2004 Kia Spectra GSX from North America
Summary:
This car is possessed
Faults:
This car is possessed.
The car first acted like it had a timing belt problem (inter-mitten problem). I took it in because it seemed that the automatic shifting wasn't happening at the right times. They told me, nothing is wrong that they can see.
A few days later it does it again, I bring it back to the shop because this time it didn't shift out of the gear at all. I was on the highway and couldn't go over 30mph, I was redlining the engine. I was told they saw nothing wrong with the car. I explained this wasn't the first time, they reiterate that they see nothing wrong with the car.
I drive off, of course it is working fine.
Few weeks later, it does the same thing and it gets stuck in gear again. I take it immediately to the shop. They look at it and believe it to be low on transmission fluid, but see no leaks. They tell me to watch my fluid levels. I leave very disgusted with this treatment.
Few weeks later, happens again. Pulled over looked at fluid level of transmission fluid. It is level on the line. Fluids are fine. Tired of being told I am crazy so I give up. I now turn the car off and back on.
I get no engine light, no warning when this will happen.
General Comments:
This vehicle has strange problems that I am sure could be fixed and this car could be really wonderful. It is a great car when it runs properly.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 19th December, 2005
24th Apr 2007, 01:01
Sounds like the problems I had with my car. Kia never bothered to look into the matter so I had to go to an independent repair shop. They wanted to rebuild, but I convinced them not to do so. Kia wouldn't agree on an outside repair shop doing the job. They said that they had to rebuild this transmission. But at the same time they did not acknowledge there was any problem with the car. No kidding! Talk about stuck in the middle!
Anyhow this independent shop found the error within an hour and they said it was a common failure on many types of transmissions. It was a sticking/defect solenoid. New transmissions are electronically operated and shifts are made when the management electronics send a shift signal to the solenoid.
Btw, I'll never bother buying a new Kia again. The cars are a heap of crap and the dealers are a bunch of gangsters.
21st Feb 2007, 12:25
That is really too bad that the dealer cannot catch the problem. I was thinking to my self "have a Priest bless the vehicle!". lol, no offense, but I just find that odd on whats going on. Hopefully not like the movie "Excoristism of Emily rose".