This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Interior is falling apart dash coming undone, door panel cracked, control knobs broke, defective electrical connections at fuse box failure with relays causing no start, no defroster, no horn, stalling of vechicle. Concerned of possible electrical fire
Consumer had been having problem with electrical system; headlights will go out whithout prior warning, and sometime had to be replaced. Dealer had been contacted.
The first problem was the electrical system, the car kept blowing fuses and would not start. After 4 visits to a Kia service center it was learned that the fuse box had been built wrong. Kia had a rebuild kit on hand for this problem and corrected it, as well as replaceing a number of sensors and other equipment damaged by this problem. Next was the transmission, which whould and does switch gears for no reason, jumping into higher gear or downshifing into lower gear without warning and staying there until the car is brought to a complete halt. This problem has not been traced, Kia service technicians claimed to have driven the vehicle extensively but could not reproduce the problem, dispite the fact that it occures frequently for myself and my wife. The brakes started acting funney at around 11,000 miles and upon inspection by Kia personell were found to be worn excessively in the center of the rotors, dispite telling me that it was a very common problem Kia refused to repair it, saying that it was a maintiance issue, and not a defect. The door latches failed on a trip to Indiana and the doors had to be locked or they would not stay closed. The glove compartment latch failed at the same time, falling open at any bump and the handle was falling off, so it had to be left open the entire time. The weather stripping began falling off shortly thereafter causeing water leaks into the car, and sometimes preventing the doors from closeing correctly. I have attempted on numerious occasions to have these issue delt with by Kia motors and they have faid to do so, beyond the bare minimum. I have even been attempting to return the car in accordiance with Michigan's `lemon law' and Kia's only response is to attempt to half-hartedly repair the vehicle at my expense. Dispite the fact that some of these issues could be dangerious.
During the hot summer months when using the air condition, when get to my destination and then I want to restart the vehicle, it could be O minutes to almost twenty minutes, the car won't start and if you continously force the car in the start mode it blows the 15 amp starter fuse. Also because of this the water in the battery was depleted to the point where each cell took about 4 ounce of water. The dealer said the battery performed well on a load test, yet when all the lights are on along with all the accessories the lights stay dim and it shifts sluggishly. The voltage was measured by an independent mechanic and the alternator puts out only about 13 volts, yet the dealer said it put out $14.25 volts, I asked for that the alternator and battery be replaced but they refused, although they did modify the starter circuit and now it starts ok, but the light still dim.
Consumer was experiencing the following ongoing problems: Transmission made loud noise when changing gears, and gears did not lock into place when put in park/fuses kept blowing out, had replaced electrical wires/starter was not strong enough to start vehicle & needed to be replaced, and brakes had to be replaced due to excessive wear of front brake rotors, calipers & pads. Brake problem still exists.
We have replaced the rotors and brake pads 4 times and the drums once. The car has difficulty starting and taking off. Various problems concerning minor problems, seat cushion, lighter, A/C, gas spewing back out of tank etc. Our major concern is the braking system which started six weeks after purchase and hasn't ended yet. The Kia representative is uncooperative.
Since purchasing the vechile on 2-11-99 at 7700 miles, car has hesitated starting, slow starts, sputtering starts and sometimes cranks several times before starting. This happens more on cold starts, but not always. Only a few times on warm starts. Unpredictable. Car has been serviced twice in past two weeks. Starter relay, starter and fuse box replaced. Still has problem. Being serviced for third time in as many weeks.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Kingsburg, CA, USA