KIA Motors
reviews and complaints

I bought my Kia Optima from Talleres Y Gruas Azor in Mojacar Spain last August, when i collected the vehicle the car was not clean and did not have any fuel in the car.After a couple of days a red light came on my dashboard [warning light] the Kia garage in Mojacar told me to tale my car to the Kia garage in Almeria one and half hours away, so i took time off work took my car to kia Almeria and they told me i have to leave the car for two / days and that i had to get a taxi home at my own cost because the Kia garage in Mojacar did not authorize a replacement car?but the service from the garage in Almeria was so good they gave me a replacement car to travel back home.
Now i have had my 15000klm service in The kia garage in Mojacar [Talleres Y Grua Azor] when i got the vehicle back home i noticed that the oil and filter and more had NOT been changed so i emailed Elen several times but had no responce so again i had to take time away from my very busy office to go and see Elen at the garage and she told me that the oil/filter ect does not need to be change until the second year?please can you take this complaint very seriously as i am a big fan of Kia and this Optima is my second new Kia in Spain.
Best regards
Glenn Unwin S.L
[protected]/[protected]

I purchased my 2015 Kia Cadenza in September 2015.

Recently I discovered my antenna cover was missing. I contacted every Kia Dealership in Dallas Fort Worth only to find that this item was not covered under my warranty and the cost to replace it would be approximately 800.

The service departments advised me this must be due to a car wash. However I also on a 2010 Kia Optima and utilize the same car washes and this has never been an issue.

I would like a resolution to my problem. I cannot prove this occurred at a car wash and as I indicated my 2010 Optima has never had this issue.

My name is Toni Kennedy, I purchased my vehicle either June or July 27th of 2015 and since the beginning of this purchase with Lawley Kia Motors in Sierra Vista, Arizona, I have had problems with this model slowing down and stalling, and lots of tugging back and forth. I have taken this vehicle in twice. I even tried to trade it in and was asked to put down $7, 000 to trade in for practically the same car. I recently saw where several makes, models and years of your vehicles have this same issue, but not my model. I have a friend in the State of California in which I recently learned has the same make and model as me and she shared that she too is having the same problem as me. To break this down I have two kids that I transport in this car and I am terrified of this car stalling in moving traffic as it has done once. I am so upset by this problem that I no longer have this vehicle serviced at that particular dealership. Word of mouth is everything and I feel this vehicle or any vehicle with Kia Motors is a dangerous purchase. No individual or persons should have a tragic moment to resolve a serious problem that could have been avoided, but my concerns are well documented where I do take my vehicle for service. My vehicle is only continuing to decline. I will take this to the Attorney General's office and any other source I may need to in order to get this matter resolved. This has gone on much too long and I do not want me and my family or others on the road to be the first statistic to bring this to the public's attention. It should not have to come to that. Thank you for hearing me.

I have been having trouble with the automatic lock system. At times the car will not lock automatically and I have to lock the vehicle manually. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership for a repair but I have been told that if the locks are not malfunctioning at the time that I take it, it cannot be repaired. I hope that I receive help because I am tired of this.

Dear Sir,
I bought a car Kia Caryns Model 2014 and I do the maintenance in its timing within the power of attorney and I complained that I hear the voice of the motor vehicle . After the warranty ended as the car 124000 kilo . The power of attorney said that there is a voice inside the motor and required repair and cost 110 000 Egyptian pounds How to be the life of the motor is 100, 000 kilo as the power of attorney said that it is not responsible for the car and motor . then that the car is out of warranty.

As kia one of the bigger companies in the world accept to lose one of his customers?

Chassis number : 7049950
Motor number: 808263
Name: Ahmed Aly Hussein
Mobile : 002 [protected]
Email : [protected]@hotmail.com

Mr Antonio Francisco

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am trying to contact the Senior Manager at KIA Customer care in Korea, but I am unable to obtain the right email address, if you can help me with my query I would very much appreciated as the Australian side of KIA Customer care have completely ignored my complaint.
I own a 2015 KIA Cerato 5 door Hatch vehicle ID. KNAFK516MF5420094.
On Thursday 16 February 2017, I decided to take a run to my local supermarket and got in the car and started the engine as usual and let the car warm up for a minute or two till the revs reduced and check the instruments on the dashboard to make sure all was good. I noticed that the petrol gauge was showing less than half a tank and thought it was odd because the previous day it showed three quarters of a tank and I hadn’t used the car. I drove to the supermarket done some shopping and got in the car and started the engine and looked at the gauge only to find that this time it was showing just under a quarter of a tank. I was puzzled and went straight home parked the car and decided to monitor the situation.
The next day Friday the 17 February, I once again had to go pay some bills late in the afternoon and got in the car and followed the same routine and noticed the gauge showing close to empty but decide to drive to it to the local shops, parked it and payed my bills. When I returned I was shocked when I looked at the gauge, the yellow/amber light was flashing, which I knew was a warning when the tank is almost empty.
I drove the car home and contacted my local dealer in Smeaton Way, Rockingham and described the problem and asked whether I could take the car there to get it checked, the receptionist informed me that it was late and as they did not work on Saturdays I should call back on Monday 20 February.
Early Monday 20 February I called and booked it for Thursday 23 February,
I drove to KIA Rockingham on Thursday 23 February and handed over the keys and was told I would be contacted if any problems arise.
About three hours later I got a phone call from Terry Ophorst with some totally unexpected news that shocked me. He explained to me that on inspection the tank had water contaminated fuel and that they needed to remove the fuel sender and tank for a closer look and if it was water contaminated fuel the KIA warranty wouldn’t cover the cost to fix it. I was in total shock hearing this and could not believe it. Terry explained that it was possible I purchased contaminated fuel from a service station. I explained to him that I only got my fuel from four local service stations and purchased my last fuel from a Caltex Service station nearby and hadn’t heard about contaminated fuel recently or ever.
Terry called me back later in the afternoon and explained that they had found water contaminated fuel in the tank, which resulted in catastrophic corrosion of the fuel sender and fuel tank and the cost to fix it would be $2300.00.
I had no choice but to pay the $2300.00 to fix the car but vowed to further investigate this issue specifically the four service stations I purchased the fuel from.
I contacted all four service stations and made a fuel contamination claim to investigate whether any water contaminated fuel had been sold at their fuel pumps going back to 12 May 2015, the day I received the car.
I received reports of their investigation from all four service stations and have attached them for your perusal. All claim there were no incidences of water contamination over the said period.
These results mean How? Where? and When? did the water get in the tank?
Since there are only two parties that handle the cars driving and maintenance, one of them is I and the other is KIA Rockingham. I only drive the car a few days a week and I can testify that the car is locked up every day and every night under a carport behind a 1.8m fence and it’s never been broken into, stolen or vandalised in any way or have I ever driven in the rain with its fuel cap open.
Since its unknown how contaminated fuel got in the tank KIA should not place the blame on me and make me pay for the repairs, instead KIA should take responsibility for the failure of their product and reimburse me for a total of $2300.00
Kind regards,
Antonio Francisco

My name is Jennifer Pinto. I have been a Kia customer since 2011 and have thoroughly enjoyed the quality of my vehicles and been pleased with the customer service I have received over the phone as well as in various KIA stores. However, my feelings about the quality of KIA’s customer service have changed since my fiancés last visit to the KIA store located on Sahara, in Las Vegas NV.
On Wednesday 5/10/17, I arranged for my fiancé to bring the vehicle in for service, as I was working. When he told me what had happened while he was waiting for the vehicle, I was absolutely disgusted with the service rendered at the Sahara location.
While I understand that there is no way to determine if an employee is racist at the time they are hired, certain observed behaviors should not be tolerated by the public or KIA management. At the very least, cultural awareness training should be a component of the hiring process. As a result of KIA’s ability to train competent, respectful team members, or KIA’s inability to address these behaviors with their staff, my fiancé was deeply offended by KIA team members and the victim of racism while at the KIA store.
As he waited in the waiting service area for the vehicle among other customers enjoying the complimentary popcorn, he noticed 2 different female team members walk by observing him sitting in the waiting area, not paying attention to the other customers in the room. One of the employees reentered and observed only him among the other customers again. Shortly after, he was approached by a third team member who walked directly to him and asked, “Is someone helping you?” My fiancé replied “yes.” The team member then asked, “Who is helping you?”
The outrageous assumptions made by KIA team members were out of line and determined by race. No other customers were approached as they waited, for their vehicles. However, they also were not black.
This issue needs to be addressed at the Sahara location. Though, the discrimination that occurs every day cannot be stopped, one does not expect to fall victim to it at a place of business where they spend a great deal of money. It is very bad for business.

Thank you,
Jennifer Pinto

Mexico may 8th. 2017
president & ceo of kia motors
dear sir:

my name is vicente garcia. I live in mexico. I have a forte 2016 bin num knafz4a73g5587100, bought in march 2016.

I am writing this letter because i request your help.

As i told you when i bought it, the first required service was made on september 2016, i piked it up, and the next day arriving home it had a total leak of antifreeze and burning smell so i requested the kia assistance and it was taken to the santa fe dealer on a tow. It was there from september 25th to september 27th. It was supposed the i had a rental car after 24 hours on the dealer. But didn’t get that, because they said it has no failure. Only the radiator cap was no fully closed. (i have the information from my documents of kia assistance that i deserve the rented car).

I had the second service on march 28th. And every thing was reported ok.

On this second time on abril 21st 2017 coming back home from a trip. On the freeway passing trough mexico city the car became presenting failures like no air conditioning. Later passing about 100 yards in front of the santa fe kia dealer i felt a lack of power. That was the time to go and have a check to see was going on. Because i was far away from home and the dealer was right there.

I stopped across the street and the only indication i had was a rise on water temperature, and later, like a false contact, the temperature went totally down.

When i got there they told me it had no antifreeze and the oil was a little low. So i told them it is the second time but no smell and so the engine had a defective problem.

At this time the car was running and when they dicided to turn it off they couldn’t start it again and that the car had to remain on the service for a diagnose.

They couldn’t give a diagnose the firsts days because they couldn’t start the car and had to wait instructions from the plant.

At that time i called kia assistance for a rental car and that they will take care of that.

I called the dealer several times to see what was going on. This diagnose and tests took until the may 2nd.

After they gave me the diagnose it was until may 5th, they told me that there was bad news.

“the waranty doesnt’ covers you” it was your fault (negligence) no to call for the tow, even as i said i was across the street. Also kia assisstance, just today, said the same thing. I don’t agree this because when i used the first time the tow, they didn’t give any car. For this second time that i didn’t request the tow because as i said was across the street from de kia dealer and my car didn’t have any visible leak, smoke or noise.

I know not much about cars. Only saw a no reliable indication of high water temperature with out smell or smoke. That was why i went to the dealer for a check.

Up today i don’t know what are they going to do for the repair.
They want me to pay just the parts with no labor cost.

What it realy bothers me is that “kia is world wide recongnized and well qualified”, and here in mexico are not doing in this case the things right.

So as you can see, i have a this time no attention from kia dealer or kia assistance.

I said this because i have in texas a sorento 2013, so very happy with the attention that i have there, as so, i came and bought my forte 2016, with out looking for any other car.

Thanking you in advance the attention and help for my request.

Yours truly:

vicente garcia
[protected]@gmail.Com
cell [protected]

cc: woo yeal park, ceo kia motors mexico
jang won sohn, president and kia kma
michael sprague. Executive vice president
horacio chavez managing director mex
global team pr, south korea

We have a 2012 Kia Optima Sx that now had a blown motor. With no notice at all, regular oil changes and check ups, the car just started knocking, no engine lights or anything. After having the car towed, it was determined that the engine is now blown due to a restrict of oil flow to the rod bearings. The car has a thrown a rod and locked up. I am aware that their is a current recall, but our car is not showing in this recall as of right now. We can not afford to buy a new or used motor and we still owe on the car. We are praying that some way some how Kia will make this issue right.

I have had 3 replacement sets of alloys for my Sportage and every time the alloy has bubbled under the lacquer on the alloy. Clearly there is an issue in production during the process where either oxygen or some other element is causing a reaction with the metals used.
These have all been refurbed however it is difficult to understand how you can refurb when the alloy itself is the issue.
I have requested a different style of alloys as the ones I have have a consistent fault. I have been told this has been refused by Head Office. i cannot understand why as Kia has not been able to supply me with 'fit for purpose' alloys since I got the vehicle from new. Please could you resolve this as soon as possible? I have been a Kia owner for over 14 years along with other members of my family and have always found service good. It will make me seriously consider other makes when I purchase my next vehicle.

I have bought a Kia k5 six months ago from Zarqa duty free area in Jordan
The car has Korean specifications
I have contacted your representative here in Jordan and asked them to provide me with a SD memory card for jodanin maps as the one that came with it is Korean
I was surprised when they refused to do so they were very rude and didn't provide any option on how to work the navigation on my care
Hence kindly advise how I can recieve an appropriate SD card that works in jordan
My name is emad
Email [protected]@gmail.com
[protected]

Hi
During a periodic car inspection by local authority in Tunisia I had my registration card confiscated as the manufacturer black sticker got partially damaged during vehicle routine clean up.
I visited the local KIA dealer that had me pay 100USD to get a replacement and they told me that the process of getting a new plaque (sticker with chassis number will take over 3 months, that mean that I cant use the car during that period.
in top of this Kia Dealer in Nabeul took a bad picture of the plaque that is not clear
can I request this plaque directely from Korea of from UAE as service in Nabeul Tunisia is slow and poor
thank you
Houssem.[protected]@halliburton.com
[protected]

Unfortunately, your product (Kia OPTIMA 2016) has not performed well, and your service is not that good here in IRAN. I bought the car for less than a month and there is problem in cylinder block !
First of all your service provider here wanted to fix it, after I insist they accept to change the whole block. I found it offensive when I understand it takes at least a month to do so.
As far as I know this model is from 23, 000 $ in the US and all around Europe, but I paid an amount of 60, 000$ here, i know this is our Government policy, but when i pay this money at least I need a better service.

the worst car maintainance agency i ever seen reason to the time spent to only handel the car and reciving by maintance team also, the time it take to be repaired and again the problems not solve and again not work. may be more than 2 weeks and still not done without have replacement car till complete.
i buy new car to enjoy it but i suffer too much as i faced many problems in less than 1 year ( engen low power, AC not work with leak, passenger door not open by remote)
i will never advice my friends to buy this car and will advice them not to buy it.
it is disapoint and i am planning to sel it and buy another brand.

I would like to thank KIA for punishing me for buying out my lease. I liked my lease vehicle enough to buy it over 2 yrs ago, however the back office never filed any paperwork to create a title. I guess, per the DMV, lease vehicles don't get a title done originally. Instead they get paperwork equivalent of a birth certificate, which isn't helpful for the DMV. Per the paper-pushers at KIA we never filed an odometer statement, which I know to be a lie. However, I believed that people would do their jobs so I didn't keep the original copies. I guess I needed to babysit this process, shame on me. I knew my registration was coming due at the end of April so I started this process with my lien holder (Chase Bank) in January. Only to see that neither company (KIA or JP Morgan Chase) cares how long this process takes, and at the end of the month I will have a vehicle I can't legally drive. I've redone the necessary paperwork and faxed and mailed it, but since they lost the originals I have little faith this will be taken care of without any more pain and hassle.

Dear sir
I have kia cerato td model 2012, I face 2 issues with its audio player
1- I need to set the random songs option to be the default selection, or at least not each time when any thing happen to car it return to normal even when I get phone call thought the bluetooth it return to normal mode and I have to select the random again, it is really annoyed thing,

2- the bluetooth mic quality is not good enough to make a normal phone call

I hope that there is any firmware update can help fix this issues
Thanks

Hello, I bought Kia cerato in September 2016, and in November my front lights were sweats and in winter, so I asked your official dealer in Kazakhstan, Astana city, to change it. But then I came to service center I saw they just turn on front lights and said that it's need just to dry this lights! And they said it's not a problem we will dry it that's all! Could you please help me this "amazing " service center.

Hello,

I am submitting this request to escalate the refund request. I little over a month ago, I applied for a car loan at Kia Motors in Molino, Bacoor Cavite. A couple of days after I was advised to settle a down payment to reserve a unit(color) of my choice and so I did on February 23, 2017. Since then, I still do not have unit nor a clear status of my application whether it is approved or declined. 1 month of application or approval process is too much considering that I already paid a down payment in the amount of 30, 000 Php. Frustrated with the process, I decided to get a refund of the money and was told that it will take 2-3 weeks to process. I was surprised to have been told of this after a month and not to mention that I was not told of the said refund process when I was making the payment. Please advise to escalate to expedite the process. Thank you.

To whom it may concern,

I purchased my Kia Sorento in September 2014. I traded in my brand new Volkswagen Tiguan because I am a foster carer and had recently taken on 3 small children in car seats, plus my own son, and the Tiguan just was not big enough. As a single mum, i did a whole lot of research and test drives, to make sure that I was making the right choice, for such a huge investment, on my own. I have had no trouble with my Sorento, and in fact, have sung its praises so much, that I have talked two different families into also making the Kia Sorento, their car of choice. (Suffice to say, they both love their Sorento's, like I do!) I am the daughter of a mechanic, who has been in the trade for his entire life, over 40 years, and over the years he has made it very clear, the importance of keeping oil and water up to our cars, and this is what I have always done. Short on cash and being unable to work due to illness, late last year, i missed a service., I am fully aware that this is not the ideal situation for my new car. She has never skipped a beat.

But on February 18th 2017 at approximately 9:30pm, I was taking a friends young daughter home, when my car just stopped.
On a windy country road, in the dark on my own.
There was no warning light in my dash, the car was not driving differently or rough. It just stopped dead. I was stranded, in the dark, with limited phone signal, in the rain, with a dead car...
It would not even crank over. It was ticking, like the battery was flat. I called a friend, and about an hour later, now 10.30pm, they came and tried to jump start me, but it would not crank over. Eventually, it jump started and i drove to my friends house. Again, with no issues at all. No lights on in the dash, no irregularities at all. I stayed the night at my friends, as she did not want me driving home late at night in the rain, on dark country roads.
In the morning, I checked the oil and water, and neither were low, so i proceeded to drive home. About ten minutes into my journey, there was a slight knocking beginning to appear from the engine. I limped my car, slowly, home. (approx 21km)
That afternoon, I called Ferntree Gully Kia, where i purchased the vehicle, where they told me they would not even look at my car for at least three weeks...I called Southland and their wait time was slightly less, but i needed to get the car there. I finally called Berwick Kia, and they were able to look at it about 12 days later...after getting my car towed there, I was advised by Greg, that it would cost me $21, 000.00 to replace the engine. I told Greg that was out of the question as Im a single mum and still currently paying off my $50, 000.00 boat anchor. He called me back a few days later and said that Kia would do the job, but now for $18, 900.00 which is still no help to me.
I called Kia Australia, where I spoke to Lauren, who was very understanding and would talk to someone higher up and get back to me. Which she did, the same day, advising that she had spoken to Greg at Berwick Kia and that they were putting in a claim for "goodwill warranty"
This was rejected due to "poor service history" and I am now left with no car and theonly option is to spend $18, 900.00 on it. I have some questions.
How is this even possible?
Why did my car not have ANY warning lights on the dash? Absolutely nothing at all.
Why did it not drive differently, no lagging, no chugging, nothing.
I fully understand that it was overdue for service...but the brand new $50, 000.00 vehicle i purchased should not just stop.
I have asked for any error reports or codes from the car, but apparently, nothing can be provided to me...
How does a brand new car just stop? And Kia wipe their hands completely of this.
Had there been ANY warning light on the dash, there is no way I would continue to drive it. If it was driving differently, there is no way I would have continued to drive it.
Kia, how are you going to help me?