Problems · NHTSA complaints
2004 Kia Amanti problems
Owners filed 73 complaints about the 2004 Kia Amanti with NHTSA between Mar 2004 and Mar 2022. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (12).
Complaints
73
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Vehicle speed control12
- Engine11
- Electrical system11
- Air bags11
- Suspension9
- Power train9
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Tires4
- Service brakes3
- Electronic stability control (esc)3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Exterior lighting3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
7
8
7
6
5
7
6
5
2
3
1
2
3
2
2
0
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Vehicle speed control
12 reports
“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”
Engine
11 reports1 crash1 fire
“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?”
Electrical system
11 reports1 crash1 fire
“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.”
Air bags
11 reports4 crashes
“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.”
Suspension
9 reports
“REAR SUSPENSION DOES NOT FEEL SOLID. IT BOUNCES RIGHT TO LEFT AS WELL AS UP AND DOWN. PUT NEW STRUTS ON AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. NO ONE HAS AN ANSWER. ANY THOUGHTS? *TR”
Power train
9 reports
“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”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.