AI Damage2006 KIA Amanti: common problems
Owners of the 2006 KIA Amanti filed 47 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and vehicle speed control. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 47
- involving a crash
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 28% of all complaints
- 2 Vehicle speed control 23% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 6% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 6% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 4% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 13 complaints (28% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 11 complaints (23% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 5 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 3 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 47 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags failed to deploy with the impact. The vehicle was completely destroyed and towed to collision center. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. Js
Cv axle separated from transmission..updated 11/03/11 the consumer stated she lost control of the vehicle, and it skidded to a stop, crossing into the next lane. There was damage to the front bumper and fender. The dealer found the ball joint and passenger front axle had separated. Updated ivoq 02/29/12
When attempting to accelerate there was a low engine power response with hesitation. The accelerator pedal was applied numerous times, and then suddenly an excessive acceleration occurred causing the vehicle to crash into a house. A police report was not filed. There were no personal injuries.
When parking and trying to put the car in reverse our 2006 amanti kia lurched forward and accelerated down the street. I was the passenger and had unbuckled my seat belt in preparation of getting out of the car.
Smelled plastic like smoke inside vehicle, rolled down window , vehicle accelerated with foot on brake pressing as hard as possible, accelerator pedal went down. Car continued to accelerate until striking a tree and rolling over.
Tried to accelerate to increase speed but nothing happened...then jerks into motion. Dangerous situation with oncoming cars
Air bags not functional stationary and/or in motion electrical/electronic controls would not lock/unlock auto doors while stationary or moving radio push buttons not functional leaving it unusable at all times
Check engine light came on. Diagnosed as throttle position sensor. Car ran sluggishly for a short while, then that stopped, light went off. Today, light came on again.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,507 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 15% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Amanti has 41 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 47, about average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2006 KIA Amanti?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, vehicle speed control, air bags. Total complaints: 47. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: jerking, harsh shifts (17%), stalls while driving (11%), unintended acceleration (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 KIA Amanti?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2006 KIA Amanti from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2006 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.