64 responses so far ↓

• Turi Miller // Jan 28, 2004 at 2:06 pm

  I had a 2000 Kia Sephia where the brakes failed on me causing me to crash in the back of someone. I have the proof from two brake companies stating there was complete brake failure at the time of the accident. I can’t get anywhere now as far as being compensated because I live in the state of WI. I had our Governor Doyle even in the process and he ordered them investigated. After convincing him they would deal with me and get the problem resolved, I haven’t heard from them in over 2 months. They won’t return emails or phone calls. My insurance rates are outrageous because of this. I could have died. I could have caused death to someone else. I could have had my children with. I am so pissed off that people are afraid to stand up to companies like KIA. I will never forget and I tell EVERYONE I can how bad the KIA company is. I have stopped 2 friends from buying after my story. If anyone is willing to stand up to KIA from the state of WI, please let me know. I will save all the information and hopefully someday get someone who has some balls to fight those bastards.

• Robert // Feb 29, 2004 at 10:35 pm

  I don’t know why the suit only names the ‘96 and newer Kia. I own a ‘94 (One of the first in So Cal) and have had similar problems (and a whole lot more)since buying the clunker!!

  California C.A.S. anyone??? Count me in!

• gloria rowland // Apr 18, 2004 at 8:40 pm

  IHAVE A 95 KIA SPORTAGE THAT HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT GRIEF SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IT HAS SERIOUS FUEL INJECTION PROBLEMS AND JUST TODAY IT FELT AS IF THE BRAKES WERE’NT PERFORMING CORRECTLY.THE PROBLEMS THESE CARS HAVE ARE LIFE ENDANGERING AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE CONSIDERING PURCHASING A KIA FOR THEMSELVES OR A LOVED ONE TO PLEASE CONSIDER LOOKING ELSEWHERE FOR A RELIABLE VEHICLE.

• Amanda Stark // May 18, 2004 at 10:53 am

  My ‘99 Kia Sportage has had several problems, multiple brake repalcements (an accident which may have been caused by faulty brakes) and now transmission problems. I’m FED UP!!! I would love to join in a C.A.L.!!

• Craig // Jun 23, 2004 at 11:39 am

  Fuel injection problem? SPORTAGE probable clogged intake at rear of sportage, exactly were road dirt gets in casing. Won’t fill up quickly upon refuelling if gets clogged enough. Transmission problems won’t be fixed. They will only repair and replace. no schools for technicians to attend for trannys. Also watch for head gasket leaks.( not drastic but latent smell of antifreeze present. Guage won’t show running hot. They replaced a good rad twice and missed head gasket leak and other gaskets. Blown engine at 75,000 miles. Initiated small claims court action, Prov of Ontario 4/2004. Kia personnel will not identify themselves with a last name will only deny warranty thru the dealer. Suit ‘em all!Best warranty in the business?? Not.

• GENEVIEVE INMAN // Jul 21, 2004 at 7:49 am

  I BOUGHT A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE, AND ITS GIVEN ME ALOT OF TROUBLE. I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT (HYDROPLANE ACCIDENT) THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS CAME OPEN AND MY COUSIN WAS DRIVING AND WAS THROWN OUT QUIET A WAYS FROM US. MY NIECE WAS IN THE FRONT AND FELL OUT THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE. THEY WERE IN THE FRONT. MY OTHER COUSIN AND I WERE IN THE BACK. IM WONDERING WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND WHY THE BOTH DOORS CAME OPEN? WHEN I GOT THIS CAR I DID NOT REALIZE THIS WAS CONSIDER A SPORTS CAR. I PAY ALOT OF MONEY EACH MONTH ON THIS CAR AND ITS CRAZY! AS FOR NOW THEY DID NOT TOTAL MY KIA, WHICH I WISH THEY COULD HAVE, AND IT WILL NOT BE ANY BETTER WHEN I GET IT BACK. ALSO WHEN I GOT THE KIA IT DOES NOT STAY ON THE ROAD VERY GOOD. YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. MY BRAKES STARTED MESSING UP. ALSO ITS HAS THE WORST RADIO I HAVE EVER LISTEN TO. THEY SHOULD NOT EVEN PUT ONE IN IT. IM JUST VERY UPSET ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE EVERYONE THINKING THE CARS ARE SAFE AND ARE NOT!!!!!!!!!!

  I HAVE 3 YEARS TO PAY ON THIS KIA AND I WILL NEVER GO TO ANOTHER KIA DEALERSHIP AGAIN. GENEVIEVE INMAN

• Rachel // Jul 31, 2004 at 9:27 am

  I also live in the state of Wisconsin. I am searching the web for answers same as you all are. We bought a Kia Sportage in October of 2000 brand spankin’ new off the lot at Harms Motors in Lake Geneva Wisconsin. The car now has 54,000 miles on it. We recently have had nothing but HUGE costly repairs done to this vehicle with now solution. The car stalls down to almost no power, starts jerking and jumping horribly, and then smoke from all angles. Myself and my kids were almost hit trying to cross an intersection because of this problem.

  We have put $1,000 into this car in the past month, and the damn thing still doesnt run. It has continued the same nonsense. We had it towed again this morning back to Harms for the 3rd time (from Woodstock il.) Before that we had it at another place 3 times. It has been in the shop 6 times this month.

  We have had the timing belt replaced, both engine coils, full tune-up, one converter changed, and towed two of the six times it has broke down this month.

  Warrenty??? B***S***! There aint no warrenty worthy of soloving the problems to this car. We are at an absolute loss with what to do. We still owe on this vehicle. My husband drives it to work and back a total of two hours. It is not even dependable enough to make it into town and back. We are afraid even after it being “repaired” to drive it.

  What to do? SOMEBODY OUT THERE PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!Does anyone out there know what the mechanical problem is to this car that we are having? This problem has eluded two shops including the dealership that we bought it at, and $1000 of our hard earned money within a month! Please email me at

  bud2bud@pensys.com

  Rachel

• Teri // Aug 4, 2004 at 12:19 pm

  I also would like to see C.A.L. Chances are not good I will get my 2000 Kia Sportage paid for before it ends up in the salvage yard. Impossible to trade in or sell and no doubt a very dangerous vehicle to drive.

• Samantha // Aug 22, 2004 at 3:26 pm

  I have a 2000 Kia Sophia .. and now that I have read what Turi Miller put up there , I’m scared to drive it .. What should I do now?

• Antionette // Aug 23, 2004 at 7:58 pm

  I have purchased a used 1999 kia sportage in 2002, after purchasing it i drove the car maybe a week before the check engine light came on, I took it back to where I purchased the vehicle, I don’t know what they did but they took the light out, I drove again for a while and the light came back on within my 30 days warranty, they took it to pomoco kia dealership, they said it was a sensor, so they replaced it with no charge. once again I the engine light came on again, I took it back to pomoco, they replaced some part and sent me on my way, In may of 2004 i started having the same problem again, mind you the light would come on and go off, I took it to several mechanics and had them to put it on the machine, the machine read that it was the mass air flow sensor, so in may of 2004, I paid $300 dollars to have it replaced, here again in August 2004 I’m having the same problem again and the machine says it’s the mass air flow sensor, they now have my car and don’t know what the problem is. The’ve given me a rental car for one day although they’ve had my car for 4 days. If there’s anything I can do please let me know. I would love to join a class action suit against kia, it should be a law to sell such unsafe vehicles, Im still making payments on this vehicle and have another year to go.

• tina thornton // Aug 24, 2004 at 6:55 pm

  husband had a 2004 kia spectra we live in alabama he got hit and the car was totaled but the airbags did not inflate thank god he is ok i need to hear from ANYONE else that this has happened to , i want satisfaction from this company or something done about this problem thanks

• Tracey // Sep 22, 2004 at 6:07 am

  I have a 1995 Kia sportage. I left the keys in the car once and no one even wanted to steal the car! My latest of problems is the car will not start after the engine gets cold. You have to just keep trying and praying at the same time. I have a list a mile long of what has been replaced on the car. When I bought it used, I took it in to the dealer paid almost 1000.00 to have the service done on it thinking it would benefit me in the long run. I have kept good maintenance on the vehicle. The dealership does not know how to work on their own vehicles! I would glady join in a lawsuit. This is the worst investment I have ever made! My 8 year old son’s scooter is worth more than that car. Unfortunately, I have invested a lot of money in the car and feel like something should be done. There is no way the dealer does is blind to the problems! The car is a piece of crap!

• Jerri // Oct 4, 2004 at 4:21 pm

  I have a 2000 KIA Sportage 4×4. I have had the check engine light come on numerous times. Most of the time the light goes off within 10 minutes. This past weekend my engine power was been reduced and the vehicle idles very roughly and has stalled at intersections. Now, the check engine light stays on. I have taken it to an independant mechanic and I have been told that I need a new clutch fan and a new mass airflow sensor. $750 out of my pocket. I have forked out over $1000 dollars this year on maintenance and repairs. I take care of my vehicle and don’t abuse it in any way. I will NEVER purchase another vehicle from KIA. They are poorly made and are “disposable” vehicles. Last year I had the exhaust assembly replaced due to corrosion at a cost of $400. I don’t see a bright future ahead for my KIA and I know it’s days are numbered. I would gladly join a lawsuit against KIA.

• ROLAND JUSTICE // Oct 5, 2004 at 10:26 am

  just got word from the dealer that i need a new head on my 1997 kia sportage,

  like everyone else , it has been one problem after another, here goes $1500,

  AND THAT IS A USED HEAD, CAN’T AFFORD TO

  DRIVE THIS THING.

• anthony dimonda // Oct 8, 2004 at 4:29 pm

  I own a 2000 kia sephia. I wish I had seen this site a long time ago. The first time I went to change the brake pads on my car I was told I needed to also change the rotors due to Kia chaning the part.(probably due to the lawsuit). This car is now waiting three weeks for a part for the flywheel becuase there are many other cars waiting for the same part. I have trouble shifting gears.(automatic) This is on top of the starter going on fire two months after I drove it out of the showroom. Do not buy a Kia they are nothing but a headache.

• Lynn from Northwestern Pennsylvania // Oct 17, 2004 at 11:08 am

  In April,I bought a used 2003 Kia with 18,000 miles. I told the salesperson that there was something wrong with the brakes. He told me that they were not putting asbestoes in the brake pads anymore and they feel different because of that. I called the service department to inquire about the brakes about two weeks later. The service department told me the same thing. I went on a couple of road trips and by July, the car needed its first service appointment. I set the appointment, but before the day arrived, the check brake light came on. I called and asked the service department if I should bring it in sooner. They asked if I had brakes. I did, so they said to just bring it in at the scheduled time. When I took the car in, they replace the rear brake cylinders and completely re worked the rear brakes. They also checked the front brakes. I was there for at least four hours!! When they were finished with my car, the service guy told me that the front brakes would neet to be replaced or repaired at the next servicing because they were warped. I asked if that was under warranty and they said yes. They didn’t charge me for the work they did on the rear brakes. The car had 24,000 miles. In September, we went to Florida. On the way home, we completely lost our front brakes. We were pulling off the thruway and there was a hard grinding sound and we had to use the emergency brake to stop. The dealer in Florida turned the rotors and replaced the brake pads, to the tune of $350.00. They said that turning the rotors wasn’t covered by the warranty. I paid them and returned home. The dealer at home told me that my issue was with the dealer in Florida. I don’t see it that way. They knew those rotors were bad at the first service appointment. The pads are supposed to make a noise when thy are worn. They were way passed that stage when I bought the car. We never heard a sound until the brakes went out. We had driven the car 12,000 miles. I talked to the owner of the dealership. He offered me $150.00. I said “No”. Kia America called and offered me $100.00. That was after I called the better business bureau. I told them “no”, too. I am filing a complaint against them. I don’t care as much about the money as I do the principle. This really stinks.

• Debbie Newsome // Oct 25, 2004 at 10:45 am

  I bought a 99 Kia Sephia and have had the brakes done several times and they currently need done again less than a year has gone by, not to mention the fuel injectors and I have not received recall on seatbelts, which my driverside does not latch.

• Sue // Oct 30, 2004 at 10:00 pm

  My KIA 2000 many little problems including the driverside window never really closed, a big hole between the rubber and the glass, the dashboard crack and the indoor light stop working and the back seat seatbelt got stuck and I changed to the new battery, the trunk door got stuck. I feel this car do have more problems than the other cars.

• Courtney // Nov 8, 2004 at 10:46 am

  I purchased a brand new Kia Sephia in 1999, and I also thought something was wrong with my brakes at first. I took it back to the dealership, and he said it was because they were “new”, and all new brakes were like that. I have replaced them about once a year in the past five years. Also, my dash bubbled up, and the dealership told me it would cost $650+/- to fix it!! Whatever! My glove box is stuck shut and the storage box between the seats doesn’t hook when it closes (been like that since it was about 2 months old). These are just cheap made cars. I also replaced the clutch in mine about 2 years ago when it had 104,000 miles on it. I have to say that is usually standard, considering I used to drive my car ALOT! I do have to give Kia credit SO FAR under the hood. (knocking on wood).

• Kimberlee M Mann // Nov 13, 2004 at 11:14 am

  Hey, you know what would be a good idea? If we could get together and advertise on TV what KIA is doing!! I know that would get their attention.

  I, too, own the ill-fated Sportage. I paid cash for it when I retired. I wondered why they gave me such a good deal on it. My repairs have been substantial, the most that I have ever had on any vehicle. I have had better luck than most of you in that I have not paid for any repairs, except for the brakes, which I have only replaced once in 50,000 miles. But then, then there is a different story here, obviously.

  I purchased the vehicle with about 17,000 miles on it. The engine light started to come on almost immediately. First, they replaced the timing chain, then in another month, the crank shaft. The vehicle continued to have engine problems and lost power, started stalling and chugging. One day, in the Virginia countryside, it shut off going up a hill. I tried to restart it and it started sounding like a sewing machine. I knew immediately that it was totally gone. It had 36,000 miles on it. KIA, once again, came and towed it. They replaced the engine with no charge.

  During this time, they have had to replace the entire exhaust 3 times, the gas tank, the water pump, and many, many more repairs. I have had to replace the windshield 3 times because of stress cracks. What is this??? Each time the repair took many days and I had to get a rental car at my own expense. This has added up to many thousands of dollars in fees. The Lemon Law says that you only have to have 30 days (not consecutive)loss of a vehicle to claim the lemon law status.

  What is happening here? This company needs to be stopped. Were they recently bought by Hyundai?

• marbks84 // Nov 21, 2004 at 10:49 am

  99 kia sportage nov 21 04

  my kia sportage crank shaft just snaped like a twig no warning lights no indication at all that there was a problem. What do I do now how do I fix this five kids I dont have the money can Kia help me.

• DEBBIE // Nov 28, 2004 at 5:57 am

  WELL,I HAVE A 2000/KIA/SEPHIA,AND THE CAR IS BUCKING AND SUGGEST’S A VALVE JOB BE DONE TO IT.I’M NOW WONDERING,SINCE I READ ALL THESE STORIES,WEATHER OR NOT,I’M JUST WAISTING MY MONEY.I THINK AFTER THIS CAR IS PAID OFF,I’LL LOOK FOR ANOTHER ONE.IT REALLY JUST PISSES ME OFF THAT NO ONE WILL PUT A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST KIA,BUT,AS WE ALL KNOW,THAT’S JUST THE LITTLE PEOPLE,PAY NO ATTENTION,YOU KNOW THE OLD SAYING,(MONEY TALKS).I FIND IT REAL DAMN STRANGE THAT ALL THE THING’S I HAVE READ,EITHER ALREADY HAPPENED TO MY CAR,OR AT LEAST IT TELL’S ME WHAT TO WATCH FOR.GOOD LUCK ALL.

• Tomasa // Jan 24, 2005 at 11:37 am

  I bought a 1999 kia sephia and it was the biggest mistake ever. I have had problems from day one and the prices on the parts are stuplid. I have a problem with it starting now. It starts when it wants to like the heater it works when it wants too. If anybody has any suggestions please let me know.

• jason gardner // Feb 7, 2005 at 4:26 pm

  I bought a 99 Kia Sprotage brand new, it came with a 36month-30,000 mile warrenty. It has been recalled 3 or four times for seatbelts, exhaust and fuel injection problems. The four wheel drive went out shortly after 40,000 miles. When I went to the dealership for a quote on the problem they mentioned they know the issue is and what caused it. I asked if the cv axels would be covered on a recall, they said no due to no safety concern. Cost to repair 1500 to 2000 dollars. Recently the starter is going out. The vechile only has 48,000 miles. I called the dealership to have it replaced and they want over $600. I would never buy another Kia in my life. I also tell everybody I know that the vechiles are very poor quality.

• Micky O'Flynn // Feb 25, 2005 at 10:23 pm

  We have a 2004 Sedona w/ 12K on the clock and has been in the shop 8 times mostly from the Check Engine Light. KIA very non-responsive so we are proceeding w/ Attorney General Lemon Law Arbitration. Don’t buy a KIA! We sure wish we did’nt.

• Steve of Maryland // Mar 19, 2005 at 10:45 am

  I have a 2003 Kia Spectra and we have a 2002 Kia Sportage. We have not had ANY problems. We are considering buying another new one. We bought ours new and get the serviced. So, I wish some others would find that Kia makes affordable cars. But, I drive toward D.C.everyday. The way people drive, it doesn’t matter what they would drove. 40 to 50,000 miles per year @ 80 + miles per hour.

• SUE HOWARD // Mar 22, 2005 at 6:50 am

  I HAVE A 99 KIA THE BRAKE SYSTEM SUCKS

  I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ONCE ABOUT THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE REPLACED.I HAD TO BE TOWED WEDENSDAY BECAUSE THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE REASON WAS THE BRAKE PADS ARE GLUED ON TO THE SHOES AND THE GLUE DID NOT HOLD.ONE PAD OVER LAPPED THE OTHER.ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR THAT PAD HAD ALSO COME UNGLUED. WHAT IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEY LOCKED UP WOULD I HAVE BEEN KILLED? IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THIS NEEDS TO BE CHANGED I CAN’T BELIEVE GLUE?

• Terry // Mar 22, 2005 at 8:30 pm

  I found this site after I filed a complaint with the NTSB. Bought our 2000 Sephia 2 years ago, have had to have the Brakes fixed 7 times. Fixed, that is a joke, basically, Someone replaces all the pads,calipers etc.. I pay, and drive away with the same grinding/squealing noise that sent me to get them repaired in the first place. Believe me, I have tried Kia dealers, Monroe shocks and brakes shops, private mechanics,pep boys etc.. Most say the same thing, find a cliff to drive it off of!! And I do not even wnt to get started on my 2 year (check engine light) fiasco. That one ended up costing over $700. in misdiagnosed problems and parts I did not need, and my husband putting his fist thru the instrument panel plastic. I really fid it hard to believe that nothing can be done to KIA about his. And if that guy from Maryland, has not had any of these problems, he either works for Kia, or is the luckiest SOB on the East Coast.

• harold hough // Mar 27, 2005 at 8:06 pm

  i bought my kia sportage new as a second car for my wife for only winter driving .

  it now has 25,000 miles on it.

  it is repaired more than we have had it. rather than go into detail.

  never never buy a kia.

  my kia has been so bad, i also wouldn’t risk a hyundai because of the kia.

• Lucky Guy // Mar 29, 2005 at 3:55 pm

  I bought a new 2003 Kia Rio for $8499.00 and I love it! Never had a problem. Gets great mileage. Peppy enough for me. I know the car’s limitations and stay within them. If I had $35,000.00 I would have bought a Lexus but got what I could afford and love it. I see there a several comments about burnt out clutches and how that “could never happen so quickly”. I burnt the clutch out of the old man’s Chevy on one Saturday night!

  You people drive badly and whine too much. . .

• Nikki // Mar 30, 2005 at 5:05 pm

  I bought aa 200o Kia Sephia back in dec. 99 well 6 months after I got it the brakes had to be replaced since the rotors were bad. Funny how a new car should have ad rotors. Well that was covered under the warranty luckily. Most recently I have had a problem with my engine chugging and the ck engine light keeps coming on and resetting itself and then coming back on again. I have had it in to the dearership 4 times and had a tune up done which after they said car runs great. THat was a joke considering I drove it home and it did the same darn thing again so I called them back and they took it back againt he 2nd time. This time thy found 2 engine coils were damamged and the spark plug wires needed to be replaced. There went another $320 down the drain. Of course they claimed it was running good and it didn’t chug when they drove it. Once agin I drove it home and it did the same thing. So I had to bring it back the 3rd time. Of course this time there was no charge but they even kept the car overnight and claimed everything is leading them back to the gas. They told me they couldn’t drain the tank out completly so I was to pick it up and keep driving it until I am low on fuel. Once I do that I am supposed to fill up with premium fuel (hello have you seen gas prices lately)and put a bottle of Heet in the tank. So I did all that and what happens the engine is still chugging and the ck engine light came back on. The idiots at Kia can’t figure it out. These are supposed to be professionals who know all about Kia’s. Now that is a joke. So now once again I have to call the dealership back and bitch at them and tell them you need to figure it out and fix it right w/o charging me anything since you guys are incompetent of doing a job right the first time. So you tell me how safe is it to be driving a car that is chugging and jerking all the time. Of course when the guy at the dealership drives it they claim it doesn’t do it. So I think something should be done about Kia and there crappy cars. I say we go public and put in complaints. I know I am to the state of Wi. I found a site that has the complaint form for bad service. I think we should contact the better business bureau about Kia’s and the dealerships that sell them.

• johany // Apr 26, 2005 at 8:52 am

  I had bought a kia carnafal 2002 the dealer offer to me a 5 years warantee for$1200 price and I accepte condtionally to folw up with maintenance squdgwel and I did for one year every maintenance they do they druw at lees 60$ once they told me the fule injection need to be cleaned I sed o.k they cleane it and charged me about $300 and when my car out I notes that CK engin light was on I told them they say nex maintenance we will fix but till now it is on and allwys brake shoos worn out once maintenance due when I brought my car to dealer shope they told me their is no space for my car anles I leave it in the shop for one week to do maintenance I told them I only giv you 3 days because I have a houspital appointement in Ryadh for my wife and I have no athor car to go and they riffuse then I took my car to aservice gas station and change engin oil and travil to Reyadh in Reyadh I made maintenance in the KIA dealer shop and told them about the ck engine light on they fixed it and next day coms on they charg me for fixen it but still on, next maintenance due they sed ck engin light on need to change sensors they charge to change but still on . next maintenance they told me your car mixed oil with woter in the radator and you have to buy $1200 in advance in order to fix your car I sed how then i told them but my car under warantee you have to fix free they say no your warantee is canceld because you did not make one maintenance with us I told them that time I came to you and you told me that no space in the shop and need to waite one week . and I told them evin I did not do maintenance one time does not cancel 5 years warantee I buyed for they refuse to fix my car under warantee then I have to su them in the court my case still in the court the Judge asked the cars mecanikes cheef to till him about the cuse of mixing the oil with the woter in the radator after investigations we found that the cylenders heads gaskets put by the kia factory was then and has no large hols for woters to pass throw and when I bought the engine head gaskets it was defrente from the old gaskets I asked why the spares parts man told me yes the company found out thate the old gaskets makes problems allwys and they change it to this styel and they try to buy my case by $400 but I refuse we are still befor the judge i hope he we give me my rite and make the company randsume my mony I wrote to k i a customers servises director in kuria but he refaire me to some one never answer me and I rwote againe to kuria toreplace my k i a carnaval to a soureto jeep but no reply this is my bad story never happend with my amarican cars i used caprees sens 25 years ago .

• Pam Moline // May 14, 2005 at 8:14 am

  After reading all this info, it’s a lesson, read as much as possible before buying. I have a 2000 Spectra, check engine light comes and brake light at same time. I just had brakes checked about a month ago and was told they were ok. Now dealer says hurry and get 169 dollar brake job before rotors are involved. And, dealer says tune up needed even though only 41,000 miles.

  Is it possible to do self tune up? I have a feeling the check engine light will never go off again after reading the posts.

  Should I get second opinion on brakes?

• Eph Evans // May 18, 2005 at 12:47 pm

  I own a KIA SEPHIA 2000, I experianced the poor brake problem, one month after the brake warranty expired. It had warped rotors from the get go, but they denied it was that, I am having the same problem again warped rotors. I will do the work myself this time and save some money. I experianced an engine check light, caused first by intermittent faulty switch in the console shift lever, that took a year to get KIA to actually fix it under warranty. Latest was check engine light caused by bad spark plug wires (they go out at about 30,000) and start arcing I fixed them for $39.00 myself. Lucky I am my own mechanic for the most part. Engine is running good otherwise, I use only pure synthetic engine oil. I am 90,000 miles on it now and looking at replacing the timing belt.

• Megan // May 18, 2005 at 1:09 pm

  kia sucks, why would you even consider buyimg one in the first place? they are made of recycled beer cans and of the worst quality materials in the world. dont buy cheap ass jap cars or you will encounter these problems that you all speak of… good luck dumb kia owners

• robert // Jun 10, 2005 at 9:45 pm

  kia sucks . bad brakes ,bad trans.bad engine.cheeply made, truly jap junk.

• Anna Maria Virga // Jun 13, 2005 at 10:47 am

  I bought a 2000 Kia Sephia in March of 2000. I have had to replace the brakes every year and one year at a cost of over $400.

  Last year, a new tansmission was finally put in. It was still under warranty BUT Glendale Kia did not want to put it in because they were afraid that Kia Motors would not cover it. Unfortunately, my budget did not allow me to buy a better car. I think KIA Motors should give restitution to all Sephia owners from the years 1996-2001.If anyone out there in Illinois is ready to fight KIA, COUNT ME IN.

• jimmyb // Jun 15, 2005 at 8:23 am

  kia optima class action suit in regards to inherant headlight problems that kia has been aware of.If you have had a headlight blow, which can be a series safety issue and would like to be included in suit please e-mail me.

• Paul Litwack // Jun 20, 2005 at 8:15 pm

  Hi there:

  We were once satisfied Kia owners and we welcome returning to the ranks of satisfied customers!

  As you read this, please appreciate how rare it is for me to post the info below:

  1. I am respected worldwide as a professional business Coach - I know how to help leaders get better results. Was just named in the top 100 of the top corporate coaches in the world (by the largest coaching portal).

  2. Last month I was the Annual Conference Chair for the International Customer Service Association, ICSA.

  3. In my world-class Service, Satisfaction and RetentionTeleClass and Keynote program, we introduce the Customer D-E-L-I-T-E formula

  Summary: I know how to coach professionals and leaders to keep a customer satisfied, even delighted. Still, we have found ourselves on the raw end of the deal with KIA.

  That said, perhaps this case study will be of help to you and others. We are quite frankly at the end of our rope dealing with Kia management - right up to the Presidents office. Their dealer reps and mechanics are equally frustrated and openly laugh at HQ lack of support for customers and their dealer needs. In fact, our own local KIA dealer confided they closed as a direct result of examples like ours.

  Here’s the snapshot:

  Sept 2004 - On turning the ignition key, the battery blew up under the hood. Lots of witnesses (Costco parking lot) including an off-duty police officer. Car was towed and next day KIA MADE US PAY to replace the battery! Not good customer service! The Kia President’s office sits on a confirmed receipt email for 7 days. When asked, they claimed: ‘forgot’ to pass this exploding battery case to Customer Care.

  Summary: Sept - May 2005 (yes that is nine - 9 months):

  the car has been in repeatedly for servicing (most recently for over 5 weeks!) as it stalls in traffic and the tachometer races without warning - many near fatal accidents. Kia calls us liars as they claim if their diagnotics don’t pick up on our reported incidents - ‘they are not happening’ (yes that is a direct quote).

  Some more facts to ponder:

  Jan 2005: 1 day (specifically 25 hours) after getting the car back from yet another service check, it CONTINUES to stall and the tach races - causes the car to lurch forward without notice - Need to be very alert to brake fast enough to avoid accident. Started keeping at least 1 car length back - even at a stoplight!

  February 2005: after being called liars, we started keeping a live log in the car. In just 3 weeks we documented over 60 incidents - each time with witnesses in the car at that specific time.

  March 2005: Our son passes his drivers licence and we are concerned he doesn’t have the experience to know how to react to this kind of car problem. Actually, nobody should ever have to!

  June 2005: Kia mechanic calls to say they THINK they have found the problem - relates to corrossion under the hood. EXCUSE ME!!!! We knew to the second when the corrossion started (battery blew up) - why did it take them 9 months to figure that out. And why have we been driving an unsafe vehicle?

  June 2005: we just got our car back after it being serviced for almost 6 weeks. The mechanic confides that he isn’t sure they fixed it - but doesn’t know what else to do!!!

  June 2005:less than a week since we received back the car. We are now calling this car “SATAN’S CAR”

  Here what we have experienced in one week - since KIA said it was fixed and safe to drive.

  1. the Steering wheel locked once while the car was in motion! We had to brake instantly to avoid an accident. Only after stopping the car and re-inserting the key to restart the car did the wheel come free. VERY SCARY!

  2. The car stalled three times within a two hour period.

  3. Once without warning the tach raced while the car was in motion - lunging the car forward to within a few feet of an accident. VERY SCARY.

  This is the info from the KIAMOTORS.COM site (KIA world HQ Customer Service form): “When Kia distributors in your country or the dealership near you are not able to solve your vehicle’s problem for any reason, please contact us directly using the e-mail shown below. Your comments are very important to us.” Sounds nice - except the source code shows that when Canada is selected, the form is only sent to the Canadian head office (other countries include several Korea HQ emails). Given the fiasco created here by the Canadian HQ, it isn’t a wise idea to try to fool the customer!

  We are now ready to write a note directly to Kia Head Office to let them know about this. Does anyone have email info for these people in Korea who can help? We are interested in reaching any of these KIA corporate executives:

  Chairman and CEO Mr. Mong-Koo Chung,

  President and CEO Ik-Hwan Kim,

  President and CEO Eui-Sun Chung

  Senior Executive Vice President and COO Mr. Yong-Hwan Kim

  Executive Vice President Mr. J. M. Park (was CEO of Kia Canada !!!)

  I will gladly share this information when I obtain it. Please write me at kiathe-coach.com (a special email just for this).

  Thanks again for your interest and support. All automobiles need servicing - this one (SATAN’S CAR) needs to be destroyed now to avoid risking any lives further.

  Now what?

  We still have 1.5 years on the lease with this unsafe car. We would like Kia to release us from this lease and destroy the car (don’t let anyone else drive an unsafe car)

  Your help and insights are welcome.

  … Paul Litwack

  the Capability Improvement Coach

  http://www.the-coach.com

  (905) 764-8525

• LeAnn Brogdon // Jun 27, 2005 at 7:32 am

  What about Optima’s? I am just now looking into buying my first Kia. A used 2004 Optima EX w 9K on it. Should I???

• Paul Litwack // Jun 30, 2005 at 2:27 pm

  UP

  Eight days ago, we heard back immediately from Kia Head office in Korea and were given the direct email and phone numbers of their key executives responsible for Kia operations in North America (US and Canada). We emailed them and received email ‘read receipts’ that same day. So we knew they had opened our email in their Inbox.

  As of yesterday when no reply had been received, we wrote our original contact, the KIA Director of Worldwide Communication to ask status.

  He was embarrassed his executives had not had to courtesy to reply that Kia company policy is to leave it in the hands of the local country. (aside: if this were true 8 days ago, why wouldn’t they say so then??).

  We were given a Kia Head Office representative who resides here in Toronto and we left a voice mail this morning asking for assistance.

  Instead of him calling back, someone else did - specifically referring to the call we made him

  He was direct and curt, identifying himself as ‘George’ the Kia CAMVAP representative and said he was proud to be involved in the Kia decision process for our car from the beginning. (aside: I wouldn’t be so proud
  His sole purpose seemed to be to read a prepared statement from the company that future communications with the company would only take place at a CAMVAP arbitration hearing. He was not prepared to answer any of my questions.

  CAMVAP is the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan - a Government sponsored program set up to help consumers resolve disputes with vehicle manufacturers in a way that is fair, fast, free and final.

  So that is our next step, by their choosing.

  If anybody reading this forum has experience in preparing for a CAMVAP hearing, please do help.

  Thanks and for our many Canadian and US readers celebrating July 1st and July 4th - have a good long weekend.

  … Paul

• ethel harmon // Jul 3, 2005 at 5:31 am

  are there any lawsuits for Kia for it iis really disgusting how we American have to endure with something that is foreign manufactured and the company doesnt want to even talk to us if anyone know how my Kia Sephia issues can be resolved please let me know I have had numerous brake problems,water in the transmission,lifters problem really I purchased a lemon and is really being sucked If anyone out there is really for a C.A.L PLEASE LET ME KNOW

• faye g. // Jul 6, 2005 at 3:21 pm

  I TOO PURCHASED A 2OO1 KIA SEPHIA FROM THE BEGINNING I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WHEN I TAKE OFF WITH A GERKING MOTION. TO THIS DAY THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS. THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT DOES QUITE A BIT IN WARM WEATHER. JUST AFTER 3 YEAR WAR. WAS UP I HAD TO PUT IN NEW ALTENATOR, THERMOSTAT , NEW BATTERIE AND TODAY THEY SAY IT WON’T PASS INSPECTION UNTIL I PUT SOME BAR ON BACK THAT HAS TO DO WITH SHOCKS. TO THE TUNE OF 260 DOLLARS. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH BACK END FROM BEGINNING, NOW I HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T FIND IT AT THE BEGINNING. ALSO I HAD TO REPLACE HEAD LIGHTS. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 35,000 KL. ON IT .OH LATEST PROBLEM THEY SAID THEY HAD SEVERAL IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS . BECAUSE OF LOW MILAGE IT RUSTS OUT AND HAS TO BE FIXED. WELL WOULDN’T YOU THINK THIS IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. KIA IS A BIG LEMMON

• Michael Alioto // Jul 12, 2005 at 12:22 pm

  I have a 99 Sportage EX. I bought it new and it has 165,000 miles on it. It is also a manual transmission and I live in Chicago.

  Figures that right after you pay off a car…it goes south. Engine runs hot (we’ve been very hot here in Chicago), air conditioner compressor decides it’s not going to work when the engine gets hot. I haven’t had the brake problems all you have been experiencing because I down shift a lot. Just had clutch replace though. Now, today, it’s all screwed up. It just died. Found out the ignition fuse (the one underneath the hood) blew. Put a new one in…that blew. Mechanic thinks its the timing chain so now we will see. I really have liked my Sportage and whenever I go into the dealership…they say “oh…you must be one of the lucky ones!”. But I know that everything you guys are saying is true! I just got lucky with mine…but alas…I think my luck is running out. I’ve spent $2000 since I paid off the car on repairs. damn!…oh..by the way…this is a korean made car…not a jap car.

• Daren jones // Jul 13, 2005 at 10:19 pm

  We have a 2002 kia sportage 4×4, which was bought brand new. Nice vehicle at first, but at about 56,000 miles the clutch fan siezed and exploded and burst the radiator with the plastic fan shrapnell.The next defect was the air conditioner blower motor, which had also siezed. These 2 items were covered by the 100,000 b/b warranty, but too many problems already. At about 65,000 miles the passenger window regulator went out. Then, at about 73,000 miles the airbag light came on,(flashing),we took it to the dealership right away and dropped it off. 3 days passed and I called them and contacted the SO-CALLED-MECHANIC and he said there was a bad connection on a cannon plug and re-crimped it. (HALF-ASSED JERRY-RIG!!!) He admitted this to me on the phone and said if I could fix it to do it myself!(shit customer service and incompetent attitude!) Anyways, the next day the airbag light came on once again, and the A/C blower motor was acting up again. We took it back in and once again-SHIT CUSTOMER SERVICE! We bought 100,000 B/B warranty and get treated like hooligans!!!!! The airbag light flashing means the bag will not deploy in an accident and they treated us like we owe them something for half-assed work in the first place!!! Anyways, They charged us again for the $100.00 deductible for fixing the airbag problem, even though they jerry-rigged it the first time! (CROOKS). The airbag fix should be FREE because it lasted less than 24 hours! Kia says it was a different part because they want us to pay another $100.00 deductible. They are shady criminals, believe me. I’ve read TONS of complaints and it’s basically the same over and over again! Poor mechanics and Poor planning whomever thought to build these korean garbage money suckers!!!!!! Good scam, BUT KIA and the OWNER and all of their cronies will fall and burn in HELL for ripping off the american people! People work hard and you do this type of selfish scam! Damn’ you to hell and we are coming after you and your SNAP-TO-GETHER-CARS!!! I can read the fine print and KIA is going down!!!!!!!!!!!

• Unnat Frederick // Jul 14, 2005 at 11:04 am

  I have a 2001 kia sportage. The car is a piece of shit. The first year we had the car the brakes needed to be replaced. The car ran fine until we needed an alternator and a new battery 1 year later. When I took it in to replace the alternator they informed me that kia “forgot” to put in my AIRBAGS. How in the hell do you forget to put in airbags. I called the dealership and they told me to bring it in, but there’s no guarantee they will pay for it. 1 month later the radiator blew up and the car is violently shaking. The radiator has been replaced, the thermostat, and coil packs have been installed and to everyone’s surprise the damn thing STILL RUNS HOT, and we have a new problem its shaking when its in idol. Kia is the worst car ever made, someone should go protest outside all dealerships who sell these death traps. I would love nothing more than to put those kia people out of business, and have the car paid off so I can get rid of it.

• Robert Lloyd // Jul 15, 2005 at 6:00 pm

  I own a 1999 Kia Sephia and I too am suffering an agonizing death over this car. On july 13, 2005, I was involved in a car accident due to the brakes locking up and the air bags did not deploy. My wife is 33 weeks pregnant and thank God she sustained minor injuries. We called Kia Customer service and their rep basically admitted to us that Kias are not safe against all accidents. We were trying to explain to this women about safety factors w/ Kias involving different types of cars involved in accidents with Kias and all she could say is “well if you hit a brick wall…. Where is there a brick wall on a highway? Tina Thorton, if you read this, please contact me at my e-mail address. I would like to discuss your situation if you don’t mind.

• Carol Altenburg // Jul 19, 2005 at 9:30 am

  I am in the final stages of a resolution with Kia after three years of crud over the purchase of a new Sephia. Entire electrical systems would fail leaving me without lights at night, without door locks, and without power windows. Sometimes, they’d stick in a new fuse, only to see it blow in front of their eyes, yet they wouldn’t replace any parts other than the fuse because they said they didn’t know what was causing it.

  The dealership itself was friendly about it but another one that was closer was not because as the manager said, if they weren’t good enough to buy it from, they weren’t good enough to fix it. Like others here, I experienced rather curt dealings with Kia with rather smart-mouthed consumer reps (who probably get that way defending stupid crap all day long) that will tell you “That’s unfortunate, but we’re not going to do anything about it.” As one told me, “Learn to live with it” when I told her that the seatbelts were also screwing up and dealers are not obligated to service your car if they don’t want to. I recently learned that Kia pays their dealerships very poorly for warranty work. No wonder they don’t want it.

  Now after filing a lemon lawsuit, the company has finally covered the attorney expenses and is paying the full refund cost of the car. Or so it seems. We don’t have the check yet and it should be here by now. An interesting note is that Kia has been charged and paid fines multiple times for NOT paying their claims on time. Here’s one in NJ where they got busted and had to pay $99,000 in fines because they were always paying late, and this after being fined $5000 for the same thing. http://consumeraffairs.com/news/kia_fined.html. The one thing that will happen if we do not get the check, is that my story will be front page news on my national dotcom that sees 300K people per month, and the offer will be made to local newspaper, television, and radio shows to highlight my story.

  The funny thing is that they could have easily fixed the problem. Replacing just a part of the harness would have solved the problem, we wouldn’t have had to deal with it 20+ times, they would have saved money and probably a customer, and I wouldn’t have told everyone that I know about my experience with Kia. Even once we notified them under lemon law, they would have been serious money ahead because we would have settled for cents on the dollar and they wouldn’t have had to hire a local attorney. (Oh, yeah and she is quite the ditz. I don’t know where they got her, but she is completely lost. For those of you who understand consumer court issues, THEY demanded a jury trial… OKAY! THANKS!)

  Foreign car companies who want to come to the USA, make huge promises, not live by the law, cut the deal but then walk away from the legal obligations, simply need to be boycotted out of existence.

• lena // Jul 19, 2005 at 11:35 am

  i just purchased a used 2000 sportage i thought i had got a great deal I have had it 3 weeks now the timing belt, chain is on the fritz is there no repair manual for this yr/make? Why weren’t any of these problems made known on the news? help

• Billie // Jul 20, 2005 at 10:45 am

  I have a Kia Sportage 2002. The back tire latch has had to be replaced 4 times. The radiator has been replaced. the 4 wheel drive has gone out. I have had the brakes replaced. the radio, the window striping, the sun visor broke off, the cup holder broke. I will never buy another kia again!!!!!

• robert a kramer sr // Jul 30, 2005 at 7:27 pm

  I purchased a 2002 kia optima lx used. When I first started driving the vechile it was great for about 3000 miles. then the electrical problems started. as I was driving I would loose all electrical power for the car. I was almost hit on the freeway a couple of times as I coasted to the side of the road. I would loose all lights, steering, braking, cruise control, and once was almost hit by a police cruiser since he could not see me with no lights. there was a burning smell coming from the car prior to this happening. The radio would also cut out just before I would loose power. Once I got the car stopped I could restart it and go a few more miles before the whole thing would start again. This only happened during during hot weather or during long trips of over 100 miles. On July 14th of 2005 I was taking the car back to kia again after having numerous visits for the same problem. I lost all power right before a stop sign and ran through it and hit another car. My air bags did not deploy and I totalled the car. Thank God for a seat belt since that is the only thing in that car that worked. I am lucky to be alive right now. The service manager was able to duplicate my problem one time. Before that they said they could not duplicate it so they could not fix it. Bring it back while it is happening. I talked to the kia customer support personnel and they did everything they could to limit all repairs of that vehicle. Later after the accident they could not say sorry enough but all they asked for was pictures of the car and a police report sent to the kia consumer affairs division. If anyone knows of other 2002 kia optima lx owners with the same problem please contact me. I am gathering information for a possible law suit againt Kia and if anyone knows of other class action law suits that I can join against Kia please let me know. My next step is to report to the national transportation safety board about this wreck since I don’t want other people hurt like I was in this wreck. be very careful if you start to have these problems. Don’t drive the car until kia finds the problem and fixes it. My Kia dealer replaced the alternator, wiring harness, almost every ground on the car, the battery, the main computer for the car, and took the wiring apart on the total car on some occasions to check to see that is was installed correctly. I still didn’t think the car was fixed and I was right.

• Jose // Jul 31, 2005 at 4:43 pm

  I have a Kia Rio 2002 4 door 5 spd manual that my daughter drove. A vehicle got in front of her and she struck the vehicle in the rear left side with her front right side. At 50 mph the passenger went forward hitting his head against the front windshield and his keen against the dashboard. The airbags did not deploy and his seatbelt did not restraint him. What are my options against KIA motors?

• Nick // Aug 4, 2005 at 10:53 am

  I’m driving a 2000 Sephia Kia which has given me no problems. I’ve had regular maitenance, driven the car from Florida to Georgia five times and I love it. Yes, it is not a quality made as far as the body. Noone cannot open their door unless they are opening their door on my Kia. To prevent the door dinging, I just park the car far away. Although everything has been going good, today I experience the O/D light blinking along with the Engine light coming on. Of course, I am very nervous. But in the meantime, the car has geen very reliable to me.

  Thanks,

  Nick

• paul woodall // Aug 23, 2005 at 6:52 am

  I’ve got a 2.5v6 sedona the head gaskets have blown twice in under 18 months I have been told by various garages that this is a common problem as the cylinder sleeves become loose. Have been in touch with kia who said not their problem?

• Rhonda // Sep 6, 2005 at 4:18 pm

  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

• Linda F // Sep 11, 2005 at 3:31 pm

  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.

• Martha // Sep 21, 2005 at 7:36 pm

  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.

• Amanda Ryznar // Oct 3, 2005 at 7:16 pm

  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?

• Evie Christensen // Oct 5, 2005 at 2:28 pm

  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”.

• Derrick // Oct 8, 2005 at 12:29 pm

  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!

• Tom (Boston) // Oct 14, 2005 at 9:32 am

  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

• hkk02 // Oct 30, 2005 at 5:11 am

  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.

• Martheia // Nov 17, 2005 at 9:16 pm

  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!!!!

• Karl Ernst // Nov 20, 2005 at 11:09 am

  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.

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