SINCE PURCHASED THE MV HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR NUMEROUS (13+) PROBLEMS AND DEFECTS. MY CONCERN OVER SAFETY ISSUES HAS BEEN DISMISSED OR GIVEN MANY DIFFERENT ANSWERS. DEALERSHIP DOES NOT ALWAYS GIVES REPAIR ORDER SLIPS WHENEVER THE CAR IS LOOKED AT OR SERVICED. THE SAFETY AND DEPENDABILITY OF THIS MV IS QUESTIONNABLE GIVEN THE NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE REPAIR SHOP. DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE CLAIMS NOTHING WRONG, ALTHOUGH MANUFACUTER'S REPRESENTATIVE DID OFFER REIMBURSEMENT OF 3 CAR PAYMENTS. THE ISSUE OF THE LACK OF DECELERATION HAS STILL TO BE RESOLVED. AS A FEMALE CONSUMER, I FEEL THAT I AM BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS A "LEMON" AND IN ALL LIKELIHOOD WILL CONTINUE TO PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.
1998 Kia Sephia complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD STALL AND LOSE OF ALL POWER,WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
FRONT BRAKE ROTOR RUN OUT EXCESSIVE.
THIS WIIL BE THE 3RD TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR THAT THE ROTORS HAVE WARPED.
BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED TWICE. WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
BRAKES WEAR OUT FAST IN FRONT. WHEN PEDAL IS APPLIED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THREE DIFFERENT INSTANCES. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ENTIRE VEHICLE SHAKES OR VIBRATES, AND A NOISE OCCURS I FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF ABS BRAKES. *AK
I HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING UP THE CAR, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER DURING THE DAY OR NIGHT. WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION I HAVE TO TRY AT LEAST FOUR TO FIVE TIMES BEFOR IT CLICKS OVER TO START. IT JUST CLICKS INSTEAD OF STARTING RIGHT AWAY. I TOOK THE CAR BACK FOUR(4) TIMES TO REPAIR, AND STILL PROBLEM NOT SOLVED.
THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 5,000 MILES ON IT AFTER ONE YEAR. THE BRAKES (ROTORS, PADS, ETC.) HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE BAD PARTS, BUT THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION AVAILABLE. EXPECT TO HAVE TO TAKE IN FOR BRAKES AGAIN WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS. THE AIR CONDITIONING IS INADEQUATE. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN, THEY ORDERED A PART AFTER FINDING A PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO INSTALL THE PART, THEY COULD NOT SEE A PROBLEM AND DID NOT REPLACE THE PART. THE AIR CONDITIONING STILL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND DISK BRAKE PADS FAILED. NLM
THE DOOR SEALS FAILED ALLOWING FUMES TO ENTER THE CAR. NLM
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN HEAT WAS TURNED ON. YH
BRAKES FAILED AND REPLACED FOUR TIMES. YH
I HAVE FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITHE BBB AUTO LINE. I HAVE A KIA 98 LS. IT HAS SCARED ME SERVAL TIMES THE GOES OUT OF CONTROL ON ROUGH ROADS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES THEY GET WARPED. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN WORKED ON 14 TIMES BY DEALER SHOP, THE BLINKERS KEEP FAILING, THIS IS VERY SCARY WHEN I HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND THE CAR IS GOING CRAZY.
FRONT BRAKE DISC ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES.CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
GAS TANK IS DESIGNED WITH A LOT OF CURVES WHICH ALLOWS THE GAS TO FLOW FREELY. THIS HAS RESULTED IN GAS SPILLING ONTO PERSONS FILLING THE TANK. *AK *ML
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP, THIS FAILURE OCCURED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, REPAIRS WERE DONE, PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YC
BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED DISCS WARPED AND PADS DEPLETED. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT DURING A SNOW STORM, DRIVERS SIDE ONLY. DEALER FIXED BUT WE WERE ADMONISHED ABOUT USING WIPERS DURING HEAVY SNOW STORM. DUH?
BREAK PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3000 MILES WHEN CAR IS TAKEN IN FOR OIL CHANGE. I COULD NOT FILL THE GAS TANK COMPLETELY WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF. GAS TANK AND FLOAT VALVE WERE REPLACED AFTER WAITING A MONTH FOR THE PARTS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON AND O/D OFF LIGHT WOULD FLASH, CALLED DEALER AND HAD TO WAIT A WEEK FOR APPOINTMENT. DEALER STATED NEW COUPLING WAS NEEDED. WAITED MONTH FOR PART. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP CAR, DEALER STATED IT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTEAD. I WAITED TWO WEEKS FOR PARTS. NOW CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP AGAIN BECAUSE IT WILL NOT START. LIGHTS, HORN, RADIO, ETC. STILL OPERATE
BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIRED FIVE TIMES HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE SAME DEFECTS. MJS
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. NLM
CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING ONGOING PROBLEMS: TRANSMISSION MADE LOUD NOISE WHEN CHANGING GEARS , AND GEARS DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE WHEN PUT IN PARK/FUSES KEPT BLOWING OUT, HAD REPLACED ELECTRICAL WIRES/STARTER WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO START VEHICLE & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, CALIPERS & PADS. BRAKE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
BRAKE ROTORS HEATED UP AND WARPED, CAUSING BRAKING DIFFCULTY. ALSO HAS ANOTHER 1998 KIA SEPHIA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ROTORS ON EACH VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPLACE TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS TWICE . MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AFTER APPROX. 3000 MILES. REDUCES BRAKING ABILITY. ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES BEFORE CURRENT EVENT AND PROBLEM CONTINUES TO COME BACK. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
FUEL LINE WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE PASSENGER'S SEAT HAS SEPARATED, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT, ALSO, EXCESSIVE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED SENDING UNIT/PUMP/ROTORS AND PADS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE SHAKES. DEALER HAS REPLACED ROTORS AND THE BRAKE PADS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
MY CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AT 375 MILES. MY BRAKES MAKE A TERIBLE NOISE, AND GRAB. I TAKE IT IN AND THEY REPLACED PADS AND OR ROTORS. I HAVE A BAD VIBRATION IN MY FRONT END WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS A NUMBER OF THINGS AND I CORRECT EACH ITEM AND I STILL HAVE THE VIBRATION. *AK
TAIL LIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEAKING, THIS IS 4TH TIME FOR BRAKES SQUEAKING AND PULSATING, COW PANEL BAFFLE NEEDED REPLACED BECAUSE OF WATER POURING IN BEHIND GLOVE BOX.PEOPLE I DON'T KNOW PULL ME OVER AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR KIA SEPHIAS AND SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEM. ALSO THE ENGINE SOMETIMES WON'T START THE FIRST TIME. IT TAKES TWO OR THREE TIMES ONCE IN A WHILE. IT ALSO SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE WILL JUMP RIGHT OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE IT JERKS SO HARD WHEN STARTING. THE GAS TANK HAS YET TO LET ME FILL IT ALL THE WAY. IT GETS ALMOST FULL, THEN SPITS THE GAS OUT AND WON'T LET YOU "SQUEEZE " IT FULL. IT'S LIKE THERE IS NO VENTING GOING ON. I HAVE HEARD SIMILIAR REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS. *AK
EVERY OTHER WEEK BRAKES WOULD MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. DEALER WOULD REPLACE THEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
BRAKES WOULD MAKE SQUEALING NOISES. HAD ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED & REPAIRED. TWO MONTHS LATER SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WITH BRAKES & ONCE AGAIN WAS REPLACED. *AK
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. NLM
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED A GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD. BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES BY THE DEALER. *AK
BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING FRONT BRAKE ROTORS TO WARP AND PADS TO WEAR OUT 3 TIMES. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ONCE WHICH CAUSED POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHENEVER FUEL IS PUMPED INTO TANK, IT WOULD SPILL BACK OUT. VEHICLE CANNOT BE COMPLETELY FILLED. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & ENTIRE FUEL TANK SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON/TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT SHOW, AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD GET MOISTURE INSIDE OF LENS. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHAKES OR VIBRATES AND A NOISE OCCURS IN THE FRONT END, CAUSE UNKNOWN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE SEEMED TO HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING 2 OR 3 TIMES PREVIOUSLY BUT EVENTUALLY STARTED UP. I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY ORLANDO BARRINGER OF MEMPHIS, TENN. WHEN I CALL THE 24HR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE THAT IS THE NAME THAT APPEARED WHEN THE VIN WAS ENTERED. ALSO WHEN I CALL THE ATLANTA DEALERSHIP TO VERIFY THAT MY VEHICLE WAS THERE, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PULL UP MY INFORMATION. I BELIEVE THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN SOLD A USED VEHICLE. *AK
I WILL BE TAKING MY CAR IN FOR THE 5TH TIME ON TUESDAY. THE SAME PROBLEM WITH TURN SIGNAL.
2ND TIME ROTOR & DISC REPLACED -CAR CANNOT WITHSTAND HEAT-BRAKES CHATTER ENOUGH TO MAKE CAR UNSAFE .DEALER SAYS MY PROBLEM
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS STALLING AND JERKING. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR SERVICE AND THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED VEHICLE STARTS VIBRATING VERY HARD. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE, AND THE BRAKES THREE TIMES. CONSUMER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WE HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS 4 TIMES AND THE DRUMS ONCE. THE CAR HAS DIFFICULTY STARTING AND TAKING OFF. VARIOUS PROBLEMS CONCERNING MINOR PROBLEMS, SEAT CUSHION , LIGHTER, A/C, GAS SPEWING BACK OUT OF TANK ETC. OUR MAJOR CONCERN IS THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH STARTED SIX WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE AND HASN'T ENDED YET. THE KIA REPRESENTATIVE IS UNCOOPERATIVE.
BRAKES WOULD MAKE FUNNY CHATTERING NOISES WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. HAD THEM REPLACED AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT TIMES. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHEN EVER THIS IS HAPPENING. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK
WATER LEAK FROM REAR GLASS WINDOW SHORTED OUT THE FUEL PUMP WIRES CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO START.
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND DIED. NO INJURIES. *AK
THE FLOOR SHIFTER HAS A RATTLING NOISE. HAD SHIFTER REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DASHBOARD RATTLES. GLOVE COMPARTMENT FELL DOWN. RADIO SPEAKERS BLOWN. BEARINGS IN WHEEL GRIND. DOING FWY SPEED, VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY & SHAKE. WHEN SLOWING TO STOP, BRAKES WOULD JERK. WHILE WAITING AT STOP, ENGINE WOULD BE SURGING. *AK
THE FRONT BRAKES ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY, EVERY 3 WEEKS OR SO. HAD TURNED ROTORS. WERE NOT RELEASING UNTIL WORN & THEN RELEASED. HAD ENTIRE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP. HAD ONGOING BRAKE PROBLEM AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT TIMES. *AK
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1998 Kia Sephia → · Every Sephia year → · How the figures are calculated →