← New search

2005 Kia Amanti

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Kia Amanti do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 36.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

65 reports with mileage · 18 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Power Train complaints

12 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

ADMINISTRATION ON 6/26/20 A DEALERSHIP MADE A TENATIVE SALE ON A USEC 2005 VEHICLE INTENTIONALLY DECIEVING POTENTIAL BUYER. VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IT MADE MISFIRE AND THE FLUIDS IN VEHICLE WERE ALL MISSING FROM EACH TANK. THE SALESMAN DENIED ME THE RIGHT TO TEST DRIVE OR OPPORTUNITY TO REPLENISH MISSING FLUIDS,ADVISIN…

Read full complaint

ADMINISTRATION ON 6/26/20 A DEALERSHIP MADE A TENATIVE SALE ON A USEC 2005 VEHICLE INTENTIONALLY DECIEVING POTENTIAL BUYER. VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IT MADE MISFIRE AND THE FLUIDS IN VEHICLE WERE ALL MISSING FROM EACH TANK. THE SALESMAN DENIED ME THE RIGHT TO TEST DRIVE OR OPPORTUNITY TO REPLENISH MISSING FLUIDS,ADVISING VEHICLE IS AS-IS. I EXPLAINED I DROVE 60 MILES ONE WAY AND WAS NOT TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS AS -IS OR IN SUCH TERRIBLE CONDITION. MANAGER REFUSED TO ASSIST ME OR SPEAK WITH ME AS I WOULD COMPLAIN. THE SALESMAN SAID,"TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT"!!! I DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BUT IT MUST BE LISTED AS UNSAFE IN A NATIONWIDE ALERT AS LEFT DRIVER SIDE IMPACT ON DOORS FROM BUMPER TO FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, LEFT SIDE FENDER HANGING OFF , VEHICLE SHAKING BAD, COMPUTER HARDWARE AND CAPS MISSING ON ENGINE. PLEASE HAVE DMV IN DELAWARE RED FLAG THIS DEALERSHIP AND RECALL THIS VEHICLE AS I WAS ALMOST A VICTIM UNDER LEMON LAW HERTRICH BUICK GMC OF SEAFORD 26953 SUSSEX HIGHWAY SEAFORD, DE 19973 WWW.HERTRICHGMCBUICK.COM (888) 313-4253 DEAR [XXX], WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR PRICE QUOTE REQUEST AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. TO HELP US MAKE THE RIGHT DEAL FOR YOU ON THE 2005 KIA AMANTI, PLEASE CONTACT US AT YOUR NEAREST HERTRICH LOCATION.. THANK YOU, HERTRICH BUICK GMC OF SEAFORD HTTP://WWW.HERTRICHGMCBUICK.COM 2005 KIA AMANTI BASE PRICE: $1,897.00 BODYSTYLE: SEDANINT. COLOR: GRAY ENGINE: V-6 CYLODOMETER: 131200 TRANSMISSION: AUTOMATICSTOCK #: 40510B EXT. COLOR: BLACKVIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

NHTSA ODI #11337472

265,457 miles · Oct 17, 2019
Power Train

I READ ABOUT RECALL ON 2007 KIA AMANTI AND THE STOP LAMP SWITCH. IT SAID COULD MAKE IT HARD SHIFT FROM PARK TO GEARS. I OWN A 2005 KIA AMANTI AND YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL HOURS WITH NO PROBLEMS, I STARTED IT OUT IN REVERSE IT WAS A SEMI HARD SHIFT THEN PUT INTO DRIVE AND IT WAS A EXTREMELY HARD SHIFT. AS WELL T…

Read full complaint

I READ ABOUT RECALL ON 2007 KIA AMANTI AND THE STOP LAMP SWITCH. IT SAID COULD MAKE IT HARD SHIFT FROM PARK TO GEARS. I OWN A 2005 KIA AMANTI AND YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL HOURS WITH NO PROBLEMS, I STARTED IT OUT IN REVERSE IT WAS A SEMI HARD SHIFT THEN PUT INTO DRIVE AND IT WAS A EXTREMELY HARD SHIFT. AS WELL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I ALSO READ ABOUT A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT CAN BE DONE BUT CAN NOT FIND HOW TO PREFORM THE UPDATE.

NHTSA ODI #11269102

91,575 miles · Oct 8, 2013
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS CAR. HOWEVER, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT MOST OF THE TIME DO TO INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION. AT TIMES, WHEN I STEP DOWN ON THE GAS NOTHING HAPPENS, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR TAKES OFF LIKE A RABBIT. ON A TRIP TO SOUTH DAKOTA, AFTER USING THE BLINKER TO CHANGE LANES, THE BLINKERS WENT CRAZY, BOT…

Read full complaint

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS CAR. HOWEVER, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT MOST OF THE TIME DO TO INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION. AT TIMES, WHEN I STEP DOWN ON THE GAS NOTHING HAPPENS, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR TAKES OFF LIKE A RABBIT. ON A TRIP TO SOUTH DAKOTA, AFTER USING THE BLINKER TO CHANGE LANES, THE BLINKERS WENT CRAZY, BOTH ON AT THE SAME TIME, THEN FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, I COULDN'T GET THEM TO STOP AND THE ESC LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND ALL WAS GOOD ,FOR A FEW MORE MILES ANYWAY. I HAD TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. THIS WAS SCARY AS I WAS 1500 MILES FROM HOME. HAVEN'T HAD THAT ISSUE SINCE AND THAT WAS 4 MONTHS AGO (NO ENGINE LIGHT FOR CODES AT THIS POINT). NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR IS RUNNING LIKE CRAP. ENGINE LIGHT FINALLY CAME ON AND THE CODE IS STATING MISFIRE IN #3 SPARK PLUG. THE CAR IS RUNNING VERY POORLY, UNDRIVEABLE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT A YEAR AGO. I HAVE READ CHANGING THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR AND UPDATING THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE MAY BE WHAT'S WRONG. HOWEVER, TRYING TO CONVINCE KIA TO DO THIS IS ANOTHER BALL GAME. THERE IS ALSO A HIGH PRIORITY RECALL ON THE STOP LAMP SWITCH, RECALL #SC077. ALSO SEE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #KT2007030801. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ACCELERATION ISSUE, SOME INVOLVING ACCIDENTS. WHY WONT KIA ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AND OFFER A RECALL ON THE TPS AND A REFLASH ON THE COMPUTER??? ALL WE GET IS THE RUN-A-ROUND AND THE SHOP NOT HEARING OF SUCH A THING. REALLY???? COME ON!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547248

68,000 miles · May 9, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I WAS SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT I EXPECTED TO TURN RED. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE FLOOR BOARDS, AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR, LETTING THE CARE SLOW BY ITSELF. THE LIGHT DID TURN RED AND I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES. I KEEP MY LEFT FOOT TO THE LEFT OF THE BRAKES ON THE FLOOR BOARD. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH MY RIGH…

Read full complaint

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I WAS SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT I EXPECTED TO TURN RED. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE FLOOR BOARDS, AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR, LETTING THE CARE SLOW BY ITSELF. THE LIGHT DID TURN RED AND I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES. I KEEP MY LEFT FOOT TO THE LEFT OF THE BRAKES ON THE FLOOR BOARD. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH MY RIGHT FOOT I FELT MY LEFT FOOT SO I KNEW I APPLIED THE BRAKES. CAR ACCELERATED. ONLY PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION I NEUTRAL AND FLOORING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET PREVENTED A WRECK. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. IN OCTOBER OF 2011 THE DEALER REPLACED IGNITION COIL; PACKS SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES. HOWEVER ON 5/7/12 THE PROBLEM RETURNED- WORSE THAN EVER BEFORE THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED TACHOMETER READING WAS 4700 RPM. DOCTORS OFTEN ASK PATIENTS TO RATE PAIN OPEN A SCALE OF 1-10. THIS INCIDENT WOULD RATE AN 8. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE MORE PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THIS AND COULD KILL PEOPLE.OR A BUYBACK FOR WHAT THE BUYER PAID INCLUDING ALL LOAN FEES AND INTEREST.. I ALSO REQUEST A FEDERAL DIRECTIVE REQUIRING ALL CARS TO HAVE BRAKE OVERRIDES AND FOR A FREE RETROFIT OF ALL CAR MODELS WITH A HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ONLY 68,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND 66,800 WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457862

66,979 miles · Sep 23, 2011
Power Train

TWICE WITHIN 2 MILES WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES ENGINE SPED UP INSTEAD. THE ONLY THING PREVENTING TWO ACCIDENTS WAS PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TILL IT SETTLED DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10426901

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2008
Power Train

MY 2005 KIA AMANTI HAS A PROBLEM AS WHEN DRIVING IT WILL LURCH AND LAG "BUMP". IT HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS SHOP MANY TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 38 DAYS. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT UNIT. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND THE DEALER SAYS HE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SO HE CANNOT FIX IT. A WEB SITE HAS MAN…

Read full complaint

MY 2005 KIA AMANTI HAS A PROBLEM AS WHEN DRIVING IT WILL LURCH AND LAG "BUMP". IT HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS SHOP MANY TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 38 DAYS. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT UNIT. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND THE DEALER SAYS HE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SO HE CANNOT FIX IT. A WEB SITE HAS MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE AND THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS; THE DEALERS CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM; SO THEY CANNOT FIX IT. A MECHANIC AT THE SHOP SAID THAT KIA KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM; BUT DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH. THE LURCH HAS OCCURRED AT STOP SIGNS AND CAUSES THE CAR TO JUMP AND IF I HAD NOT BEEN ALERT I WOULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE AND THE REAR VIEW IS BLOCKED BY THE VEHICLE AND IF A PERON OR VEHICLE IS IN THE BLIND SPOTS; INJURY COULD OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242394

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2007
Power Train

FOR @ 6 MONTHS THE CAR JERKS WHEN I AM DRIVING. WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR IT WILL DO 2-3 JERKS THAT ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO JERK YOU FORWARD IN YOUR SEAT. IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR HAS FORGOTTEN WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AND IT IS SEARCHING TO FIND IT. OR YOU COULD DESCRIBE IT AS THOUGH IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL WHERE IT IS NEEDED EVEN WHEN …

Read full complaint

FOR @ 6 MONTHS THE CAR JERKS WHEN I AM DRIVING. WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR IT WILL DO 2-3 JERKS THAT ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO JERK YOU FORWARD IN YOUR SEAT. IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR HAS FORGOTTEN WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AND IT IS SEARCHING TO FIND IT. OR YOU COULD DESCRIBE IT AS THOUGH IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL WHERE IT IS NEEDED EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE HAD EVEN PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS MAINLY OCCURRED WHILE DOING ABOUT 40 MPH GOING UP AN INCLINE BUT IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED ON LEVEL DRIVING AREAS WHILE DOING AROUND 40 MPH. MOST RECENTLY THE CAR HAS BEEN JERKING IN TOP GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES. JUST YESTERDAY I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER WHO HAD IT FOR A WHOLE 7 DAYS!! THEY WERE ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM BUT CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REGISTER ON THE OBC. THEY HAD ME DO A $450.00 MAINTENANCE ON IT TO SEE IF IT WOULD HELP AND OF COURSE IT DID NOT. THEY SAID THEY REPROGRAMMED IT BUT THAT DID NOT HELP EITHER. DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE EITHER BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR DAYS OR HAVE HAD TO RENT A VERY COSTLY RENTAL CAR FOR A WHOLE WEEK. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY TOOK THE CAR TO THEIR RESIDENCE TO TEST DRIVE IT, (APPROX. 80 MILES) BUT WHEN PICKING THE CAR UP YESTERDAY THEY WERE RUDE ENOUGH NOT TO REPLENISH MY FUEL. WHEN I ASKED THEM ABOUT IT THEY SAID IT WAS NECESSARY TO DO THE ROAD TESTS. AS A CONSUMER WITH A CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE GAS AND PAY FOR MY CAR RENTAL. BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO HELP WITH THIS SITUATION AT ALL. NOW I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR AND I DEPEND ON IT FOR MY PROFESSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212393

10 miles · Apr 19, 2007
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

SHORTLY 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…

Read full complaint

SHORTLY 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 CLEAR TRAFFIC ETC. EARLY ON IT WAS RETURNED TO DEALER ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS FOR LENGTHS OF SEVERAL DAYS EACH TIME AND WE ALSO INVOLVED COMPANY REPS, BUT THEY OFFERED NO SOLUTION BUT SAID IT SEEMED TO BE FINE. CAR CONTINUES TO ACT UP AND NOTICE THAT OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF A SIMILAR EVENT ON A WEBSITE WE MONITOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10188344

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2007
Power Train

SEVERAL TIMES, INCLUDING TODAY THE CAR HAS JUMPED FORWARD OR BACKWARD IN REVERSE WHEN PUTTING IT IN GEAR WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT HAS OCCASIONALLY MOVED VERY SLOWLY AFTER BEING PUT INTO DRIVE AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN FOURTH GEAR. THEN WHEN PUSHING FURTHER ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO MOVE IT WILL SUDDENLY …

Read full complaint

SEVERAL TIMES, INCLUDING TODAY THE CAR HAS JUMPED FORWARD OR BACKWARD IN REVERSE WHEN PUTTING IT IN GEAR WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT HAS OCCASIONALLY MOVED VERY SLOWLY AFTER BEING PUT INTO DRIVE AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN FOURTH GEAR. THEN WHEN PUSHING FURTHER ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO MOVE IT WILL SUDDENLY JUMP INTO FIRST AND TAKE OFF. VISITS TO THE SERVICE AREA WERE FRUITLESS DUE TO THEIR NOT BEING ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE EVENT. THEREWAS APPARENTLY NOTHING STORED IN THE COMPUTER, YET IT KEPT HAPPENING TO US. IT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH KIA'S DRIVE BY WIRE SYSTEM, AND IT SHOULD BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE WOULD BE INJURED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10186122

2,000 miles · Nov 29, 2006
Power Train

I BOUGHT MY 2005 KIA AMANTI IN OCT 2005. ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE.....A HESITATION TOOK PLACE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN....THEN THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE AT TOP SPEED. IF THIS EVER HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. MENTIONED THIS SITU…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT MY 2005 KIA AMANTI IN OCT 2005. ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE.....A HESITATION TOOK PLACE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN....THEN THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE AT TOP SPEED. IF THIS EVER HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. MENTIONED THIS SITUATION TO THE DEALER AND NOTHING CAN BE DOWN UNLESS THE "SO CALLED" HESITATION HAPPENED AT THE TIME WHEN IT WAS IN THE SHOP. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10174681

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.