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2004 Kia Amanti

The Verdict

81 Smooth Ride

The 2004 Kia Amanti has 73 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (30 complaints) and body (20 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 81/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Kia Amanti, consider the 2009 model year which has 94% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2009 has 94% fewer complaints

View the 2009 Kia Amanti dashboard →

81

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200420413306
200537317179
20061609913
200733801
20081011022
200921100

By Category

Engine
30
Body
20
Electrical
13
Transmission
6
Brakes
4

By Severity

1
31
2
32
3
1
4
9

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 1

The 2004 Kia Amanti will accelerate on it's own. I have been in local traffic and it accelerates and de-accelerate like a run away horse. It will then drive normal. The check engine light comes on sometimes and goes back out. This last time the light came on, I took to an electrical auto repair place. The computer read out said it needed a throttle body. I replaced it as suggested. The 2004 Kia Amanti attempts to accelerate on it's own and stops and drives normal again. The check engine light is on again. I would like to get what is perfect and right for the Kia to perform better and be safe. How do I do that?

53mo ago
Engine 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP THEREFORE THE CONTACT PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE INTO AN INTERSECTION AND GOT HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRUISED NECK, BRUISED ARMS, AND A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION AS THE HOSPITAL HAD TO REMOVE GLASS FROM HER HANDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO THEIR HOME ADDRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,006. *DT *DT CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND WOULD NOT DO A VEHICLE INSPECTION BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. CASE NUMBER [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”

63mo ago
Engine 4

AFTER GETTING HOME LAST NIGHT FROM MY SISTER IN LAW'S GENDER REVEAL, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE BONNET SO I OPENED IT QUICKLY AND SAW A FIRE BLAZING BEHIND THE ENGINE....WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE, THEY POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL..... I NEED SOME FORM OF COMPENSATION FROM THE COMPANY AS I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES ARE WIDELY AFFILIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF KIA CARS.

63mo ago
Engine 1

STARED DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR WAS TRYING TO GO OUT GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY PULL TO THE SIDE AND THEN IT STOP RUNNING TRYED TO START IT UP IT WOULDN'T DO NOTHING BATTERY BRAND NEW LLIGHTS CAME IT THAT WAS IT ONCE I WAS TOWED BY THE GUY SAID OFF THE TOP IT IS ECLECTICALLY HE EVEN TRYED TO GIVE IT A JUMP AND IT WOULDN'T JUMP AND THAT'S WHERE IAM

81mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA AMANTI. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT QUICKLY MERGED OFF THE EXIT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT BE ELECTRICAL. THE DEALER THAT SOLD THE VEHICLE TO THE CONTACT HAD GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. NO OTHER DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,600. *DT*JB *DT*JB

81mo ago
Body 3

SUNROOF SHATTERED UPON OPENING TILT POSTITION, MINOR CUTS FROM GLASS CLEAN UP.

98mo ago
Electrical 2

AIRBAG LIGHT ON, TOOK IT TO GET IT CHECK AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BATTERY. GOT A NEW BATTERY LIGHT STILL ON. THE LIGHT IS ON AT ALL TIMES.

98mo ago
Brakes 4

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOWN A 3 LANE ROAD. THE WINDOWS BEGAN TO OPEN AND CLOSE, THE DOOR LOCKS DID THE SAME. WARNING LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON & OFF ON THE DASH AND I HAD ALMOST NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE LIGHT AHEAD WAS RED AND WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED. I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO SLOW ME DOWN AND PUSHED AS HARD ON THE BREAKS AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND HIS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME VERY HARD. I HAD A CONCUSSION, SPRAINED THORASIC SPINE AND NECK. A SPRAIN ON MY RIGHT HIP AND PULLED MUSCLE IN MY CALF FROM TRYING TO MAKE THE CAR STOP. THIS TOTALLED MY CAR AND CAUSED SEVERE BURNS FROM THE AIR BAGS. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS STUCK AND I HAD TO BE PRYED OUT OF THE CAR. WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE CAR AND HAD ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE CAR HAD 99,239 MILES ON IT. I TRULY THOUGH I WOULD DIE. I AM UNABLE TO GET INTO MY TRUNK TO RETRIEVE MY PROPERTY AND I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE.

108mo ago
Engine 1

WELL I GOT MY CAR ON WEEK AND NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND THE BRAKE LIGHT IS ON AND SO TODAY I TAKE IT TO 5TAKE OIL CHANGE AND GOT A OIL CHANGE THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR HAD TRANSMISSION LEAK AND OIL LEAK AND NOW MY MHP GOIN DOWN AND WANT AND WANT SHOW ME MY SPEED AND THEY DON'T KNOW WANT THE PROBLEM IS AND MY CAR JUST NOT WORKING NOW .WHAT Y'ALL GOIN TO DO.PLEASE PLEASE. I HAVE KIDS .THAT SICK.PLEASE .

113mo ago
Engine 2

THE CAR WHILE DRIVING TURNS OFF AND LATER IT WILL RUN BUT WON'T ACCELERATE

114mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,045.

116mo ago
Electrical 4

WHILE MAKING A LEFT THE CARD WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE (REAR PASSENGER DOOR) BY A PERSON RUNNING A RED LIGHT. THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT MY INSURANCE COMPANY DEEM THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG WAS NEVER DEPLOYED.

123mo ago
Engine 2

ON 6 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS SLOWED DOWN AND "CHUGGED" OUT OF THROTTLE POWER WHILE INITIALLY DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF ANYWHERE BETWEEN 35 AND 65 MPH. IF THE VEHICLE DOES MANAGE TO KEEP DRIVING, IT DOES SO IN A VERY JERKY WAY, ALMOST LIKE SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO DRIVE STICK. I'VE FOUND THAT THE ONLY WAY AROUND THIS JERKING IS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN SPORT-SHIFT MODE IN A LOWER GEAR SO THAT THE RPMS STAY ABOVE 3000. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE IS ENTIRELY UNRESPONSIVE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED, WHICH (MULTIPLE TIMES) NEARLY PUT ME IN A SEVERE CAR ACCIDENT ON BUSY I-95 IN BOTH FLORIDA AND PHILADELPHIA, PA. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS ONLY EVER REMAINED ON ONCE, GIVING AN ERROR CODE P1614: "ENHANCED TRACTION SYSTEM ENGINE CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTION." IN THE PAST, TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON IMMEDIATELY HAS FIXED THE ISSUE TWICE. OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO REMAIN OFF FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THE PROBLEM WOULD CLEAR UP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONLY 2 OF THE 6 TIMES THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. THE FIRST TIME IT CAME ON, IT DID NOT REMAIN ON ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. CURRENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING SMOOTHLY SINCE THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE WHICH HAPPENED ON JANUARY 8, 2015. I DO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM MAY BE LINKED TO THE FUEL INJECTORS. I FIND THAT ADDING FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER TO A FULL TANK OF GAS EVERY OTHER WEEK HELPS ME AVOID HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

140mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO RESET THE CODE IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SLID OVER ICE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE FURTHER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

142mo ago
Transmission 1

WHEN I START MY CAR, THE RPM ACCELERATES HIGH AS IT WILL GO. VERY ANNOYING AND LOUD. IT DOES THIS MOST OF THE TIME SOME TIMES WHEN I COME TO A STOP LIGHT AND PROCEED FORWARD, THE CAR JERKS FORWARD AS I ACCELERATE. *TR

144mo ago
Engine 2

KIA AMANTI LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING OR LOSING POWER THEN ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL AND KIA SEEMS NOT TO BE ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

150mo ago
Electrical 2

TWO YEARS LATER WHEN WE PURCHASE THESE CAR, THE AIR BAG LIGHT SHOW. AND IT NEVER WHEN OFF SINCE THEN. TOOK TO THE MECHANIC AND SAID ITS VERY COMMON TO HAVE THESE KIND OF PROBLEM FOR KIAS. HE COULD NOT FIX IT HAD NO TOOLS ENOUGH TO DO IT. AND I HAD NO MONEY ENOUGH TO FIX THEY WANT TO REFER TO THE DEALER, AND DEALERS WANTS MORE THAT A 1,000 TO DO IT. *TR

161mo ago
Engine 2

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MY CAR LOSES POWER FAST NO MATTER WHAT SPEED I AM GOING. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS AND THE RPM'S GO UP AND I AM ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE AT A SPEED OF 20MPH. AT TIMES MY CAR WILL DRIVE AT A NORMAL SPEED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL BE ON .ITS VERY STRANGE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ONE WEEK LATER THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND ANOTHER OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF OVER $1,000.00 AND ANOTHER PART. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS MONTHS LATER. EACH TIME WITH A DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS BY THE DEALER. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED WITH HIS METER AND IT READ ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. I TOLD THIS TO THE DEALER MONTHS AGO AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AGO. *TR

163mo ago
Engine 1

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING OUT OF TOWN AND HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET LIKE I NORMALLY DO WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR DRASTICALLY LOST SPEED FROM 70MPH TO 45MPH ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. I HAD TO SLOWLY MOVE OVER TO THE FAR LANE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TO A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. I THEN PULLED OVER SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 20 MINS AND TRIED TO COME BACK HOME AND ONCE AGAIN GOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ONCE AGAIN I LOST POWER EVEN THO I'M PRESSING THE GAS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND ITS NOT EVEN TRYING TO GAIN POWER AT ALL. I ALMOST GOT INTO 2 ACCIDENTS ON THE WAY HOME BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT THE SAME RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH OTHER KIA AMANTI OWNERS AND THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT. PLEASE CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME ANSWERS!!! *TR

166mo ago
Engine 2

I 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

171mo ago

73 total

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