34 of the
353 complaints filed about the KIA Amanti
are about the electrical system —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
When pulling into a parking spot and with my foot on the break, the car suddenly accelerated. The car did not react to my breaking. The car kept moving forward over a sidewalk, over the curb on the street, into the back end of a pickup parked on the road I was facing, and started heading across the street toward another parked truck. Luckily there was no one on the sidewalk, no one was hurt. This has not happened before or since. No warning signs. When I took the car in to get an alternator replaced, the initial shop said they could not fix it bacause of codes that came up concerning the electrical system. I then had the car towed to a Kia dealer. They fixed the alternator but never mentioned the other codes. Suspecious.
NHTSA complaint #11504280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER GETTING HOME LAST NIGHT FROM MY SISTER IN LAW'S GENDER REVEAL, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE BONNET SO I OPENED IT QUICKLY AND SAW A FIRE BLAZING BEHIND THE ENGINE....WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE, THEY POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL..... I NEED SOME FORM OF COMPENSATION FROM THE COMPANY AS I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES ARE WIDELY AFFILIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF KIA CARS.
NHTSA complaint #11408616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I THINK THE RADIO ISOTOPE ELECTRIC GENERATOR WAS REMOVED FROM THE CAR. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER WERE NOT KICKING ON AND IT ALSO CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE. WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. I DIDNT KNOW IT WAS ELECTRIC. ALSO THE CO2 AND YEAR GAS WERE REMOVED AND NOT SURE IF ANY FIREARMS WERE. THIS WAS 'THE BEAST' I BELIEVE. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM "MIKE" HE MENTIONED I SHOULD ADD IT TO MY CURRENT INSURANCE PLAN BUT I TOLD HIM I ONLY HAD OBAMACARE. GET MY DIAMOND JUBILEE BACK PLEASE!
NHTSA complaint #11388478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ADMINISTRATION ON 6/26/20 A DEALERSHIP MADE A TENATIVE SALE ON A USEC 2005 VEHICLE INTENTIONALLY DECIEVING POTENTIAL BUYER. VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IT MADE MISFIRE AND THE FLUIDS IN VEHICLE WERE ALL MISSING FROM EACH TANK. THE SALESMAN DENIED ME THE RIGHT TO TEST DRIVE OR OPPORTUNITY TO REPLENISH MISSING FLUIDS,ADVISING VEHICLE IS AS-IS. I EXPLAINED I DROVE 60 MILES ONE WAY AND WAS NOT TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS AS -IS OR IN SUCH TERRIBLE CONDITION. MANAGER REFUSED TO ASSIST ME OR SPEAK WITH ME AS I WOULD COMPLAIN. THE SALESMAN SAID,"TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT"!!! I DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BUT IT MUST BE LISTED AS UNSAFE IN A NATIONWIDE ALERT AS LEFT DRIVER SIDE IMPACT ON DOORS FROM BUMPER TO FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, LEFT SIDE FENDER HANGING OFF , VEHICLE SHAKING BAD, COMPUTER HARDWARE AND CAPS MISSING ON ENGINE. PLEASE HAVE DMV IN DELAWARE RED FLAG THIS DEALERSHIP AND RECALL THIS VEHICLE AS I WAS ALMOST A VICTIM UNDER LEMON LAW HERTRICH BUICK GMC OF SEAFORD 26953 SUSSEX HIGHWAY SEAFORD, DE 19973 WWW.HERTRICHGMCBUICK.COM (888) 313-4253 DEAR [XXX], WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR PRICE QUOTE REQUEST AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. TO HELP US MAKE THE RIGHT DEAL FOR YOU ON THE 2005 KIA AMANTI, PLEASE CONTACT US AT YOUR NEAREST HERTRICH LOCATION.. THANK YOU, HERTRICH BUICK GMC OF SEAFORD HTTP://WWW.HERTRICHGMCBUICK.COM 2005 KIA AMANTI BASE PRICE: $1,897.00 BODYSTYLE: SEDANINT. COLOR: GRAY ENGINE: V-6 CYLODOMETER: 131200 TRANSMISSION: AUTOMATICSTOCK #: 40510B EXT. COLOR: BLACKVIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC
NHTSA complaint #11337472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IT BEGAN WITH SQUEAKY NOISE STEERING IT ENDED WITH STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED UP UNDRIVABLE. MECHANIC SAID HE SAW THAT ALOT IN THAT YEAR MODEL. REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP WORKED OK FOR 6 MONTHS OR SO & THE SAME THING. HAD TO TOW IT. MECHANIC SAID NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RANK & PINION & THAT IT MAY OR MAY NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM . HE DID SOME KIND OF ADJUSTMENT CHARGED ME $250 & I WAS ABLE TO STEER. 6 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD ITS DOING THE SAME THING ESP LIGHT COMES ON A DRAGGING NOISE& TROUBLES STEERING. I NOTICE IT MORE MANEUVERING TO PARK IN A SPACE...
NHTSA complaint #11329211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES NOT OPERATE EVERYDAY THE BATTERY WILL RUN DEAD. THE SUNROOF WILL INDEPENDENTLY OPEN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW ELECTRONIC PANEL WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTION THAT ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A DEER AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO INJURIES TO EITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DAMAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,500.
NHTSA complaint #11317044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STARED DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR WAS TRYING TO GO OUT GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY PULL TO THE SIDE AND THEN IT STOP RUNNING TRYED TO START IT UP IT WOULDN'T DO NOTHING BATTERY BRAND NEW LLIGHTS CAME IT THAT WAS IT ONCE I WAS TOWED BY THE GUY SAID OFF THE TOP IT IS ECLECTICALLY HE EVEN TRYED TO GIVE IT A JUMP AND IT WOULDN'T JUMP AND THAT'S WHERE IAM
NHTSA complaint #11280625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA AMANTI. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT QUICKLY MERGED OFF THE EXIT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT BE ELECTRICAL. THE DEALER THAT SOLD THE VEHICLE TO THE CONTACT HAD GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. NO OTHER DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,600. *DT*JB *DT
NHTSA complaint #11280369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ARE MOVING WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN SHIFTING TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO REVERSE/NEUTRAL/DRIVE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS WHEN I GO TO LOOK OUT THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS THEY ARE CONSTANTLY IN A DIFFERENT POSITION THEN HOW THEY SHOULD BE SET. I'M CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING THE MIRRORS AND THEY CONTINUE TO MOVE ALL OVER THE PLACE ON THEIR OWN.
NHTSA complaint #11124384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT MY CAR WAS" JUMPING" AT STOP LIGHTS ON A CITY STREET; AS IF IT WANTED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE BRAKE WAS PUSHED. I WENT TO START IT ONE EVENING AND THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I GOT A JUMP AND THEN NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I HAD A FRIEND CHECK THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THE FOLLOWING DAY AND HE STATED THAT THE SWITCH WAS SO LOOSE THAT IT FELL INTO HIS HAND. HE TIGHTENED THE SWITCH SO I COULD TRY AND PUT A CHARGE ON THE BATTERY. I GOT THE CAR STARTED BUT THE BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE, I INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY AND THE CAR STILL FEELS AS THOUGH IT WANTS TO ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSING BRAKE TO STOP. SINCE THEN, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE DOOR AJAR AND TRUNK OPEN LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR COURTESY LIGHTS WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AS WELL AS OTHER COMPONENTS. I HAD ISSUES WITH THE DIMMER SWITCH WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE LEFT ON AUTO, AND I USE THE FOB TO LOCK THE DOORS; IF I DO NOT TURN THE LIGHTS OFF MANUALLY; THE LIGHTS FLASH UNTIL THE BATTERY DIES. AFTER THE LAST ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, I ALSO CAN NOT OPEN THE TRUNK WITH FOB, I CAN ONLY OPEN WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND SET TO ON POSITION. IT CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE AS WELL. WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, BELOW 40 DEGREES, THE RADIO SCANS AND WILL NOT STOP. THE CD WILL ONLY WORK IF ONLY ONE DISC IS INSERTED.
NHTSA complaint #11120387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS NOT FUNCTIONAL STATIONARY AND/OR IN MOTION ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC CONTROLS WOULD NOT LOCK/UNLOCK AUTO DOORS WHILE STATIONARY OR MOVING RADIO PUSH BUTTONS NOT FUNCTIONAL LEAVING IT UNUSABLE AT ALL TIMES
NHTSA complaint #11074233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOWN A 3 LANE ROAD. THE WINDOWS BEGAN TO OPEN AND CLOSE, THE DOOR LOCKS DID THE SAME. WARNING LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON & OFF ON THE DASH AND I HAD ALMOST NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE LIGHT AHEAD WAS RED AND WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED. I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO SLOW ME DOWN AND PUSHED AS HARD ON THE BREAKS AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND HIS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME VERY HARD. I HAD A CONCUSSION, SPRAINED THORASIC SPINE AND NECK. A SPRAIN ON MY RIGHT HIP AND PULLED MUSCLE IN MY CALF FROM TRYING TO MAKE THE CAR STOP. THIS TOTALLED MY CAR AND CAUSED SEVERE BURNS FROM THE AIR BAGS. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS STUCK AND I HAD TO BE PRYED OUT OF THE CAR. WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE CAR AND HAD ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE CAR HAD 99,239 MILES ON IT. I TRULY THOUGH I WOULD DIE. I AM UNABLE TO GET INTO MY TRUNK TO RETRIEVE MY PROPERTY AND I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11013047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WELL I GOT MY CAR ON WEEK AND NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND THE BRAKE LIGHT IS ON AND SO TODAY I TAKE IT TO 5TAKE OIL CHANGE AND GOT A OIL CHANGE THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR HAD TRANSMISSION LEAK AND OIL LEAK AND NOW MY MHP GOIN DOWN AND WANT AND WANT SHOW ME MY SPEED AND THEY DON'T KNOW WANT THE PROBLEM IS AND MY CAR JUST NOT WORKING NOW .WHAT Y'ALL GOIN TO DO.PLEASE PLEASE. I HAVE KIDS .THAT SICK.PLEASE .
NHTSA complaint #10969847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IMMOBILIZER INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10895233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA AMANTI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT REMAINED FOR THIRTY DAYS FOR INVESTIGATION. THE ECM WAS REPLACED. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,814.
NHTSA complaint #10845764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WILL MOVE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT A COMMAND. TOO OFTEN WHEN I WANT TO CHANGE LANES, THE MIRROR IS NOT IN THE CORRECT POSITION. DANGEROUS
NHTSA complaint #10745532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SINCE PURCHASING MY 2005 KIA AMANTI AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON; THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED AN IMPACT WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY NEITHER HAVE ANY OF THE AIRBAG COMPONENTS EVER BEEN TAMPERED WITH. THE THROTTLE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY SPORADIC AND OFTEN CAUSES HESITATION, LURCHING, NO ACCELERATION, AND EVEN LOSS OF ALL POWER. I HAVE HAD THE DEALERSHIP UPDATE THE ECM AND THE TPS REPLACE BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. I NOTICED THE THROTTLE BODY PLATE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ACTUATE SO I THEN PURCHASED ANOTHER THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACED MY OLDER ONE. EVERYTHING FUNCTIONED AS SHOULD BE EXPECTED UP UNTIL APPROX. 3 MONTHS AGO THE ISSUES STARTED BACK UP AGAIN. I NOTICED THE THROTTLE BODY MOTOR HAD STARTED TO BECOME INCREASINGLY HOT TO THE TOUCH INDICATING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE WITHIN THE MOTOR CIRCUIT. BEING THAT THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING, I FEEL THE ISSUE IS LOCATED EITHER WITHIN THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS OR THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND IT, AS WELL AS THE RUINED THROTTLE BODY MOTOR, NEED REPLACED AT THE COST OF THE KIA MOTOR COMPANY. THE ISSUE CAN, AND HAS, CAUSED NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS, STALLING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS WELL AS LURCHING AND SPEEDING AWAY OF VEHICLES. A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IS PRESENT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #10733468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS WILL READJUST AT RANDOM. THIS NOT ONLY MASHED CHANGING LANES UNSAFE, BUT ADDS AN UNNEEDED DISTRACTION TO SET THEM BACK TO A USABLE POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #10547735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10547248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIRST NOTICED PROBLEM WHEN MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE. THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR WAS POINTING DOWN SO I ADJUSTED IT WHILE ACCELERATING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. ONCE THE MIRROR WAS IN PLACE I SWITCHED THE MIRROR SELECTOR SWITCH TO THE CENTER NEUTRAL POSITION. THE MIRROR IMMEDIATELY STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN AND ENDED UP POINTING TOWARD THE SKY. I HAD A NEAR MISS WITH A SMALL CAR IN MY BLIND SPOT. EVEN BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MORE NEAR MISSES. THE DEALERSHIP SIMPLY DISCONNECTS THE BATTERY FOR A FEW MINUTES AND SENDS ME ON MY WAY. THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW HOURS BUT IT ALWAYS COMES BACK. BOTH SIDE MIRRORS ARE DOING THE SAME THING BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE IS MORE AFFECTED.
NHTSA complaint #10511532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.