Amanti (1st)
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
3.5-V6-Gas
3.5L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Kia Amanti Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
3.8-V6-Gas
3.8L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Amanti, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
What to check on a used 2004-2009 Kia Amanti
On a used 2004-2009 Kia Amanti, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the airbags and driver-assist systems (40), the electrical system (39) and the transmission and drivetrain (38). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 40 owner complaints on the 2004-2009 Kia Amanti about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 39 owner complaints on the 2004-2009 Kia Amanti about the electrical system.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 38 owner complaints on the 2004-2009 Kia Amanti about the transmission and drivetrain, all engines combined.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 35 owner complaints on the 2004-2009 Kia Amanti about the engine, all engines combined.
- Let the engine idle for five minutes, walk around the car and smell for fuel.Safety. NHTSA has 29 owner complaints on the 2004-2009 Kia Amanti about the fuel system, all engines combined.
Recalls (2)
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
Alternatives in Full-Size Sedan
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2004-2009 Kia Amanti complaints?
Owners have filed 246 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004-2009 Kia Amanti. The systems they name most often are the safety systems, the electrical system and the transmission.
Is the 2004-2009 Kia Amanti a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 246 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004-2009 Kia Amanti. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004-2009 Kia Amanti have?
NHTSA has 246 owner complaints on file for the 2004-2009 Kia Amanti as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2004-2009 Kia Amanti?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls covering some 2004-2009 Kia Amanti vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Kia Amanti?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the safety systems, the electrical system and the transmission, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
Does the Amanti have NHTSA crash test ratings?
NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2004-2009 Kia Amanti. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 246 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.