1997 Kia Sephia complaints

SEEMS LIKE EVERY 3-4 MONTHS BRAKES START TO PULSATE, 3 TIMES SO FAR, EACH TIME REPLACED, BEING TOLD THAT WRONG STYLE BEING USED, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT JUST STARTED ACTING UP FOR THE 6TH TIME, EACH TIME BEING TOLD IT IS SENSORS OR GROUND CONNECTIONS. JUST NOTICED THE CLUTCH PROBLEM OF GOING TOO LOW TO FLOOR FOR THE 6TH TIME, EACH TIME BEING TOLD SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THIS IS GETTING OLD. WENT TO OPEN DRIVERS DOOR ONE DAY AN HANDLE WOULD NOT WORK. WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE ANOTHER TIME TO FIND IT WAS THE AXLE SEAL, WHICH WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES. GETTING READY TO TELL DEALER THEY CAN HAVE THIS CAR. FOR ONLY HAVING LESS THAN 14,000 MILES, TOO MUCH IS HAPPENING TOO OFTEN. *AK

WHEN CHANGING FRONT TIRE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, TWO OF THE STUDS BROKE. A STUD ALSO BROKE WHEN CHANGING THE REAR TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED THAT THE STUDS BROKE BECAUSE THEY WERE SCREWED TOO TIGHT. *AK *ML

BRAKE DISC WARPAGE WAS REPORTED. *AK

DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING HEAD-ON COLLISION. *AK

DRIVER'S SID E SEAT BELT INTERMITTENTLY WOULD LOOSEN BY ITSELF, LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT PROPER RESTRAINT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

KIA MOTORS NEEDS TO RECALL THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE SEPHIA. THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVEING PROBLEMS WITH THIER BRAKES. MY ROTORS SHOULD NOT BE WORN OUT AT 29,000 MILES, NONE THE LESS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGIAN AT 36,000. PLEASE CONTACT KIA ABOUT THIS ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE STALLING CONSTANTLY, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER FINAL REPAIR OF THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CORRECTED PROBLEMS. *MJS

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND DRUMS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON/LEAKING MOTOR OIL/ POWER STEERING BINDING, AND FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT.*AK

BRAKES GAVE WAY WHILE PARALLEL PARKING. HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE BRAKES MADE NOISES WHEN APPLIED. THEN WOULD FADE OUT. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE BRAKES WERE FINE & DID NOT NEED REPAIRING. *AK

I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO WARPAGE, THIS CAUSES VIBRATION. *AK

I CONTACT KIA REP. SEVERAL TIMES THEY EVEN TOLD ME THEY WAS SENDING SOMEONE TO LOOK AT MY CAR. I PROMISED THIS FIVE TO SIX TIMES. BEFORE PURCHASING THIS KIA I THE SALESMAN IF THIS CAR WAS VERY SAFE HE SAID, YES. BUT, WHEN I STARTED ALL OF THE BRAKES AND BELTS SQUEELING NOISE. NO ONE WOULD TALK TO ME ABOUT TAKING THIS CAR BACK. KIA EVEN TOLD ME NO. PALMETTO TOLD ME I NEED AT LEAST $3 TO $4 THOUSAND MORE TO PUT DOWN TOWARDS ANOTHER CAR. I AM VERY STRESS OUT OVER THIS CAR. I AM GOING IN FOR ANOTHER BRAKES REPLACEMENT SOON ITS HARD FOR ME TO NOT TO BE SAFE IN THIS CAR. WE HAVE HAD VERY CLOSE CALLS. PLEASE HELP. I EVEN THE CONSUMER BOARD AND A LAWYER GOT NO RESPONSES. THEY REPLACE MY DASH , BUT MY DEFORST DOESN'T WORK. LAST PROMISED THAT SOMEONE FROM KIA WILL BE IN TO TALK TO ME IN JUNE,1999 BUT IT NEVER HAPPEN. I MET SEVERAL CUSTOMER THERE WITH THE SAME PROLEMS. IF YOU CAN, JUST ASKED TO SEE ALL REPAIR THAT WERE DONE ON KIA'S FROM THEM YOU WOULD SEE A LOT OF BRAKES, ROTOR'S AND EVEN SOME DASHIES REPAIR DONE. SOME PEOPLE WHOM WORK THERE TOLD ME THAT THEY CHANGE BRAKES AND ROTORS EVERY DAY ON KIA'S SOME MORE TIMES YOU CAN'T BELEIVE. I CAN GIVE YOU THESE PERSON NAME IF WANTED. I WANT THEM TO TAKE THIS CAR BACK OR GIVE ME SOME MONEY OFF ON THIS CAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DIDN'T HAVE ACESS TO THE INTERNET BEFORE NOW.

THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE BRAKES ARE AGAIN SHAKING AND THE DEALER HAS ODVIOUSLY NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM .*ET

DASHBOARD IS TURNIN SLIVER TO DARK BROWN. MANUFACTURERHAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

DOOR SEAL FAILED.*ET

BRAKE SYSTEM CONTINUALLY MAKES NOISE, SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE NOISE, UNABLE TO RECTIFY. MJS

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES ENGINE STALLS COMPLETELY OUT. HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND STARTED BACK UP. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND CANT FIND SOLUTION.

WHILE DRIVING CAR ON TO A HIGHWAY APPLIED BRAKES AND HAD LT FRONT WHEEL LOCK UP AND LOST CONTROLL OF STEERING AND HIT CURB DOING DAMAGE TO LT CONTROL ARM AND RIM HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED HOME CAR WAS DIABLED FOR 2WKS

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TRANSAXLE PROBLEMS GETTING THE CAR IN GEAR . I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS GETTING KEYS FROM IGNITION SWITCH PART TOOK TWO WEEKS AND WAS RELACED AT DEALERSHIP

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. MJS

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH DRIVER WAS HIT ON RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE ,8 INCHES AWAY OFF CENTER. UPON IMPACT, , DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED SKULL LACERATIONS AND CONCUSSION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NO INDICTATION OF DUAL AIRBAGS BEING DEFECTIVE OR INOPERATIVE. *AK

TIRE DEVELOPED A BLISTER, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP AND VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

WHENEVER BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THEY WOULD FEEL MUSHY & MAKE LOUD NOISES. BEEN TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE ROTORS NEEDED CHANGING. HAD ROTORS CHANGED 6 TIMES & STILL PROBLEM EXISTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND DRIVER MOVED JUST LITTLE, THE SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED ON BOTH SEAT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES HEARD A LOUD NOISE, PEDAL FELT SPONGY, AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED DUE TO FAULTY WIRING--FIRE RESULTED. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE WIRING SYSTEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML

THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN OUTAND REPLACED TWICE. TANSMISSION FAILD CAUSING, LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND NEW TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. LEFT AXLE FAILED AND REPLACED. THE BATTERY WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START.*AK

VEHICLE SURGES BY ITSELF, AND THEN STALLS. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF PREMATURE WARPING. THE FIRST TIME WITH 14, 000 MILES AND THE SECOND TIME WITH 24,000 MILES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON, AND VEHICLES ENGINE STALLS . THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE SOLUTION. *AK

MANUAL WINDOW REGULATOR OUT OF ADJUSTMENT CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN ROLLING UP. MJS

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE NEW AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES WEARING OUT. FIRST THEY RESURFACED MY ORIGINAL ROTORS AND PUT THEM BACK ON. THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR BRAKES THEY "DEGLAZED BRAKE LINING". EACH SUBSEQUENT VISIT AFTER THESE THE ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT KIA IS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM BUT I'M NOT SEEING ANY RESULTS. MY 36000 MI BUMPER TO BOMPER WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE AND I'M AFRAID THEY'LL TRY TO START CHARGING ME FOR THESE REPAIRS. IN ACTUALITY, THE ROTORS COULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL MORE TIMES THAN THEY WERE, BUT I CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE GARAGE EVERYTIME THE BRAKES ARE BAD. I HAVE TO MISS WORK AND WAIT FOR VEHICLE TO BE WORKED ON, SO I BASICALLY DRIVE THIS CAR AROUND KNOWING THAT MY BRAKES COULD GO AT ANY TIME. I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE--NEED TO WORK. THE WAITING ROOM AT THE GARAGE HAS BEEN FULL OF PEOPLE WITH 97 SEPHIA'S WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES(AND OTHER NON-SAFETY RELATED ISSUES) AS I HAVE. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEONE COULD TAKE THIS PROBLEM SERIOUSLY. THE USUAL MILEAGE I GET FROM NEW ROTORS BEFORE THE PEDAL "GETS SOFT" IS ABOUT 500-1000, SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM TO GET TO THE GARAGE ALL OF THE TIME. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME...MELISSA

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH SERVERE VIBRATION WITHIN EVERY 4-5 MONTHS AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE BY DEALER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURS. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPEIENCING ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM; BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS BEFORE CORRECTION WAS MADE. AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON UNTIL CORRECTION WAS MADE CONCERNING THE CLUTCH.. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL IN THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES, BRAKES ARE SOFT AND GO HALF WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. *AK

BRAKE PADS FAILED RESULTING IN UNCONTROLABLE SHAKING OF VEHICLE, REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS. MJS

BRAKE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WARPED AND WORE OUT. THIS CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND COULD RESULTIN A CRASH. FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. DELAER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER WAS PUMPING GAS AT AN AMICO STATION---2216 PLANK RD. FREDRICKSBURG, VA. WHEN A FIRE BALL SHOT OUT OF GAS TANK AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO BURN. CONSUMER FOUND A FIRE EXSTINGUSHER AND MANAGED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. AK

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON. INDICATING AIRBAGS ARE INOPERATIVE.THEY WERE FIXED ONE AT THE TIME, BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE FRONT END SHIMMIES. DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ALSO, DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

FRONT TIRE EXPOLDED, CAUSING MODERATE DAMAGE, LOSS OF CONTROL, OTHER TIRE SEPARATING.( DOT NUMBER: YOR8 YPRI TIRE SIZE: P185 60R 1 )

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH ON PROPERLY,AND UNBUCKLES UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN MOVING AROUND, WHICH WONT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO EXTREME PULSATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. MJS

INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT AT ABOUT 30 MPH, AND DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. NO PRIOR PROBLEM OR WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED TWICE. ROTORS WARPED AND PADS GLAZING. COMPLAINED THATS BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING RIGHT, AND NOT STOPPING RIGHT. STARTED TO FILE LEMON LAW, AND WENT TO INFORMAL ARBITRATION. KIA MOTORS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. WAS GOING TO FILE WITH THE STATE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AND RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKES WITH KIA MOTORS, ON NHTSA WEB SITE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET HURT OR DIE IN A CAR CRASH BEFORE KIA WILL ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR BRAKE SYSTEMS BEING PLACED ON THESE CARS, WHICH HAS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THEM, CAUSING ACCIDENTS. THANK GOD MY DAUGHTER WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED THE CAR!!!!!! I WILL PROCIDE TO SUE KIA MOTORS FOR THEIR FAILURE TO ADDRESS SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCES BRAKE ROTOR AND PAD REPLACEMENT DUE TO VIBRATION/PULSATION. MJS

THE ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE SEAT BELT FAILED DID NOT RESULT IN ANY DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER. HOWEVER, EVEN AT THIS LOW SPEED THE BELT LATCH FAILED TO HOLD MY WIFE IN PLACE, RESULTING IN HER WHIPLASH. AT MANY TIMES THE LATCH SEEMS TO BE PROPERLY LATCHED, BUT WITH ONLY SLIGHT PRESSURE SUCH AS ADJUSTING YOUR SEATING POSITION THE BELT WILL UNEXPECTEDLY COME UNDONE. *AK

I AM NO LONGER GOING TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS LEMON! *AK

ON MARCH 18 1999 MY CAR WOULD NOT START UP INSTANTLY I HAD TO TRY A FEW TIMES TO START MY CAR AND AFTER THREE TRIES IT FINALLY STARTED I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THATS WHEN I FOUND OUT I NEEDED A NEW STARTER, FLYWHEEL,FUEL TRIM MALFUNCTION, NEW DTC GROUNG IMPROVEMENTS PROCEDURES.