1999 Kia Sephia complaints

WHILE DRIVNG AT APPROX 35 MPH ,HIT A UTILITY POLE ,DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURIES. NO WARNING OF DEFECT. *AK

RECALL # 99V318000 KIA/ENGINE STALLING (304/C305) CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALERHIP EVERY WEEK SINCE DECEMBER 29, 1999. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO SERVICE VEHICLE BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILBLE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT PARTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE BY MARCH, 2000. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY GIVEN OCCASION. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 10 MPH, WHEN REDUCING SPEED OR SLOWING DOWN, ANDCONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, A GRINDING NOISE WOULD COME FROM THE FRONT. ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACE BEFORE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING, AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE OVERHEATED. AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.

WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE THERE IS A HORRIBLE VIBRATION. IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL AND STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE BRAKING. OUR GAS TANK WILL NOT TAKE IN GAS. THE TANK COULD BE COMPLETELY EMPTY AND IT WILL TAKE A DOLLAR'S WORTH OF GAS, THEN GAS WILL START SPEWING OUT ALL OVER. OUR CAR DEALER SAID HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT COULD BE AND HASN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM KIA ABOUT THIS BEING A PROBLEM. (IT ISN'T THE GAS GAUGE.) THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED. WE GOT THIS FIXED AND HAVEN'T HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS AGAIN. ALSO, WE HAVE A MANUEL TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH IT KICKING OUT OF GEAR. WE COULD BE GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY AND IT WILL KICK OUT OF FIFTH GEAR. IT DOES ITS OWN THING. WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE AUGUST AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. MY WIFE AND I NO LONGER TRUST THIS CAR AND THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE WE HAVE TO RELY ON. WE ALSO HAVE GOTTEN 2 RECALL NOTICES FROM KIA. ONE FOR THE WIPERS, THEY CAN FLY OFF AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND FOR THE FUEL PUMP BEING IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. WE CONTACTED OUR DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY ARE WAITING FOR KIA TO SEND THEM MORE PARTS, UNTIL THEN WE MUST WAIT TO BRING OUR CAR IN TO BE CHECKED OUT. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING.

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 99V318000 ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER STATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH VIBRATION WHILE TRAVELING AT HWY SPEED OF 55 MPH OR MORE. ALSO, TWO ROTORS AND PADS WAS REPLACED WIHIN 1800 MILE BY DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT WAS NORMAL. *AK

HERE'S A REALLY BAD RUBBING SOUND. CONSUMER FEELS AS THOUGH BRAKES MAY LOCK UP. TOOK TO DEALER , AND DEALER SAID CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO GET MORE MILEAGE BEFORE THEY COULD CHANGE THE BRAKES. *AK

WHILE TRYING TO INSTALL A CHILD SAFETY SEAT THE RIGHT REAR LAP/SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO STAY SWITCHED INTO THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR MODE A THE OWNER MANUAL STATES, LEAVING THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT LOOSE AND NOT SECURED PROPERLY. *MJS

CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE IS CONTRUCTED OF CHEAP/WEAK METAL AND UNSAFE. *MJS

CONSUMER HAD FILLED VEHICLE UP WITH GAS, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 02-0422-914. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY CONSUMER TRIED TO SLOWDOWN AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK ,AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. HAD TO HIT A GUARDRAIL TO STOP, AIRBAGS DIDNT DEPLOY.

WHENEVER THE BRAKES (ABS) ARE APPLIED, STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE. AFTER GOING 65MPH OR BETTER, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE/VIBRATE. THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED TWICE. THE AIR CONDITIONER MAKES LOUD NOISES WHEN TURNED ON. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START OR CATCH RIGHT AWAY. NEEDS TO JIGGLE KEY TO GET IT STARTED. *AK

I BOUGHT THIS CAR JUST OVER A YEAR AGO. IT HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP 9 GOING ON 10 TIMES, NOT TO MENTION THAT THERE HAVE BEEN TWO RECALLS WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED OUT OF A BRAND NEW CAR, IN FACT, THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO AVOID BY BUYING NEW VERSUS USED. I STILL HAVE ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, IT JUST DOESN'T SHIFT RIGHT. SOMETIMES I ACCELLERATE, BUT THE CAR GOES NOWHERE. SOMEDAY, I WILL PROBABLY GET HIT. THE CAR STARTS HARD, THIS WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BY SOME "FIX IT" THAT KIA CAME UP WITH, BUT IT STILL DOES IT. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, AND I THINK I'VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WHEN IT COMES ON, I AM BACKING UP. WE HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT ON THIS CAR AGAINST KIA, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TOWARD SETTLEMENT. COURT DATE IS 6/99. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AFTER BEING SERVICED THE FIRST DAY, THEY FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE SECOND DAY THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE PRESENT, AND ON THE THIRD DAY THEY DID NOT FUNCTION BECAUSE THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE WORN OUT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL. *AK

WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY WOULD MAKE NOISES.THE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKE PADS & ROTORS NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO METAL TO METAL NOISE. VEHICLE HAD DIED. MECHANIC INDICATED BATTERY WAS PROBLEM & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, TRANSMISSION GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY & NEEDED SERVICING. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON, AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON ALSO. DEALER SAYS IT'S DUE TO A WIRE BECOMING LOOSE AND SHORTING OUT. DEALER HAS REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING OVER 40 MPH& UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A GRADUAL STOP CONSUMER NOTICE VIRBATION COMING FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END SHOOK. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING 50 MPH &UPON BRAKING CONSUMER NOTICED VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDA. ALSO FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WEARING OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 20 TO 25MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

THE BRAKES WEAR EXCESSIVELY ABOUT EVERY 3 TO 4 WEEKS. THIS INCLUDES PADS AND ROTORS. DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SQUEAKING BRAKES WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED. *AK

WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE IT WOULD TURN OVER & THEN VEHICLE WOULD STALL. ONCE STARTED, VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. THE FUEL GAUGE FAILS TO REGISTER FUEL INTAKE. ALSO, VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE PROBLEMS CHECKED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FLY WHEEL & THE GAS TANK.*AK

NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN CAR STARTED TO HESITATE. CAR STALLED OUT ON THE FREEWAY, AND A 18 WHEELER WAS RIGHT BEHIND IT. CONSUMER FEELS THEY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *AK

WHILE DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL VEHICLE IDLES HIGH, CAUSING CONSUMER TO FIGHT WITH VEHICLE TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

SITTING AT CORNER, WAITING FOR LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, PULLED OUT INTO THE INTERSECTIONWHILE MAKING A LEFT, AND VEHICLE STALLED. IT HAD NO POWER, GOING UPHILL OR IN SECOND GEAR. DRIVER COULD PUT FOOT ON PEDAL WHICH WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. BUT HAD NOT ENOUGH POWER, SOME HESITATION. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MODULATOR, AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, WHILE PUMPING THE GAS INTO THE VEHICLE, FUEL SPILLED OUT WHILE FUEL TANK WAS NOT FULL. THIS MAY RESULT IN A FIRE IF THERE IS A SOURCE OF IGNITION. DEALER REPLACED FUEL TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HEARD A NOISE AND THE RUBBER STRIPPING FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR. CAME OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. ALSO, BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING. AS SOON AS CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE ,IT STARTED SHAKING. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE PRESENT, AND THE PEDAL HAS TO GO TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND SHOES. *AK

AFTER IS INSERTED IN THE GAS TANK, GAS BEGAN TO LEAK OUT. DEALER AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT CANNOT FIX IT. *YC

DURING FRONTAL 65 MPH IMPACT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK BROKE AND JAMMED FORWARD, NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS RESULTING IN INJURY. MJS

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 500 MILES. MJS

VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM ACCELERATING, WHEN EXITING ON TO A HIGHWAY RAMP, THE ONLY WAY THE VEHICLE WILL PICK UP SPEED IS ON A DECLINE. VEHICLE HAS NO POWER AT ALL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN LOCKING THE DRIVER' SIDE DOOR ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL LOCK. BUT WHEN LOCKING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, ALL THE LOCKS LOCK AND OPEN. *AK

BRAKES ARE MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATED VECHICLE WAS DEFECTED WHEN SHE PURCHASED IT ON SEP 11 1999 . CONSUMER TOOK IT BACK ON SEP 13 1999 BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS, SUCH AS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HER VECHICLE. ALSO, BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. PEDALS WENT ALLTHE DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ALSO VECHICLE OVERHEATED. ALSO, FRONT GRILL /WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND GAS GAUGE HAD TO B EREPLACED, AND I STILL DON'T WORK . AT THIS TIME THE CONSUMER HAS REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH THE LEMON LAW. HER CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR A PART. *AK

CAR VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKING, VENTILATION/ AIR CONDITION DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. THE CAR HAS NO DEFROSTOR

BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEAKING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE CAR IS ONLY 2 WEEKS OLD, 700 MILES. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPART. THEY SAID IT'S PROBABLY FROM NOT TIGHTENING THE GAS CAP. WE CHECKED AND THE CAP IS AS TIGHT AS IT CAN GET. THEY HAVE HAD THIS COMPLAINT FROM OTHER OWNERS.

BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AND IT'S VERY HARD TO STOP. *AK

POWER STEERING PROBLEM IS CAUSING A LOUD SCRAPPING NOISE. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS ROUGH VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN BRAKING NORMALLY. THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 3,000 MILES. OWNER IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN WITH 6,200 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED TWICE - ONCE AT 3000 MILES, ONCE AGAIN AT 6000 MILES - DEALER STATES THAT THE NEW PADS ARE "RE-DESIGNES" AND SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM - I HAVE YET TO SEE AN IMPROVEMENT

ELECTRIC COOLING FAN BLEW FUSE - CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT WHILE IT WAS PARKED - DEALER REPLACED FAN STATING THAT IT APPEARED TO HAVE WATER DAMAGE - ??????

FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY (REPORTING EMPTY WHEN THER WAS STILL ABOUT 5 GALLONS IN TANK) - DEALER SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED GAUGE, BUT IT IS STILL NOT ACCURATE - ALSO, ENGINE MAKES AWFUL "SQUEALING" SOUND WHEN FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNING - DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM ???

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND TURN SIGNALS BECAME INOPERATIVE, BOTH WITHIN 500 MILES. *AK

CAR HAD PROBLEMS STARTING IN THE MORNING. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHEN CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO TURN. VEHICLE WENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CONSUMER HAD 2 KIDS IN THE CAR. CONSUMER FORCED THE WHEEL TO TURN SO THAT HE WOULD NOT CRASH INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HOWEVER, STERRING COLUMN CAME APART. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS THE CONSUMER'S PROBLEM ,AND IF HE WANTED IT FIXED, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO VEHICLE WOULD JERK. DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS. *AK