1998 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.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH 36,000 MILES OR LESS AS OF JULY 15, 2002, AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT PROBLEM MAY HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE HAZARD SWITCH WHICH COULD RESULT IN INOPERATIVE HAZARD LIGHTS AND/OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNALS.

Risk. THE LOSS OF TURN SIGNALS OR REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND/OR IS STOPPED AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 6, 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.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. MANUFACTURING CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE ORVR SPRING FORCE AND FLOAT WIRE LENGTH REDUCING THE VALVE ANGLE. CERTAIN VALVES CAUSED FUEL SHUT OFF BEFORE THE TANK REACHED 95% OF NOMINAL CAPACITY.

Risk. THIS WOULD CAUSE CUSTOMERS TO ADD MORE FUEL TO THE TANK CAUSING FUEL SPILLBACK OR SPITBACK FROM THE FUEL FILLER NECK.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORVR VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 13, 2000. 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.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR THE FUEL PUMP IS GROUNDED AT JUNCTION CONNECTOR G300. IF THE PIN TENSION IS POOR, OR THE BOLT SECURING THE CONNECTOR TO THE VEHICLE FLOOR IS NOT TIGHTENED SUFFICIENTLY, A POOR CONNECTION IS MADE. AS THE FUEL PUMP OPERATES, THE POOR CONNECTION CAN CREATE HEAT WHICH IN TURN INCREASES RESISTANCE. EVENTUALLY THE FUEL PUMP WILL NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH CURRENT TO OPERATE.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. THIS CORRECTIVE ACTION IS BEING PERFORMED IN CONJUNCTION WITH RECALL NO. 99V317.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO THE FUEL PUMP PASSES THROUGH THE C304 AND C305 CONNECTORS. IF EXPOSED TO MOISTURE, THESE CONNECTORS COULD CORRODE. OVER TIME, THE FUEL PUMP WILL NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH CURRENT TO OPERATE.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING CONNECTORS AND REPOSITION THOSE CONNECTORS TO AN AREA WHERE THE PLACEMENT IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH MOISTURE.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BALL SOCKET ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINK MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE RESULTING IN THE LINK DISENGAGING FROM THE WIPER MOTOR DRIVE UNDER LOAD, SUCH AS PUSHING AGAINST ICE, SNOW OR OTHER RESISTANCE. ALSO THE WIPER ARM RETAINING NUT COULD BE INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED ALLOWING THE WIPER ARM TO SLIP AND/OR STOP FUNCTIONING.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE IMPAIRMENT OF VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINK AND ALSO PROPERLY TIGHTEN THE WIPER ARM RETAINING NUTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V317000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR THE RECALL IN 1999. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HANSON KIA (2300 CARRIAGE LOOP SW, OLYMPIA, WA 98502, (360) 943-2120) AND WAS INFORMED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE ACTIVATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE WIPER SCRATCHED THE WINDSHIELD AND DID NOT CLEAR THE RAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V271000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE WHEN HE HEARD AN UNUSUAL CLICK. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO LOCK YET THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE WHEEL. HE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE AS THE STEERING BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE RACK AND PINION MOUNTING BRACKET HAD FRACTURED FROM THE FIRE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,553.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO 50 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HE HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL EXCESSIVELY IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DRIVER ALSO STATED THAT HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD PERIODICALLY FAIL TO START. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 99V317000 AND 99V318000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) AND SHOWED THE CONTACT A WIRE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT WAS NOT INSULATED AND HAD BEEN OVERHEATING. ONCE THE WIRE WAS REMOVED, THE FAILURE SEEM TO BE RESOLVED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED ALL THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS AND RE-SAUTERED EVERYTHING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ALREADY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,250 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,083.

THE DASH BOARD IS CURLING UP AROUND THE FRONT WINDOW VENTS WHICH IS KICKING THE VENTS OUT. *TR

MY 1998 KIA SEPHIA REAR BRAKE PAD FELL OFF FELL OFF THE SHOE. APPARENTLY THEY ARE HELD ON BY GLUE. IT WAS REPLACED BUT I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN IT RAINS A LOT , THEY LOCK UP WHEN PARKED. I DON'T DARE USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE THE BRAKES LOCK UP. *TR

THE AIRBAG IN MY DAUGHTERS KIA SEPHIA 1998 PASSENGER SIDE ONLY DEPLOYED WHILE SHE WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND NO REASON FOR THE AIRBAG TO GO OFF. TOOK TO DEALSHIP FOR REVIEW AND WAS TOLD THAT THE EXPERT LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND NO IDEA WHY IT HAPPEN. THEN CONTINUED TO SAY THAT SOMEONE COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG TO THE CAR AND WE WOULD NEVER NO, BUT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO SPEND ANY MORE TIME OR MONEY TO FIND OUT WHAT REALLY MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS. MY DAUGHTER, THE DRIVER, WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED AND NOW IS AFFRAID WHILE DRIVING OR RIDING IN A CAR.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. A RELATIVE WAS DRIVING THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE AND HE SAW HIS BROTHER DRIVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HE SWERVED TO PLAY A GAME WITH HIS BROTHER, BUT INSTEAD HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, HOWEVER THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS. UPDATED 04/30/08. LJ THE CONSUMERS ALSO OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA WHICH WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED

I BROUGHT A NEW KIA SEPHIA IN 1998, AND HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT! TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES BY THE MECHANIC FOR KIA MOTORS, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN ON 7/2007. ALSO , THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. NOW THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BUT NO MECHANIC CAN LOCATE THE ELECTRICAL SHORT PROBLEM. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WITH THE 1998 KIA SOPHIA IT STALLED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND SHE HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART IT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND SHE TRIES TO RESTART IT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. *AK

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 KIA SEPHIA AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL. SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY WIFE RAN AWAY FORM THE VEHICLE. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS BURNED UP. *NM

FLASHING OVERDRIVE DASH LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY LIT DUE TO FAULTY PRESSURE SENSOR AT FUEL INJECTOR. *NM

OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, APPROXIMATELY 70,00 MILES ON MY CAR, THE AC/HEATER FAN MOTOR WILL BLOW AIR INTERMITTENTLY, REGARDLESS OF THE FAN'S SPEED SETTING. EVENTUALLY, THE FAN STOPS BLOWING ALL TOGETHER. THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED WITH MY 1999 KIA SEPHIA. *JB

1-LEAKING BRAKE FLUID INSIDE FIREWALL 2-DASHBOARD DISFIGURING 3-EXAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS NOT LASTING

DT: VEHICLE ENGINE STALLS. KIA 1998 HAD BEEN RECALLED. PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED, HOWEVER, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEM. *TT

THE CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT BRAKES ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE PART HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED BRUISING FROM THE SEAT BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE SHIFTING TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN, AND THE SHIFT LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE SHIFT LEVER IN ORDER TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK