10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,066 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Kia Sephia miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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1998 Kia Sephia Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #29

May 152002

Sephia

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,596 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Since may of 2002, this car has been in the shop 9 times and of this date it is still there. First they said it was fuses. Actually it has never run or started right. It had to be towed at least 4 times. The last time that it went in was 8/5/03, they fixed the water pump, belts, crank pulley. This was all under warranty. When I picked up my car it made a terrible sound. They said it was the new belts. So I drove it home and 2 days later it?S back in there. The next day sabrina called and said that it was the air conditioner compressor. It was going to cost me over $600 to fix it. I have a limited income of $535 a month, am disabled and if the car broke down I don't know what I would do.. the car is still at Kia dealer ship, that's as of today.

- Loganville, GA, USA

problem #28

Apr 152003

Sephia 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 85,490 miles
Computer system failure for Kia Sephia that control air intake, emission.

- Snohomish, WA, USA

problem #27

Jan 302001

Sephia 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,830 miles
Pre owned vehicle purchased in very good condition and still in very good condition. At purchase front of dashboard was slightly warped. Since purchase, front of dashboard has become increasingly warped, defrost vents are severely cracked, causing front windshield defrost not to function properly.

- Greenville, SC, USA

problem #26

Jan 042002

(reported on)

Sephia

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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. 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, dealer found tail pipe damaged, both front aftermarket tires (no tire information) worn, left rear rim bent, rear tires (no tire information) cupped and feathered due to lack of rotation and alignment problems, consumer also requested dealer to check cv boots for grease leak, dealer found no problem.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #25

Sep 242001

Sephia

  • miles
Dashboard is lifting up and affecting frontal air bag on passengers side. Dealer has been notified.

- Edingurg, TX, USA

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problem #24

Jan 012001

Sephia

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Engine check light and overdrive light would flash, second time vehicle just quit, this was second transmission vehicle has had.

- Clevland, OH, USA

problem #23

Feb 012001

Sephia 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I also had to bring the car in for service 5 times for the sme problem. Engine check light would come on 02/06/99 took car in because engine light came on they found code po 440 for evap emissions system malfunction they found hose that rubbed against bracket created leak 02/27/99 check engine light on again and smell gas fumes found engine surges and hard to start performed G300 ground wire repair under drivers seat to correct problem 03/15/99 check engine light on again code PO172 replaced defective mass air flow meter solenoid valve during road test engine misfire #3 spark plug fouled replaced plugs 03/10/99 check engine light on again codes PO270, P1505, PO0300 injector circuit to low, random misfire they found egiharness was cut and pinced going through firewall replaced eci harness & control unit car would not start after check over found no power to starter solenoid. Found new harness missing a wire replaced wire. The car was a lemon, Kia refused to take car back.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #22

Oct 012000

Sephia

  • miles
Front of dashboard has warped, and defrost vents are crakced causing defrost on front windshield to not function properly.

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #21

Dec 302000

Sephia

  • miles
I had the car for less than 10 hours when it died on the road, fuel pump replaced, engine light came on while driving home from repair shop

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #20

Jan 052001

Sephia

  • miles
Consumer had found out that dashboard was lifting up and out vehicle. Had taken vehicle to dealer where they did not know what waas causing lifting, and they refused to repair vehicle.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #19

Sep 071999

(reported on)

Sephia

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine light failure.

- Perry, UT, USA

problem #18

Jul 112000

(reported on)

Sephia

  • miles
Since I purchased the car in 1999, I have had the vehicle back to the dealer 4 times for the engin lt staying on; still on and not repaired. Lt would be back on the same day or next day after picking up from dealership; brakes needed for inspection; not installed properly; squeeky and whole front end makes noises when you touch the brakes to slow down or stop.

- Horsham, PA, USA

problem #17

Aug 261998

Sephia

  • miles
Headliner replaced, heat caused sagging and falling off.

- Palmetto, FL, USA

problem #16

May 052000

(reported on)

Sephia

  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Clinton, LA, USA

problem #15

Feb 011999

Sephia

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Engine check light came on and stayed on. Also, transmission stick shift kept sticking, and engine head gasket blew out. Dealership replaced engine head gasket and stick shift.

- Worcester, MA, USA

problem #14

Dec 211999

Sephia

  • miles
I reported this to Kia and tried to trade the car, but Kia would not make an even trade they wanted me to finance the new car which would have put me up side down with financing. No safety defect listed.

- Crete, IL, USA

problem #13

Dec 211999

(reported on)

Sephia

  • miles
When the transmission was in reverse, it would pop out of gear into neutral. Then vehicle would stop. Also, ABS brakes were replaced twice due to excessive wear to drums. Headlights would have condensation, and dashboard was replaced due to cracks. Vehicle now on third transmission and it still slips out of reverse when backing up.

- Ft Ritchey, FL, USA

problem #12

Aug 131999

Sephia

  • miles
Engine check light/air bag lights are on. Car will not start, also, there was a problem with the brakes. When applying the brakes, pedal went to the floor, consumer almost had a collision.

- Nashvilee, TN, USA

problem #11

Feb 151999

Sephia

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle weatherstriping caming off. Nlm

- Gulfport, MS, USA

problem #10

Feb 181999

Sephia

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Weatherstrip came off. Nlm

- Gulfport, MS, USA

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