Kia Picanto is an outstanding city car with a simple design but great performance. It is also reliable, practical, fuel-efficient, and fun to drive. Despite being exceptional in many ways, this car also develops many issues as it becomes older. But what are the common problems with the Kia Picanto?
Common problems with the Kia Picanto are erratic idling, cracked rubber hoses, crankshaft issues, rear brake noise, difficulty changing gears, fuel pump issues, fuel pressure regulator, and creaking noise while steering. Most of these problems happen because of wear and tear on the Kia Picanto.
What are the common problems with Kia Picanto?
Crankshaft problems
This is one of the major problems that all Kia Picanto users should be ready to deal with. Many users have reported registering crankshaft problems such as the crankshaft position sensor failing, the crankshaft pulley bolt failing, or the crankshaft snapping just behind the crank timing gear.
So, if your Kia Picanto experiences any of the above crankshaft issues, you should have it inspected. It can be due to a faulty bolt, a bad sensor, or a snapped crankshaft. Whatever the case, you will have to replace the bad part with a good one.
Fuel pressure regulator failure
Another problem that Kia Picanto owners should be ready to deal with is having a failed fuel pressure regulator. If the fuel pump is working properly but you detect that no fuel is getting to the fuel injectors, then this is a sign that the fuel regulator is faulty. Failure to fix this problem will cause car starting issues.
This problem can be fixed by replacing the fuel pressure regulator.
Erratic idling
Even though this problem is not very common, many users have reported experiencing it. When the user starts the car, idling feels erratic. This problem is normally caused by two things. The first is the idle sped control that may be sticking and will require lubrication to fix it. The second culprit a faulty throttle sensor. If this part is faulty, it should be replaced immediately to avert the problem.
Rear brake noise
Unlike the first three problems, this issue is not very common and happens on select cars. Affected people have reported hearing a humming noise emerging from the rear brakes. Besides, most of the affected individuals stated that this issue usually happened when the car hit over 20 miles or so.
This issue has been linked to a manufacturing fault as it doesn’t seem to go away completely.
Creaking noise while steering
This is another irritating problem that Kia Picanto users have reported. Those affected by this issue reported that they could hear a creaking sound when they steer the car. Besides, they added that the sound was more noticeable when pulling away from a cold start. To fix this issue, you should replace the bad anti-roll bushes.
Difficulty changing gears
Some Kia Picanto users have also reported having trouble changing gears. This is usually caused by the clutch juddering, making it pretty challenging to change gears. Note that this problem usually occurs because of wear and tear on the clutch system. So, if you start experiencing such issues, you should have the clutch system replaced.
Fuel pump problems
When your Kia Picanto gets older, it will also start having several issues that happen because of old age. One of those problems is the fuel pump getting old and not working optimally. Some of the issues you may start to notice are poor fuel economy, loss of power, or even both.
To fix this problem, you will have to replace the fuel pump. Even though you can apply some temporary fixes, this won’t last and that’s why it’s great to replace the pump.
Cracked rubber hoses
This is one of the problems that caused Kia to recall some of the Kia Picanto models. It is common on the 01/02/2011 to 30/06/2012 Kia Picanto. The rubber hoses in the fuel filler neck may crack over time and cause leakage.
You might also want to get more infomation about Kia Sportage problems and Kia EV6 problems.
FAQ
Is Kia Picanto a reliable car?
Yes, Kia Picanto is one of the most reliable city cars on the market. Many reliability agencies have given it a rating of 4.0 out of 5.0. Furthermore, this car registers fewer issues than most of its rivals. So, if you want a car that you can heavily rely on, the Kia Picanto is one of those cars.
How long does Kia Picanto last?
Since Kia makes some of the most reliable cars on the market, users should expect their cars to last for a long while. With proper care and maintenance, the Kia Picanto can last for more than 200,000 miles. Nonetheless, some users have reported clocking over 250,000 miles.
Is it expensive to maintain the Kia Picanto?
No, maintaining the Kia Picanto is way cheaper than most of its rivals. This is because it will cost you less than $400 to maintain the Kia Picanto. So, if you compare it to the industry average maintenance cost of around $652, you will save a lot. Besides, Kia spare parts are also cheap and easy to get, depending on where you live.
What is the biggest problem with Kia Picanto?
Even though Kia Picanto users have reported several problems over the years, the greatest problem that Kia Picanto users face is issues with the crankshaft. As the car ages, users may start having crankshaft problems like the crankshaft position sensor failing, the crankshaft pulley bolt failing, and the crankshaft snapping just behind the crank timing gear.
Are Kias as reliable as Toyotas?
Yes, Kia is as reliable as Toyota. However, this wasn’t always the case as a decade ago, Kias were considered to be unreliable. Today, most reliability agencies like Repairpal give Kia and Toyota the same reliability score of 4.0 out of 5.0. This is a sign that the Kias of today are as reliable as Toyotas.
Conclusion
Like any car, the Kia Picanto will start to develop problems as it ages. But with proper care and maintenance, most of the issues that we’ve discussed above can be done away with. Ensure to adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended service interval of 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.
All in all, the Kia Picanto is a wonderful city car. It is easy to maintain, fun to drive, and very reliable. It is also practical and advanced.
