1999 Kia Sephia complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FRONT END AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE OUT OF CONTROL, ALSO BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING. *AK BRAKES ARE SOFT AND AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WON'T STOP UNLESS BRAKES ARE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *YH

CONSUMER STATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKE WOULD START SMOKING AND MAKING A NOISE. DLR HAS VEHICLE NOW. *AK CONSISTENT BRAKE PROBLEM. UNSAFE FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. BRAKES VIBRATE AND GRINGING. *YH

RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED VEHICLE, MUSIC SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED IN LESS THAN A YEAR.HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR TWO RECALLS. BRAKES SOMETIMES SQUEAK WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY CAR WILL START TO VIBRATE. THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE OVER A HALF OF TANK OF GAS. ENGINE IS RACING TO HIGH. NOTICE IN JULY/00 WHILE DRIVING CAR STARTS TO JERK OR PLUNG FORWARD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALSO WHEN YOU APPLY YOUR BRAKES IT WILL DO THIS. RECENTLY I HAVE TAKEN CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.

FUEL LEAKAGE OCCURS WITHIN FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, THE FRONT SEAT BROKE, THE REAR WHEEL BROKE OFF CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. THE TRUNK ENDED UP IN THE BACK SEAT.

CAR IS JUST A LEMON EVERY SIINCE WE PURCHASED IT. WE TRIED TO GET OUR MONEY BACK(PAID CASH)AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PER THE CAR DEALER,ETC.NOTHING IS EVER REPAIRED TO THE STANDARD AND WE ARE UPSET.

AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THE LISTED AUTO STRUCK SEVEN OTHER VEHICKLE'S, ROLLED AND LANDED ON IT'S SIDE. THE AUTO WAS TOTALLED AND THE DRIVER WAS HOPITALIZED. A COPY OF THE ACCIDENT REPORT CAN BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST.

AFTER TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT PADS BE REPLACED, BUT TECNICIAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 3062 BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHECKED BY A KIA REP AND I WAS TOLD "BREAKS ARE NOT MENT TO STOP THE CAR ONLY SLOW IT DOWN "

BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO FIREWALL WITHOUT STOPPING VEHICLE ON FIRST ENGAGEMENT. PEDAL WAS PUMPED 3 TIMES BEFORE STOPPING OCCURRED. SPEED WAS 25 MPH. ROAD CONDITION WAS DRY. STOPPING WAS CONTROLLED IN TRAFFIC SITUATION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED TWICE BY DEALER FOR VIBRATION IN BRAKE SYSTEM AND NOISE EMMANATING FROM FRONT BRAKES. UPON NOTIFYING DEALER, OWNER WAS TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG WITH BRAKE SYSTEM.

VEHICLE IS HAVING CONSTANT BRAKE PROBLEMS. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER ON 7 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. DEALER ONLY PROVIDED ONE REMEDY BY CHANGING BRAKE PADS. THIS DEFECT HAS RESULTED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. ALSO BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER ON 10 MORE OCCASIONS FOR VARIOUS OF PROBLEMS. *AK THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *YH

BRAKES AND ROTARS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 1 YR TWO TIMES. FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT 1,500 MILES WHEN TAKEN IN FOR OIL CHANGE. THE SECOND EVENT OCCURED TODAY COSTING ME $150 TO REPLACE THE ROTARS & BRAKES. CAR OFTEN HAS A GRINDING SOUND WHEN BRAKING. THIS IS UNCOMMON FOR A NEW CAR.

DO NOT BUY A KIA! WHERE SHALL I BEGIN?--THE CAR HAS 18,654 MILES AND THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 5X. UNBELIEVEABLE!! WANNA HEAR MORE? I WENT TO COURT ON 6-15-00, NJ LEMON LAW, AND THEY THOUGHT THE BRAKES WERE FINE, SO I SETTLED FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY----NOW JUST 2 MONTHS LATER THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN!!!!! I HAVE HAD OTHER NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SUCH AS AC, HEAT, STALLING, RADIO, FUEL TANK AND MORE--REMINDER-THE CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD. PLEASE CONTACT ME, IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS FOR ME. RIGHT NOW, I'VE BEEN CONTACTING KIA, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU TRYING TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO,CAUSE, I DON"T WANT THE KIA ANYMORE!!!!!!!!

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 AND 70 MPH THE VEHICLE VIBRATES SEVERELY CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN STEERING AND LEAVING CONSUMER WITHOUT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NLM

ENGINE SURGED IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. *AK DEALER STATES SURGING IS A DESIGN FLAW, CANNOT BE CORRECTED. *YH

PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. DEALER HAS REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS EVERY TWO MONTHS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

UNDER NORMAL BRAKING AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE PARTS, PROBLEMS STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

ORIGINAL TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE THREAD WITH LEST THAN 7,000 MILES ON THE TIRE. VEHICLE ALSO WILL NOT START AT TIMES. WIND SHIELD WIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

A SQUEALING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER FELT THAT SOON THE BRAKES WON'T WORK AT ALL. *AK

FLUID LEAKS OUT OF BOTH WHEEL CYLINDERS AND MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. SOMETIMES, AUTOMOBILE DOES NOT STOP. *AK

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 1YEAR AND AT 30,335 MILES RIGHT NOW, SERVICE DEPARTMENT FIGHTS WITH US EACH TIME WE BRING CAR IN. CAR DOES NOT START UP RIGHT AWAY, IT TURNS A FEW TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY DOES, TOOK TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT 2 TIMES, THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. WHEN DRIVING AT TIMES WHEN YOU STEP ON GAS CAR HESITATES TO GO, ALMOST LIKE IT IS OUT OF GAS, BUT IT IS NOT. AFTER 2MTHS. OF USING AIRCONDITIONER THIS SUMMER, IT COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING, TOOK TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, DIAGNOSED WITH LEAKY "O" RINGS, THEY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. REAR DOORS WHEN OPENING HIT THE EDGE OF CLOSED FRONT DOORS, SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY NEEDED NEW DOOR STOPPERS, HAVEN'T GOT THEM YET.*AK

THE BRAKES NEVER COMPLETELY WENT OUT ON ME BUT THE ROTORS WERE SEVERELY WARPED IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE AND IT IS GOING OUT AGAIN. *AK

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE BATTERY WIRING, WHILE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP,IT STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A REAR COLLISION. *AK

BRAKES KEEP WEARING OUT. DEALER HAS REPLACED FRONT BRAKES ON 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THIS DEFECT MAY CAUSE VEHICLE INTO AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. *AK

WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE A NOISE. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD JERK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TIRES WAS REPLACED FEB.29TH 2000 PLUS ALIGNMENT AND FLYWHEEL REPLACED IN TRANSMISSION . AFTER THAT HEARD RUBBING NIOSES WHEN I TURNED WHEEL LT. TO RT. ASKED MECHANIC ABOUT NIOSE HE STATED I KNOW WHAT IT IS , WHEN HE CAME BACK TO RETURN MY CAR (HE STATED) IT WAS YOUR MOUNTS TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ALIGNED, BOLTS . PLUS THIS IS MY SECOND KIA SEPHIA AND I NOT GETTING ANY HELP WITH THE PROBLEMS AND I COULD GO ON AND ON , BUT I WOULD WRITE A BEST SELLER. THANKS FOR LISTENING

MY NEW 1999 KIA SEPHIA ONLY HAS 11,500 MILES ON IT.- I DRIVE, PRIMARILY HIGHWAY MILES TO AND FROM WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK. FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS, MY VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN SHAKING WHEN I BRAKE. THE LOCAL KIA DEALER (EARNHARDT- I BOUGHT FROM PITRE KIA, THOUGH) INDICATED THEY'D LOOK AT IT THE NEXT TIME I CAME IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THIS PAST SUNDAY (7/9/00) I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. WITHIN A QUARTER OF A MILE I HEARD LOUD METAL GRINDING SOUNDS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT SOFT. I BARELY MADE IT HOME (USING PARKING BRAKE AND DOWNSHIFTING, PRIMARILY, WIT MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). IT ENDS UP THAT, WITHOUT EVEN PRIOR WARNING (WHISTLING OR ANYTHING), MY FRONT, RIGHT BRAKE PADS, WITH ONLY 11, 500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, WORE COMPLETELY DOWN AND THE ROTOR WAS BEING DEEPLY CUT INTO. IT COST ME $150 TO REPLACE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR PADS TO GO AT ONLY 11,500 MILES AND TO CAUSE SUCH DANGERS TO DRIVER/PASSENGERS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED A VERY STRONG ACID BURNING CONSUMER'S NOSE. HE JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR, AND FLAMES WERE ON STEERING WHEEL AND UNDER STEERING WHEE. CONSUMER SAID NO OIL WAS IN THE CAR. A FIRE CHIEF CLAIMED IT WAS ELECTRICAL.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON PROCEEDING TO STOP APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. ALSO, VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LUGGED FORWARD. ALSO, FRONTAL SAFETY BELTS DO NOT RETRACT, CAUSING THE BELT TO BE VERY LOOSE . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

DEFECTIVE ROTORS ARE WARPED WHICH CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS 5 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP VEHICLE ON HEAVY TRAFFIC BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP. THE CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING. THE CONSUMER SERVED TO THE SIDE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND COAST. THE CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKES ALREADY REPLACED AT 9,000. ALSO, BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED CONSUMER INTO AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. PER DEALER, MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF BRAKE PROBLEM.*AK

CERTIFIED CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSPECTORS WORKING FOR THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED US THAT THE LENGTH OF THE FEMALE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK SEAT OF OUR KIA SEPHIA ARE TOO LONG TO ALLOW AN INFANT CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO BE INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE FEMALE END OF THE SEAT BELT COMES UP INTO THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE CAR SEAT (THEY TRIED 4 DIFFERENT MODELS OF CAR SEATS) WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE BELT TO BE TIGHTENED ENOUGH TO HOLD THE CAR SEAT SECURELY IN PLACE. THIS INABILITY TO INSTALL AN INFANT CAR SEAT PROPERLY IN A REAR FACING POSITION WOULD APPEAR TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT SINCE ALL THE FEMALE ENDS ARE TOO LONG TO ALLOW FOR PROPER INSTALLATION. I FEAR THAT THIS CAUSES A GRAVE SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANY FAMILY WHO HAS AN INFANT RIDING IN A CAR SEAT IN A KIA SEPHIA. WE CONTACTED KIA AND WERE TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIP NEVER SHOULD HAVE TOLD US WE WOULD BE ABLE TO INSTALL TWO CAR SEATS IN THE BACK SEAT, ALTHOUGH THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT TWO CAR SEATS CAN BE INSTALLED. WE GOT NO FURTHER HELP FROM THEM IN SOLVING THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEY STATED IT WAS A DEALERSHIP ISSUE NOT A PROBLEM THAT CONCERNED THEM.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO POSSIBLE RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICIATION (99V-317) FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *MJS

EVERY TIME THE CAR IS OFF FOR 2 HOURS OR MORE, WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED CANNOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. BUTTON ON SIDE OF STICK WILL NOT PUSH IN & CAR MUST BE ALLOWED TO HEAT UP FOR 2-5 MINUTES WHETHER IT'S HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE. THIS MORNING IT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL FOR 20 MINUTES UNTIL I SPRAYED WD40 AROUND THE BASE & AROUND THE BUTTON. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT WAS STICKY DUE TO LIQUID BEING DROPPED IN STICK COMPARTMENT. I HAVE NEVER SPILLED ANYTHING IN THERE. THEY SAID IT WAS STIFF DUE TO THE COLD IN THE MORNING. NOW IT'S HOT IN THE MORNING -- AND IT STILL STICKS!!!!*AK

WARPED BRAKES TWICE AND DEALER WON'T FIX BECAUSE FACTORY SAID NO SAFETY IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE HERE BECAUSE I HAVE A TODDLER SON AND MY CAR IS USED FOR ALL THE DRIVING AROUND TOWN AND TO AND FROM WORK. READY TO THROW CAR BACK IN DEALERS FACE. 7 PROBLEMS AND FAILURES AND COUNTING SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR DEC 99' *AK

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO, BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, AND BRAKE ROTORS ONCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

A FIRE COMMENCED UNDER THE DASH. INSURANCE COMPANY HAS VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 45 SMELLED SMOKE. CONSUMER LOOKED THOUGH REARVIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS GETTING DARKER. PULLED OVER, AND TOOK GRAND CHILD OUT OF VEHICLE. A SECOND LATER, VEHICLE BLEW UP. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED 3 TIMES ONCE AT 8208, 16257, AND 20368 HAVING SAME PROBLEM AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH REBUILT ONE O\D LIGHTS FLASHES AND CHECK ENGINE STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN 1 DAY AFTER THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT

WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR INACCURATE READINGS ON FUEL GUAGE, BRAKES WORN DOWN AFTER 2 MONTHS, TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO PICK UP SPEED ON HIGHWAY CAUSING NEAR COLLISIONS, WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING VIOLENTLY, AIR CONDITIONER NOT COOL, BURNING LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUEL, ALL PROBLEMS WITHIN THE FIRST 6-8 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, NO COOPERATION FROM DEALERSHIP ABOUT REPLACING CAR OR EXCHANGING DUE TO NUMBER OF PROBLEMS IN SHORT TIME SPAN. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE LASTED WITHOUT RECURRENCE. *AK

DEALER REPLACED 4 BRAKES/FLEX PLATE/ SPEAKERS3/POWSTEERPUMP/ 2X GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLEY/ ELECTRIC SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE 3 TIMES. BUT, PROBLEM CONTINUES TO RETURN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ROTORS WARPED, HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 6132 MILES, 11944 MILES, 23040 MILES, AND TAKING IT BACK TOMORROW FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH HESITATION / LACK OF ACCELERATION/ STALLING.VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALER SHOPS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE WEAR; BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

BRAKES WERR DEFECTIVE. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES CAR SHOOK, AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THEN BOUNCED BACK UP HARD. ALSO, BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK

THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN BRAKING THE CAR STARTS TO PULSATE AND SHAKE. I HAVE HAD THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 20,000 MILES ( THEY LAST ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND MILES, THE THEY START TO PULSSATE AND SHAKE). EVERYTIME I TAKE IT IN THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT IT IS A UPDATE ON THE COMPONENTS. IN FACT THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE CHANGES ABOUT 5 OF THESE BRAKES A DAY. I PERSONALLY FEEL THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN JUST AN UPDATE ON THE BRAKES ROTORS AND PADS. I FEEL IT IS LIKE THE FRONT CALIPERS STICKING OR THE REARS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK

I THOUGHT THE BRAKES WERE GOING BAD IN DECEMBER, THEY SHAFED THE ROTORS. IN LESS THAN THREE MOTHS THEY REPLACED THEM ON MARCH 2, 2000. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS THREE TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE EXHAUST. THEY HAVE TWO RECALLS. THEY HAVE HAD TO FIX MY TRANSMISSION. THE PIN STRIPES ARE NOW STARTING TO COME OFF. THE RUBBER PEICE AROUND THE BACK PASSENGER DOORS ARE ALSO COMMING OFF. *AK( DOT NUMBER: 0 TIRE SIZE: 14 )