Kia KIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 24 complaints (8.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 20.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Parking Brake:Conventional: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Visibility:Windshield: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 16 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 3; 2000: 2; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2007: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 748283 · 2001-07-11 (July 11, 2001)
THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES, THE LAST TIME I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK, MOST OF THE WIRE HARNESS IS RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS CONCERNING THESE CARS ON THE INTERNET FOR GOD'S SAKE WON'T SOME ONE DO SOMETHING!
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 854641 · 2000-01-03 (January 3, 2000)
PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD THE CAR IN PARK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 854641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120072 · 2005-05-06 (May 6, 2005)
ST: 8TH OF 2004 THE BATTERY STARTED TO DIE,\. DEALER TOLD CALLER TO SHUT THE ALARM SYSTEM OFF WHEN NOT DRIVING. VEHICLE BATTERY WAS CHECKED BY KIA, AND REPORTED NO PROBLEMS WITH BATTERY. HOWEVER, BATTERY HAD TO BE CHARGED NUMEROUS TIMES IN DRIVEWAY. ON MAY 2005 THE LOCKS BEGAN TO GO ON AND OFF, AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER, WHO CHECKED THE BATTERY, BUT DEALER REPORTED THE CAR NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. 05/05/05 AS CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD AND ALL SENSOR LIGHTS CAME ON, AND LOCKS CAME ON AND OFF, AND CAR SHU…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121708 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)
DT: HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL INJECTOR AND THE BRAKES. THE MASTER CYLINDER IS SHOT ON THE CAR. IT NEEDS ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKES AGAIN; CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121708 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0