Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Kia Amanti, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 9 | 12% |
| Fuel system | 6 | 8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 8% |
| Power train | 5 | 7% |
| Suspension | 4 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 4% |
| Engine | 2 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The 2004 Kia Amanti will accelerate on it's own. I have been in local traffic and it accelerates and de-accelerate like a run away horse. It will then drive normal. The check engine light comes on sometimes and goes ba
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP THEREFORE THE CONTACT PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF TH
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
AFTER GETTING HOME LAST NIGHT FROM MY SISTER IN LAW'S GENDER REVEAL, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE BONNET SO I OPENED IT QUICKLY AND SAW A FIRE BLAZING BEHIND THE ENGINE....WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE, THEY PO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
STARED DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR WAS TRYING TO GO OUT GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY PULL TO THE SIDE AND THEN IT STOP RUNNING TRYED TO START IT UP IT WOULDN'T DO NOTHING BATTERY BRAND NEW LLIGHTS CAME IT THAT WAS IT ONC
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA AMANTI. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT QUICKLY MERGED OFF THE EXIT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE TOW TRUCK DR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
SUNROOF SHATTERED UPON OPENING TILT POSTITION, MINOR CUTS FROM GLASS CLEAN UP.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
AIRBAG LIGHT ON, TOOK IT TO GET IT CHECK AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BATTERY. GOT A NEW BATTERY LIGHT STILL ON. THE LIGHT IS ON AT ALL TIMES.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOWN A 3 LANE ROAD. THE WINDOWS BEGAN TO OPEN AND CLOSE, THE DOOR LOCKS DID THE SAME. WARNING LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON & OFF ON THE DASH AND I HAD ALMOST NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE LI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 57 | average |
| Performance | 57 | average |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 9 of them (12%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.