2009 Kia AMANTI: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
26,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data updated: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 25.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10411747 · 2011-07-11 (July 11, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA AMANTI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY FORTY FIVE MINUTES THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,300. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 20,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10411747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10569226 · 2014-03-13 (March 13, 2014)
WHILE TRAVELING ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH IN APPROXIMATELY 65 DEGREE SUNNY WEATHER I FELT A HUGE EXPLOSION AND FIRST THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT OR THAT A HUGE ROCK HAD BOUNCED AND HIT ME. IT FELT SO STRONG THAT I THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN A NEARBY BOMB EXPLOSION OR DYNAMITE BLAST, WHEN I THEN NOTICED THE HUGE GRAPEFRUIT SIZED HOLE IN MY SUNROOF AND THE SHATTERED GLASS COMING IN ALL OVER ME AND THE FRONT SEAT OF MY CAR. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS NEAR ME SO I COULD NOT BLAME A BOUNCING ROCK AND THE CLOSEST 18 WHEELER WAS MORE THAN 10…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10569226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10906365 · 2016-09-14 (September 14, 2016)
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH RECALL NUMBER 13V114000 WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE ON DEC.5, 2014. 52098 MILES. ON JUNE 22, 2016 THE SWITCH FAILED WITH 66,219 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN STORAGE UNTIL SEPT. 12, 2016 WITH 66,219 MILES. I HAD IT TOWED TO EARNHART KIA BY AAA. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACE FOR $239.42. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF TIME AND MILEAGE. I CALLED KIA CASE #3274275. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THE SAME AS THE DEALER. MY GRIPE IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND KIA SHOULD REPLACE THE SWITCH AT NO OR VERY LITTLE COST I HAD NO WARNING THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 66,219 miles reported. Look up ODI 10906365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11504280 · 2023-01-29 (January 29, 2023)
When pulling into a parking spot and with my foot on the break, the car suddenly accelerated. The car did not react to my breaking. The car kept moving forward over a sidewalk, over the curb on the street, into the back end of a pickup parked on the road I was facing, and started heading across the street toward another parked truck. Luckily there was no one on the sidewalk, no one was hurt. This has not happened before or since. No warning signs. When I took the car in to get an alternator replaced, the initial shop said they could not fi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11504280 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V114000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1115.1%ODI 10065341WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION DECREASED. THE GAS INDICATOR WENT FROM 18.1 TO 14.5 GALLONS. *AK | 2833.7%ODI 10157457 · 13,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR INSPECTION. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. | 919.1%ODI 10177195 · 9,187 miTL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IF THE VEHICLE DID ACCELERATE, IT WOULD DO SO VERY SLOWLY AND THE RPMS WERE RUNNING AS THOUGH THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT AN ACCELERATED SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN ANYTIME OF THE DAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH THE VEHICLE DIDN'T ACCELERATE INTO OVERDRIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP… | 16.7%ODI 10264763 · 15,000 miTHE DATE BELOW REFERS TO MOST RECENT EVENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AROUND 10 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE (2007 KIA AMANTI PURCHASED NEW). IN THE MOST RECENT EVENT I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR FROM RUNNING A RED LIGHT, ENTERING AN INTERSECTION AND NEARLY HAD A COLLISION IN THE PROCESS. THE PROBLEM IS THIS: EVERY NOW AND THEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES--WHICH OF COURSE IS SUPPOSED TO STOP THE CAR--ACTUALLY CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE DRAMATICALLY--TO JACKRABBIT I THINK IT IS CALLED--WITH SUCH FORCE THAT EVEN FULL PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE… | 14.0%ODI 10290514 · 1,000 miFROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THE THROTTLE TIP HAS BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE. I BARELY TOUCH THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD. I FEEL THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND CAUSE POTENTIAL INJURY. *TR | 250.0%ODI 10411747 · 20,300 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA AMANTI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY FORTY FIVE MINUTES THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,300. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF |
| Electrical System | 1013.7%ODI 10182951 · 43,542 miDEAR SIR: I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 KIA AMANTI. THERE ARE 43,542 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE VEHICLE ENGINE RUNS FINE AND THEN WILL SUDDENLY GO INTO LUGGING AND MISFIRING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS CAUSING DOWN SHIFTING. WHEN I TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND LEAVE IT TO SET OVERNIGHT OR FOR MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS AT WORK, THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON BUT THE ENGINE RUNS FINE ONCE STARTED AGAIN. AFTER A FEW MORE STARTS THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM OF THE SYMPTOMS. THEY RAN TESTS AND SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. … | 89.6%ODI 10170463SOON AFTER START UP, I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND PROCEEDED TO TURN ONTO THE STREET AND I HAD NO POWER FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS, THEN IT GOES FULL OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 8 OR 9 TIMES. I HAVE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE DEALER. THEY ARE CLUELESS. I HAVE BEEN BACK 6 TIMES FOR AN AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH AND IT IS STILL ON. HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND HAD TO GO BACK 3 TIMES FOR THAT. *JB | 510.6%ODI 10185251 · 3,200 miTL*- THE CONTACT HAS A SAFETY COMPLAINT ABOUT ATHE 2006 KIA AMANTE THAT HE PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2006, WITH 0 MILES, AND CURRENTLY HAD 9200 MILES. IN N SEPTEMBER 2006 WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 2600 MILES AND WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, AND MAKING A GRADUAL LEFT HAND TURN, THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE STEERING VIBRATED. THE ESP LIGHT FLASHED DURING THE FAILURE, AND THEN IT CHANGED TO ESP OFF AND THE VIBRATION STOPPED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILURE OF THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SENSO… | 213.3%ODI 10427534BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE VIEW MIRRORS FAIL TO STAY IN MEMORY POSTION. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN TO THE CAR DEALER EIGHT TIMES AND HAD SWITCH CONTORL, MODUAL UNDER STEAT REPLACED. STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. DEALER TELLS ME HAVE TRIED HELP FORM KIA VERY LITTLE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AT 60K MILES AND KIA TELL ME PROBLEM IS PASSED 60K NOT THEIR PROBLEM. PROBLEM GOING ON FORM JULY OF THIS YEAR. *TT | 728.0%ODI 10376285DRIVERS' MIRROR ADJUSTMENT/MEMORY SETTING: THE DRIVERS' MIRROR WILL START CLICKING/MOVING,WHEN I HIT THE REMOTE.WHEN THE MIRRORS TILT DOWN AFTER PUT IN REVERSE,THE DRIVER'S MIRROR WILL NOT RETURN BACK TO THE MEMORY SETTING,WHICH HAS TO BE RESET EVERYTIME,IN ORDER TO PROPERLY USE MIRRORS.I HAVE TURNED OFF THE MEMORY FOR THE MIRRORS,BUT THE MIRROR CONTINUES TO MOVE. *TR | 125.0%ODI 11504280When pulling into a parking spot and with my foot on the break, the car suddenly accelerated. The car did not react to my breaking. The car kept moving forward over a sidewalk, over the curb on the street, into the back end of a pickup parked on the road I was facing, and started heading across the street toward another parked truck. Luckily there was no one on the sidewalk, no one was hurt. This has not happened before or since. No warning signs. When I took the car in to get an alternator replaced, the initial shop said they could not fi… |
| Air Bags | 811.0%ODI 10151356 · 22,000 miI PURCHASED MY 2004 KIA AMANTI CAR FROM A USED CAR DEALER ON JUNE 16, 2005. WE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED 100,000 MILE WARRANTY AS WELL. APPROXIMATELY EIGHT DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED AND NOT GOING OFF. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE CAR DEALER ON JUNE 24, 2005 AND JUNE 27, 2005 FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CAR DEALER COULD NOT SERVICE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THEY SENT THE CAR TO A SISTER CAR SALES DEALER WHO IN TURN TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALER. THE KIA SERV… | 1315.7%ODI 10362283 · 50,200 miAIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. DEALER CANNOT FIND ANY REASON WHY. AIR BAG IS FINE, MUST BE A BAD SENSOR SOMEWHERE, BUT THEY CANNOT FIND IT. *TR | 48.5%ODI 10565070 · 140,000 miTL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE ON A PATCH OF ICE AND THEN CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LACERATION OF BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER LIPS, INCLUDING A BUMP ON THE HEAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. JS | 426.7%ODI 10294980 · 10,106 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA AMANTI. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10106. UPDATED 1/4/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT HIS WIFE CARRY EXTRA WEIGHT IN HER LAP OR RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT. UPDATED 01/06/10.*JB | 28.0%ODI 10480113 · 55,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAP OF THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD AND SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM AN ECHOING AND ROARING INSIDE HER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine | 1115.1%ODI 10463851 · 62,000 miI WAS SLOWING DOWN TO A RED LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR DIED. I TURNED THE KEY SO I COULD BEGIN TO TRY TO START THE VEHICLE AND I NOTICED THE RPM'S START REVVING UP AND ITS TRYING TO OVER-ACCELERATE WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE. I MANAGED TO GET IT TO A SAFE SPOT BUT I WAS 100% WORRIED IT WAS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. IT SOUNDS VERY IF NOT EXACTLY SIMILAR TO A LOT OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. NO CODES COME UP FOR THIS ISSUE AND IT IS SERIOUS. *TR | 1012.0%ODI 10553595 · 6,000 miI HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND TWICE THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR. THE THIRD TIME THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR | 24.3%ODI 10503928 · 7,782 miIM DRIVING MY CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST SLOWING DOWN ON ITS OWN I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WAS LOOSING POWER AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPEN, IT SLOW DOWN BEFORE BUT NO ENGINE LIGHT. IAM LUCKY BECAUSE I DO NOT DRIVE MY CAR OFTEN ALSO I DO NOT DRIVE ON EXPRESSWAYS OR HIGHWAYS BECAUSE IF I HAD WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN OWN ITS OWN. NO ACCIDENTS YET. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 14.0%ODI 10511154 · 24,465 miTHIS IS THE 2ND TIME FOR THE SAME ISSUE (MILEAGE 17900) -PREVIOUS ISSUE WAS JULY 2012. DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE-CAR SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER DOWN TO IDLE ONLY SPEED. FORTUNATELY, THEN & TODAY NO TRACTOR TRAILERS RAN OVER TOP OF THE CAR. COULD MANGE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OUT OF THE WAY. KIA IS OBVIOUSLY NOT FIXING THIS POSITION SENSOR/COMPUTER PROBLEM. DRIVING THE CAR IN LIMP MODE TO A GARAGE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS MUST GET UP TO 25MPH THEN USE THE CRUISE CONTROL-IN TRAFFIC IT IS OFF & ON.START & STOP. BE FOREWARNED YOU SHOU… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train | 56.8%ODI 102295432004 KIA AMANTI WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BUCK AND JUMP AND DROPPED DOWN TO 15 MPH. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHAKE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS LOST. *JB | 78.4%ODI 10188344 · 10 miSHORTLY AFTER GETTING THE CAR, IT INTERMITTENTLY WOULD FAIL TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUSHED. BY PUSHING IT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IT SOMETIMES WOULD THEN ACCELERATE EXCESSIVELY, OR BY LETTING UP ON THE ACCELERATOR AND REAPPLYING IT A SIMILAR EVENT WOULD HAPPEN. SOMETIMES THE CAR JUST MUDDLES ALONG VERY SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC UNTIL ONE OF THE ABOVE ACTIONS IS TAKEN, AND SOMETIMES PUSHING TO THE FLOOR STILL DOES NOT MAKE IT ACCELERATE. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC AT TIMES CAUSING AN UNSAFE EVENT DUE TO SURPRISE WHEN EXPECTING TO CLE… | 48.5%ODI 10226888SMELLED PLASTIC LIKE SMOKE INSIDE VEHICLE, ROLLED DOWN WINDOW , VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PRESSING AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL STRIKING A TREE AND ROLLING OVER. *TR | 16.7%ODI 10780494 · 69,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE JERKED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESC FAILED TO FUNCTION BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,00… | 312.0%ODI 10442598 · 13,200 miAT 65 MPH ON A BUSY FREEWAY -WITHOUT ANY WARNING, ENGINE DIED TO IDLE SPEED AND NO POWER. TRY CROSSING 3 LANES OF FAST TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER AND RAPID DECELERATION ! FORTUNATELY NO IMPACTS BUT SOME TERRIBLE NEAR MISSES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED . THE CODE WAS P2135 -THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH FAILED.THAT CAUSED P2106 &P1295 "LIMP HOME MODE"-WHICH SHOULD BE CHANGED TO " KILLED IN ACTION(KIA) WHILE LIMPING MODE". IF YOU CHECK THE INTERNET, THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM ACROSS A RANGE OF KIA AND HYUNDAI VEHICLES.THERE ARE TSB'S FOR IT.JU… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 34.1%ODI 10307181 · 23,000 miI AM AN ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2004 KIA AMANTI WITH ONLY 23000MILES. MY CAR HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN SUCH AS THE TOYOTA RECENT RECALL. KIA HEADQUARTERS CLAIM THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM.MEANWHILE IF U GO TO WEBSITE WWW.ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR KIA AMANTI. I GOT THE CAR FIXED BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE.$1137.94 LATER KIA KEPT CAR ENTIRE WEEK. KIA SERVICE TECH&ADVISOR EXPLAINED IT WAS AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR FAILURE. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAK… | 67.2%ODI 10168422 · 1 miCLEAR COAT ON MY KIA AMANTI IS PEELING OFF. THIS CLEAR COAT PROBLEM FIRST STARTED ON MY FRONT BUMPER AND AFTER A LONG INSPECTION OF THE ENTIRE CAR MY CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF OF NEARLY 200 LITTLE DIFFERENT SPOTS. I HAVE WRITTEN COMPLAINTS TO KIA AMERICA AND HAVE SUBMITTED COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND I HAVE NEVER, NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BACK. I TOOK MY KIA AMANTI TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEIR EXPLANATION WAS IT WAS BIRD POOP. I SERIOUSLY DOUBT AND KIA CAN NOT PROVE THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY VEHICLE IS THE RESULT OF BIRD POOP. I TRIED TO SHOW THE… | 24.3%ODI 10905902 · 53,500 mi3 DIFFERENT TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WITH THE ENGINE ON AND THE A/C WAS ON. THEN I WOULD PUT IT IN DRIVE AND AFTER ABOUT 1-15 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE CAR LOST POWER, AND WHEN YOU PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT REV, THE CAR KEPT ON SLOWING TO A FULL STOP. PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, LET ENGINE RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN THE CAR WOULD DRIVE FORWARD. THE FIRST TIME IT DID THIS, JUNE 10 2016, WE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND TAKE IT TO NALLEY KIA IN LITHONIA, GA. THEY FIXED IT, OR SO WE THOUGHT. THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED, JUL… | 16.7%ODI 10228552 · 15,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA AMANTI. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE FLOORMAT WAS SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROUGH A HOLE BENEATH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. ONCE HALF OF THE FLOORMAT BECAME STUCK IN THE ENGINE, IT CAUSED THE BRAKES TO STOP WORKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND MANAGED TO REACH UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PULL THE FLOORMAT OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,000. UPDATED 6/9/08 … | 832.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 45.5%ODI 10130771 · 10,000 miTRANSMISSION SKIPS GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. *JB | 56.0%ODI 10169363 · 14,000 miI NEVER KNOW WHEN MY CAR WILL START JERKING. THE CAR WILL RUN FINE THEN OUT OF THE BLUE WHEN I AM BACKING UP THE CAR WILL START JERKING. I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND PRESS ALL THE WAY ON THE GAS -BUT THERE IS NO POWER. I PRESS AGAIN AND THE CAR WILL START JERKING . I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES,EVEN LEFT IT THERE FOR 3 DAYS BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN TWO DOZEN TIMES. THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. I ALMOST HIT A CAR TWICE WHEN I WAS BACKING UP- YOU ARE POWERLESS AND Y… | 919.1%ODI 10177195 · 9,187 miTL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IF THE VEHICLE DID ACCELERATE, IT WOULD DO SO VERY SLOWLY AND THE RPMS WERE RUNNING AS THOUGH THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT AN ACCELERATED SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN ANYTIME OF THE DAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH THE VEHICLE DIDN'T ACCELERATE INTO OVERDRIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension | 45.5%ODI 10130416 · 20,000 miDT: WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AND PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE JUST COASTED. THIS OCCURRED WHEN HAVE TO GIVE THE CAR MORE THAN NORMAL GAS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT ANY CERTAIN SPEED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE IT FELT AS IF IT WERE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE.*AK THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN GOIN… | 67.2%ODI 10874001 · 169,999 miJUST 2DAYS AGO MY CAR STARTED JERKING REAL BAD AND ALSO MY TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT WAS STALLING AND THE CAR WAS LOOSING ACCELERATION POWER.THEN AFTER A SHORT HESITATION THE VEHICLE,WHILE BACKING IN THE DRIVEWAY ACCELERATED AND WAS HARD TO STOP.TODAY I NOTICED A SMALL TREMBLE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND MY CAR ALMOST WENT IN TRAFFIC IF I HAD'NT PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKES,MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON BOTH INCIDENTS,I'M NOT AFRAID OF MY VEHICLE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE OR BE IN AN ACCIDENT. | 36.4%ODI 10244233 · 37,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NUMEROUS COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPAIRED ON HER VEHICLE. THE FRONT CONTROL ARM ON HER TIRES, WHICH IS THE SUSPENSION ON HER VEHICLE, IS CLICKING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE CONTROL ARM MORE THAN ONCE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 28.0%ODI 10376285DRIVERS' MIRROR ADJUSTMENT/MEMORY SETTING: THE DRIVERS' MIRROR WILL START CLICKING/MOVING,WHEN I HIT THE REMOTE.WHEN THE MIRRORS TILT DOWN AFTER PUT IN REVERSE,THE DRIVER'S MIRROR WILL NOT RETURN BACK TO THE MEMORY SETTING,WHICH HAS TO BE RESET EVERYTIME,IN ORDER TO PROPERLY USE MIRRORS.I HAVE TURNED OFF THE MEMORY FOR THE MIRRORS,BUT THE MIRROR CONTINUES TO MOVE. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | Too few reports for a range | 20,300 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10411747 · 20,300 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA AMANTI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY FORTY FIVE MINUTES THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,300. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF |
| Service Brakes | Too few reports for a range | 66,219 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10906365 · 66,219 miBRAKE LIGHT SWITCH RECALL NUMBER 13V114000 WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE ON DEC.5, 2014. 52098 MILES. ON JUNE 22, 2016 THE SWITCH FAILED WITH 66,219 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN STORAGE UNTIL SEPT. 12, 2016 WITH 66,219 MILES. I HAD IT TOWED TO EARNHART KIA BY AAA. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACE FOR $239.42. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF TIME AND MILEAGE. I CALLED KIA CASE #3274275. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THE SAME AS THE DEALER. MY GRIPE IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND KIA SHOULD REPLACE THE SWITCH AT NO OR VERY LITTLE COST I HAD NO WARNING THAT … |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | Too few reports for a range | 26,100 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10569226 · 26,100 miWHILE TRAVELING ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH IN APPROXIMATELY 65 DEGREE SUNNY WEATHER I FELT A HUGE EXPLOSION AND FIRST THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT OR THAT A HUGE ROCK HAD BOUNCED AND HIT ME. IT FELT SO STRONG THAT I THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN A NEARBY BOMB EXPLOSION OR DYNAMITE BLAST, WHEN I THEN NOTICED THE HUGE GRAPEFRUIT SIZED HOLE IN MY SUNROOF AND THE SHATTERED GLASS COMING IN ALL OVER ME AND THE FRONT SEAT OF MY CAR. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS NEAR ME SO I COULD NOT BLAME A BOUNCING ROCK AND THE CLOSEST 18 WHEELER WAS MORE THAN 10… |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2008: 4 complaints · 2009: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Vehicle Speed Control | Electrical System | Service Brakes | Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | — | 1ODI 11504280When pulling into a parking spot and with my foot on the break, the car suddenly accelerated. The car did not react to my breaking. The car kept moving forward over a sidewalk, over the curb on the street, into the back end of a pickup parked on the road I was facing, and started heading across the street toward another parked truck. Luckily there was no one on the sidewalk, no one was hurt. This has not happened before or since. No warning signs. When I took the car in to get an alternator replaced, the initial shop said they could not fi… | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1ODI 11504280When pulling into a parking spot and with my foot on the break, the car suddenly accelerated. The car did not react to my breaking. The car kept moving forward over a sidewalk, over the curb on the street, into the back end of a pickup parked on the road I was facing, and started heading across the street toward another parked truck. Luckily there was no one on the sidewalk, no one was hurt. This has not happened before or since. No warning signs. When I took the car in to get an alternator replaced, the initial shop said they could not fi… | — | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.