Comments on: Judge Denies National Class Action Lawsuit Against Kia

By: Karl Ernst

Karl Ernst — Sun, 20 Nov 2005 19:09:54 +0000

We have an 03 RIO. Bought it used this summer and have only one problem with it. The windshield washer pump. Oh yeah, somtimes there is this small exhaust rattle. The car is fine otherwise. It does feel like a cheap car though. Which is exaclty what it is. Sorry to hear about everyone else’s problems.

By: Martheia

Martheia — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 05:16:43 +0000

KIA OPTIMA 2001 SUCKS big time!!! I truly do not like my car. I will never ever ever ever ever purchase another KIA. They are worthless and you can not trade them in and they need continous service for something. I have spent over eight thousand in repairs. THE WARRANTY TRULY SUCKS!!!!

By: hkk02

hkk02 — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 13:11:34 +0000

I had a 96 Sportage. I put over 200,000 miles on it before having a problem – the timing belt needed to be replaced. It was the best car I have owned. It is unfortunate that so many have problems that cannot be resolved. I suggest going to the media, such as 20/20 or Dateline. I intend to buy another KIA.

Please check spelling before posting! Korea and Japan are 2 different countries. Perhaps the fact that one does not know that and would refer to a vehicle as “jap crap,” makes the problems they are having part of Karma. Racial slurs are never warranted.

By: Tom (Boston)

Tom (Boston) — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 16:32:59 +0000

I have an 03 spectra and so far my only issue seems to be the check engine light coming on every few months for no reason (Vapor loss but the dealer cant find it nor do they charge me) I got a new gas cap each time and it seemed to fix it for about a year

By: Derrick

Derrick — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 19:29:37 +0000

I can’t keep from laughing at some of the posts here. There seems to be a lot of finger-pointing and complaining at the car dealers and kia in general. I would agree that most kia’s up to the year 2001 do have major problems. But some of the owners are responsiible for the results. If after 2 visits to the service location does not resolve a problem, it is safe to say that they are bleeding customers. Find another service place! Don’t spend thousands of dollars in one place! And if the mechanic says that something else has to be replaced at your next maintence service time, do it now don’t wait and make the problem worse. Also, a big problem is people think that only kia dealers and service centers can work on their cars. It clearly states in the warranty contract that any ASE licensed professional is fine. Having your car serviced at the dealer is always going to cost more than anywhere else. But for oil changes, brakes, exhaust related repairs midas and other similar locations are more than fine.

Another problem is that a lot of drivers don’t keep up on the regular service maintence either. Which can make a small problem huge. If you take your car somewhere and they can’t find the problem, take your business elsewhere! Don’t keep them in business by paying them your hard earned money! I’m not saying that all of the problems posted here are all caused from poor owners, but some of them are.

When people are driving over 15000 miles a year, things will break or give out quicker. That’s why buying a car that has more than 20000 miles on it and it’s only a year old, is a mistake. The same can be said for how you treat your car. If you abuse your car, then you get what is coming to you!

I believe that kia has changed for the better since 2003. I take my 2003 kia spectra to the dealer’s service center for most of the routine services. But i have done a little modifications to my car myself. Custom cold air intake, new spark plug wires, modified front grille, and replaced headlights (i tinted my windows so i wanted brighter lights). I live in colorado, and i see kia’s all over the place. Although most of them are 03 and newer!

I truley do feel sorry for the people who do have a lemon car and kia is un-supportive about it. I can only say that if you can afford it, just get rid of it and get something else. Replacing your brakes 6 times in less than 3 years is a sign!

By: Evie Christensen

Evie Christensen — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 21:28:46 +0000

I bought a brand new KIA Spectra in March 2005. Biggest mistake ever. After driving it for a few weeks the car started making jerking type shifting when I would take off from a stopped position in addition it would rev up high into the red and began to jerk the car. I was just heading onto the freeway and was attempting to gain speed. It seemed that there was no middle gear, just shifted from low to very high. Took to dealer they said something about the tork converter so they replaced it. Car still drives like crap. The other day I was driving and the drivers side airbag signal came on, which made me nervous I was afraid the airbag was going to deploy and cause me to have an accident. The brakes do not feel right, while I am depressing the brakes to slow or stop I can feel a release of the brakes and then I have to push harder. Also, although minor, my steering wheel doens’t lock. This is a brand new car. I told the dealer about it when they had the car to fix the trans. he asked me if it is really that important that the steering wheel locks? YES IT IS I told him, I bougth a brand new car and I want everything to work. Finally I have given up. I am so sick of going into the dealer to have this or that checked out. Sometimes the car sounds like it is going to expload. I hope it does. (of course not with me in it). I hate KIA cars. Buying this car is the biggest purchase mistake I have ever made. I call KIA often just to get a new case number and to have it noted that “I hate my car”.

By: Amanda Ryznar

Amanda Ryznar — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 02:16:38 +0000

I am so glad I found this site. Though I am also a little bit frightened. I have a 2001 Kia Rio that I bought in October of 2000. (almost paid off, thank god) I had no real problems with the car (well, there was the transmission which had to be replaced at about 10,000 mi, but other than that…) that is until…

about 3 weeks ago, i was visiting a friend in Brooklyn, driving around looking for a place to park, when the car overheated. i took the car to a AAA garage nearby the next morning.

The radiator fan motor was apparently bad. The mechanic ordered the part off of a nearby dealer, who told him the part would be in and he could pick it up in 1 or 2 days. I hung out in Brooklyn, missing work, mind you, waiting for over a week, only to find out that the part is on backorder and being made in Korea!!! I feel sorry for the other Kia Rio owner whose car has apparently been at the dealership for 6 weeks waiting for this same part!

When I found out that the part was on backorder (1 week after order was placed!) I tried to cancel the order with the mechanic, and also with the dealership. Believe it or not I was almost naive enough to buy another Kia! Never again. Neither one would cancel the order. The customer service rep I talked to told me that the manufacturer could not intervene in the retail sale of parts. That’s really strange to me b/c they are making the parts.

It is interesting to me that my car made it almost exactly 5 years, and just past the 100,000 mile power train warranty period. I am grateful that the car does not stall in traffic, at least yet.

After reading these other accounts, I think I may just leave the car in Brooklyn. I was going to try to sell it to at least recoup the cost of this last repair, but I would not wish a nightmare like this on my worst enemy.

If anyone else with a Rio was stuck waiting for a radiator fan motor, or some other problem, and paying out of pocket for a rental car (so far to the tune of $380, for 2 weeks) please contact me via email. maybe together we can make ourselves heard.

Zen is good, but please don’t let this stuff go. We are all busy, but we need to make the time and work together, so that other good, hard-working people don’t get screwed over too. I am willing to make this my part-time job for the winter. Anyone know any lawyers?

By: Martha

Martha — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 02:36:15 +0000

My father bought me a 2000 Sephia for my high school graduation in June 2000. I had to get new brakes and rotors 6 months later. It’s been in 2 front end accidents and neither of my air bags deployed. My brakes failed in one of those accidents. Right now, it has a burnt valve and needs a new transmission. My engine light came on last year and no one I have taken it to knows why. My engine fan only works if I keep the air conditioner on and change the relay every so often. In Maryland, there was a class action suit against the dealership that sold my dad the car. The car was over priced; it had 749 miles on it and they sold it to my dad for a little over 12 thousand. He didn’t know at the time. The headlights had to be fixed too, they for some reason were pointing upward instead downward. I love the car, even though it’s had a lot of problems. I don’t know if it’s because my dad bought it or not, but I love it.

By: Linda F

Linda F — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 22:31:36 +0000

I purchased a 2001 Kia Optima new. I have taken it it to the shop for the airbag light being on twice. I took it in twice for my windows being stuck, now it looks like the window is showing signs again of having problems. Ihave brought it in once for a recall that affected the driving and had to have it towed in. now the check engine light is on and it is not due to a loose gas gap. of course, this has to happen right after a week’s vacation when I need to return to work the next day. I hope people that are considering buying these cars are reading these comments. do not buy Kias. I will never recommend one or ever buy another one no matter what the cost.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 23:18:57 +0000

I own a 1999 Kia Sephia. Just like everyone else I have had problem after problem with my ” lemon bit**”. We all just need to file complaints against Kia and maybe with enough complaints we can get a class action law suit.Log on to & file your complaints to :

consumeraffairs.com