KIA Motors
reviews and complaints

Regarding NHTSA Recall Number: 13V114 Stop lamp switch repair. R/O Number 6170222/1
My wife, Anne, received a safety recall notice and called our local dealership (Citrus Kia Ontario Ca.) The service representative verified the part to be repaired was in stock and we scheduled an appointment for Saturday February 15, 2014, at 1 p.m. I arrived at the appointment and spoke with the service manager briefly (Richard Milbaue) about the recall item and he explained it was the stop lamp switch on the brake pedal area. I asked if he would match an oil change coupon I had for a local service station I usually go to. He said he would not, to which I was surprised since most service stations accept other service stations coupons on a regular basis. But I accepted this without argument as I am happy with my current service station, so I declined the oil change. I provided my phone number and he stated he would call me as soon as it was completed. I observed as another service person drove our Borrego into the service bay. Having dealt with the previous service department while it was at the Citrus Ford dealership (the Kia dealership was being constructed) and having a great experience with the Ford service technicians I felt we were in good hands. After two hours my wife called and spoke to a service representative who couldn't seem to find our vehicle's status. She left our number and was told we would be contacted shortly. I received a call from Cesar who said they didn't have the recall part in stock and had to order it. I explained to him we had called and verified the part was in stock as we were making our appointment for the recall. Cesar said he would have Richard call me. After waiting half an hour my wife dropped me off at the dealership and I waited for Richard, the service manager. After another thirty minutes he told me he was getting my paperwork together and would have it shortly. After another wait Richard said he ordered the part and should be in by the following Friday. I explained to Richard that when we previously called to make the recall appointment the service technician verified the part was in stock for our Borrego. Richard said there are several different switches and the technicians needed to see it to order it. I was not convinced of this but it may be probable. I then asked Richard if like many parts the VIN number would tell the technicians which part it would be. He stated it would. I then reminded Richard we had provided the VIN number at the time the appointment was made and as proof the technician on this day had a pre-printed work order with our correct VIN number. Richard only responded that there are several different switches and they didn't have it. There were no apologies offered, no show of remorse for our family's wasted time on a Saturday, and no "this won't happen again, I don't know how this happened."I do not make it a habit of writing complaint letters, but under the circumstances and the actions shown and demonstrated by Richard, I felt the need to share this terrible experience I had with Citrus Motors KIA. Why did Richard not tell me when I was dropping off my Borrego the parts were not in stock? Why did I not receive a phone call immediately after the service technician learned the part was not in stock? Instead I lost two and a half hours of my Saturday, not including travel time, and no recall repair.

I bought a new 2014 KIA Reo from the dealer in Cebu Philippines and the rear seat belt broke soon after. I took the car to the dealer and they removed the seat belt and said they would replace it soon. It has been about three months and it has not been replaced yet. I go to the dealer about once a week and they say it has not came in yet. I call them on the phone and they say they will check into it and call me back but they never call. Please, please sir can you help me, I have children that ride in the back and if anything ever happened to them I could never forgive my self. Thank you. Jocelyn Rollins
[protected]@yahoo.com

I was approached by a salesman at kia in visalia and I let him know I would like to test drive the kia optima and of course he was very nice to begin with I believe his name was anthony. He insisted on checking my credit before anymore small talk and once he seen my credit was not very high his attitude changed toward me real quick. He then kept asking me questions whats my budget what kind of payments was I interested in with attitude his curteousness went out the window and it upset me I asked why he was not letting me test drive the car I wanted and he kept making excuses. I finally said he was jerking me around now that he seen my credit was not up to par his politeness was gone. I told him to just let me see what I won on my coupon the dealership mailed me and he said under his breath probably just a 5$ gift card and I said ok, well he went into an office and out came the manager supposedly because he did not seem to care that I was upset on how I was being treated. He already had a giftcard in hand as if I was going to win anything else and come to find out when I went to use the gift card it had zero balance. I am very upset at this dealership they were rude and insensitive to my feelings I felt like because of my credir I was not good enough for their time. If someone has been treated unfairly for their race I felt that bad and it was a horrible feeling. I will never go back their again and I hope this helps someone else so they will not be treated like this.

Bought a Kia picante in may 2012. Feb 2013 had a brake failure. Kia bleeded the brakes and gave my car back to me. May brake failure again. Waited till August to get a loan car. They replaced a part on braking system, Got my car back in Sept. Des 2, brake failure again. They cant find the problem with my brakes as its not doing it always only some times. My car got 30 000 on clock and already a shock had to be replaced. Don't feel safe in this car, what do I do now? WHO IS WILLING TO DRIVE A CAR WITH SO MANY BRAKE FAILURE ...NOT ME

I purchased my KIA Borrego from University of KIA in Durham off the lot in '09. I originally was interested in the same car at the Raleigh Dealership, but the salesmen never called me back with information on it.. So I did my research online and found the same make and model at a nearby dealership. I first inquired online at their website. When I went in to the dealership the next day to buy the car, the unprofessional internet salesman tried to capture the sale, I never spoke to him or had any email/internet conversation. The first person who helped got the sale, Lucky him. Wrote a check and never looked back. Well until recently, I was filling up my gas tank the when the gas spewed from the tank and doused me from head to toe. I couldn't believe what just happened. Now mind you occasionally the gas would burp out or sometimes spit back out. But this time was projectile fuel and really had me concerned for my safety. When I called University Kia of Durham Service department, to make an appointment to have this checked out the service manager mentioned that it was the way I was pumping gas.How insulting. I told him I drive several cars and not one of them did this. I told him it was NOT the way I was pumping gas that something is wrong with the gas tank. I took the car into University Of KIA of Durham and while I was dropping it off the Service manager, Chris, kept insisting I needed an Inspection. I was like, no, I one earlier in the year. But hey, it was the dealership, they OBVIOUSLY know what they're doing. I also mentioned that we will need to set another appointment for the seat recall. He said he may not have the materials as well. Good enough. Well I sat and waited, and waited and waited. Finally my KIA Borrego was ready. Gas Tank Gas evaporator is corroded and to have this fixed will cost $664. Just out of warranty. Of course. I asked if KIA can help me in anyway, that I didn't think I should be driving a brand new car and in just a few years have corroded parts on it and the Service Manager, Chris said no. Oh and they performed the recall (replacing the vinyl seat backs with carpet), even though I said=
I would make another appointment for that one. I paid for the oil change and state inspection. The next day I am trying to renew my license plates online and it won't go through. So I call the DMV and tell her that I had an inspection at the dealership requested and was trying to renew my plates. The gal at the DMV said you didn't need an inspection, that an inspection performed on 4/15/2013 and that the dealership had access to that information. Great so the dealership performed an unnecessary service. When I realized this I put a phone call into Mr. Temple the Head Service Manager on Friday last week and this week as of today Thursday he's not returned the call. I was hoping to resolve this before writing this review. KIA Corporate, KIA Customer Service/ Consumer affairs, KIA University of Durham has dissolved, more like destroyed, any confidence I have in the company. I was planning on trading my KIA Borrego in for a New loaded White Optima, but I will dump the Borrego and dump KIA.

We just purchased a used 2011 Kia Sorento. Hubby and I checked every detail on this vehicle. The body for ripples, hood for any dents or dings. I even crawled under the car on the lot to make sure there was no rust, no corrosion. Practically climbed into the engine compartment to make sure there were no water lines, corrosion like you typically see in flood cars, etc. Drove it from the dealership in Cape Coral to Port Charlotte (two towns over). I just rinsed the car today and noticed something off about the paint. I thought it was watermarks from the rinse drying before I could wipe it with the Chamois cloth but no. It's round paint chips that go right down to the metal ALL OVER the car. How is this possible? I'm pretty sure we BOTH would have noticed all the paint chips that have suddenly appeared. I checked on line and found a post someone had put up about Kia using colored wax when detailing their cars to cover up scratches. Even I didn't think this could be done to the point that the paint looks perfect but somehow they did. I've only had the car 2 days.

Purchased a 2014 Kia Sorento on May 31, 2013. On the way home I was caught up in a Tornado that caused 10K in body and mechanical damage. The dealer still has the vehicle as they cannot get all the parts they need for the past 2 months. I was told by the dealer that the car is built in the US but I now find that all of the parts are in Korea...i still cannot figure that one out. Kia's website will not let you enter in all the information that is required before submitting so that is a dead end. I tried from 3 different computers. I have tried calling several people at Kia's corporate office but nobody will return my calls. It certainly appears that Kia could care lees about customer service. I thought that you had to have parts for products you sell and provide a warranty on?

I purchased a Kia Picanto which now has 24, 000 miles on it. The car started running poorly and the power brakes failed. I took it to the Kia Dealership where it was purchased. They already knew of the problem, as many Picanto's had the same issue. It turned out to be a manufacturing defect involving the crankshaft timing gear and nut. The dealership (Kia of San Fernando) replaced the items, which failed again within a week. Now I will have to replace the crankshaft, all the timing gears, belt, tensioner, pulley and nut. So far have spent 84, 000p or $2000+ for this manufacturing defect.
Kia accepts no responsibility. I personally feel that Kia imports should be halted until they realize that selling junk they refuse to service is NOT acceptable anywhere in the world!
Shame on you KIA

This is to formally file a complain regarding the Service Warranty of Kia Motors Phillippines, gorordo branch Cebu City. Last Feb 2013 we informed Kia Motors regarding the issue on car speed gauge system. It would go up and down not functioning properly. When running the car regardless of speed, the automatic break system will suddenly engage. One time i was driving trying to overtake a vehicle, the no matter how hard i step on the gas the break system won't speed up the car. Good thing the approaching car slowed down. This problem is a high risk to accident yet complaint was not treated with urgency. In fact, no proper action has been taken.
Several times the car was endorsed to Kia Service center yet the in-charge catering the issue kept promising parts arrival which never arrived until now. Four (4) months had passed we are getting the same answer - part have not arrived and maybe this week it'll be available. Every time I've asked ETA of parts I'm always given the answer maybe and again promised. One time, i had to wait whole day waiting for the car to be repaired with no sleep just to ensure it was serviced properly. Personnel in-charge informed us that a certain parts has been replaced yet the real problem was not fixed. As a service center, any customer will be under the impression that it's reliable, dependable and ensure customer satisfaction. All we've got is promises, disappointment and unsatisfactory service. One time we spoke to Warranty Head of Kia Philippines Gorordo Branch Cebu City - Viol P. Inahid stating that he will personally oversee and ensure car get fix yet still nothing happened.
Last June 11, 2013 I've called the service service asking them to notify me as to the progress of parts availability yet no call follow up or sms was even sent out.Today June 14, 2013 i called the office again 2 days after, asking to speak to the warranty head but never passed on and place the call on hold for more than 10mins the call was suddenly dropped. I've been a good payer and absolutely disappointment of the kind of service kia can provide. Ordering the parts and not knowing the exact date of arrival is unacceptable especially when parts is ordered months ago as stated by warranty personnel - Clothy.
This bad service cause a great deal of inconvenience to my end. It absolutely defeat it's purpose for i end up borrowing or taking taxi cab which cause me a great deal.
I AM NOT GOING TO SEAT AROUND SETTLE FOR BAD SERVICE AND GREAT INCONVENIENCE.
PLEASE KINDLY ADVISE HOW TO PROCEED WITH THIS COMPLAINT OR ANYONE OUT THERE WHO CAN PASS ALONG THIS COMPLAINT I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

On the second of February kia motors called me to bring my car cerato . The car had a small accident and it already entered the maintenance..they told me that it will take one week only to finish.. but tell now i didn't receive my car .. and what made me angry is that the persons there are very rode and impolite in dealing with the customers .they told my if you are not satisfied take your car without painting and sign on that .this is why i want to make a complain for kia motors in Kuwait and please give me my rights...

I recently got a brand new suv from kia a month ago .. but never got a title.. my car been sitting in the streets with no plates... temp tag has expired.. they told me to bring the car in so it will not get ticket or tow away... it was to late the temp tag has expired to move it ... i have paid parking garage 25.00 a day waiting for title... still they told me it didn't come ... now I'm going to put matters in my own hands... doses anybody no who i can call about kia motor .. a number will be helpful... thanks

In 2011 we bought two KIA Picantos second hand from Auto Pedigree in Kimberley. This one that I am complaining about had about 30 000km on the clock. It had a 100 000km service plan. About three weeks ago its gearbox breaks. They tow in the car to Bloemfontein Multi-franchise. The workshop manager refuse to repair the gearbox before we paid R3000.00. They call us and said that there is no guarantee on the car and we must pay for the gearbox in full. Because my daughter needs the car we pay and let is fixed.
Engin number G4HG90014241 Chassis Number KNABAJ513LAT847719. What is the use off a service plan

The is no service delivery from this branch. We are waiting more than 2weeks for a switch that needed to be replaced. The advisor (Hein Botha)said he would contact us but we have not heard from him. It's pathetic that we need to wait so long to have the car serviced. I had my clutch replaced at Toyota and it took no more than 3 days!
Personally I will never purchase a Kia because of the poor service delivery from branches in Pretoria and Centurion. The sales people don't seem to care if they sell you a car or not because they never give you feedback and parts are not available. A friend of mine had the same problems. You should not sell a car to a South African market if you do more harm than good-which is what Kia is doing in our country!A waste of time and money to buy a Kia product!

I purchase my new Kia Fotrte5 a year ago and this year my key would not release from egnition and therefore I couild not lock my doors until I got key out which some times to one hour plus .I had my car in 3 times already and still not fix .And when you buy there vehicle they tell you don't worry any problems they will take care of it, NOT TRUE DON'T BELEIVE THEM .I will never ever recommend Kia to anyone, my car is still not fix and I bought this car NEW OFF THE LOT, WHAT DOES THAT SAY .THERE ARE MORE DETAILS AND ISSUES, ALL I WANTED WAS MY NEW CAR TO BE FIX SO BUYER BEWARE DON'T GO TO CARDINAL KIA OR ANY.I would be happy to buy another vehicle somewhere else.If anyone has any issues with Kia please contact me by e-mail @ Arlene1.[protected]@yahoo.ca

Not a happy buyer

Kia is recalling 6, 680 of its 2008-'09 Rondo LX and EX models with the 2.4 litter engine because the fuel pump is preforming wrong. The car will not start up on the 1st crank it take 2 or 3x's before it cranks over and starts. My car is 2007 Rondo LX. Kia will not cover the cost as a recall. The exact part is used for 2007 thru 2012. I have had to take my car to independent auto repair place, because Kia would be charging me too much money, that I feel they should have fixed for free since the new the part is defective.

Dear the kia management,
I'm is ur customer from sitiawan. I hv drive back my car on 19/05/12. My ist problem is my gps system cant to use since I brought it, 2nd problem, now only between 2 mths, my cool air-cond coming to hot air-cond, dont know is somewhere leaking. I'm feel so sad, sitiawan dont hv good service. Everthing cant to solve it at sitiawan. Every time I need o take leave n go to ipoh for service n checking. Now i'm waiting my gps claim back from kl. N the time need to check my air cond together. Dont know how many time against take for checking. I really feel tired. One word, if I know early that sitiawan hv this style of service, I will jump to buy hyundai better. The ipoh road so bad. A lot of lorry/truck n a lot of stone flow down from lorry. My car's few place hv injured now. Who will paying back my time, my money..

It has taken me almost 14 months to come forward to talk about the complaints I have against Taylor Kia of Findlay. I am extremely disappointed, heartbroken, ashamed and humiliated. I bought a 2006 Kia Optima from Taylor Kia Findlay in February 2011. I should have known when I pulled away from the dealership to put gas in the car and I had no brake lights that I should have just returned the vehicle and got my money back. This Optima is the worst car I have ever driven by far. I have had to put nearly $2000 in repairs in it since I have had it. But I guess I should begin at the beginning.

The salesman I had was Thomas **. Good thinking, Taylor Kia, but up a guy with boy next door looks to do your selling for you. He talked me into the car. My first mistake. He told me the car got 31 miles to the gallon gas usage. First lie. It actually only gets 21. Not much more than my 1994 Ford Explorer. Later, the week I bought the car, he promised me fixes on the bit of body damages present (some knicks, scratches and one good gouge), a check of the brakes, and a once over of the fuel system. "I will call you with an appointment time for the mechanics, " he says. Never did.

By day 20 of the car, and Mr. ** avoiding my calls, I called him again telling him I wanted to give the car back, I was not happy with it, and I wanted a refund. No response. I called again at day 22, no response. I called and left a message for the manager, no response. Needless to say, I hate this car and I am stuck with it for the next three years or so. I can't afford to buy another car. I am a single mother of three, a full time grad student, work full time and make only enough to get us what we need. At this moment, the car is with my mechanic because it is not working and has to have the computer replaced. It has a problem with the fuel system also. My mechanic called Taylor Kia's mechanics to ask about what might be wrong with it and was given the advice of "bring it in and for $80, we can give you an idea of what could be wrong." No professional courtesy whatsoever.

And through all of this, I get the feeling that this email will be in vain, my voice will go unheard or I will get some call or computer generated email stating "Thank you for your feedback. We have forwarded your concerns on to blah blah blah", and I will never hear from you all again like the first time I emailed you three years ago about the rude and obnoxious salesman at your Toledo lot who humiliated me in front of my mother and children. I gave Findlay a shot because they are closer to home and they were a new dealership. I am so ashamed for having bought this car. I am humiliated that I allowed that salesman to rip me off like he did because I have bad credit and am in need of a good, reliable car for work. I am so terribly upset that I have to pay my mechanic nearly $2, 000 in repairs that should have been fixed by Kia before I bought the car. I want a new car. I want a different car. I want a whole lot, but I know I won't get it.

I am pretty sure I am just venting for no reason, but I had to try. If you were any kind of good people you would, at least listen to my concerns. I will never go back to Taylor Kia. I will not recommend them to anyone in my family or any of my friends. And I probably will copy and paste this email into an email of one of the news stations just so everyone else knows how Taylor Kia treats its customers with less than perfect credit. I am not an ** and I don't appreciate being treated like one by a business who only sees me as a short profit.

I got the Kia back from my mechanic later along with a bill for almost $2, 000. That is over a third what the actual car is worth. It still only gets 21 miles to the gallon and my mechanic says he doesn't really know what is wrong with it. I have the repair bill, and an itemized list of what he has done to it in the past month. Now I have to have the computer he put into it calibrated to Kia's computer. I spoke to Jeff ** and supposedly Shane, the general manager, on the phone three days ago. I was told to come in, fill out another credit app, and they would get me into a new car. I am behind on my payments by two months on the current piece of Kia due to illness and have been working it out with my finance company. I received a condescending call from Mr. ** stating that when I clear up my past payments, he might be able to help me. We'll see.

I took the bill into Kia today along with a question about getting the computer calibrated. The other manager (not Shane) treated me like I'm an **, that I don't know what is going on and if I hand him $75-$90, I can have it calibrated. I am done with that place. They have made me feel like a complete and total waste of life and that since I signed the papers for that car, I'm worthless to them now. I don't have the money to put down on a new car even if they offered one to me. I am ashamed and humiliated for even going there, and feel completely disappointed that I went back to try to get it straightened out.

Now I have had to be put on medication due to the anxiety I experience when I drive this car. It is on it's second gas tank and continuously leaks fuel. I feel like its a death trap.

I have received an email which says"congratulations! U have won 497, 000.00 & a kia motors mobile promo. Email: [protected]@hotmail.com or call +[protected]".
I have participated in a kia motors competition but wish to know if this is a scam. I have been asked to submit my details in the next 24 hours.
Please advice.

i bought a new car from Kia bolton in 04/2011. Kia had put the wrong registration plates on the car and this was not discovered until a year later when I had to apply for new road tax. I had been driving around for 1 year in a car that was not road legal and without insurance that covered the vehicle.
When it was pointed out to Kia - they immediately asked me to drive the car in to change the plates even though the car was not road legal. They said a manger would call and explain how it happened - they did not. when confronted they said they would offer me some kind of compensation - they did not. when confronted again they lied and said they had left messages for me - which I proved they did not. They then washed their hands of it and said there was nothing they could do. Upon complaining to Kia UK - they decided to also lie and tell me Kia Bolton was a franchise and I had to take it up with them, it is not a franchise - it is owned by Kia UK.
BUYERS BEWARE! Kia may offer a 7 year warranty but they will do anything for a sale and do not give any after sales service. They accept no responsibility and think nothing about trying to lie their way out of situations. Good Cars, good warranties but not worth the risk!