento was a great truck until it hit 90,000 miles or so.Since then it has been a total nightmare.Stalling,stalling and oh yeah more stalling.First Loman Kia of Woodbridge NJ said it needed catalytic converters.Just 2300.00.I had the work done at a Minekie in Howell for 1300.00 great.Well the truck stalled and wouldn't restart after picking it up.If the dealer says it needs catalytic converters,and I had them replaced, why should it still be stalling?Oh yeah I know,because Kia's are a totally disposable car.Do not fix them, when they break, take them to the salvage yard.The dealers cant fix them at all.

Jeannette of Trenton, NJ January 26, 2008

Jeannette of Trenton NJ (01/26/08)
I purchased a 2003 Kia Spectra hatchback in August 2005. Ever since I bought this car, it has been one problem after another. One main problem is the Check Engine light always on. I ignore it thinking its just a glitch, as it comes and goes. Well, for the past 2 months, the Check Engine light has been on and my automatic car has been running like a manual, it didnt grip gears correctly. Very recently, I was parked at a parking lot, and instead of going reverse, it went forward! I almost hit a fence! When I finally got it to the Kia Dealer, they told me that its a bad transmission (well duh) and it may not be covered under warranty because I didnt have a 30,000 mile transmission flush, or a 60,000 transmission flush. How was I supposed to know this? Oh I was supposed to read the owner's manual and its written there in bold print! Once again, I was never told this when I purchased the car, nor has Kia ever sent me any notifications of what I should do to maintain my car! So now, Im stuck without a car, since Kia doesnt offer complimentary rental cars for their customers! As soon as this transmission is fixed, I AM NOT going to purchase another Kia! I will trade it in, for less than its worth, but Id rather do that then keep having problems with this car! DO NOT get a Kia if you want a reliable car. It is not worth the stress and hassle!

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