From: STARGEM77@aol.com
i bought my 98 kia and like you said it has been the worst mistake of my life as well...... lets see where should i start first i had my car 4 mnths and i was in orlando visiting some friends and looking for a place to live when i pulled into the drive way of a house for rent i turned my car off ,later when i tried to start it it would not start ...... i had to wait there for about 2 hours until some guys doing lawns came by and helped me.......they got it started and i went to the kia dealer in orlando the service manger there told me it was something in my fuse box ..so he replaced it ... Then about 6 months after i bought my car i had to have new brakes put on it .....after that i had to have my brakes changed 7 more times with in 6mnths ... so finally when i went to get them changed the last time the service guy said well there was something wrong with the brakes we were putting on the kias and to quote him this is what he said"i don't think there is a kia out there that has not had this problem with the brakes".Next i had to have my tires changed as well all .Then the next problem that came up it was my starter and my starter kit which by the way had to be replaced yet again 3mnths later.The next problem was my transmission my car had only 30,000 miles on it when my tranny started to slip ,well i took it to the dearler AGAIN and they told me my tranny was fried .I said how could my tranny be fried with only 30,000 miles on it ,well needless to say the replaced it for me.Only 2 days after they replaced my transmission it started slipping again so i had to have it replaced yet again .Well my problems were not over yet ,well several days after i got my car back again my car would not start once again i went to the dealer just a personal note ( the service men at kia don't know shit ) ok when i got there they told me that some switch in my tranny is broke and thats why my car won't start ,well they replaced that i thought maybe my problems where over but oh no not yet .One day while driving home from work my check engine light came on and my car starts to make a funny noise ,so once again i was on my way to the dealership when i get there they tell me that they don't have time to look at my car,well needless to say i told them you have 2 options you can either look at my car now or talk to my lawyer well the suddenly found the time to look at my car .Now they were telling me that me engiene need to be replaced i only had 35,000 miles on my car .They said they had to keep my car for a few days, well a few days turned into a few weeks (i had to pay for my own rental car ) .Finally i had my lawyer call becuase when i would call they were always to busy to talk to me .She told me that they said they had to replace my engeine but here is the best part they wanted me to pay for it when i was still under warranty ,they said it was my fault the enegine went bad .Well the very next day i sent a friend of mine who is a mechanic to look at the car ,he went and when the service guys started to tell him the problem (they did not know he was a mechanic)he said no thats worng there is nothing wrong here with this enegiene .Well the very next mroning i got a call to come get my car funny how all of a sudden nothing was wrong anymore.Just one more thing the inertior of my car is also falling apart .Unfortunatly i own there car it is mine no payments i bought it cash and it was the biggest waste of money i have ever spent ... sorry this email is so long but we are talking about kia ..So my advice to anyone who wants to buy a kia DON'T DO IT .
LAURA-ANN ALEIXO (another victim of a kia )

From: Carmaletha7372@aol.com
THIS INFO WAS VERY HELPFUL AND INSIGHTFUL WE WERE THINKING OF BUYING A KIA SPORTAGE BUT I THINK WE KNOW BETTER NOW.
THANKS AGAIN,
CONCERNED CONSUMER

From: BarbUlrich@aol.com
I have a 1998 Kia Sephia. I bought it brand new and have had it for appx. 17 months. It has about 12k miles on it and I take excellent care of it. In the first 3 months I had it the engine light came on 5 separate times every time I took it for service they gave me another story. To make matters worse, I bought it because I was pregnant and needed a reliable car once the baby was born. (I was sick of dealing with used cars that were constantly breaking down.) I was 7 1/2 months pregnant and heavily diabetic and heavily dependant on insulin and couldn't be away from home for too long because of the care I needed. The dealership (Yonkers Avenue Dodge in Yonkers, NY: Salesman Frank Cirillo and Service Mngr. Luis Ocasio) from which I purchased the car treated me quite shabbily even though they knew of the precarious circumstances of my condition. They had no loaners, all they would do was drive me to Enterprise Rent-A-Car and I had to put down a $100. deposit for the rental! They never did fix the problem and I finally had to give up to do something as frivolous as give birth by cesarean and care for my newborn. I just didn't have the energy to argue anymore and it is my feeling that that was what they were banking on.
My most recent nightmare with this LEMON was one day my husband, myself and our 11 1/2 month old baby were returning home from a shopping spree with all our purchases, including perishable groceries, and the car simply died in the middle of the road on a blind curve. We live in upstate NY and we were in a rural section of our town, no phones for miles. It was about 90 degrees out. We found a stranger with a cell phone (who really wasn't in a helping mood) and he let us call for assistance on the phone, impatient about it the whole time. Kia emergency roadside assistance (which by the way is a big sales tool at the time of purchase but Kia backpedals on that one when they (roadside assistance) don't help you by saying that is it merely a service like AAA over which they have no control - gotta love that one) kept me on hold for about 10 minutes due to an "unusually high volume of calls" that day. My child was starting to get really hot and CRANKY (I was afraid of heatstroke or worse) plus, my $250 worth of groceries were certain to spoil, we were stuck in the middle of the road on a blind curve in a desolate area, and we were about 3 miles from home. The guy with the phone was growing more impatient by the minute, so instead of calling a tow truck to pay ourselves and someday get reimbursed, I called my Mother-in-Law who -fortunately for us- was home. She pushed us home to saftey with her car which mildly damaged my bumper. I then tried Kia emergency roadside assistance again from my home, waited a good 20 minutes on hold and about 3 hours later was called back to be told that they couldn't get me a tow to the service center until the next day. The service center, Geis Kia in Cortland Manor, NY had it for 5 days, they finally figured out (by calling Kia directly) that it was a major electrical failure that baffled their mechanics for 5 stinking days. I finally got my car back and they (Kia) refuses to fix my bumper. I went so far as to contact a top manager at their headquarters in New Jersey which did me NO good at all. They contend that I made a judgement call which in their "infinite wisdom" was a poor one. I guess they thought I shold have waited there overnight for a tow truck. The bumper would cost them $100.00 to fix, but instead of good will, they have decided to help me make it my goal in life to ensure that NO ONE EVER BUYS ONE OF THESE PEICES OF CRAP AGAIN.
Oh, I forgot to mention that the paint on the passenger side rear view mirror faded within 7 months of purchase, again they refuse to fix it and won't even offer a reason, just a lot of corporate rhetoric.
There has to be a way for us all to have some recourse, Any suggestions???
And bless you for creating this page, It really helped me feel better to vent and to know that I am not alone.
Most sincerely,
Barbra Ulrich
BarbUlrich@aol.com

From: ET03364@aol.com
I sure wish all this information was online before I bought my KIA. I have a 1999 KIA which I bought new, And just like everyone else we are a low income family and it was cute and affordable, so much for affordable when I am constantly running it back into the shop to be fixed. The brakes go out about every 3,000 miles which I have had replaced 5 times, brakes, roters and pads, the hole 9 yards. The float in the gas tank has been replaced and is messing up again. Now my AC is gone and as with my luck I have NO more warranty. I sure wish we could get something done. If you have any suggestions please let me know.
ET03364@aol.com My name is Evelyn

From: POLRBEARB1B@aol.com
I bought a kia sephia in april 1998 and since then it has been in the shop 18 times from a new door handle to a new stereo to not even starting at all once thank god it was parked in my garage. I bought the car for the affordability and i am a single mom going to college. I too had the faulty gas tank float. i am so mad and angry I was beginning to think iwas the only one out there or it was just me good to see this website.

From: jtj3@fuse.net
I have a 1998 kia bought new. I am so glad you have this sight. I have been looking for people who have experienced what I have. I am suprised at how many of the problems I have are the same as everyone else. we all need to band together to do something about all this. My Kia what a nightmare! unfortunatly If I took my kia in every time I had a new problem start. I would never have it to drive. Its been in the shop for the dome light flickering and staying on causing my battery to ware down.5 diff. times.

From: GTRZB@aol.com
My sister just bought a 2000 Kia Sephia four months ago, and she is starting to have the same problems as the other people we have been reading about on your site. It is so scary to hear that the cars are breaking down on the freeway or that the winshield wipers are giving out when it is raining. I am scared for her. WHAT IS KIA WAITING FOR?!!! ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DIE FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR CARS ?!!!! We are going to the dealership right now to get another thing fixed. So far the things wrong are the air conditioning soesn't work, the brakes (seems that everyone has that problem), the alarm doesn't work, the weather stripping on the door and on the windshield fell off, the back door hits the front door when the back door is opened so now it's all dented, fuses are blowing out. Yes, these things might seem minor, but HOW MANY OTHER BRANDS OF NEW CARS HAVE EVEN ONE OF THESE THINGS WRONG WITH THEM?!!!!!!! I HAVE HAD A NISSAN ALTIMA FOR 2 YEARS AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL. TO: ALL YOU KIA OWNERS: THAT'S NOT A MIRACLE. THAT'S HOW THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK. Keep fighting. That company deserves to be brought down. My sister and I liked the idea of putting a "This car is a Lemon!" sign in the window of the car. Please send me info about the class action lawsuit. We are definitely interested.

From: GNeelyjr@aol.com
I want to thank you all for your comments. We were thinking of buying a Kia this fall. No way now.

From: SherriMB@aol.com
Hi, Im writing you about my Kia Story. I have had a Horrible time!!! My kia is not even two months old and has already been in the shop three times!!! The power is so bad it wont even go up a hill without struggling. I've tried to get the dealer take it back,,but no luck..instead I got nasty treatment and the story goes much deeper. Are you organizing a file against them? I am in the process of seeing what legal rights I have..My kia is a 2000 model and I just made my frist payment last month..and Im very sick and disgusted by this..
Thank you
Sherri Williams

From: MThomas252@aol.com
Unfortunately, I also (shamefully to admit) have a '97 Kia Sephia RS aka "Death Trap". I have been having numerous problems with this "money entrapment" for a while. Within the first year, I had to have the complete transmission assembly rebuilt that totaled almost $2,150 dollars. Needless to say, I had to have a new CD player installed due to the manufactured defect digital-laser. I had to have the power-windows electrical motor replaced. The check engine light appears in spurts but stays on endlessly for almost for 2 weeks. The dash board has pratically pulled itself from the windshield molding. The KIA front symbol/logo plate as well as the headlights are weathered and watered inside. I am trying to check into a class action suit against Kia Motors of America. I would love to exchange any progress and/or status with you unsatisified Kia owners. Please feel free to e me: MThomas252@aol.com

From: Dion4arep@aol.com
I have been a professional mechanic for 14 years and I must tell you that people who buy cars like the Kia have no one to blame but themselves. It was the same old story with the Yugo. The Kia is just a continuation of that pile of sh--. People seem to be sold on the advertising "We think everyone should have a well made car" that was Kia's claim to fame, and obviously there were suckers that believed that they could get a great car for around $8000.00. Take it from someone who knows cars, next time buy something worth while, like a Toyota or a Honda. Your Fiances' life is more important than you saving a few bucks.

From: SAS136906@aol.com
Hello i recently bought a 95 Kia Sephia from a lady and it seemed good at first. I have only had it 3 months and it idles badly, tries to die, there's a clicking in the motor, the fuse to the AC has blown 8 times and killed the compressor each time, and last week it did it but this time the fuse melted and if we hadn't of changed it when we did it might have cought fire to the whole fuse box. It was supposed to get good gas mileage but my 91' firebird got better gas miealg than this car, now thats pretty bad considering the Kia has a 4 cylinder and my firebird had an 8 cylinder. I sometimes think the people who built these cars just threw them together and didn't care if the ran good or not! I know my problems aren't as bad as the others I have read but I have never had a car like this before and I am a single mom with a 6 month old daughter and I need a reliable car. I spent the only money I had on this car expecting to get a good car but i was wrong, the bad thing is I have no money to buy anything better!!!
Thank You
Sabrina
Texas

From: Mohammed Sayani (ms394067@aod.fedex.com)
Reply-To: misayani@fedex.com
I BOUGHT KIA IN OCT 1998. I HAD MY TRANSMISSION GO OUT WITHIN 7500 MILES. BRAKES WENT OUT TWICE. BOTH TIRES GAVE UP ON ME IN ABOUT 18000 MILES. AND NOW THE THIRD TIME THE BRAKES ARE GOING OUT. KIA REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTEE. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO SALVAGE THE SITUATION.
MOHAMMED SAYANI

From: Leslie Lawson (lawson@telestream.com)
Found your site today. If I had only know in Oct 1998 when I bought my 1998 Kia Sportage, I never would have gone down that road! It has been to the shop so many times! I can't tell you how many times the brakes and rotors have been turned and replaced, and now, it needs done again. I think we need a class action suit. This is ridiculous! Although, I can say, at least the repair office through the dealership has been polite, but I feel they have knowingly put that car back on the road in an unsafe condition. I hope to unload it soon.
Leslie Lawson

From: MillerTime876@aol.com
Dude:
My warranty ran out on my 97 Sephia in April. I just found out today that I'm gonna have to spend about $1300 to fix the airbag system to make my car pass state inspection. This is not the first thing that went wrong on the piece of junk. The day the car was driven off the lot, the brake rotors got bent, were turned 5-6 times, and were never fixed properly until I went to an independent brake shop last month. The third day I had the car, the radiator cracked in half and the dealer's way of replacing it was to pull it out of another car on the lot. I think that there are 4 or 5 people in my area that have had to have the remote fuel door opener fixed. Can we say should have been a recall? The radio reception stinks compared to my other friends cars that are 10 years older. Another thing that I really hate about them is the fact that you barely have to touch the body panels to make a dent. There are at least 3 dozen dents and scratches on the car that wouldn't have shown on any American made car. Sure the Sephia could follow a Corolla for 100,000 miles, but it's just too bad that the Corolla actually make it in one piece. I know I am forgetting many other things that happened, but if I remember any others I'll let you know.
Jonathan Miller
Dissatisfied customer since 1997

From: Asasha5@aol.com
I am a single mother of 2. I am in the market for a car and though Kia would be my best bet. Thanks to this sight I have changed my mind. I wish all of you luck in any of the suits you have against them. And thanks for saving me.

From: kvossen@uswest.net
I want to thank you for posting all these comlaints from Kia/former Kia owners. I had no idea! I have wanted a Sportage for a very long time, but when I tried to do research on it, I could never find any consumer information on them , or the information was always very limited. Furthermore, when I would do a dealer search to price and possibly buy on any of the auto websites, the information would always come up very basic with no details, or the history would always say "not available", or the dealers just simply didn't have any for sale -- they are very hard to find used. Now I know why! It's almost like there is a conspiracy to keep the word from getting out!
Thanks again, you've completely turned me around, and I will be researching other avenues.

From: Gabs278@aol.com
Dear sir,
I would like to thank you for putting up website which speaks out against Kia. I had recently been considering purchasing one just because of the fact that they were so cheap. But after reading what you and others had to say, I realized that I could have made a very expensive mistake. Thank you very much for you warning.
Sincerely,
Gaby Daelli

From: Melva1mgs@aol.com
I'm glad to meet someone who feels the same as I do about this car. I own a 95 Kia and I've gone through hell and back with this car. It has left me financially broke also. I've spent numerous repairs too. Right now I'm having problem with it continually get hot. I've had to replace the radiator twice at $150 each time with used parts, the thermostat twice, the brakes 3 times even the axle, and God only knows what else could go wrong with this car before I finish another year's payment on it. I agree if there can be something done about this I'm 100% with you.
Melva1mgs@aol.com

From: Jsdresto@aol.com
I just wanted to let everyone who was sucked in by their Kia dealer like I was that I have had many of the same problems with my car. I bought a 1999 sephia in April 1999 and had to hav it seviced for the breaks two months later! Since then, I've had the breaks "fixed" three other times along with other prblems. I contacted the government lemon law office and was told that because I didn't notify Kia before the first 18,000 miles, I didn't qualify, maybe my county office could do something. Well, I was doing research on the net (it's a wonderful thing) while online I found the name of a firm who handles NJ and PA lemon law. I e-mailed them, they got back to me within 24 hrs. with a telephine number to call. I spoak to a woman named Laurie who told me that what I was previosely told was not true. You have to have your car in for the first repair within 18,000 miles or 15 mo. I did fall into this catagory. The best thing is there is no expense to the car owner! The manufacturer pays ALL legal fees. If it goes to litigation, I will have to probably go to PA. but they usually settle. Anyway, here is the name and number of the firm. Kimmel & Silverman 800-LEMON LAW. I talked to them today and they are notifying Kia today. I think ther is a light at the end of the tunnel. I hope this information can help a lot of you out there. Make the call, it can't hurt, and you may be able to get rid of your lemon as I intend to do with mine.
Good Luck,
Jackie Resto

From: Richard Souza (merry@globalnetisp.net)
Hey there. Just thought I'd update you on our plight with Kia. Back a couple of months ago the brakes went once again. Called Tim Beam from Kia and left several messages and yet he never had the decency to return my call. Instead he relays a message to the Dealership that he would allow us 2500 toward the purchase of a new KIA. Wow we still owe 9800 that would do us a lot of good. To top that off one day with terrible snow storms the wipers decided to quit right on one of the busiest routes. I almost hit a tractor trailer head on as I could see absolutely nothing. I called Kia hotline and told them to pick up their piece of sh__. Which they did. In the meantime I got a hold of the Better Business Bureau. I explained my story and told them that still after all of this the Kia Rep Tim Beam still had not returned my calls. I must have left over 20 messages in the course of a week. Still nothing. Almost hitting the truck head on was so upsetting. I called the Better Business Bureau - and lo behold a nice rep made what we felt was the best deal we could get. They were willing to take us out of the unsafe vehicle and put us in a new 2000 Kia - with no loan exchange. In other works an even collateral exchange. We figured it was better than nothing. So we headed off to the dealer and picked out a new car. The day before we were to pick up the new car I received a call from the dealership telling me that I would need over $3000 to get into the new car. I was stunned. That is not what the BBB had arranged. Tim Beam the great rep pulled back the deal that someone else a KIA made and said no I offered them $2500 they need to take it or leave it. To top this off I had canceled my extended warranty because that is what I was told I should do by the dealer as exchanging vehicles the extended warranty could not transfer. Well as you could guess if I have to pay that much to get into a different car it certainly won't be another KIA. SO their word is as good as their cars...And guess what Tim Beam still has not ever called us. Now we await and hope for a class action lawsuit. There was an ad in our local paper that asked if anyone owned a KIA and had significant problems to please call them. Well let me tell you little did they know that they would be so overwhelmed with calls. Apparently they were trying to gather evidence for a particular client (much like the Florida Case) and am. They will honor their original client and from there they will see what happens next. We all hope that class action is where it is headed...but it is a waiting game.

From: Raul (Antonio78@webtv.net)
i actually filed my kia under arbitration but i lost the case. i would never invest in a kia

From: "IC Inc." (icinc@voyager.net)
I was seriously thinking about buying one of these things. Thanks for saving me.
Jim

From: "Malloch, Rosann, M." (rmmalloch@oees.com)
I am also an unfortunate KIA owner. Mine is a 1995 KIA Sportage that I researched in Road & Track, Car & Driver, etc. before I bought it. What a load of crap they published about KIA cars & SUVs! I am sorry I trusted their "expert opinions" on these vehicles. My Sportage had a defective part that allowed the transmission fluid to dump in my driveway (thank god I wasn't stuck on the road somewhere) a month after I bought it. The battery on my Sportage had to be replaced too. I ended up buying a good battery instead of putting another KIA battery, I was starting to be leary of their parts by that time. Then the dealer I purchased the Sportage from decided not to carry or service those vehicles any longer. The nearest dealer was 200 miles away. I have sent many letters to KIA about my vehicle but have yet to hear from them. Apparently they need a full time staff just to deal with all the complaints. I have managed to keep my vehicle running but I am going to get rid of it as soon as possible. Thanks for the website. I also told KIA to stick to selling bicycles!!

From: FRSR83197@aol.com
Thank you very much for your testimony. I was looking into an inexpensive 4 door sedan and thought I check the Kia, even though I had my doubts. Anyway my search is still on, but now I will forget about the Kia.
Stacy

From: MCCLUNGLUMBERCO@aol.com
I purchased a 1998 KIA Sportage in Feb. of 1999. It has been in the shop more than I have driven it. I too have had problems with service dept. "not finding a problem" that I know exists. I see by your update that your lawyers have decided not to take the case. If anything further comes up about it, please contact me.

From: Jason Walsh (jtwalsh@webtv.net)
Hi. We just thought we should let you know about all the problems we have had. We first bought my wife a KIA in March 1999 and the problems started about a month later. Here is a short list:
Air conditioner leaked water on passenger side floor board, this took three times for them to fix. Meanwhile it ruined the carpet.
Would not shift out of park.
Gas flap would not close.
Convertible top came unglued.
Battery died.
Passenger side window wouldn't roll up.
Glove box would not lock, this took two times for them to fix.
Engine light comes on.
Engine idles bad.
We went to the Better Business Bureau but they said it wasn't in the shop enough. Even though the dealership had the car all day for all of these problems it would be listed on the service reports as only a couple hours. It has gotten so bad we bought another car for my wife so we don't have to use the KIA. We are going to get rid of it as soon as possible.

From: NikkisRush@aol.com
Hi my name is Nicole and i own a 99 Kia Sephia. Well first of all let me say i read some of your other emails and as for the mechanic who said we should have known better because the car was cheap some of us didn't know the bad things about Kia when we bought them. i know i sure as hell didn't. but at the time i needed a car to get back and forth to work because my husband worked out of town and Kia was yhe only place to help. ok well first we had purchased another 99 and when we got it they couldn't find the keys so we were told to come back well the next day they had said that the starter was going out and it was going to be a few days until the part came in because they had to order it. well then when i finally got it like a week later after it was supposedly detailed and cleaned there was no gas in it it was falling apart inside not what we bought. so we went back to the dealership and talked to the fiance manager and told him we didn't appreciate it and wanted our money back from our down payment. he assured us that he would fix everything so he gave us a choice of any car and that everything would be the same so we were pleased.( at the time) two weeks after we got the car the brakes had to be taken in and fixed. well about a month after i was at Walmart came out and found the battery was dead and couldn't be jumped either lucky we were ably to walk back in to Wally world and get a new battery well a few weeks after that the power steering and AC belt needed to be replaced. well as soon as it was replaced I'm talking 5 minutes after leaving the dealership the belt slipped and had to be brought right back. i haven't had that many problems everything was covered under warranty but i understand what you are going through. the first time i saw your web page i didn't believe it but i was kinda worried and made me unsure about my car. but i figured that the car was on;y temporary and it would get traded in. the car was only to get me back and forth to work which is only 10 minutes away from my house and i wasn't too worried about everything else because it would pretty much get replaced anyway due to the fact that hubby and i are in to lowriders so i thought i would be ok. i know that the tires suck on Kias so the tires got replaced with rims and low profile tires.(feel much better) but after reading some more of your emails from people I've come to the conclusion that as soon as get enough payments on it, it would get traded in. i don't trust them and don't understand why they haven't recalled them apparently they aren't doing anything to improve them in any way. thanks to your page now everyone will know.
Sincerely,
Nicole

From: Jason Beiswanger (jride@spinn.net)
Hello! My mother has bought a Kia 96 model.She has taken it in 2 times in the last week. The problem is the oil pump when it is park or going slow , it makes a noise like oil isn't been pump threw . They told her that it is going to cost her about 1000.00 to fix. She asked me to look up on the internet ,because from what she has heard this is the only way they are announcing this kind of problem ,and the only way she would get out of paying for repair is if she finds this on the web. I have searched and can't find anything on this. If you have any questions or answers for this please E-mail me back.
Thanks
Evangeline

From: NOWESTPUBSFTY@aol.com
I would just like to say thank you for having this site. I was surfing the web while dispatching 911 here at work since my girlfriend wants to buy a KIA Sephia because she thinks it is a "cute, inexpensive" car ... but after reading your site and printing portions of it, I'm sure she will change her mind. We were supposed to go car shopping this weekend so I definitely am glad you put forth the effort to warn unsuspecting people like my girlfriend ... thank you!
-Pete Hodge
911 Police Dispatcher

From: CTMGP@aol.com
I would like to be included in this class action lawsuit. What information do you need from me? I am driving around town in a L E M O N!!

From: RedbeardXXV@aol.com
I, ve got a 99 sephia----------won't bore you with the list of problems/defects-------what can we do??????

From: ACappy411@aol.com
THANK YOU FOR THIS WEB SITE IAM SO SORRY FOR ALL OF YOU MY HUSBAND AND I WERE THINKING OF BUYING A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE. NOW I AM A LITTLE UPSET, BECAUSE THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN . THE US SHOULD DEMAND THE MANUFACTURER TAKE THESE CARS BACK. GOOD LUCK TO ALL HOPE YOU GET $ FOR YOUR INCONVIENCE AND TROUBLE
HAVE A GOOD DAY ANNA

From: RaynbowRoe@aol.com
Dear Fellow Sufferer,
Here is yet another horror story about a KIA!
We purchased our KIA on 12/15/99, a 2000 model with 10 miles on it. First of all, the dealership did not go over the operation of the car, did not give us a second key nor the owner's manual.
We were proud of it til the next morning. As I was getting in it to go to work a dash light came on. It seems that they had forgotten to set the overdrive/drive. Then we put gas in it and the first of at least a million times, the check engine light came on. Now that I look back on it, it seems that the shifting was a problem from the beginning. To make a very long story real short, we now have a new thermostat, a new water pump and a new transmission or so the dealership says. Trust is not a word that I think should go in the same sentence Kia. I have to share this funny with you. >From where we live, we have to go up a hill onto the main road to most anywhere. This road is quite busy. Your first job is to get it up the hill. Then when you pull out on to this busy street, with a top speed of 5 to 10 mph, their mechanic says this is normal. This is the way it should drive. We were getting less than 100 miles off the top half of a tank of gas.
We need to involve CONGRESS in this it is truly a B---H to be making a payment on a car that you are afraid to drive. Those boys on the hill need to have a cause. Dead people cannot VOTE.
Sincerely,
Rose & Floyd Lake

From: Daniel McCarthy (dan@computingoptions.com)
Hi
I purchased a 1999 Kia Sportage. After I had the car for about 6 months I started having problems with it. The first was the recall on the wiring harness, although at this point Kia had not "officially" recalled it. The dealer I purchased the vehicle from (Hagerstown Kia in Hargerstown, MD) attempted to fix this problem. Unfortunately they did not. Then I finally received the letter of recall for the harness and still having trouble with it, I took my car back to the dealer. They again attempted to fix this problem and failed. While I had the car there I asked them to look at the brakes for they had been squeaking since I purchased the vehicle and were continually getting worse. They told me that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. Well the brakes got worse and I became more worried so I took the car in again for the brakes and the check engine light (which had come on 4 times in 2 days) and the fact that my car was using oil. Again I was told that the brakes were fine and that if I wanted to stop the noise I had to replace the brake pads. The dealer also informed me that my brand new car was "allowed" to use 1 quart of oil for every 1000 miles. While this may be acceptable for a used car or a car over 100,000 miles, it is not acceptable to me. I also had a problem with the idle of the car. The idle was going up without having anything turned on, but before the idle went up the car would stutter a bit. So taking all these problems and trying for about 2 months I finally got an appointment with the local Kia rep. I told the rep ( a Mr. Wyatt) about these problems and that if I had one more problem I would procede to take Kia and the dealership to court. Mr. Wyatt informed me that I would not win, but what if Kia would put me in a 2000 Sportage. Now I accepted the 2000 model thinking that maybe I just had a lemon. Well after two weeks of being in the 2000 model the car wouldn't start. This was on a Friday and the service department at the dealership was closed. I had to fight with the dealership in order to get a loaner car while mine was being looked at. I called the dealership the following Monday afternoon and they informed me that my car started fine. The only thing they did to diagnose my problem was try to start the car. I don't know how many of you know the policies of towing agencies, but if a car will start and is safe to drive, they will not tow you. So, needless to say there was a problem with my car, and the next day (Tuesday) the car wouldn't start again. So on Wednesday I took the car back in and again had to fight for a loaner car. Well on the day of this email (07/18/00) they have "fixed" my car. I have yet to pick the car up, but I have very little faith that I will have no more problems with the car. If I could get out of the car I would do so in a heartbeat.
Daniel McCarthy

From: Miahart143@aol.com
I bought a 1997 Kia Sephia Rs in November 1997. It had 16 miles on it when I left the lot. When I look back on that day, I wish I could kick myself!!! I bought the car because of their so-called reliability, low price and I didn't want to purchase someone else's problems.......so I got my own problems now...*L*. My first problem started at 250 miles when my car started stalling while going highway speeds. The steering would lock up and the car would become uncontrollable. I brought the car to the dealer around 10 times for this problem and even spoke with the rep about the car. I demanded that they either buy the car back or replace the vehicle. He basically told me that I was crazy and there was nothing wrong with my car. I brought the car in twice in June 1998 with the same problem and on the second time, it was towed in due to the stalling problem. I called the dealership and told them if they didn't find the problem, it would be their problem to clean up the mess when I drove it thru the show room doors. This time, I was contacted by the rep and he told me that he knew what the problem was, although they could never duplicate it. He stated that it was the electronic wire assembly and had it replaced. Of course he wouldn't guarantee that would solve all my problems, and it didn't. From the time in 1998 when they corrected this problem, it has not cut off again, but ever since, it will bog down in first gear, then accelerate like a Turbo....when shifting to second, it starts stuttering. Been looked at for that problem over a dozen times and they cannot find a problem. So the car still does this to this day. Have been thru 3 sets of tires...have 63000 miles on it now. Tranmission has been rebuilt 3 times and finally replaced about a year ago....now it is slipping in reverse again. Trunk leaks, had seal replaced and still leaks....passenger side window leaks, had seal replaced...no prob with that now. Had blower fan motor replaced 3 times in 2 months....found out that a screw had come loose on the molding outside of the windshield and acorns were falling in around the blower fan motor. Brakes replaced around 15000 miles.....clip came off of something on the engine, resulting in a humming noise when accelerating. I am leaking oil somewhere, but cannot find the leak...The car uses almost 2 to 3 quarts of oil in a 3000 mile period. No oil under car or on inside of hood. I hired a lawyer over a year ago and we have filed the lawsuit and sent Kia their stupid Discovery questionairre. Going for triple damages and hope that the judge and jury request that Kia use my car for a paperweight. Oh, and don't call customer service...they are no help and will LIE to you!!!! Go on the BBB or get yourself a lawyer....Kia's motto....STALL, STALL, STALL...just like their cars.....!!!

From: Aladoria@aol.com
Hi, I have a 96 sephia and it has actually been a very reliable car so I have little to complain about on that end.
However, the Kia service? Awful. These people don't seem to know their a$$ from a hole in the ground. Just had my car in for two weeks because they misordered a part not once, but twice. Also, they tried to do two brake jobs within three months, telling me I was a bad driver. The problem turned out to be bad brake pads made by the manufacturer. Why did they not know this before they tried to stick another set on my car? What an operation.
Here in Oregon ( I don't know about the rest of you), it is very difficult to find anyone outside of the dealer that will work on these cars. Too much hassle worth even considering the purchase of another Kia.

From: Aladoria@aol.com
Subject: may be of help to some...
DECEMBER, 1999 [The following: "Copyright 1999 by United Press International. All rights reserved."]
(IRVINE, California) - Kia Motors America is recalling almost 103-thousand of its 1998 and 1999 Sephia compact sedans to replace the fuel pump connectors. The automaker says poor connections may cause the fuel pump to stop operating. If that happens, the engine will stall...which could result in an accident.
Sephia owners are being asked by mail to bring their vehicle to a Kia dealership so the two fuel pump connectors can be replaced. The procedure will take less than two hours and will be done at no charge to the owner.
(Editors: contact Geno Effler of Kia Motors America at 949-470-7019; or Jack Nerad of Pacific Communications Group at 310-224-4967.)

From: StarWars0106@aol.com
i also bought a 97 kia sephia i got it used with only 34,000 miles on it and when it hit 40,000 miles the engine blew

From: SHender156@aol.com
I would be interested in being in the class action suit. My husband and I purchased a 2000 Kia Sportage (unfortunately we were not aware of this site) in February of this year. We have had the car in the shop about 8 times since then. Our starter makes a grinding noise when you try to start it(it does it occassionally; never when the mechanic is around), there is wind noise coming in the passenger door, the engine revs up extremely high when you start to change gears, we have had to have new brake pads( we had so much brake dust our alloy wheels were BLACK!!!) the pinstripe is peeling, and the side strips on the rear windows are peeling as well as the pinstripe. We are not at all satisfied and we have explored the lemon law. I just today wrote the dealership a letter stating my demands to repair the car. We had the car in the shop just today. And we have to take it back next week!!!!! Also I spoke with a lawyer in my hometown who was very interested in helping me.....maybe he would take a class action suit. I will call him on Monday.
Thanks again.

From: Nikky472@aol.com
Hi.
I came across your complaint against Kia and I could not agree more. I purchased a new Kia Sephia in 1998 with only 200 miles. Since I bought my car, I have had my brakes totally replaced, my transmission rebuilt and my suspension redone. Not to mention, my alternator and radio replaced twice. I continue to experience problems with the transmission and the alternator. I have gotten stuck with this car four times and as of today's date it is currently being serviced for the transmission. Each time I return the car to the dealership for service, they tell me there's nothing wrong with it. I'm at my wits end with this situation. I am very frustrated and upset. I am paying for a car I don't even use half the time and I also have to pay for a rental each time my car is being serviced. I know of several people who have purchased Kia's and they have the same issues. I feel that KIA should be sued from customers like us who were taking advantage of. I would be interested in hearing from other KIA owners who wish to file a legal claim against them. Anyone who wishes to share their story with me please email nikky472@aol.com

From: Linda Johnson (budash@webtv.net)
I just bought my used 97 Kia Sportage 3 months ago. Unfortunately, the 36,000 mile warranty has just expired. Already the car has been in the shop 2 times for the check engine light, and now it is on again! I wish I would have checked out your website before I purchased this vehicle. Is there anything that I can do at this point? HELP!!! I am locked into this vehicle for the next 4 yrs!

From: SUGGAFACE@aol.com
Add me in. I hate my Kia too. It's only 6 months old and has had stuff falling off of it since I drove it off the lot!!
Moulding, Tires (replaced), Exhaust, Alternator, etc

From: DUBLEBRAT@aol.combr> My daughter just bought a Kia 2 months ago and it's already in the shop getting a new transmission! The horror stories on the brake problems really worries me. Have you found a lawyer yet to handle this? If so, please email to DUBLEBRAT@aol.com
thanks.
Diane

From: CBlake2390@aol.com
I purchased a 2000 Kia Spectra from a dealership on June 20, 2000. The next day I drove the car to work and could feel the car pulling to the left, I made it in to work and didn't think to much about it. Later on that evening I went out and drove the car , I still noticed the pulling, but I would need someone else's opinion. That night, the 21st of June, my boyfried drove the car for me and while driving in the rain he was doing 25 mph in a 35 mph zone, the car pulled left and spun around in the road, hitting a guard rail. The damage was done on the right side, and one tire went flat.
I have a 4 month old baby, and the car was hit on the side his car seat is on, by the grace of God, the baby was not in the car, because he would have been injured.
My insurance agreed to cover the damages and repair the car.
I told the Manager at the dealership, that I did not want the car, and I was afraid of the car. He laughed. He told me I could not get my down payment back, and that he would take me to court and sue me.
I told him the car had manufacturer defects and the only way at this time, it can not be proved is because the car is so new and only a few people have them.
He insisted on making me out to be a liar. I am 100% sure that the Kia Spectra will have customer complaints just like the Sephia.
At this point, I really do not know what to do. The car is still at the dealership in body and repair shop and they are waiting on a few more parts. It's been there since 6/21/2000. I do not want this vehicle back. Somone needs to put the word out there to the right people concerning this manufacturer Kia. There cars suck, and should not be allowed in the United States.
Please email me back with information and phone numbers of who I could call to help me.
Thank God for your Web Site.
cblake2390@aol.com

From: Richard Murphy (murphy@lcc.net)
My wife and I were considering a Kia but not anymore. Thanks a lot for the information.

From: Mountaingr@aol.com
Thank You so much for your site. I was thinking about buying a KIA sportage... Looks can be deceiving. Interestingly, I went to the Honda dealer to compare the Sportage with the CRV and the salesperson almost choked and said, Kia products are junk we had all their cars removed from our lot...
Thanks again.

From: Howard Gutman (howian@injersey.infi.net)
Our office has been settling a number of Kia cases. Most claims have been outside the coverage of our lemon law, so we have been resolving these claims for monetary compensation for aggravation, inconvenience, etc.
Class actions cases can be hard and do not always signficantly benefit the consumer. For example if there is a 300 million dollar settlement, for 150,000 purchasers, that amounts to about 2,000 for plaintiff, less than what the cases brought on their own are usually settling for. Note that class actions are hard because you need to show common facts and legal issues; with these Kias there seem to be a variety of different problems on different models. I would suggest that each person check for lawyers in their own state; if they cannot find someone, feel free to e-mail me and I will try to help.

From: MAG9613@aol.com
Hi,
I would like to thank you for your web site. My boyfriend and I were just getting ready to go buy a kia sportage and I was on here looking for a dealership when I found your web site, so thank you very much for saving us alot of frustrations and money.
Thank You,
Gayle Anderholm

From: shayma (dancemind@mediaone.net)
Yea I agree in fact I am getting ready to call customer "joke" service again for my wives Sportage. This will be the 8th time in the shop in less then 2 years. We purchased this vehicle in January of 99.
We had it is 4 times (they found the initial problem that time) for stalling out. 3 times for shock and suspension problems. and now we are back to the stalling out problem. Though it gets better this time..... On the way to work this morning (Los Angeles) my wives vehicle stall out 3 times in traffic and once at a stop sign. Now let just see if she'll make it home alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This company succeeds at pissing me off more and more. The only thing possibly working in our favor is that in California we have the "Lemon Law", 4 times in for the same problem and they have to take back the car and give you a new one. Here we go...........

From: Sheri Rawls (Sheri.Rawls@usm.edu)
I got rid of mine....the BBB forced KIA to buy back my Sportage!!!! What a nightmare. I'll be happy to share my experience with anyone who'll listen.
Thanks for having this website! Even after 2 years of not owning the vehicle, I'm still trying to get back my down payment $$ as well as other $$ out of my pocket from the dealership, who was NO HELP at all!
Thanks again,
Sheri Rawls

From: Stormey23@aol.com
I bought a Kia Sportage for my first car a year ago and have had many problems and would like to hear from you if you got rid of your Kia or tried to. I am trying but running into dead ends with Kia. They're backing me into corners to where I have to take it to litigation. I have only had my car for a little over a year and the warranty is almost up. Please respond to me. Stormey23@aol.com.
Thank you.

From: shayma (dancemind@mediaone.net)
Hi,
My name is Valerie and my husband Carl. We want to be part of this lawsuit against KIA. Somebody has to do something about this Company. Also if you have not done this yet you might want to file a complaint at this website. tsa.dot.gov/ivoq/oscripts/IVOQ/VOQ/addvoq.cfm
Also if you have a way to put it up in your website because the more people we are the better. Thank you for starting this, From: Fastbackalbe@aol.com
dear sir,
I own the above mentioned vehicle. Here is a list of my nightmares. dead battery vehicle towed,back window will not stay hooked,tires are dry rotting, vinyl roof coming apart at seams,center console will not stay in place,16 mpg. on a trip from N.C. to Kentucky $250 for gas not running air couldn't afford to.trans never been right shift eratic,gives an emissions smell in tough driving conditions ,window seals leak payments&insurance $500 per month,gas latch has quit,locks dont lock same time any more'security beep quit 2nd month missing snap locks to hold up heat shield front mags stay black break dust breaks sqeal at times wont go into overdrive untill engine is very warm ,bugs knocking paint off ,to say the least i'm very dissapointed it's breaking me to own and operate this vehicle with less than 24000 miles on it and still uder warranty ,but delership wants to give me excuses
sincerly Jeffery Wellington
e mail sugerasicpe@aol.com

From: Charles W Hogan (cwhogan@juno.com)
1998 kia sephia peoria, arizona
mine has been in the shop around 30 times from replaced rotors(4), front brake pads, (2) check engine(3), dash replacement (2) , trans problems (3), a/c hoses replace, radio tape deck replace (2), starter replace, battery replace, wiper recall, flywheel replace, fuel system problems, and several times when service stated they could not duplicate the problem.
stuck in gear, not up shifting.
send any infor you have
thanks

From: Stickem718@aol.com
I Have a Kia Sportage 1999 with 9000 miles on it. Evertime i hit a bump, it feels as if the front end of the car is going to shake off. It also has had several other problems incliding front brakes at 8000 miles, a rear door window motor, excessive idling, and now the latch for the rear tire snapped off. Please help me I dont know what to do with this car thank you
Anthony Morales

From: Hjb2017@aol.com
i own a 1998 sephia ls. i bought it brand new in july of 98. i cant even begin to tell you the problems i have had, but here are a few: brakes replaced 3x, fuel tank replaced2x, weatherstripping on same window 4x, stereo replaced2x, check engine light is always on: i just ignore it now! i had a new steering column installed, a new glovebox, winshield wipers, shifting column, exhaust2x, and the list goes on and on! i recently tried to trade it in and they told me they would only give me 2500 for it. i still owe almost ten grand! the dealer that i bought it from sold me some kind of paint and interior protection package. because it was always in the shop, i didnt have a chance to get it done. i left the country for 2 months and when i returned and tried to put it in the shop again, they told me they had sold their kias to another dealership and werent dealing with them anymore! now, no one else will do the services that i paid for! by the way, can anyone tell me why the interior (i got the plush one) gets all those brown stains all over it when it gets wet? i tried to have it cleaned and it just made it worse!! i hate this car so much! please let me know if you get a lawsuit going.

From: ShyUnicrn@aol.com
Hi,
My name is Sylvia Antonio, and I too own a Kia. The 99 Sportage. I was buying my first new car, after having used cars for over 18 yrs. I looked at a couple of other suv's and decided on the kia. I am just starting to realize that I may have made a mistake. After having no problems for 11 months, I received a letter from Kia about a recall repair on an electrical problem with the wiring in the engine. I had the recall repair done. Three weeks later on my way down to Virginia (I live in NY) to see my sister, my engine gave a lurch at about 75 and the engine light came on. Well, I pulled over to a rest area, and called the roadside assistance. I was towed off the NJ Turnpike, then towed to a gas station that night. I had my 72 yr old mother, and 14 yr old daughter with me. The car was towed to a Kia dealer in Cherryhill NJ. They were the nicest people and took very good care of me. The car was repaired (apparently the recall repair was not performed properly) and I was on my way to Virginia.
Two months later, on 7/30 on my way back from another weekend in Va. I stopped at a rest stop to fill up on gas, and use the restroom. Upon trying to start the car, i couldn't! I tried and tried, but it wouldnt start. After calling roadside assistance, we tried again, and it started. They told me not to turn off the car again until I was home. When I got home and turned it off, i tried to start it up again and couldn't. Good thing i waited!
I took the car in to my local dealer in NY, and they didnt even look at it for 2 days. There was also a massive leak under the dashboard on the passergers side, which they repaired. The windshield wiper assembly and a/c hoses were clogged, causing the leak.
Well they couldn't duplicate the starting problem, and I took the car home. It starts fine now, but I am wondering what is next! The kicker is that there is only 9,000 miles on the vehicle! I am afraid to take it back on the highway now! I think I am going to have to cut my losses, and trade it in. I really liked it too. But after hearing all the horror stories about this vehicle now, I think it is the safest thing to do!
Thanks for listening to my long letter
Sylvia

From: "Craig A. Kahn" (ckahn@lemon-lawyers.com)
I noticed that you have a link to a group of attorneys called "lemon law america." We have a law office in Cleveland, Ohio called Kahn & Associates, L.L.C. that limits our practice to lemon law and auto dealer fraud. We have a number of defective Kia's currently and would not mind handling more. Would you be interested in linking websites?
Craig Kahn
Cleveland, Ohio