Complain about a product or service

Kia

Save up to $379 on Your Auto Insurance. Compare Quotes from Top Providers Now! Find the Best Deal and Apply! - Adv.

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.

Shariff of Redmond , WA July 24, 2009

In 3rd week of July 2009, I had taken my Kia Sedona LX to the Le Johnson of Kirkland dealer for a engine light check, a car seat belt light, and for an oil change. Later in day I was told by the dealer that oil change was completed, and for engine light ON it needed a Canister Close and a Valve Purge CON part replaced as it was not functioning correctly, I went ahead with that repair to make sure the pressure for my emission was functioning.

I was later told that the red light for seatbelt was for the Airbag module. They have not seen this issue before and not sure of any previous year’s record. This is what they typed in my invoice quote " Scantool unable to communicate with Airbag control module. Module has internal failure and requires replacement" I declined this repair hoping to find some more answers and info and do my research with other drivers and dealers to look into why, my van that has only 50k miles ( 9months over 5 year warranty period) could have a part that is important with a National Car Safety Rating of 5 start could go bad in such a short period of time?

I looked and research on internet and did not find any other consumer experiencing same issue, if anyone out there had seen same issue with their van please update this blog, I am reaching out to other dealers for help as well. Lee Johnson is a good dealership, but I do not get it why this part gone defective in such a short run mileage? I belief is the manufacturer lemon part, and they have some responsibility and vested value to investigate why their part went bad so quick. That part does not qualify for 5 start rating does it? I am reaching out to manufacturer, dealers, individual owners, in this Nation to answer my call for help.

David of Hemet, CA July 17, 2009

I purchased a 2003 Kia Sedona and a 2003 Kia Spectra in July of 2003. I continue to be extremely happy with the purchases. I have followed the maintenance schedules, oil, timing belt, etc.. and not a single problem. I now have 130,000 thousand miles on my Kia Spectra and 60,000 thousand on the Sedona. Keep in mind that I do all the service on my vehicles myself, I don't trust dealerships or anyone else to touch my vehicles because of the damage they often cause. I can see many people have had issues with the Kia brand but I also see they rely on third parties to perform regular vehicle maintenance. I hate to see the Kia brand slung through the mud do to the incompetance of the repair shops people take their cars to.

Kathleen of Timmins, ON July 12, 2009

I leased a 2002 Kis Rio with only 40,000 +kms. The car has been nothing but problems. By the first week I knew that there was something wrong with the transmission, it took over a month to finally have them take a look at it since I had extended warranty. They changed the transmission with a small fee, then the motor died on me. The extended warranty did not cover all and it cost me over 800.00. Then the wheel bearing and whatever else with the tires, then the radio doesn't work which I didn't complain but then I mentioned that the clock flashed when I would put my signals on, they fixed that but still no radio.

I can go on and on and on,....now the car is reving so high when I turn it on. It is the throttle or something like that. This car has been costing me so much that I know it is a lemon. Still doesn't have 100,000 kms on it and it is the worst car I have ever had in my life and I owned a vehicle at the age of 17 and purchased a few in my time. I am so upset with Kia product and the service from them. P.S. Never lease a vehicle,...I bought the car for 5900.00 and by the time it is paid for it will cost me 20,000.00,....It seems every time I walk in there I am paying longer,...what is that

Larry of Killeen, TX July 10, 2009

We purchased a 2009 Kia Spectra and found out that our speedometer is off by 5mph. We took it to the dealership where we bought the car and were told that the speedometer can not be fixed and that we just had to live with it. I do not like that we bought a car that can not be fixed, the ony reason we bought the car was because our old car was having problems and we expected that after 15 years, but we did not expect to have a car that can not be repaired after onlt 2000 miles.

Tom of Wesley Chapel, FL July 9, 2009

My trans went out ( Kia Spectra / 60K miles) It IS under warrenty. Kia sez shop that changed trans oil "must have used wrong oil"! Kia had NO reason to think this. No amount of assurance by shop correct oil was used did any good. I took oil sample to a lab and they said it was very likely the correct oil. Not good enough for Kia. By the way this is the second trans to go out in the car. It was replaced shortly after we bought it new.

joseph of felton, DE July 9, 2009

My wife was hit across the left front of her '08 Kia Spectra ..spun around and caved in the right rear quarter panel.The imact in the front was severe enough to move both frame rails over and brake the engine & trans. None of the 6 air bags were deployed. . The six air bags...2 in the dash, one in each front seat and 2 side curtains...one in each windshield post.....was one of the selling points.

My wife fractured all her ribs, her sternum and broke her left arm. She was removed from the car with the aid of the jaws of life and flown to shock trauma in Baltimore where she stayed for 10 days. She is now in a rehab hospital. Needless to say....the car was totaled.

This has been a traumtic experience for her and myself, as well. This air bag non deployment issue and the air bag sensor placement issue needs to be addressed. Kia Motors and the like should be held accountable for lying to the public about the safety of their product and be forced to pay restitution to the injured parties.

Shelia of Fayetteville, NC July 7, 2009

I purchased a new Kia Sedona November 2007. I got my oil changed at little more than 3,000 miles by an outside agency. There was no problem with the vehicle. After about a month I noticed that there was a little knocking sound in the engine. I called Kia and they stated it may have something to do with where I got the oil changed because they may not have used the right filter etc. So when it was time for the next oil change I took it back to the Kia dealership. Once taken to the dealership they stated that my engine was knocking because the third party entity did not use the right filter or sealant and this was causing my engine to knock. They also recommend so additional maintenance. I had everything done. I then took my car to get an oil change about 4 months later which was outside of the 3,000 mile range and they stated that my engine knocks since I did not get the oil changed at 3,000 miles. I asked how can this be fixed? He stated that the knocking was not going to do anything to my engine and that as I get the oil changed on a more regular basis the knocking would cease.

Well 4 months later I was driving done the road and the van just stopped. After having them to tow the vehicle which is still under their so called warranty, they were not able to look at it until the following Tuesday since it stopped on a Friday afternoon. After looking at the vehicle they stated that since I did not get my oil changed every 3,000 miles my engine went out. My van only has 46,000 miles on it. They refuse to honor the warranty and stated that it would be 8,500 for me to replace the engine. I do admit that I may not always get the oil changed at 3,000 miles but this is not the first vehicle I have owned when I did something similar. This has never happened to any other vehicle I have owned of which I have had almost 100, 000 miles or more. What kind of engine gets shot at 46,000 miles with no sign , no oil light (since it was full of oil), noting?

The truth is the engine must have been faulty to begin with and they are looking for almost any excuse not to honor the warranty. I have paid for services through Kia a couple of times and every time I wind up spending about 100.00 just for their recommended maintenance. If I had not agreed to those recommended services they probably would not have honored my warranty either have not owned my vehicle two years and the engine is gone. This is the worst service I have ever received. I will continue to advocate to consumers not to buy Kia.

Brian of Mesa, AZ July 3, 2009

On October 5th 2002 we purchased a "new" Kia Sedona EX from then "Mazda-Kia of Scottsdale. By the year 2004 we started experiencing multiple Air Conditioning problems. The vehicle was serviced 7 times for AC repiars buy the end of 2005 and the problem would re-surface every summer. We filed complaint with the BBB and sumbmitted to arbitration.

The dealer brought in a factory representative from Kia Motors who had the internal control unit replaced. Every component of the AC unit had already been replaced and the problem still persisted. No cold air would blow whenever the outside temperatures exceeded 95 degrees. Replacing the internal control unit appeared to fix the problem. So the arbitration was concluded.

However, the fix was temporary. Each summer the AC Has failed to dispense cold air. The compressor clutch assemblies keep burning out. We are not the only owners who have had this same problem. There are hundreds of current and former 2002 Kia Sedona owners who have had this same history.

Since the warrantee expired we are now having to a third compressor installed. And it will most likely only last six months and will need to be replaced again. The Master Mechanic we are using now says the condensors on the 2002 Kia Sedonas are too small, causing the compressor clutch to constantly be engaged and subsequently burn out.

In Arizona average summer temperatures exceed 105 degrees daily and remain in the hundreds as late a 10pm. We are having to spend 500.00 to 1200.00 every year now to try to keep our Sedona EX prperly cooled for our family of seven. We feel the original problem with the AC has never been resolved and we are seeking a suiteable solution to this defective Air Conditioning problem prevelant among the 2002 Kia Sedonas.

LARRY of MARRERO, LA June 24, 2009

VIN# KNAGD128X45308617 purchased in June 2005- Used- with 13,884 miles on it at time of purchased. Radio starts acting up- states error 2- cd- goes back and forth- Take car in for checkup on this-on 4-30-07- Radio replaced- under warranty- Now- as of today- June 2009- Radio is doing same thing- take car in and was told not under warranty anymore-

Of all the cars I have owned in my lifetime- this has to be a first for radios- My car has approx. 41,000 miles on it now- and radio ( not other items you would think might go bad) is not working properly. I am not satisfied. Future purchase of Kia cars in doubt

Kathleen of Morristown, TN June 22, 2009

I bought the car two years ago this coming Aug, 2009. At the end of '07 beg. of '08 I took it back to report the steering locking. They checked it over and told me there was nothing wrong because they couldn't re-create the event. A few months later my daughter drove it and had the same thing happen. We called and were told the same thing.

Then, June 17th just before 9:00 am I was going around a curve in the road not more than 25 mph according to the police report. It was really much less. The car began to skid, I turned in the direction of the skid and the steering locked again! I ended up kissing the half block face foundation on the corner of someone's doublewide and cracking it. Now, I have to take the car into the 'new dealer' Rusty Wallace Ford (and much more) and if they tell me I am imagining it I will scream! I am 59 years old and this lemon with the door that I cannot open is my first new car.

The insurance company is now fighting with Kia. I am wondering what happened to the human factor and why they have to try and 'safely' recreate the event when I was in the accident because I was trying to stay alive! How could it even safely show that, nor would I want anyone's son or daughter to try to recreate that! Should Kia not be accountable for something that has happened many times? There are others? Is it the steering locked or the wheels? How can I tell the difference?

damage to car was on right front passenger side. Air bags did not deploy. Right front fender is beyond repair, bug deflector is broken, bumper is damaged and light is pushed in but still working. Further damage to property, lawn, and foundation facing, landscaping in yard.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |