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 1999 record →
BRAKES ARE NOT BEING RELEASED CORRECTLY. WHEN TAKING FOOT SLIGHTLY OFF THE BRAKES THE ENGINE IS PULLING THE VEHICLE UP AN INCLINE. THE ENGINE IS RACING. *AK
THE BRAKES SQUEAK AND THE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 1200 MILES, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN AT 6600 MILES THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THE PADS WERE WORN AND I RETURNED THE CAR TO NORTHWESTERN DODGE AND KIA AND THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND MACHINED THE ROTORS, HOWEVER THE STERING WHEEL SHAKES AND VIBRATES WHEN I DRIVE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE BRAKES ARE STILL GRINDING. THE STERING WHEEL AND COLUMN VIBRATES AND SHAKES WHEN I DRIVE AT 50+ MPH. AT 6600 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE IS A BURNING SMELL. THE CAR DIES OUT WHEN I AM AT A STAND STILL FOR NO REASON AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAVE TO START THE CAR AT LEAST 3 TIMES BEFORE IT TURNS OVER. OVERALL I WOULD SAY THAT I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THE CAR AND THE MOMENT THAT I CAN TRADE IT IN I PLAN TO DO SO AND I WILL ADVISE ANYONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING THIS CAR TO NOT EVEN CONSIDER A KIA (ANY MODEL) BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WELL MADE CARS.
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY WOULD LOCK UP. THE FRONT ROTORS WERE GETTING JERKY, LOOSE & WARPED. BEEN TO DEALER & WAS REPAIRED AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES. PROBLEM WOULD ALWAYS COME BACK. MJS
WHILE DRIVING, ANOTHER DRIVER INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. PULLED TO SIDE NOTICED ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH. LIFTED HOOD & SMOKE BILLOWED OUT. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER & HAD MECHANIC CORRECT LEAKAGE OF OIL. MJS
VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, AND THE BATTERY DIED OUT. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. *AK
WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED IT FELT SOFT AND VEHICLE VIBRATED VERY HARD. CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP SPACE BETWEEN OTHER VEHICLES IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ROTORS WERE GOING BAD. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD DIE OUT WHEN GEARS ARE SHIFTED. HAPPENS ALSO WHEN STARTING OUT TO DRIVE. WOULD LOSE POWER & HAVE TO DOWN SHIFT TO GET POWER BACK. HAD NOTIFIED DEALER & MANUFACTURE TWICE ABOUT PROBLEM. CAUSE CANNOT BE LOCATED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES CAR STARTS TO SHAKE. ALSO, BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK
TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS HAVE FAILED TO WORK ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER FIXED A FUSE. THE SECOND TIME A REPLACEMENT PART WAS NEEDED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE REMEDY WILL BE YET. HOWEVER, I AM SEEKING ARBITRATION. SHORTS IN WIRING, FUSE BOX LID FALLS OFF, A/C CLUMP SOUNDS WHEN TURNED ON, AND BRAKES MAKE A CLINK NOISE WHEN APPLIED.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH SOMETHING IN THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE, CAUSING A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE WHEEL IS ABLE TO TURN IN A COMPLETE CIRCLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THERE WAS NO POWER . IT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CALLED ROAD HAZARD ASSISTANCE. THEY GAVE HER A JUMP START. CONSUMER DROVE HOME AND THAT NIGHT VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THERE WAS NO POWER. IT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CALLED ROAD HAZARD ASSISTANCE GAVE HER JUMP START. DROVE THE CAR HOME, AND THAT NIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK
DURING THE RAIN THE VEHICLE LEAKS. YH
WHILE TRAVELING 30MPH VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN FOR NO REASON. THERE WAS NO WARNING. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. CONSUME RWAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT ELECTRICAL: IGNITION: COIL HAD BURNED ALL THE WIRES DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK
I AM WELL AWARE OF OCASSIONAL PROBLEMS WITH NEW VEHICLES , I FEEL THAT SOME ONE MUST RECTIFY THIS SITUATION , I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO BE A PART OF THIS . I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD MORE THAN MY SHARE OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND ATTITUDES FROM THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT HAVING THEM FIXED, I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO BE CONTACTED BY A REPRESENTITIVE OF NHTSA JUST TO LET ME KNOW THAT ALL MY TIME WAS NOT WASTED WITH THIS QUESTIONAIRE, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP ME AND MY FAMILY AND THE MANY OTHERS I HAVE TALKED TO THAT ARE HAVING THESE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR KIA'S SINCERELY , DONALD R LAVALLEE
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE FRONT END IS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE TIRES ARE BALD. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE. *AK *YC
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A REAR ENDED COLLISION, BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *YC
THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED, AFTER THE REPLACEMENT THE STEERING MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND VIBRATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ALSO THE STEERING HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES AT HIGWAY SPEEDS DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR PINPOINT THE CAUSE OF STALLING. *AK
NEW PROBLEMS ARISE WITH A BLACK, OILY, AND GREASY SOOT ALL OVER MY FRONT TIRES AND ALL OVER MY ENGINE. CAR PURCHASED BRAND NEW. HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A HEADACHE. DON'T BUY A KIA!
WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL IT WOULD START VIBRATING. HAD BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC & INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE BODY MOUNTS WERE LOOSE & NEEDED TIGHTENING OR REPLACEMENT. *AK
THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AFTER THE CAR WAS 6 MONTHS OLD CAUSING BRAKE PAD DAMAGE. THE WEATHER STRIPPING FELL OFF 2 TIMES AND HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT IS BEGINNING TO FALL OFF AGAIN. THE LID ON THE CONSOLE BROKE A FEW MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP.IT HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT STILL DOES NOT FIT RIGHT. THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER 4 MONTHS. THE PAINT IS PEELING ON THE BUMBER AND THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH SCRATCHES THE PAINT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ALWAYS REPAIRED THE PROBLEMS UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS(I HAVE TO TAKE IT IN THIS MONTH). MY WARRANTY IS RUNNING OUT AND I AM WORRIED I HAVE A LEMON.
BRAKES ARE SQEAKING FOR NO REASON, UPON STOPPING THE CAR SHAKES AND JERKS SLIGHTLY.*AK
EVERY TIME YOU PUT GAS IN THE TANK IT SPITS IT OUT AT YOU, IT ALMOST WENT INTO MY EYES. THAT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR SIGHT. THANK YOU, LINDA RHOADS. *AK
PASSENGER'S INSIDE DOOR LOCK ISN'T WORKING. CONSUMER CAN'T GET INSIDE VEHICLE O PASSENGER'S SIDE. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
STARTER WON'T WORK, AND CONSUMER CAN'T START VEHICLE UP UNTIL THE THIRD TIME. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPER'S ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK
CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER HAD A COLLISION IN WHICH SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONE INJURY. *AK
DAUGHTER HAD A REAR END COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONLY ONE INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. *AK
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 1999 Kia Sephia → · Every Sephia year → · How the figures are calculated →