10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 44,620 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I absolutely love this car. However, I am afraid to drive it most of the time do to intermittent problems with acceleration. At times, when I step down on the gas nothing happens, then all of a sudden the car takes off like a rabbit. On a trip to South Dakota, after using the blinker to change lanes, the blinkers went crazy, both on at the same time, then from one side to the other, I couldn't get them to stop and the ESC light was flashing. I pulled over and shut the car off and back on and all was good, for a few more miles anyway. I had to do this several times on my way home. This was scary as I was 1500 miles from home. Haven't had that issue since and that was 4 months ago (no engine light for codes at this point). Now, all of a sudden the car is running like crap. Engine light finally came on and the code is stating misfire in #3 spark plug. The car is running very poorly, undriveable. I have had nothing but issues with this car since I bought it a year ago. I have read changing the throttle positioning sensor and updating the computer software may be what's wrong. However, trying to convince Kia to do this is another ball game. There is also a high priority recall on the stop lamp switch, recall #SC077. Also see technical service bulletin #KT2007030801. There are numerous complaints about the acceleration issue, some involving accidents. Why wont Kia acknowledge this and offer a recall on the tps and a reflash on the computer"?? all we get is the run-A-round and the shop not hearing of such a thing. Really???" come on!!!!!
- Woodland, WA, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Kia Amanti. Gasoline began to spill out from the fuel lines located near the driver's side rear tire while the contact was refueling the vehicle. The failure recurred whenever fuel was added to the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was told that the in-tank valve was stuck in the open position, allowing fuel to exit the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. Approximately 18 months later the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken back to be repaired. The failure mileage was 45,094 and the current mileage was 58,000.
- Clermont, FL, USA
Engine surge/stall in the 2005 Kia Amanti. I had it repaired (or so they said) last June, but the problem persists. Since the check engine light does not come on they say they can not find or fix the problem.
- Delaware, OH, USA
Car jerks uncontrollably when proceeding from any stopped position.. the car jerks causing great potential for a fatal accident. It only happens on hotter days.. ridiculous Kia dealership in thornton, co wants me to only fill the tank up half way to avoid this problem, this car is under full warranty & was only 3 months of use before first reported problem. They call it "vapor lock" which sounds ridiculous.. it isn't vapor lock.
- Denver, CO, USA
On window sticker states car should average 17 miles per gallon city, and 25 miles per gallon on highway. Over a nine month test which I kept a record of date, total miles on car, miles driven, total gas to refill tank, and miles per gallon the best mileage we got was $14.51 city. The best overall mileage was $17.55 miles and that was a trip to the coast. We took the car to the dealer and he claims that there is nothing wrong with the engine. This is my wife's car and we do not drive it that much because of the price of gas. We were misled by the window sticker and we feel that the NHTSA should make the manufacturer state the correct findings on mileage for this car. I am caught between a hard place and a rock for my wife likes the car and I feel it is a piece of crap.
- Fresno, CA, USA
- Wauchula , FL, USA