Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Kia Amanti problems

Owners filed 83 complaints about the 2005 Kia Amanti with NHTSA between Jan 2006 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (29).

Complaints
83
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control29
  2. Air bags16
  3. Power train12
  4. Engine10
  5. Electrical system8
  6. Suspension6
  7. Fuel system, gasoline6
  8. Exterior lighting4
  9. Steering4
  10. Structure3
  11. Wheels2
  12. Electronic stability control (esc)2
  13. Fuel/propulsion system2
  14. Service brakes2

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200611
20078
20085
20092
20107
201110
20124
20134
20142
20156
20166
20170
20185
20194
20204
20213
20221
20230
20241

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Vehicle speed control

29 reports2 crashes
“I PURCHASED MY KIA FROM JD BYRIDER IN 2016 OF JULY AND I HAVE HAD A REAL DEAL WITH THIS CAR. IN THE PASS 4 YEARS WITH THIS CAR I HAVE POURED MORE THAN $5,000 INTO THIS CAR INTO IT. EVERY TIME YOU GET THIS CAR FIXED IT HAS A NEW PROBLEM ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER OR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. BUT RECENTLY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER MOTHER AND MY DAUGHTER AROUND SHOPPING ABOUT 10 MILES IN DISTANCE FROM THE HOUSE THE MALL AND DRIVING STORE TO STORE. IT WAS 93 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND SHE HAD THE A/C RUNNING AND SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED TO HAVE SUDDEN ACCELERATION SHE TRIED TO STOP THE CAR AND IT DID NOT STOP THE ENGINE KEEP REVVING UP HARDER HARDER AND HARDER. AT THIS POINT SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT AFTER GETTING OFF THE MAIN RODE. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO PEOPLE DRIVING IT AND OTHERS NEAR THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE ON THE STREET I REPEAT THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE ON THE STREET. I AM GLAD MY FAMILY IS SAFE BUT I WILL TRADING THIS CAR IN SOON AND I HOPE THE RIP IT UP AND TEAR IT TO PIECES FOR PARTS BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE ENDED MY FAMILIES LIFE. FOR ME AND MY OTHER LOVE ONES TO VERY SEE THEM AGAIN. GET THIS CAR OFF THE RODE PLEASE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 7, 2020Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11327661

Air bags

16 reports2 crashes
“EVER SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND DOES NOT GO OFF UNTIL THE CAR IS OFF. THE RPM GAGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ERRATIC WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS. THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHILE ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE SMELLS AS IF WIRES ARE BURNING AND IT SEEMS INCREASINGLY HOT, BUT THE GAGE STAYS NORMAL. THE GAS TANK CANNOT BE FILLED QUICKLY, I HAVE TO TRICKLE GAS INTO THE TANK BRAKE PADS WEAR DOWN CONSTANTLY. I HAVE ALREADY FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BEING DEFECTIVE AND THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2018Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11120402

Power train

12 reports
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 4, 2020Steering, Suspension, Power train, Electrical system, Wheels, Unknown or other, Electronic stability control (esc), Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11337472

Engine

10 reports
“MY BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING. IM HAVING AN ISSUE KEEPING IT RUNNING OR EVEN STARTING IT UP. MAY BE HAVING STARTER ISSUES. ALSO MY AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER ARE NOT COMING ON. RADIATOR PROBLEMS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2021Exterior lighting, Engine, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11388102

Electrical system

8 reports
“I THINK THE RADIO ISOTOPE ELECTRIC GENERATOR WAS REMOVED FROM THE CAR. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER WERE NOT KICKING ON AND IT ALSO CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE. WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. I DIDNT KNOW IT WAS ELECTRIC. ALSO THE CO2 AND YEAR GAS WERE REMOVED AND NOT SURE IF ANY FIREARMS WERE. THIS WAS 'THE BEAST' I BELIEVE. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM "MIKE" HE MENTIONED I SHOULD ADD IT TO MY CURRENT INSURANCE PLAN BUT I TOLD HIM I ONLY HAD OBAMACARE. GET MY DIAMOND JUBILEE BACK PLEASE!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2021Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11388478

Suspension

6 reports
“THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SUB FRAME IS SEVERELY CRACKED AND ROTTING AWAY. ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN UNCOVERS ROAD FILTH AND ROCKS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS METAL QUALITY DEFECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2020SuspensionODI 11338027
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.