FOR @ 6 MONTHS THE CAR JERKS WHEN I AM DRIVING. WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR IT WILL DO 2-3 JERKS THAT ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO JERK YOU FORWARD IN YOUR SEAT. IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR HAS FORGOTTEN WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AND IT IS SEARCHING TO FIND IT. OR YOU COULD DESCRIBE IT AS THOUGH IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL WHERE IT IS NEEDED EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE HAD EVEN PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS MAINLY OCCURRE…
2005 Kia Amanti powertrain problems
moderate 9 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
I BOUGHT MY 2005 KIA AMANTI IN OCT 2005. ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE.....A HESITATION TOOK PLACE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN....THEN THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE AT TOP SPEED. IF THIS EVER HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. MENTIONED THIS SITUATION TO THE DEALER AND NOTHING CAN BE DOWN UNLESS THE "SO CALLED" HES…
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SPORADIC PROBLEMS WITH 'JACK RABBITING', WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WITH A LIGHT TOUCH TO THE GAS PEDAL, THE JARS LITERALLY JUMPS FORWARD. IN EACH CASE, IT TAKES ABOUT THREE TOUCHES TO THE GAS PEDAL, TO GET TO 'NORMAL DRIVING. IT IS A FAST ACCELERATION, WHICH CAUSES THE TIRES TO 'SCREECH' SOMETIMES AND THE CAR TO JUMP FORWARD. THE SECOND ITEM THAT STARTED HAPPENIN…
I READ ABOUT RECALL ON 2007 KIA AMANTI AND THE STOP LAMP SWITCH. IT SAID COULD MAKE IT HARD SHIFT FROM PARK TO GEARS. I OWN A 2005 KIA AMANTI AND YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL HOURS WITH NO PROBLEMS, I STARTED IT OUT IN REVERSE IT WAS A SEMI HARD SHIFT THEN PUT INTO DRIVE AND IT WAS A EXTREMELY HARD SHIFT. AS WELL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I ALSO READ ABOUT A SOFTWARE UPDATE THA…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 Kia Amanti?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 9 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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