Faults:

I have had to replace the front brake pads quite a few times already for the short time that I've had the car.

Dash has has gotten dark spots all over it and in the center it has peeled back, I have never seen anything like it before-

Check engine light comes on often.

General Comments:

Not really that bad of a car, I mean its nothing great or even close to it, but it gets you where you need to go, and so far its never broken down. I only paid $1800 cash for this car so I'm not expecting much. Sometimes the transmission grinds and the car itself puts off some odors at times, but I don't regret buying this car, a lot of people with these cars are having horrible problems thankfully mine seems to be one of the good ones-

Faults:

Things That Have Gone Wrong

1. Water Pump had to be replaced

2. Timing Belt had to be replaced

3. Radiator had to be replaced

4. Windshield had to be replaced

5. Most light bulbs have been replaced

6. Thermostat has been replaced

7. The dash board has many burn spots despite good care

8. Transmission has to be replaced.

General Comments:

This car has been a nightmare. I am a 19 yr old college student with a really tight budget. This car had been repair after repair. There is still things wrong with it that no mechanic can figure out. It seems that my Check Engine Light has a mind of its own. No matter what I do or anyone does it idles extremley rough.

At this point I am giving up on this car. It has been more of a headache then it has been worth. Repairs have been expensive because nothing minor has gone wrong, or so it seems. Parts are hard to find few people will work on the car because its not a well know car so I have had to go to specialist which has cost more.

Overall this car has been anything, but pleasurable to own. I'm happy to say I'm getting rid of it.

Faults:

Just recently I need to get the belt tightened.

I just changed the oil every 3000 miles and changed the tires when needed.

Floor mats get a bit worn.

General Comments:

This car is very fast.

Has great get up and go power.

The ride is very comfortable.

It is not the quietest ride in the world, but pleasurable.

I have heard a lot of people had problems with their KIAs, but it seems that each one was an Automatic.

I have never had a problem with this car and neither did my parents before they gave it to me.

Faults:

Brakes went out after 6,000 miles.

Alternator went out 19,500 miles.

General Comments:

It is very expensive to fix due to lack of parts sold after market.

Dents easily.

Has lots of suspension problems.

Faults:

The air conditioners' low pressure hose snapped and went through the radiator at 500 miles. At about 45,000 miles the low pressure air conditioning hose snapped again.

All rubber hoses and the like within the engine compartment had to be replaced due to damage from the air conditioning leak.

New rotors at 20,000 miles due to warping.

New dashboard due to warping at 20,000 miles.

New head gasket seal at 50,000 miles.

New gear shift was needed around 65,000 miles.

New alternator in October of 1999, and new one in August of 2001.

All new C.V. joints were need at 75,000 miles.

A new distributor was needed at about 80,000 miles.

The engine light goes on and off. Diagnostic checks get expensive after a while.

The radio was replaced 3 weeks after the purchase of the car. The tape deck kept eating my tapes.

The battery died after one year.

General Comments:

The car is comfortable but very noisy on the inside.

Parts for the 1996 Kia get very expensive and are not kept in stock anywhere. They all must be ordered.

The only thing that I do enjoy with my car is that I am one of only five or six owners of this type of Kia in my state. It makes me unique. However, I will never own a Kia again. I had better luck with my Buick at 135,000 miles than I have ever had with this, my Kia.

Oh yeah, after all the problems I have had with this car I have yet to replace any lights on it. They all still work great.