Comrades, I've got a few problems with my car, which the SC said are common among K5s, do you have such problems?

1) the lumbar support mechanism has free play, meaning when I accelerate and decelerate, i can feel and hear a "cluck" sound from the seat, SC said it's common. My lumbar support is just lightly adjusted, around 10-20% from the off position.
2) the rear view mirror has poor quality plastics, it makes cracking noise when you squeeze it lightly or when the interior is cooling down from the hot sun. SC said it is common.
3) and off course there're the funny noises from all over the cabin

SC told me it's normal, just accept it. I disagree loh, this is not Proton, so I hope they don't treat their customers the Proton way. Btw, i'm not being overly fussy, ironically, the Rondo that they loaned me for two weeks didn't have all these annoying noises.

I'm planning to escalate my complaints and ensure that these problems are rectified.

Comrades, I will fight till the end to get my problems fixed. Now I'm in the midst of filming those problems down and compile them as my supporting evidence to Naza Kia or Hyundai/Kia Korea if necessary. Actually i've been having these problems for a while and Naza has been responding to my complaints but when it comes to fixing it, they tend to brush off the problems or convince me to accept them as is. Well, i've driven so many cars in my life, from the cheapest to the luxurious and I kind of understand what sort of basic qualities we should look for in a D-seg vehicle. But it seems other K5 are okay, maybe I'm having pure bad luck and got a lemon car (bloody hell, i'm such a good customer, booking the car 6mths before launch without even smelling it). I remember another member here also experienced similar problems.

However, Naza has been courteous enough to provide me assistance in terms of loan car and follow up calls, and attended to my complaints numerous times.

I have 8 problems in total including:
1) Sunroof noise - mitigated but not rectified by SC
2) Noisy vibrating speaker grill on the dashboard - SC ignored / forgotten
3) Really loud seat knocking noise - Rectified, tighten up something underneath
4) Lousy rear view mirror that makes noise - SC said common, didn't plan to fix
5) Creaking rear suspensions - SC said changed the absorbers, still creaking now
6) Free play in lumbar support - SC said common, but willing to replace the entire driver seat that costs RM4k if i'm still not happy after Raya
7) Loud and lousy windscreen wipers that didn't work in rain - SC totally ignored, hell, i think i'll get myself a pair of silicon wipers
8) Slight noise in driver side b-pillar (only when driving on really rough roads) This one i plan to ignore if they can't detect it.

Phew... So comrades, what should i do now? Write a love letter to Naza Service / Sales GM? Continue to deal with Naza Customer Care? Try another SC? Any good SC to intro? Red Cube ok or not?

In the end I still love my K5, don't get me wrong, though frustrating when all these problems occur.

Most importantly, NAZA, IF YOU ARE READING THIS! PM ME FOR SOLUTIONS!

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Added on August 23, 2012, 11:06 pmPM me when you plan to go for 10k service, i'll PM you who takes charge of my case in NAZA Care, Selayang SC and my car plate number for their reference. I'll contact them at the same time pertaining the same problem.

This post has been edited by JuneSeptember: Aug 23 2012, 11:06 PM

First batch. Feb till now. 2 problems occurred right after leaving the showroom, i was excited and confused at that time, didn't expect them to be quality issues. The rest occurred 1-2 months later.

Guys, spend a bit of time, keep all keys and stuff away, turn off your stereo and listen to your car. You may be having 1-2 of my problems as well.

This post has been edited by JuneSeptember: Aug 23 2012, 11:18 PM

Buddies, get ready for a really disappointing warranty / service experience with your sunroof problems. I've spent 3-4months and going in and out of the SC 4-5 times asking them to rectify my problems, nothing gets done at the end. They will try to grease/glue/tighten whatever they can but these temporary solutions won't resolve your problems completely. My problems reoccurred 3-days after collecting it from the SC.

They had once suggested to replace my windscreen because they can't resolve my jumping wiper problem (off course i stopped them) but really unfortunately, in the process of replacing my rearview mirror, they have accidentally yanked off the plastic peg holding the rearview mirror and shattered my windscreen. And these fellas curi-curi replaced my windscreen without notifying me before hand (and there goes my 3M tinting). Until now they haven't offered me any form of apology or compensation.

So, out of extreme frustration, I made a little video for KIA MOTORS, i'm gonna post it all over KIA's facebook pages and whatever social network sites they have, after my meeting with NAZA KIA this coming Wednesday pertaining my problems. Since Paris Motor Show is coming, i'll take this opportunity to grab a bit of their attention.

Video: My K5 Problems

Finally my baby is back, and what a beauty she is:



Alright, it's time for me to give you guys a status report on my problems. Sorry, I've been busy, couldn't reply here from time to time.

So, after pressuring the KIA people via various channels:
1) Wrote a very detailed email telling the story from A-to-Z, attached videos and pictures to KIA Korea through this system, and also CC-ed to KIA CMD :
KIA DDMS System <-- this is so well hidden that it took me two days to find it.
2) Wrote multiple emails and phone calls to KIA CMD Dept.
3) Paid surprise visits to KIA HQ

So, finally KIA Korea acknowledged my problems and instructed KIA Selayang SC and CMD Dept to contact me immediately (and bloody hell, these Korean fellas disappeared straight away and left the problems to NAZA KIA to handle), and then i finally secured a meeting with CMD personnel, KIA technical personnel, and KIA Selayang Manager at the end of Sept 2012.

so, bla bla bla, i had to take another day off to attend to these people and re-told them the story A-Z, and pointed out all of the problems, and they promised me the following:
1) they'll reimburse my losses pertaining to my windscreen tinting
2) they'll replace all parts that were damaged by their technicians
3) they'll fix all my problems according to KIA factory standards
4) they'll provide me a courtesy car and collect my car from my office, rather than having me go all-the-way to their SC
5) they'll collect my car on the following week
6) they'll give me a status report from time to time, and they'll give me a job report after all things are done
Well, the manager and all who attended the meeting was sincere and apologetic though, so I couldn't get angry and raise my voice, it's KIA Korea's quality control problems anyhow, can't really blame them.

So, I went back waited for a week, no news, and waited another week, still no news. Waited another week (3rd week) still no news. So I couldn't wait anymore and went straight to their HQ CMD for a surprise visit, and not surprisingly, all those who were taking charge of my case was either 'absent' or 'busy' or 'engage' and they sent out an innocent lady to handle me. Sigh, so i talked nicely again and got her to promise me to address my problems on the following week. And they did. Their excuse for such a long delay was lack of courtesy car, and they must que for the cars.

On the following week, no news nor any updates from KIA. So I called and ask, and finally the SC service personnel came to my office with a Forte and collected my car.

For the first two weeks, no news. Then on the third week, KIA CMD called and told me they are ordering parts and fixing the car.

And it took them 5 weeks to get the car ready (and that was after I called and pressured them). So after initial inspection, the following were done:

1) Sunroof noise - mitigated but not rectified by SC Completely erradicated
2) Noisy vibrating speaker grill on the dashboard - SC ignored / forgotten Didn't hear anything initially, but i heard something today, still assessing
3) Really loud seat knocking noise - Rectified, tighten up something underneath Completely erradicated
4) Lousy rear view mirror that makes noise - SC said common, didn't plan to fix they replaced it, much better now, but still not good enough
5) Creaking rear suspensions - SC said changed the absorbers, still creaking now They said it's the parking brake shoes that are causing the sound, didn't fix it
6) Free play in lumbar support - SC said common, but willing to replace the entire driver seat that costs RM4k if i'm still not happy after Raya Didn't replace, just tighten it, much much much better now, but still got a bit sound and "feeling" but I don't plan to pursue this matter anymore
7) Loud and lousy windscreen wipers that didn't work in rain - SC totally ignored, hell, i think i'll get myself a pair of silicon wipers Didn't test, still assessing
8) Slight noise in driver side b-pillar (only when driving on really rough roads) This one i plan to ignore if they can't detect it. Didn't test, still assessing
9) KIA Selayang SC scratched my A, B, C, Z pillar plastic trims they replaced all the ABCZ pillar trims, but now i'm worried when the airbag will burst at my head
10) and also left multiple black grease marks on my ceiling, pillars they replaced all the ABCZ pillar trims
11) and also poked and left some marks on my rear leather seat they ordered the rear seat, to be replaced
12) and also left some prying marks on my dashboard soft plastic trim they tried to press it back, still a bit bulging, i don't plan to pursue any further
13) and also pry-ed and damaged the little plastic covers covering the screws at the door handles (inside ones, not outside) they ordered the little covers, to be replaced

Over all, the chaps at Selayang SC are very helpful and attentive when you are there. The CMD HQ people are really ignorant and unattentive. I'll write in a recommendation letter to the HQ for the Selayang Boys after they fix everything for me.

Say, if all or part of my problems reoccur in the next few days/weeks, do you thing I should go back to KIA or just send them a legal letter/letter of demand? The problems started on the second week of ownership and it took them 10-months to solve a few problems (to be exact, the car was left at the SC for 3-months, and I only kept the car for 6 agonizing months).

So, any fellows here facing similar problems? I think I'm experienced enough to guide you here.

Ahh, interesting. Where can I contact MYK5Club? Facebook? I'm really annoyed right now, and I'm planning to get Pusat Khidmat Aduan Pengguna Nasional (NCCC) and MITI involved. At the same time i'm compiling the necessary materials to take a legal action against them.

I've just tested it out, my (2) Noisy speaker grill is still there. Bro, somehow this is the most difficult part to solve and it is the top three most annoying things that can happen to your brand new K5, namely (1) Noisy Speaker grill (2) Lumbar support free-play (3) Noisy sunroof

Can someone confirm something for me? I notice whenever our cars go over potholes or even roads, there's always a click sound somewhere, either the dash, or the rear view mirror area. Is this normal? or Am I too sensitive?

This post has been edited by JuneSeptember: Dec 10 2012, 01:32 AM

How do we test jumpy steering? Is it a common issue? (as in, is it present in every K5?)


Thank you. I can barely recognize my own car after leaving it so long at the SC.

I like black colour. The one in my avatar was taken in singapore. It really shows the chrome roof rails and the rear lights. Dunno why Naza never being it black colour...

Guys, i'm just curious. Does your car shudder a little when you put it into D and quickly let go the brake paddle?

And, does you front brakes makes sound when you put it into D and let go your brakes slowly and let the car roll forward slightly?

Just want to make sure, and i'll make a report to KIA if necessary.

Something like, nyeeekk...

Under normal braking there's no sound, but when you try to be gentle, tap your brakes, and let the car roll really slightly, there'll be a "nyyyeeek" sound.

maybe it's time for a Brembo upgrade.

I have that problem. It occurs only when the road surface is really rough. I'll show it to the service manager during my next service. It's not a big problem, if they won't rectify it, I'll just stuck a small piece of rubber at the gap between the safety belt cover and the pillar. It should fix the problem.

Hi guys,

Just to add a few more points to CM98's list:

4) my car still suffers from squeaking parking brakes, despite having the technical guys serviced it and got rid of the sound for a short while (for about a month)
5) CM98's juddering wiper also happened to me, i've got rid of it myself with a pair of cheap bosch rubber wipers but now my car suffers from high-pitch squeaking noises (maybe a pair of expensive PIAA wipers would solve the problem)
6) no more sun-roof noises after KIA did a major operation but i gained a new funny noise above the left-side rear passenger seat (its like a coin flipping in the roof).
7) my replacement parts for the front speaker grills still haven't arrive one year after i complained about the problem, haha
8) there's a strange "nyek nyek" sound emitting from the center console. Not sure what it is yet.
9) my sunroof rubber seal would come off if I open and close the roof in really hot weather. i've got to guide the rubber seal back with my fingers.

Anyone else suffers from the above problems, especially problem (4), (8) & (9)? I can't be the only fella having the problem... Any advice?