1997 Kia Sephia Powertrain (other) Problems

I NOTICED A CLUNKING SOUND IN MY FRONT END OF MY 1997 KIA SEPHIA. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW AXLE SHAFTS ON BOTH SIDES. THE DEALER INFORMED ME HE WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PARTS OVERNIGHT AND THAT HE DID NOT WANT ME TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE AXLE SHAFTS ARE CRUMBLING AND HE HAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. HE SAID YOU DON'T SEE THAT IN KIA VEHICLES. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BUT HAD I WAITED THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND I HAVE ASKED THEM TO HOLD ON TO THE AXLE SHAFTS WHEN THEY ARE REMOVED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10149273

Incident

Feb 1, 2006

Mileage

49,900 mi

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE BRAKES FELT BAD BECAUSE I HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER HAVING IT FOR 2 WEEKS OTHER THING STARTED TO GO WRONG. I HAD TO BUY A CAP AND ROTOR AND GET SPARK PLUG AND WIRES. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS MESSING UP. THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PUT ME IN SOMETHING BETTER. THEY WANT ME TO PAY ON A JUNK CAR THAT I WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO BE FIXING DAY AFTER DAY.

NHTSA ID

10070151

Incident

Feb 15, 2003

Mileage

63,000 mi

DURING THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE BOTH DRIVE AXLES REPLACED ON MY 1997 KIA SEPHIA (AT A COST OF OVER $400) DUE TO A VIBRATION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HASN'T COMPLETELY RESOLVED MY PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK SHOULD POINT TO THE NEED FOR A RECALL: (1) THIS PROBLEM IS UNIQUE TO THE 1997 MODEL YEAR; (2) MID-WAY THROUGH THE 1997 MODEL YEAR, THE DESIGN FOR THE DRIVE AXELS WAS CHANGED AND MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO THIS CHANGE. SURELY A CHANGE DURING THE MANUFACTURING YEAR WOULD INDICATE A DESIGN FLAW. DT

NHTSA ID

770337

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTATCED. *AK CONSUMER SAID WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHENEVER STOPPING, TOOK BACK TO DEALER MANY TIMES FOR REPAIR, VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SPEEDOMETER IS ACTING ERRACTICALLY, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. *YD

NHTSA ID

8000812

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

TRANSMISSION- DROVE CAR TO DEALER BECAUSE OF SUSPECTED AXEL PROBLEM(REACURRING), WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT OUT OF DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED AXEL (3RD TIME) THEN SAID IT WAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM NOT TO DO TRANSMISSION WORK, THEY REMOVED NEW AXEL( SAID IT WASN'T DEFECTIVE AFTER ALL) HAD CAR TOWED AT MY EXPENSE FROM DEALERSHIP. AXEL WAS REPLACED 1ST TIME, BROKE WITHIN 30 DAYS, REPAIRED AGAIN. 11 MONTHS LATER STARTED HAVING SAME PROBLEM. BRAKES REPLACED 3 TIMES. TIRES REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 3 YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID

751327

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HAD A LEAKING PROBLEM FROM REAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT BRAKES HAD ONLY DUST ON THEM, AND IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE. DROVE VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AND RIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE, CAUSING TIRE TO ROLL DOWN INTERSTATE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ID

881716

Incident

Feb 3, 2001

WHILE DRIVING DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT/ DIGITAL LASER FAILED TO WORK ON CD PANEL/ POWER WINDOW ELECTRICAL SWITCH STOPPED WORKING, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON & DID NOT GO OFF. DASHBOARD COVERING WAS SEPARATING FROM WINDOW. THERE WAS WATER IN THE HEADLIGHTS, AND BATTERY WOULD GO DEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. VEHICLE NEEDED ALIGNMENT DUE TO PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION & THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

868570

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BATTERY FAILURE; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED FAULTY BATTERY ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED. ALSO, AND PROBLEM ENGINE HESITATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT RIGHT AFTER LEASING THE VEHICLE, THAT THE RADIO WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SQUEEKING IN THE REAR END WHEN TURNING. THE HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. THE LEFT REAR STRUT ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING KNOCKING NOISE AT RIGHT REAR. THE O-RING FAILED CAUSEING THE DISTRIBUTOR LEAK AND THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. *YH

NHTSA ID

863221

Incident

Sep 15, 1998

DOOR SEAL FAILED.*ET

NHTSA ID

784251

THE STICK ROD BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT ENGAGE IN GEARS. CONSUMER STATED WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 30 TO 35 MPH THE CV JOINTS BROKE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

815219

Incident

Jun 23, 1997