2004 Kia Amanti complaints

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2004 KIA AMANTI SD'S AIRBAG LIGHT HAD BEEN TURNING ON AND OFF FOR OVER A YEAR. ON 01/13/06 THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON AND STAYED ON. T HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REMOVED TO CHECK THE PIN TENSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY WORKED FOR ABOUT TEN DAYS. HE TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ORDERED A NEW CLOCKSPRING AND AN AIR BAG MODULE ,AND THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS, BEFORE THE LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT DIDN'T TURN ON FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING. HE STATED THAT THE LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER AND THE DEALERSHIP ADJUSTED THE PIN TENSION, AND REROUTED THE AIRBAG HARNESS AND PLUGS. THAT LASTED FOR SIX MONTHS, AND THE LIGHT AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN 02/27/07. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE HISTORY CODE. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON TOO MANY OCCASIONS, AND FELT THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF A CRASH OCCURRED. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND WAS GIVEN CASE# 1213689. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS FIRST FAILURE THE VEHICLE HAD 7,301 MILES AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,056 MILES. ALL REPAIRS ORDERS WERE AVAILABLE.*AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

DEAR SIR: I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 KIA AMANTI. THERE ARE 43,542 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE VEHICLE ENGINE RUNS FINE AND THEN WILL SUDDENLY GO INTO LUGGING AND MISFIRING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS CAUSING DOWN SHIFTING. WHEN I TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND LEAVE IT TO SET OVERNIGHT OR FOR MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS AT WORK, THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON BUT THE ENGINE RUNS FINE ONCE STARTED AGAIN. AFTER A FEW MORE STARTS THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM OF THE SYMPTOMS. THEY RAN TESTS AND SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY SAID BRING IT BACK WHEN IT DOES IT AGAIN. FINE, SO IT GOES INTO THE MISFIRING ON A WEEKEND AT NIGHT TRAVELING THE INTERSTATE. NO CHANCE TO JUST LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING FOR A DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. NOW IT RUNS FINE AGAIN UNTIL ANOTHER INCONVENIENT SITUATION. PROBLEMATICALLY, THE ENGINE BEHAVIOR CREATES A DRIVING HAZARD AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY KIA, NOT BY ITS IGNORANT OR ILL TRAINED DEALER MECHANICS. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM? IS IT THE COMPUTER MODULE THAT MAY HAVE A SHORT OR CRACK IN THE HOUSING? MISFIRING IS A TIMING ISSUE AND MOST SURELY GOES TO THE FIRING ORDER AND TIMING CONTROLLED BY THE ADVANCE MECHANISM AND THE MODULE. OR IS IT THE THROTTLE SYSTEM? OR EGR VALVE OR SOLENOIDS? DO AMERICANS NEED TO DIE BEFORE KIA COMES UP WITH AN ANSWER? I NEED TO GET THIS FIXED BEFORE MY WIFE WHO PANICS MAY HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB

KIA AMANTI: BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL TOO CLOSE VERTICALLY SO AS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO FREQUENTLY DEPRESS BOTH AT THE SAME TIME CREATING A POTENTAL HAZARD. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING HER 2004 KIA AMANTI WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 67000 MILES, SHE NOTICED THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAD FAILED. AT 73000 MILES THE BRIGHT BEAM ON THE VEHICLE'S HEAD LIGHTS FAILED, AS WELL AS, THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PAID TO GET THE LIGHTS REPLACED OVER FIVE TIMES. THE CONTACT IS REQUESTING THAT THIS BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE SHE IS IN FEAR OF A VEHICLE FIRE AND THE MANUFACTURE STATED "THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A COMPLETE VEHICLE REWIRING".

HEAD-ON CRASH INTO DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR. AIR BAGS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. BOTH CARS TOTAL LOSSES, NOTHING REPAIRED OR REPLACED. *NM

DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR WOBBLES IN THE WIND, MAKES IMAGES HARD TO JUDGE IN REFERENCE TO DISTANCE AND VEHICLE IMAGE CLARITY. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT MY NEW KIA AMANTI. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE FIXED BUT UPON REQUEST TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR I WAS TOLD THAT KIA WOULD NOT REPAIR IT, AND WAS TOLD THAT KIA WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WIND. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE FRONT TIRES HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED TO INSURE PROPER ALIGNMENT, AFTER THIS WAS DONE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE ALIGNMENT WAS ACCURATE, THE TIRES WERE ROTATED. UPDATED 7/25/2006 - HANKOOK TIRES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND ABOVE A ROARING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE WHEEL BARREN WAS REPLACED. THE NOISE PERSISTED BUT NOT AS SEVERE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LEFT REAR SEAT FAILED. WHEN THE SEAT IS BEING OCCUPIED THE SEAT BELT WILL UNLOCK WITHOUT WARRANT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE BELTS IS USED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE AMANTI SKIPS/HESITATES GOING INTO 2ND GEAR AT ABOUT 8 MILES PER HR. I HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE, EACH TIME THE DEALER TELLING ME THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I AM TAKING IT BACK FOR THE THIRD TIME TODAY 4-4-06. I AM ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. IT NO LONGER GOES FROM ONE LEVEL OF POWER STEERING TO ANOTHER. IT IS ALWAYS IN FULL POWER LIKE YOUR PARKING. THE FRONT END IS ALSO VERY LOOSE AND BANGING WHEN I GO OVER THE SMALLEST OF HOLES. I HAVE ALREADY HAD MY MOTOR MOUNT CHANGED ON THIS VEHICLE. *NM

UPON FILLING THE TANK OF THE KIA AMANTI, SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE WILL BEGIN TO SURGE AND REACT ERRATICALLY WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. IF THE BRAKE IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY ENGAGED THE VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IF THE VEHICLE IS ALREADY IN MOTION THE ACCELERATOR BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AND THE ENGINE WILL SURGE OR SHUT OFF CAUSING A PRECARIOUS SITUATION WHEN IN TRAFFIC. *NM

I PURCHASED MY 2004 KIA AMANTI CAR FROM A USED CAR DEALER ON JUNE 16, 2005. WE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED 100,000 MILE WARRANTY AS WELL. APPROXIMATELY EIGHT DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED AND NOT GOING OFF. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE CAR DEALER ON JUNE 24, 2005 AND JUNE 27, 2005 FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CAR DEALER COULD NOT SERVICE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THEY SENT THE CAR TO A SISTER CAR SALES DEALER WHO IN TURN TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALER. THE KIA SERVICE DEALER TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE LIGHT STAYED ON THE AIRBAG SAFETY FEATURE WAS DISABLED. ON JULY 7, 2005, SEPTEMBER 8, 2005, OCTOBER 17, 2005 AND NOVEMBER 14, 2005 THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A KIA DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. EACH TIME THE DEALER HAS REPORTED THE PROBLEM AS BEING FIXED BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING BACK ON AND STAYS ON WHICH IN TURN DISABLES THE AIR BAG SAFETY FEATURES. IN MID- JANUARY, 2006, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS AGAIN BECOME ILLUMINATED AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THE DEALER HAS ASKED ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN FOR REPAIR ON FEBRUARY 21, 2006 TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. TO DATE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THUS FAR, THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FIVE TIMES AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR TWENTY-SEVEN DAYS. THE CAR IS AT THE KIA DEALER AGAIN BEING REPAIRED. THIS PROBLEM SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRS THE SAFETY, THE USE AND THE VALUE OF MY CAR. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THERE WAS NO WARNING, AND IT OCCURRED WITH OR WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. THIS HAPPENED MORE OFTEN WHEN GOING UP A STEEP HILL. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THIS, BUT THEY WERE NUNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DT: WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AND PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE JUST COASTED. THIS OCCURRED WHEN HAVE TO GIVE THE CAR MORE THAN NORMAL GAS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT ANY CERTAIN SPEED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE IT FELT AS IF IT WERE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE.*AK THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BUSHINGS AND COLLARS. *NM

DT: CALLER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER S FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE NUTS THAT HELD THE FRONT END. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THEY ADDED SOME FOAM TO THE FLOOR BOARD BECAUSE OF THE NOISE THE FLOOR WAS MAKING. THE THIRD TIME THEY FOUND SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANYONE TO WORK ON IT. CALLER WAS BACK TO DEALER TODAY AND THEY CANT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. VEHICLE IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. *AK

CAR-KIA SORENTO (NO OPTION ON VEHICLE PAGE FOR SORENTO) I HAVE TAKEN THE KIA SORENTO NOW 4-5 TIMES FOR THE GAS TANK PROBLEM. THE CAR WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO PUMP GAS FREELY. IT KEEPS STOPPING EVERY 30 CENTS OR SO. QUIRK KIA HAS SERVICED 4 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY HAVE REPLACED PARTS FROM FUEL FILLER NECK TO PUMPS TO HOSES TO A PRESSURE SENSOR, ETC. I WAS TOLD ON 7/30/05 THAT THE MECHANIC (ON 3RD VISIT) THAT PREVIOUSLY TRIED FIXING MY CAR BROKE A FEW THINGS IN THE GAS TANK AND THERE WAS A FAULTY PART GASKET. THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE PARTS. THEY DID NOT GIVE ME A RECEIPT. NOW THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND I FEEL UNSAFE WHEN IT HAS TO DO WITH GASOLINE NOT PROPERLY ENTERING MY VEHICLE. WHY CAN'T THEY FIX IT? MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON 2 TIMES BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM GETTING WORSE! *JB

TRANSMISSION SKIPS GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. *JB

IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR I PURCHASED FROM CHARLIES KIA (AUGUSTA) A 2004 KIA "AMANTI". IT WAS WINTER AND ONE DOESN'T THINK TOO MUCH OF A CAR DOING ODD THINGS IN THE COLD. I DID NOTICE AS SPRING CAME ON THAT THE CAR SOMETIMES ACCELERATED VERY QUICKLY (ABRUPTLY) - ESPECIALLY DURING THE WARM-UP PERIOD. THE THROTTLE I'M TOLD IS ELECTRONICALLY GOVERNED. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO COMPLAIN TO KIA AND TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CHARLIES. CHARLIES INFORMS ME THAT THE CAR IS NORMAL. I MAKE IT A POINT TO TELL ANYONE DRIVING MY CAR ABOUT THIS SITUATION (FAST ACCELERATION WITH _EXTREMELY _LITTLE HROTTLE PRESSURE). ALL THOSE THAT HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR DO REMARK (SOME QUITE NEGATIVELY). IN SHORT, I BELIEVE THE THROTTLE DRIVE TRAIN TO BE HAZARDOUS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I DON'T KNOW WHO OR WHERE TO TURN FOR ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER. INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB (WWW) REVEALS REMARKS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AS WELL. I AM PROMPTED TO WRITE THIS TO YOU AS I ONCE AGAIN BOLTED INTO TRAFFIC (CARRYING TWO PASSENGERS). NO ONE WAS INJURED! VERY SCARY, HOWEVER.

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK TIRES WERE RE-BALANCED BUT THERE WAS IS STILL VIBRATIONS AND ROLLING ROARONG SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING. ON 3-4-05 THE VEHICLE HAD ANOTHER FLAT TIRE. *BF *NM

FRONT SUSPENSION STRUT MOUNTS DEFECTIVE. DEALERS AND KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. CONVERSATIONS WITH KIA REPS AND LETTERS TO KIA CORPORATE PEOPLE HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE. KIA REP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT SAID IT WAS NORMAL.*AK

FRONT SUSPENSION PRODUCESD A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT WHEELS WILL FALL OFF WHILE IN MOTION. *AK

I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I'M CURRENTLY USING THE LEMON LAW PROCEDURE. ON TOP OF THAT, I'VE HAD PHONE CALLS FROM KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT STATING THEY KNOW AN ISSUE EXISTS. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION DECREASED. THE GAS INDICATOR WENT FROM 18.1 TO 14.5 GALLONS. *AK