1998 Kia Sephia

491 complaints on file, page 1 of 25.

1. Filed Nov 19, 2019Failure Nov 11, 2019119,000 milesCentralia, WAFuel/propulsion system

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V317000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR THE RECALL IN 1999. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HANSON KIA (2300 CARRIAGE LOOP SW, OLYMPIA, WA 98502, (360) 943-2120) AND WAS INFORMED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11281090
2. Filed Apr 18, 2013Failure Apr 16, 200955,000 milesBaltimore, MDVisibility/wiper

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE ACTIVATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE WIPER SCRATCHED THE WINDSHIELD AND DID NOT CLEAR THE RAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V271000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

   NHTSA complaint 10508669
3. Filed Aug 4, 2010Failure Jul 29, 2010120,553 milesMoses Lake, WARack and pinion

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE WHEN HE HEARD AN UNUSUAL CLICK. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO LOCK YET THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE WHEEL. HE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE AS THE STEERING BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE RACK AND PINION MOUNTING BRACKET HAD FRACTURED FROM THE FIRE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,553.

   NHTSA complaint 10347268
4. Filed Feb 24, 2010Failure Dec 3, 2009160,000 milesLee's Summit, MOVehicle speed control

   TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO 50 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HE HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL EXCESSIVELY IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DRIVER ALSO STATED THAT HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM.

   NHTSA complaint 10313889
5. Filed Mar 12, 2009Failure Jan 5, 2009108,083 milesMagna, UTFuel system, Gasoline

   TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD PERIODICALLY FAIL TO START. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 99V317000 AND 99V318000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) AND SHOWED THE CONTACT A WIRE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT WAS NOT INSULATED AND HAD BEEN OVERHEATING. ONCE THE WIRE WAS REMOVED, THE FAILURE SEEM TO BE RESOLVED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED ALL THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS AND RE-SAUTERED EVERYTHING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ALREADY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,250 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,083.

   NHTSA complaint 10261658
6. Filed Jul 17, 2008Failure Jun 1, 200780,200 milesColumbus, OHStructure

   THE DASH BOARD IS CURLING UP AROUND THE FRONT WINDOW VENTS WHICH IS KICKING THE VENTS OUT. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10234731
7. Filed Jul 17, 2008Failure Apr 10, 200780,000 milesColumbus, OHService brakes, Hydraulic

   MY 1998 KIA SEPHIA REAR BRAKE PAD FELL OFF FELL OFF THE SHOE. APPARENTLY THEY ARE HELD ON BY GLUE. IT WAS REPLACED BUT I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN IT RAINS A LOT , THEY LOCK UP WHEN PARKED. I DON'T DARE USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE THE BRAKES LOCK UP. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10234729
8. Filed Sep 12, 2007Failure Aug 21, 200730,090 milesDrexel Hill, PAFrontal1 injured

   THE AIRBAG IN MY DAUGHTERS KIA SEPHIA 1998 PASSENGER SIDE ONLY DEPLOYED WHILE SHE WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND NO REASON FOR THE AIRBAG TO GO OFF. TOOK TO DEALSHIP FOR REVIEW AND WAS TOLD THAT THE EXPERT LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND NO IDEA WHY IT HAPPEN. THEN CONTINUED TO SAY THAT SOMEONE COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG TO THE CAR AND WE WOULD NEVER NO, BUT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO SPEND ANY MORE TIME OR MONEY TO FIND OUT WHAT REALLY MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS. MY DAUGHTER, THE DRIVER, WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED AND NOW IS AFFRAID WHILE DRIVING OR RIDING IN A CAR.

   NHTSA complaint 10202846
9. Filed Jul 23, 2007Failure Mar 26, 2007Cedar City, UTFrontalCrash

   TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. A RELATIVE WAS DRIVING THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE AND HE SAW HIS BROTHER DRIVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HE SWERVED TO PLAY A GAME WITH HIS BROTHER, BUT INSTEAD HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, HOWEVER THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS. UPDATED 04/30/08. LJ THE CONSUMERS ALSO OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA WHICH WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED

   NHTSA complaint 10197282
10. Filed Jul 18, 2007Failure Mar 2, 199980 milesGeorgetown, DEWiring, Automatic transmission, Service brakes, Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

    I BROUGHT A NEW KIA SEPHIA IN 1998, AND HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT! TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES BY THE MECHANIC FOR KIA MOTORS, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN ON 7/2007. ALSO , THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. NOW THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BUT NO MECHANIC CAN LOCATE THE ELECTRICAL SHORT PROBLEM. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10196733
11. Filed Mar 29, 2007Failure Oct 25, 2006Oakmont, PAElectrical system

    TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WITH THE 1998 KIA SOPHIA IT STALLED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND SHE HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART IT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND SHE TRIES TO RESTART IT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10186459
12. Filed May 20, 2006Failure May 19, 2006127,000 milesAbilene, TXEngineFire

    MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 KIA SEPHIA AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL. SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY WIFE RAN AWAY FORM THE VEHICLE. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS BURNED UP. *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10157930
13. Filed Feb 24, 2006Failure Jan 6, 200683,500 milesFontana, CAFuel system, Fuel injection system

    FLASHING OVERDRIVE DASH LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY LIT DUE TO FAULTY PRESSURE SENSOR AT FUEL INJECTOR. *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10151084
14. Filed Sep 3, 2005Failure Jun 1, 2004Chandler, AZElectrical system, Fan

    OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, APPROXIMATELY 70,00 MILES ON MY CAR, THE AC/HEATER FAN MOTOR WILL BLOW AIR INTERMITTENTLY, REGARDLESS OF THE FAN'S SPEED SETTING. EVENTUALLY, THE FAN STOPS BLOWING ALL TOGETHER. THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED WITH MY 1999 KIA SEPHIA. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10135239
15. Filed Jul 16, 2005Failure Jul 15, 200580,000 milesCookeville, TNEquipment, Service brakes, Master cylinder, Structure

    1-LEAKING BRAKE FLUID INSIDE FIREWALL 2-DASHBOARD DISFIGURING 3-EXAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS NOT LASTING

    NHTSA complaint 10128964
16. Filed Jun 6, 2005Failure Jun 4, 2005Redoak, VAElectrical system

    DT: VEHICLE ENGINE STALLS. KIA 1998 HAD BEEN RECALLED. PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED, HOWEVER, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEM. *TT

    NHTSA complaint 10124385
17. Filed Oct 15, 2004Failure Oct 15, 200454,000 milesRobbins, ILService brakes, Hydraulic

    THE CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT BRAKES ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE PART HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10096938
18. Filed Oct 14, 2004Failure Oct 12, 2004128,333 milesSoledad, CAFrontalCrash1 injured

    WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED BRUISING FROM THE SEAT BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

    NHTSA complaint 10096855
19. Filed Sep 7, 2004Failure Sep 7, 2004Tallahassee, FLService brakes, Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

    THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10091514
20. Filed Aug 27, 2004Failure Aug 27, 2004Patchogue, NYAutomatic transmission

    WHILE SHIFTING TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN, AND THE SHIFT LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE SHIFT LEVER IN ORDER TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10089958