Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

30 crash reports5 fire reports20 injury reports

What owners actually said

205 reports

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2001

Power Train

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HAD A LEAKING PROBLEM FROM REAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT BRAKES HAD ONLY DUST ON THEM, AND IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE. DROVE VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AND RIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE, CAUSING TIRE TO ROLL DOWN INTERSTATE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #881716

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2001

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, HOLDS SLOWLY AND PEDAL GOES ALL WAY DOWN TO FLOOR . DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #879963

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2001

Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING.CONSUMER WILL STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP ACCELERATION, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP, AND CONCERNED ABOUT FACT OF AN ACCIDENT.*AK TRANSMISSION FAILED. BRAKES MAKE NOISE DUE TO ROTOR FAILURE. WIPER BLADES FAILED. BATTERY FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #879923

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other

ENGINE & ENGINE CHECK LIGHT & POWER/FUEL INJECTION SWITCH. BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR CHECKUPS AND REPAIRS 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME THING. CAR IS DEAD, TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE BLOCK FROZED UP.

NHTSA ODI #739629

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2001

Electrical System

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STALL FOR NO REASON. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 6 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR REPAIRS. MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #878242

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2001

Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER HAD BRAKES/ROTORS AND IDLE CONTROL VALVE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878115

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2001

Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH NGINE WILL DIE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. PROBLEM JUST LIKE RECALL FOR ENGINE STALLING .*AK

NHTSA ODI #877964

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2000

Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK ENGINE SURGES WHEN STOPPING AND SOME TIME SHUT DOWN WHEN STARTING. *YH

NHTSA ODI #876940

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2000

Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP..FORD DEALER NOT VERY HELPFUL.LAST INCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737571

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2000

Unknown Or Other

Read full complaint

I HAVE REPORTED THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM EVER SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED THIS CAR; HOWEVER, THE DEALER INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR SINCE THEY CAN'T DETECT THE PROBLEM WHILE IT IS IN THEIR POSSESSION. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, YET IT HAS SHOWN UP ON MY MAINTENANCE SLIP ONLY ONCE OR TWICE THAT I HAVE REPORTED IT. QUITE OFTEN, WHEN I START THE ENGINE (REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS OR WHETHER THE ENGINE IS COLD OR WARM) AND I TURN THE KEY, THE STARTER SOUNDS AS IF THE ENGINE IS ALREADY RUNNING AND I HEAR THAT GOD AWFUL GRINDING SOUND IN THE SELENOID. IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE ENGINE IS ALREADY RUNNING AND I TURN THE KEY AGAIN. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH THE DEALER AND AM TIRED OF REPORTING THE PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO REPLACE IT. OF COURSE NOW, AFTER 3 YEARS, THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPLACEMENT. AT ONE TIME, ONE SALESMAN TOLD ME TO CONTINUE REPORTING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE KIA HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND IF IT'S EVER RECALLED, IT WILL BE DOCUMENTED. HOWEVER, AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY, THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN RECORDING MY COMPLAINTS ON THE MAINTENANCE PAPERS SO IT STILL ISN'T DOCUMENTED. I JUST KEEP WONDERING WHERE I WILL BE AND HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL BE BEFORE IT LETS ME SETTING SOMEWHERE. I REALIZE THE 800 # WILL COVER TOWING, ETC. BUT THAT'S NOT MUCH COMFORT WHEN YOU'RE A WOMAN ALONE AND STRANDED SOMEWHERE AND HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO CORREC THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT DOES LET ME STRANDED --- HOPEFULLY NOT IN A RURAL OR DESERTED AREA WHERE THERE ARE NO PHONES OR AT NIGHT WHEN I AM ALONE. WHAT MORE CAN I DO?! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737190

Official recalls

02V216000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Aug 16, 2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

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

PE02051 · Safety Belt Buckle Malfunction

Opened Jun 17, 2002 · Closed Sep 20, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 25, 2002, KIA ADVISED NHTSA THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED.SPECIFIC CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY KIA HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA AT THIS TIME.THE SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.