Faults:

First thing is the thermostat.

Second thing is the radiator that went bad because of the thermostat.

Third is the starter which went out after the strut did.

Now its the Exhaust and oil leak.

General Comments:

This car is a "fair" car for six months then it's a lemon.

Faults:

It all began with the dashboard. It became discolored and appeared burnt. Luckily we had it replaced with about 100 miles to spare under the warranty.

The brakes and rotors went out next. We had them replaced, and continue to replace our brakes every 8 months or so.

Soon after that the civic joints had to be replaced and the driver's side civic joint has torn again since.

Then the car began to switch out of overdrive, jerk and accelerate, then finally break down for three months.

After changing the fuel pump, fuel filter, distributor cap, and rotor, we finally found out it needed a new electronic ignition module thanks to a mechanic in Lubbock TX.

Then it did it again. Same problem, different solution. This time it was a loose connection to a relay in the black fuse box underneath the hood. I strongly recommend changing out that black fuse box. It has a lot of delicate connections that can cause major problems.

The cooling fan stopped working, caused by bad relay or relay connection, once again.

The water pump began leaking and had to be replaced after our antifreeze poured out all over the driveway.

We have replaced the spark plug wires around 10 times; spark plugs five times.

The car was overheating because water wasn't passing through the radiator, so we replaced that.

And just today we got it back after having all four motor mounts replaced because the car was jerking during take off and vibrated at stops.

Good news, now the car runs better than ever. It's smooth, it cools well, it's quiet... For the time being...

General Comments:

I've noticed a lot of others say it does well in races. Very true. I've beat a Mustang, a Grand Cherokee, a Camaro and a Dodge Ram to list a few. It keeps up well with so called muscle cars. KIA gets an A plus on that.

If you're going to buy or put money into a used KIA, remember to try to have a lot of patience.

Faults:

For the love of God, do not even THINK about buying this utter piece of crap if your life means anything to you. I am currently being asphyxiated by the engine due to having to keep the gas pressed while driving, otherwise it will stall out in the middle of traffic. I've had the alternator replaced about 5 times. The check engine light is ALWAYS on supposedly due to the oxygen sensor which costs almost $400 on the 1.8L engine (it's $17 on the 1.6L engine)!!! I took it to my favorite import mechanic who previously worked on my Nissan and he literally wouldn't even work on it. It is uncomfortable as hell. The dash/console is coming apart at the seems. The back left turn signal doesn't work and is rusted into the socket because the trunk leaks during rain. Last week I could have gone swimming in the trunk and had to put a blanket in the spare tire compartment to sop it all up. Barely runs at all, despite routine maintenance. The engine, electrical system, and body must have been put together by a couple of blind monkeys on crack. Worst car I've ever owned. Getting rid of it ASAP. Not recommended unless you have a death wish.