Kia Problems

Are you having problems with your Kia? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest Kia issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the Kia in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

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Kia Sorento 2009: Intermittent limp-home mode
Answered by Graham Smith · 29 Nov 2013

The car was going into limp home mode when it was losing power, that's why the speed was limited. Turning the engine off and restating has the effect of rebooting the computer. That suggests there was an electronic problem, and replacing the speed sensor would seem to be a valid course of action. I wouldn't have thought blocked injectors would cause the engine to go into limp home mode, that's a different issue. Worn injectors are a regular problem on modern common-rail diesels, whatever the brand, and replacing them is the way to go. Check your warranty documents to see if the injectors are included in the consumables list. If they are they probably won't be covered by the warranty, if they aren't you might have a claim. At best Kia might come to the party with part of the cost of replacement.

Suzuki Grand Vitara 2009: Power loss
Answered by Carsguide.com.au · 20 Dec 2013

Finding the cause of a problem can be challenging, particularly if it is intermittent, or like yours, only when the radio was turned on. You have to pity the mechanic sometimes, but it does highlight the need to be observant when you find a problem. Write down as much information as you can about what happens, when it happens and anything else that might help the mechanic diagnose it.

Kia Sportage 2013: Satnav, turbo lag, and AM reception issues
Answered by Carsguide.com.au · 08 Nov 2013

The issue of map updates is one that applies to most carmakers, if not all. It seems to me that upgrades should happen automatically when the car goes in for service, at least for the term of the warranty. I don't recall any significant turbo lag when I drove the Sportage, so I would be asking the dealer to drive a similar car and compare it to what is happening on your car. If it is the same there's not much you could do about it, but if it's not you could ask the dealer to fix yours. AM radio reception is a problem. It can be affected by interference in your area. An amplified antenna could be the solution.

Kia Sorento 2013: Intermittent power loss
Answered by Graham Smith · 20 Dec 2013

Thanks for your feedback. It's good to know what others have done to sort out the problems with their cars.

Kia Sorento 2008: Diesel fuel injector problem
Answered by Graham Smith · 27 Dec 2013

It's always good to hear about the experience of owners, and this information should help anyone having similar troubles with their Sorento.

2012 Kia Rio steering lock
Answered by Graham Smith · 15 Nov 2013

You clearly don't trust the dealer, so you could contact Kia and ask them to have one of their technical representatives check the car over for you to assure you that it has been fixed. That could be difficult given that the case is now before the consumer affairs tribunal, so it's perhaps best in the circumstances that you either borrow a car or hire one until the case is settled.

Kia recalls 2900 cars in Australia
By Karla Pincott · 29 Jan 2014
A recall on Hyundai vehicles earlier in January has now roped in models from stablemate Kia, with a notice being issued for the Sportage and Soul SUVs. The safety recall is for a defect that means the tensioning cable in the seatbelt assembly has not been properly crimped, raising a risk the cable could break and not allow the seatbelts to pretension and fully restrain the wearers in an accident. A total of 2941 vehicles are affected -- 2704 Sportage and 237 Soul -- with build dates between August 23, 2011 and March 31, 2012, and on-sale dates between September 10, 2011 and December 31, 2012. The list of VIN numbers for the Soul can be found here and the VIN numbers for the Sportage can be found here. The VIN number for your vehicle is located on the build plate in the engine bay.The Hyundai recall affected 6552 of their popular ix35 SUV, and a spokesman at the time said the seatbelts would still protect wearers in an accident, but would simply not be able to deploy the pretensioning function that automatically tightens them. "It is only on the driver's seatbelt. We've had one incident in Australia and it was an non-injury incident," Kia Australia general manager of public relations, Kevin Hepworth says.Owners can contact their closest Kia dealer for an inspection and rectification if needed, with the fix estimated to take up to an hour of the customer's time. however Kevin says  
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Used Kia Cerato review: 2009-2012
By Graham Smith · 13 Feb 2014
Once a thriving segment, the budget sports car market had shrunk almost to the point of extinction when Kia launched its budget-priced Kia Cerato Koup in 2009.
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Used Kia Sorento review: 2003-2013
By Ewan Kennedy · 31 Jan 2014
Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 as a used buy.
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Used Kia Rio review: 2011-2013
By Graham Smith · 03 Apr 2014
NEW The Rio was the car that kicked Kia's Australian sales into gear in 2000. Before that the cars from the Korean carmaker were best known for their for the cheap-and-cheerful pricing and not much more. Beyond the pricing the build quality was average at best, and the reliability wasn't that great either. But like
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