1995 Kia Sephia

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 KIA SEPHIA. AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT THE HEAT SOURCE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,479. UPDATED 05/19/08 *BF UPDATED 05/19/08

DASHBOARD IS ROLLING BACK FROM THE WINDSHIELD ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SID EOF THE CAR. UNABLE TO SECURE THE DASHBOARD.*AK

THE DASH HAS SEVERAL DISCOLORED BROWN.. LOOKING LIKE BURNT SPOTS ON IT AND HAS COMPLETELEY COME UNGLUED NEAREAST THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEFROSTERS ARE RENDERED USELESS BY THIS. I COMPLAINED TO A KIA DEALER AND HE SAID I COULD HAVE A NEW ONE PUT ON. BUT ONLY COMPLETELY AT MY EXPENSE.*AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *TS REQUESTING INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL CAMPAIGN #(02V-216) OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES 1995-98 KIA SEPHIS AND SPORTAGE VEHICLES.

THE DASHBOARD CURLED AND LIFTED FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AS A RESULT OF EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT. *NLM *NLM

TECHNICAL DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING. MR THE CONSUMER STATED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MADE ALL KINDS OF NOISES. *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART, THE GLUE, BOLTS AND PLASTIC COVER ARE ALL COMING APART. NLM *YH

DRIVER WAS NOT WEARING LAP PORTION OF SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FORCES THROUGH ROLL OVER COLLISION SEQUENCE CAUSED MOUNTING BRACKET FOR PASSIVE RESTRAINT LATCH TO FAIL. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT OFFICER SEDAM, CHP MAIT, 559-444-2538, REPORT CL-026-02. *AK

DASHBOARD IS STARTING TO ROLL BACK AWAY FROM WINDSHIELD TOWARDS THE DRIVER. IF STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS VEHICLE ONE CAN SEE INTO THE CONTROL PANEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAME OFF IN CONSUMERS HAND AS SHE WAS SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR, UPON EXAMINATION OF THE LEVER, IT LITERALLY SNAPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE METAL, CONSUMER BELIEVES THE METAL USED WAS FAULTY, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

THERE ARE BROWN SPOTS, IN AN OTHERWISE NAVY BLUE COLORED DASH, THAT APPEAR TO BE BURNED AREAS. ALSO, THE PART OF THE DASH CONNECTED CLOSEST TO THE WIND SHIELD HAS BECOME COMPLETELY UNGLUED. UPON CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE DASH ITSELF BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR. SINCE OUR WARRANTEE HAD EXPIRED, WE THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY FAIR UNTIL WE WERE INFORMED WE COULD ONLY HAVE IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP (WHO CHARGES $80/HOUR). OUR REGULAR AUTO BODY SPECIALIST WOULD CHARGE US HALF OF THAT AMOUNT, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE ACTUALLY PAYING FOR THE DASH. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO LET US TAKE THE FREE DASH OUTSIDE THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THEN WHEN WE ASKED FOR THAT AGREEMENT IN WRITING, THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD NEVER AGREED TO ALLOW THAT. WE ASKED THEM TO REVIEW THEIR "QUALITY ASSURANCE" TAPES. WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT EVEN IF THE TAPES PROVED THE CONVERSATION OCCURED AS WE SAID, WE STILL COULD NOT TAKE THE DASH ANYWHERE OTHER THAN THE DEALERSHIP. WE DID NOT EVEN BUY THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP. BY OFFERING TO GIVE US A REPLACEMENT DASH FREE OF CHARGE, THEY WERE ADMITTING THAT IT WAS A DEFECT. OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE SHOWED THE DASH TO, NOT ONE PERSON HAD EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT IN THEIR LIVES. WE FEEL THAT WE WERE DECEIVED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

RADIATOR HAS OVERHEATED AND CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DAMAGING THE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW THAT HORN NEVER WORKED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AFTER REALIZING IT DIDN'T WORK. DEALER REPLACED IT ONCE BEFORE. HORN STILL HAS A PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, AND THEN ROLLED OVER A COUPLE TIMES, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH DOOR LATCH, DASH, INTERIOR LIGHTING AND DRIVER SEAT. *AK

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. *AK

DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN 4 CAR COLLISION WHERE THERE WAS FRONTAL AND REAR IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND SEATBELTS UNLATCHED BY THEMSELVES, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

THE ORIGINAL CLUTCH WAS REPLACED AT 20000 MILES, THEN THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 60000 MILES. NOW AT 72500 MILES BOTH THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION ARE BEING REPLACED AGAIN, AFTER A TOTAL FAILURE.

BRAKES WOULD SQUEAL. HAD TROUBLE STOPPING/EAR WINDSHIELD KEEPS POPPING OUT BENT FRAME, AND TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE SHAFT IS CROOKED.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR WHICH IS SITTING ON THE TAIL PIPE KEEPS LOOSENING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT AN HIGH SPEED AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. WHILE AT HIGH SPEEDS IT STARTS TO STALL AND WILL ALSO SHUT OFF AT AN HIGH SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THE CV JOINTS REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER AND NOW THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, FRONT AXLE FAILED.* ET

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED CAUSING IT TO BE EITHER TOO TIGHT OR NOT TO RETRACT PROPERLY.

THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DASHBOARD SEPARATING ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DRIVER'S VIEW IS OBSCURED. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED TO CALL "800" NUMBER IN OWNER'S MANUAL. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION.

FRONT BRAKES HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR. ROTORS/PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. DEALERS NOTED CONSUMER'S NELIGENCE. *AK

THE KEY WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK ON THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED INTERMITTENTLY THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS AND THE BRAKE PADS. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SPED FORWARD, CAUSING A COLLISION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED .*AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED WIRING HARNESS TO MELT /OVERHEAT. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES. ALSO, INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

THE ENGINECHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES PRIOR TO TODAY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT IS CURRENTLY ON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS AND CUTS OFF.THE DRIVER RECEIVES NO INDICATION THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO STALL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

UNSPECIFIED: AIR BAG FAILED.

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES PERIODICALLY. ONCE THIS HAPPENS VEHICLE STARTS TO USE FUEL EXCESSIVELY WITH FUMES OR POSSIBLE BURNING SMELL FOR WHICH THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. VEHICLE SERVICED TWICE WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. *AK *SLC

VEHICLE LOSS CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER TOLD OWNER THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON VEHICLE DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT. OWNER TOOK HER CAR IN FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES, AND MANUFACTURER DID NOT TELL HER THAT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT. *AK

DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED OF 65MPH, VEHICLE STEERED VERY HARD TO LEFT AND THEN TO RIGHT, HAD NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE, IMPACT 1:00 POSITION , HAD NO CONTROL , IMPACT AGAIN. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROTECT DRIVER IN AN ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY.

STEERING FAILURE, HIT SMALL POTHOLE, VEHICLE VEERED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND LOST CONTROL, VEHICLE FLIPPED SIDEWAYS AND HIT A POLE, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOESN'T LOCK IN PLACE . *AK

EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF ROTORS AND PADS, DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, PROBLEM PERSISTS. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED (5) TIMES FOR THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE FRONT ROTORS WARPED AND (3) TIMES FOR THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE BECAUSE THE RACHET WAS BROKEN. *AK

AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT END ACCIDENT; VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT STANDSTILL, NO WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD; VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK

THERE IS RUST STARTING FOAM IN THE FILLER TUBE . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN APPYLING THE BRAKES THEY MAKE LOUD NOISE, AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FIVE TIMES TO BE CHECKED, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED PADS AND ROTORS . *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL WHEN IN INTERMITTENT MODE WILL NOT VARY SPEED.

ABS: EXPERIENCED 3 TIMES WITHIN 8 MONTH PERIOD, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELING TO FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING EFFECT; ALSO, O2 SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING CAR TO STALL ON RAILROAD. AIR FLOW SENSOR CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL ON FREEWAY RAMP FOUR WEEKS LATER O2 SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED, FOUR WEEKS AFTER BRAKE INSPECTION, NEW ROTORS AND PADS WERE INSTALLED AFTER THE DEALER STATED NO BRAKE MALFUNCTION OR SAFETY DEFECTS COULD BE DETECTED.*JB