Tl*the contact owns a 2005 Kia amanti. While approaching a stop light, the rmps increased rapidly, the vehicle accelerated and lunged into traffic. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by a dealer. The contact is concerned about the safety risk since a crash could have occurred. The failure mileage was 52,000.
2005 Kia Amanti cruise control problems
severe 24 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 24 cruise control complaints filed for the 2005 Kia Amanti, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Cruise control accounts for 29% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 10 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2005 Amanti throttle system fails in multiple ways, all intermittent and serious. Most commonly, the vehicle surges forward uncontrollably when the owner applies the brakes—one owner crashed into a parked car at low speed with her foot fully on the brake; another's car accelerated through a parking lot sign, grass, and nearly into trees before she shut off the ignition. At the opposite extreme, some owners report complete loss of acceleration: flooring the pedal produces nothing, leaving them crawling in traffic or unable to move at all. Others describe stalling on the interstate followed by sudden acceleration. Engine revving on startup, lurching at traffic lights without pedal input, and mysterious speed limiting to 15 mph appear in other complaints.
The pattern is always the same: intermittent (4–5 times per year to multiple times per week), impossible for dealers to reproduce, check engine lights come on during failures, and repairs—throttle body replacement (sometimes multiple times), computer swaps, throttle motor replacement, wire cleaning—fail to stick. Owners have been in multiple near-miss accidents and rear-end collisions. Kia's documented position is that they will not repair the vehicle unless the problem becomes constant and reproducible. Multiple owners report seeing dozens of similar complaints online and state no recall has been issued.
Failure modes owners describe
Uncontrolled sudden acceleration when braking
Engine revs uncontrollably and vehicle surges forward despite driver depressing brake pedal with full force. Occurs at low speeds in parking lots and intersections. Owners report inability to stop vehicle despite brake application; one owner resorted to turning off ignition key to regain control.
When: Intermittent, reported from early ownership through high mileage (80,000–125,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs rapidly while braking; Vehicle lurches forward uncontrollably; Brake pedal unresponsive despite firm application; Occurs at low speeds and during parking maneuvers
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce problem; no repairs completed. One complaint notes component 'revised to speed control' at owner request.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia and dealers unable or unwilling to duplicate or repair; factory refused repair without constant reproducibility; no recall issued.
Intermittent acceleration hesitation and no-acceleration events
Vehicle hesitates, bogs, or completely fails to accelerate when pedal is depressed or floored. Engine may idle without revving. Occurs after backing up, at traffic lights, or on interstate. Intermittent pattern makes diagnosis difficult; alternates with periods of normal or excessive power.
When: Intermittent, occurring as early as 18,313 miles; reported through 120,000 miles; some owners report 4–5 occurrences per year or multiple times per week
Symptoms owners cite: No power on initial takeoff from stop; Pedal floored with no engine response; Engine idles without revving; Car stuck in first gear or fails to shift properly; Occurs after reversing or at traffic lights
Codes mentioned: Check Engine light illuminates during failures
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body assembly replaced multiple times (three instances cited in one complaint); throttle motor replaced; computer module replaced; throttle wires cleaned; accelerator sensor recommended for replacement (not completed); dealer estimate of $900 for throttle body replacement cited. Repairs unsuccessful; problems persist after warranty work.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Throttle body replaced three times under warranty; computer and throttle motor replaced. Dealer and manufacturer refuse repair without reproducible fault. Kia factory customer service advised no repair unless problem becomes constant.
Speed loss and stalling during highway driving
While driving at highway speeds (interstate at 60 mph), vehicle suddenly loses power, drops to very low speeds (<10 mph), and stalls. Vehicle may restart but issue repeats. One incident escalated to complete immobility in busy intersection.
When: Intermittent incidents; one at 18,313 miles; another in middle of driving sequence with repeat within one month
Symptoms owners cite: Speed drops dramatically from highway speed to <10 mph; Engine stalls without warning; Car becomes completely immobile; Loss of power in middle of busy intersection
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body cleaned at dealer. Computer module replaced. Problem persisted after both repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer replaced computer and attempted throttle service; manufacturer contacted but offered no solution. No recall.
Erratic idle, lurching at stops, and RPM instability
Engine revs unexpectedly upon starting; vehicle lurches forward or backward at traffic lights and stop signs without pedal input. RPMs erratic and unstable. Occurs intermittently; owners must keep brake firmly depressed to prevent lurching.
When: Ongoing for over one year in at least one complaint; intermittent pattern
Symptoms owners cite: High engine revving upon starting; Vehicle lurches forward or backward at stops; Erratic RPM behavior; Surging momentarily while driving at any speed; Momentary deceleration without pedal input
Codes mentioned: Check Engine light illuminates during surging/deceleration events
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body assembly replaced on three occasions; failures continued.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No assistance offered by manufacturer; dealer unable to resolve despite multiple repair attempts.
Speed limiting to 15 MPH
Vehicle unexpectedly limits maximum speed to approximately 15 mph regardless of pedal input. Occurs intermittently and spans long mileage range (30,000 to 83,000 miles).
When: Intermittent; reported between 30,000 and 83,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Maximum speed restricted to ~15 mph; Vehicle will not accelerate beyond 15 mph; No engine response to throttle
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle wires cleaned multiple times under warranty; repairs unsuccessful.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Repairs done under warranty but offered no lasting solution; manufacturer offered no assistance.
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Kia amanti. While driving, the vehicle stalled and failed to accelerate. The dealer diagnosed that the accelerator sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
I have had several incidents where my vehicle accelerated almost causing an accident. I have been to the dealer three times and twice they have replaced the speed sensor. The third time they said they could not duplicate the problem. *tr
Dt*: the contact stated upon initial acceleration, the engine stalled and operated at a reduced speed followed by sudden acceleration without warning. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who was unable to duplicate the problem. Afterwards, the problem persisted. The manufacturer was alerted. *ak
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Kia amanti. The contact stated the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly when it was placed in drive. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer, and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 125,000 .
Driving on interstate in my 2005 Kia amanti and the car accelerated on it's own. Car speed increased and then just stopped. When I restarted the car, it started but when placed in drive car was completely immobile. Brought it in to Kia of kenner and was told that the throttle needed to be cleaned. Problem fixed, so I thought...next incident was driving and completely lost power in the middle…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2005 Kia Amanti?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2005 Kia Amanti?
It's a meaningful issue. 24 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 21,937 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 42,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 21,937; a quarter make it past 80,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Kia/Amanti.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.