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.
My Kia began having electrical problems about 3 years ago. Long story made short: The dealer wanted me to pay $3000 plus for it had all its electrical system melted down. I found a recall and after a battle with the dealer and manufacturer I got it fixed when I found out there was a recall. Next nightmare: July 2008 no one died luckily. I lend my car to a friend and he is driving his 2 year old daughter and the car falls to the ground. Axle broke down, wheels spun inwards and Kia is not working again. Luckily these friends were going at 20 miles an hour otherwise they would not have told the story. Got it fixed cost me $$ apparently it was a defective Kia part center link replaced. Have the part still in my car as a nice memory. Final nightmare: April 2009 I was the main character: Again the axle feels weird and clicks when I turn. Problem: Tie rod is broken. Different than the previous time but related to the previous problem. Luckily was not on the freeway at high speed otherwise would not be telling this story. In short: This is a safety hazard! Kia needs to recall this defect urgently. My friend and kid and I could have got killed in an accident literally. Fortunately we both were driving at very low speeds and could manage this problem with no one getting injured? Kia needs to make these cars safer and prevent future accidents please!! be responsible not only with your new cars, take pride on your brand and fix the old junk you created!!
Car purchased new, Nov 2000. Now has 29K miles. Has had brakes, pads & rotors replaced twice because of excessive wear and pulsating when stopping. Done by dealer, who said common problem with the brakes on "these small cars". now needs replaced again; doing same thing as before. Also loses brake fluid, 1/2 pint every few weeks. Now just had left front bearing siezed up; pulled car to left into oncoming lane of traffic (no impact with other vehicles). Dealer replaced both front axles, spindles, bearings, etc., but denies this is common problem. However, checking other complaints on record, find both brakes and the bearings problem are evidently very common.
Consumerwas hearing noise in the front of vehicle. Was told by mechanic that she had to pay for the repairs because they do not repair the suspension under warranty after vehicle reached 35,000 miles or 3 years, which ever came first. Consumer she had to pay $400 to get vehicle repaired, and did not feel this was fair. Also, dealer/mechanic told her that the vehicle slipped timing at 34,000 miles.
When this front end system problem occurred while driving on the highway at approximately 60 miles per hour, I lost control of the vehicle and had to hold the steering wheel to try to gain control of the vehicle. It felt as though the car was being blown across the road as though a gusting heavy wind was pushing the car to the right side of the road and then it would feel as though the wheels were going to come off of the car. The power brakes also lost power and the brake pedal went all the way to the floor and would not stop the car, and the the steering became more difficult becaise the car was just pulling to the right. I was terrified at driving under these conditions and was able to get off the highway at a very slow rate of speed and was able to park the car in a parking garage until it was towed to a Kia dealership in philadelphia pa. (value Kia). The Kia dealership then apparently fixed my car, but it was discovered that the dealer used old recalled parts to repair my car and the same problem occurred ten days later. The dealer in Ohio. Courtesy autoworld discovered upon my prompting them to check the work done at value Kia, was discovered to be done improperly using bad unauthorized parts to repair my car at the time. This is a major defect with this vehicle which in my estimation can cause death or serious injury. The Kia Corp. Needs to address this problem and also address the issue of using bad unauthorized parts to fix the original problem, because usung those parts only increased the chance of this happening to the vehicle. There may be thousands of cars on the road with this potentially life threatening defect.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Berkeley Ca, CA, USA