1998 Kia Sephia complaints

CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT ROTORS OVERHEAT AND WARP, AFFECTING THE BRAKING ABILITY. WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS PULSATION AND VIBRATING. DEALER HAS TURNED THE FRONT ROTORS THREE TIMES. TS

CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE WEARING QUICKLY, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB

THE ENGINE/THROTTLE FAILS CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR WITH EXTREME FORCE TO GET THE VEHICLE RUNNING. *JB

WHILE IN MOTION, THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW CRACKED IN TO VERY SMALL PIECES. *JG *JB

THE TRANSMISSION WAS VERY BAD AND DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE WOULD STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THEY WAS HIT IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED.

THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR ARE TERRIBLE! I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP SINCE THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PAD AND ROTOR REPLACEMENTS. I EVEN GOT INTO A REAR-END ACCIDENT 1 1/2 YEARS AGO THAT I COULD HAVE AVOIDED WITH COMPETENT BRAKES. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE DRUMS AND REAR SHOES BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING OVERTIME TO COMPENSATE FOR THE POOR FRONT BRAKES. THANKS A BUNCH KIA! WORST CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN.

THE VEHICLE STOP WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE REMAIN RUNNING BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE REPAIR WAS MADE AT THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBBLEM IS REOCURRING. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THERE IS WATER INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENT CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER FAIRS. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FUEL TANK CRACK CAUSING FLUID TO LINK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING THAT BURNS THE FUSE, CAUSING THE RADIO, THE DOME LIGHT, DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND OTHER COMPONENTS NOT TO WORK. HAD FUSE REPLACE 5-6TIMES. PROMBLEM STILL ACCURS. TS

BRAKE LINING SHATTERED AND SEPARATED FROM BRAKE SHOE, CAUSING REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP. UPON INSPECTION AND REPAIR, THE BRAKE LINING WAS OTHERWISE NOT WORN ENOUGH TO WARRANT TOTAL FAILURE OF THE PART AND APPEARS INSTEAD TO BE THE RESULT OF A DEFECT. DT

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE PAD AND SHOE ARE GLUE TOGETHER. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. MR

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL STALL W/O WARNING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DLR WHO HAS REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND STARTER(3X). PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURING. MR

BOTH RIGHT BRAKE SHOE LININGS CAME OFF OF THE BACKING PLATES AND BROKE APART INTO PIECES THAT JAMMED THE WHEEL. THE LEFT SHOES WERE BEGINNING TO COME APART IN THE SAME MANNER. THE LININGS HAD VERY LITTLE WEAR, AND WERE THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PIECES. THE PARTIAL LOSS OF REAR BRAKES AND JAMMED WHEEL WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. DT

CONSUMER STATES RECIEVED RECALL LETTER, CALLED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS FOR RECALL WERE NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER STATES ITS BEEN A MONTH AND PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. MR

CONSUMER STATES HAVING A PROBLEM W/ITH "CABLE" THAT GOES FROM GAS TANK TO ENGINE. CONSUMER ADVISES THAT CABLE IS ATTACHED TO A WIRING HARNESS THAT GETS VERY HOT AND IS SHOWING SIGNS OF MELTING. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE STALLS W/O WARNING AND WIRINGS HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED BEFORE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO RESTART. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE EITHER BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING , HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. NLM

WHILE DRIVING 10MPH A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD.*AK

CONSUMER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT ROTORS WHICH CAUSE BRAKES TO WEAR DOWN, AND STEERING COLUMN TO VIBRATE.*AK

I WAS IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 7TH, AT 10:30 AM WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE MASS PIKE RT. 90 FRAMINGHAM, MASS. I THOUGHT MY KIA SEHPIA WAS IN ACCELENT CONDITION, BUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE, THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN STARTED SHAKING AND I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. I TRIED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE BUT COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CAR SCREECHED AND WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. TO MY IMMEDIATE RIGHT WAS A LARGE RYDER RENTAL TRUCK, I BRACED MYSELF AND HIT THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. THE REST IS A BLUR, I SPUN AROUND AND THE REAR OF MY CAR HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND I FORTUNATELY STOPPED IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE. IT HAPPENED SO FAST, BUT WHAT IS MOST UPSETTING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS A STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM OR A TIRE PROBLEM. ALL I KNOW IS, I WAS DRIVING SAFETLY AND THEN MY CAR WHEN OUT OFF CONTROL. THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY VECHICLE WAS SEVERLY DAMAGED, AND MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

WHILE MAKING A TURN AT THE INTERSECTION STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WILL NOT TURN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION AND SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD, WHEN CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, WHEN CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE BATTERY HAD BLOWN OFF.*AK *JB

THE WHOLE WHEEL APRON CAME LOOSE, GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE TIRE AND WAS THROWN OFF THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING INSTABILITY TO MY STEERING AND AS PARTS FLEW OFF, CAUSING A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS.*AK

A FIRE STARTED FROM MAIN WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH WHICH LED TO FUSE RECPTICLE UNDER HOOD. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN THE WIRING HARNESS BURNED, THE AIR BAG, THE RADIO, DASHBOARD LIGHTS, THE COOLING FAN AND THE A/C FAILED. THIS PROBLEM REOCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. TAIL LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL, HEAD LIGHTS, STARTER AND THE ALTERNATOR ALSO FAILED AS THE RESULT OF THE WIRING HARNESS. *YH

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD FOR ABOUT A YEAR OFF AND ON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, WANTED TO CHARGE CONSUMER FOR PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY BRAKES LIGHT WILL NOT SHOW WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, WENT TO STOP & HAD NO BRAKES. PULLED UP ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, LOOKED IN REARVIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED SMOKE ALL OVER. PULLED OVER & GOT OUT QUICKLY. OPENED PASEINGER DOOR TO GET BELONGINGS & NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. CALLED 911. CAR WAS BURNING TREMENDOUSLY. A TOTAL LOSS. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING, AND GOT OUT SAFELY. THIS HAPPENED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WHAT A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY FOR A 17 YR. OLD.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, 00V175000, AFTER FOUR ATTEMPTS THE RECALL WAS FIXED, THE PROBLEM IS BETTER BUT AT CERTAIN TIMES THE VEHICLE STILL BLOWS OUT GAS *YD REFERENCED IN RQ03-006

MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TEN TIMES! I CANNOT SPECIFY A PART, MOST PARTS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. WHEN I SAY TEN TIMES, IT IS IN THE SHOP FOR THE 10TH TIME NOW BUT NEEDS 8 DIFFERENT REPAIRS. (NOT TEN TOTAL REPAIRS) AS FAR AS SAFETY, THE TIRES (DIFFERENT BRANDS) HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY SEASON... 2 SETS A YEAR! THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THEY CHECKED OUT OKAY LAST TIME IT WAS IN, BUT THEY CONSTANTY SHUDDER AND GRIND, AND HAVE COMPLETELY GONE OUT. THEY ALSO SQUEAL VERY LOUD AT ABOUT 60 MPH WHILE DRIVING. NOT SURE IF IT IS THE BRAKES OR TIRES. I JUST FEEL UNSAFE IN MY VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN TOWED THREE TIMES, LEAVING ME STRANDED. MY HEATER ALSO QUIT WORKING AND I LIVE IN ALASKA. I DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE COMMON PROBLEMS, BUT I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE THAT I FELT SO UNSAFE IN. I ALSO GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT IN 200, IN WHICH I WAS HIT HEAD ON BY AN EXPLORER. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH AND SHE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH. IT BROKE OUT MY HEADLIGHT, DENTED THE HOOD UP AND PUT A HOLE IN THE BUMPER.... THIS MUCH DAMAGE AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED! THIS WAS NOT CALLED IN TO THE POLICE, I JUST LET HER GO (IT WAS HER FAULT). I WISH I HAD REPORTED IT.*AK

RECALL 00V175000 REPAIRS ON ORVR VALVE WAS DONE THE SECOND TIME IN NOV. 2001. WHEN FUELING VEHICLE FUEL IS STILL SPILLING ON GROUND, DEALER NOW DETERMINED THE CANISTER AND CANISTER VALVE NEED TO BE REPLACED. REFERENCED IN RQ03-006

I DON'T HAVE ONE PARTICULAR PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE HAS A LOT OF DEFECTS. ESPECIALLY BRAKES. *AK

JUST RECENTLY MY SEALBELT STARTED FAILING. MY WIFE NOTICED THE PROBLEM A FEW WEEKS AGO AND NOW THE BELT FAILS ALMOST EVERYTIME WE PUT IT ON! THE BELT DOES CLICK AND THE DASH LIGHT DOES GO OFF WHEN WE PUT ON THE BELT. WE WILL BE DRIVING AND WE WILL HEAR A CLICK AND THEN LOOK AT THE LATCH ON THE BELT AND IT HAS SEPARATED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE OF THE DRIVERS BELT. AFTER THE BELT IS LATCHED AND YOU GIVE IT A LITTLE TUG IT USUALLY POPS OPEN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, HOOD RELEASED AND SMASHED INTO WINDSHIELD WHICH BLOCKED VISION OF DRIVER, CONSUMER FELT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS THAT CAUSE SEVERE VIBRATION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FREQUENTLY, THERE WAS NO CRASH OR INJURY TO REPORT WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED.*AK BRAKES WOULD VIBRATE AND WERE NOISY, REQUESTED REAR BRAKES BE CLEANED LUBED, DEALER FOUND ROTORS WARPED AND PADS WORN AND EXCESSIVE DUST IN REAR BRAKES, NUMEROUS ENGINE PROBLEMS SUCH AS COOLING FAN RUMBLE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, ENGINE STALL, BURNING SMELL, BELT SQUEAKS, ELECTRIC COOLING FAN INOPERATIVE, FAN BLADE, PLUG WIRES AND COIL BOOTS, VALVE COVER GASKET WERE REPLACED, EVAPORATOR WAS REPLACED AND RECHARGED, MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING IGNITION SWITCH, STARTER, ALTERNATOR, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, BATTERY TERMINAL, AND BULB FAILURE, DEALER HAS ALSO FOUND CORROSION, POOR CONNECTIONS AND LOW VOLTAGE, CONSUMER STATES NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTER, HARSH SHIFTS AND CLUNKS, DEALER REPLACED OLD STYLE FLEX PLATE, BINDING SHIFTER WHICH WAS CLEANED AND LUBED, FLUID LEAKS, DEALER REPLACED LEAKING POWER STEERING HOSE, MULTIPLE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS MISSING WIPER ARM CAP, KEY WILL NOT OPEN TRUNK, TRUNK LEVER DOES NOT RELEASE, BROKEN TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE, LEFT REAR DOOR MOLDING COMING OFF, DEALER REPLACED TRUNK RELEASE, REINSTALLED DOOR WEATHERSTRIP, FOUND OIL LEAKS, AND UNDERCARRIAGE SHOWING SIGNS OF DAMAGE, BUBBLES IN DASH PAD, SUNVISOR COMING LOOSE, DEALER REPLACED DASH PAD, D

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

DRIVING WITHIN 25 MPH WHEN A THUMP/BREAK WAS HEARD. THE VEHICHLE BECAME INOPERABLE TO DRIVE UNABLE TO STEER OR TURN STEERING WHEEL. DIAGONAL TO ROAD AND FEARED FOR LIFE AS THIS WAS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. HAD PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE INCLUDING DIASABLE PERSON. WAS ABLE TO TURN WHEEL SLIGHTLY AND DRIVE STRAIGHT TO GAS STATION WITHIN 50 FEET. IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOW TRUCK AND HAD TAKEN TO DEALER HALLEEN KIA IN NORTH OLMSTEAD, OHIO AND CONTACTED MANUFACTURER KIA CORPORATION TO ASCERTAIN DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT OR RECALL HISTORY. NO SATISFACTION AS I FEEL KIA SHOULD FIX FRAME SINCE THIS MAJOR COMPONENT FAILED. *AK

BRAKES WERE GRINDING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT WARRANTY ON BRAKES HAD EXPIRED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, AND THEY CUT ROTORS, AND REPLACED FRONT PADS. BRAKES WERE WEARING TOO FAST. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION.*AK

FUEL TANK WILL ONLY FILL UP 95% OF FUEL CAPACITY. A RECALL 00V175000 DEALT WITH SAME PROBLEM. BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FASTEN SEAT BELT LATCH DID NOT CATCH. SHE HAD TO TRY UNTIL IT WORKED. *AK

DASHBOARD IS LIFTING UP AND AFFECTING FRONTAL AIR BAG ON PASSENGERS SIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CAME LOOSE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER . PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT STARTER'S FUSE BURNED OUT. *AK

BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE, LOUD NOISE AND PULSATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. *AK

AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING IT IN PARK VEHICLE CAME OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED BACK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

VIBRATION WHEN BRAKE APPLY, ROAD TEST BRAKE PULSATION ROTORS WARPED PADS WORN UNEVEN, REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS CLEAN AND LUBE SLIDES HAND TORQUE WHEELS.

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY SQUEAL/ PULSATE, AND THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS REPLACED DEFECTIVE FRONT ROTORS 4 TIMES WITH NEW AND IMPROVED ROTORS. REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED 2 TIMES. REAR WHEEL CYLINDER REPLACED ONCE. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEALING AND PULSATING AGAIN AT THIS TIME.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES GO OUT AN AVERAGE OF EVERY 14-15000 MILES, THE REAR CYLINDERS OR FRONT CALIPERS FAIL, LOSING THE ABILITY TO STOP. *YD

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS SINCE THE DAY OF PURCHASE, THE WIRE HARNESS MELTING AND FAILED. *YH

THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS OUT, DEALER REPLACED BULB. *YH

THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT, THE DEALER PERFORMED 4 WHELL ALIGMNENT AND ROTATED THE TIRES. NLM