Faults:

Bought the car with a dead dome light bulb. They knew it was dead - volunteered an explanation when I brought it back! Someone who bought a Sportage the week before had this bad bulb, so they swapped it out with my working one. Rather than throw one out, they just kept swapping. Replaced for free.

Water seal between dash and car interior broken within 1 month. Driver and front seat passenger got wet feet when it rained. Fixed under warranty.

Wheel bearings began sqeaking and squealing within 9 months. This was NOT covered under warranty. I had to layout $150 to the dealer and pay for a car rental to get to work. Within 3 weeks, began squealing again. Given thehassle I went through the first time, I just gave up. Now I live with it.

A part on the cup holder (front seat) fell off one day last week. No big deal, it was just a flap to keep smaller drinks from moving. 4 days later, the under carriage of the drink holder falls off completely. Brought this to the dealer, fixed under warranty. However, in doing so, they cracked the plastic plate that fits around the cup holder and frames most of the controls. They didn't bother to bring this to my attention or replace it. In fact, the tech claimed it was there when I dropped it off. Visually, my dash was perfect when I dropped it off. Had to argue with two service managers, who implied that the fault is somehow mine, to get this fixed for free.

At the same time, the dome light went again. This light had worked fine until last summer, when it stopped. I assumed it was the bulb again, but did nothing since there's more daylight in summer and I wasn't missing it. I continued to do nothing until December, when it came back on by itself and started working normally again. Last week, it died again, looking very much like a wiring issue. Corrected the wiring and replaced the bulb for free under warranty, but while arguing with the service manager about my cracked dash plate, he mentions they don't actually cover this under warranty after the first year and I got a freebie due to a lucky mistake. As if he's done me some sort of favor. I asked how a wiring problem becomes the customer's responsibility, and volunteered that I would have paid for a replacement bulb if that had been the problem. At that point, he changed the subject. (???)

General Comments:

Getting decent customer service is like pulling teeth. Thankfully, none of the issues I've had have been major or dangerous (not yet, anyway). Kia has been really nitpicky about these small, cheap issues.

I wouldn't buy another one. I shouldn't have to fight with service to get them to fix the things they break!!

Faults:

Sway bar fell off at 3,000 miles.

Door handles have broken off within one month of owning.

Entire suspension had to be replaced.

Car sways badly at speeds over 40 MPH. Has been repaired 5 times and is still not better.

Front brakes came unglued and split, causing brakes to malfunction.

Transmission slips when starting from almost complete start.

General Comments:

The worst car I have ever driven. Steers like it has 400,000 miles.

It is impossible to get in touch with anyone at Kia. It took 5 months for a call back.

Every time the car was in the shop, I had to rent a car with my own money, even though everything was warranty work. Car rental came to more than 2 monthly payments in a six month period.

The car is cheaply made. Everything rattles and it is like driving in a wind tunnel while being pelted with pebbles.

Extremely slow acceleration.

Feels like it will roll over at any moment at low speed curves.

Shoddy construction. Very disappointing. Sluggish. Brakes pull hard to the right at all times.