1998 Kia Sephia Body & structure Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10234731

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

80,200 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10128964

Incident

Jul 15, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

I PURCHASED A KIA IN MARCH 02' I USED THE CAR FOR LONG TRIPS THE FIRST YEAR I HAD OWNED THE CAR AND I HAD NO FAULTS IN JAN.- FEB 03' THE CAR BEGAN TO SHIFT IN TO NUMEROUS GEARS AND THEN STALL. I WAS THEN DEPLOYED TO IRAQ. I LEFT THE CAR WITH A GOOD FRIEND. WHEN I CAME BACK HE INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. FRIEND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP.FRIEND THEN REPLACED FUEL PUMP AGAIN WHEN CAR WOULDN'T START. FRIEND LEFT THE CAR ALONE,WHEN IT DIDN'T START, UNTIL I HAD RETURNED FROM IRAQ. I CAME BACK AND TOOK THE CAR TO MIDAS, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE DEALER DIDN'T HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. MIDAS THEN SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I HAD IT REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME. CAR RAN FOR A DAY THEN DIED. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MIDAS THEY SAID IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. I HAD THAT REPLACED. CAR STILL DIDN'T START. SO MIDAS SAID THREE WEEKS LATER THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL MODULE. THE CAR THEN WORKED FOR ABOUT A MONTH THEN WOULDN'T START. TOOK CAR TO SEVERAL SHOPS ALL SAID IT WAS THE PUMP. I THEN HAD A MECHANIC FROM MY UNIT CHECK IT OUT. HE SAID IT WAS WITHIN THE WIRING TO THE FUEL PUMP STILL HASN'T FIGURED IT OUT. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND THAT IT HAS A FAULTY CONNECTION WITH THE CONNECTING CABLES NEAR THE FUEL PUMP UNDER THE BACK SEAT. THE CONNECTORS HAVE BEEN MISS FIRING AND HAS BURNT A HOLE IN MY BACK SEAT. I'VE TRIED TO GO TO THE DEALER BUT THEY INSIST ON DOING A DIANOSTIC AND CHARGE ME $60.00 JUST TO TELL ME THE SAME THING THAT I ALREADY KNOW. THEY ALSO SAID THEY CAN'T ORDER THE PART UNTIL A DIANOSTIC WAS DONE. I'VE ALSO HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK OVER FILLING AND NOT READING FULL ON THE GAUGE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES FOUR TIMES IN 18 MONTHS.THE POWER STEERING ALSO GOES OUT QUITE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE ALSO HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT OF THE CAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT WEAR AND TEAR OCCURS ON A VEHICLE BUT THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IAM DISSAPONTED IN KIA

NHTSA ID

10051293

Incident

Dec 29, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

DASHBOARD IS BEGINNING TO LIFT AND BUBBLES ARE FORMING NEAR THE VENTS FOR THE DEFROSTR. CONSUMER BELIEVES DASHBOARD MAY OBSTRUCT VISION. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10038264

Mileage

71,000 mi

THE WHOLE WHEEL APRON CAME LOOSE, GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE TIRE AND WAS THROWN OFF THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING INSTABILITY TO MY STEERING AND AS PARTS FLEW OFF, CAUSING A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS.*AK

NHTSA ID

765442

Incident

Aug 9, 2002

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.*AK 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. *TT

NHTSA ID

8001511

THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT, THE DEALER PERFORMED 4 WHELL ALIGMNENT AND ROTATED THE TIRES. NLM

NHTSA ID

562408

Incident

Dec 8, 1998

SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE CONSUMER HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF REPAIR SHOP 10-12 TIMES,CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED.*JB

NHTSA ID

561722

VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 4-5 TIMES FOR DRIVER'S DOOR REPAIRS. DOOR WILL NOT STAY SHUT. WHILE DRIVING DOOR WILL FLY OPEN. OTHER TIMES CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO OPEN DOOR AT ALL. DEALER HAS REPLACED SEAL + LUBRICATED SEAL.*AK

NHTSA ID

877879

Incident

Nov 1, 1998

SIGNAL LIGHTS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN IN USE DURING COLD WEATHER FOR 15 MINUTES OR SO. SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS WHEN IT'S RAINING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH AND THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY FAILURES SINCE. SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL. HEAD GASKET REPLACED AT 3500 MILES. MOLDING ON THE DOORS FELL OFF AND WAS REPLACED. TAILPIPE WAS REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE EXHAUST FUMES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

876173

Incident

Aug 25, 1998

BRAKES,LIGHTS,SEATS,BATTERY,AIRBAGS,ODOMETER,LEAKS,AIRCONDITION,LEFTDOORHANDLE (TIRESIZE: 14`)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 14` )

NHTSA ID

732876

Incident

Sep 24, 2000

PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. DEALER HAS REPAIRED AND REPLACED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES.*AK IN ADDITION HEATER CORE, ALTERNATOR, STARTER,SPARK PLUGS, FRONT WINDSHIELD AND DOOR WEATHER STRIPS FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID

869138

THE ENGINE IS NOT STARTING, BATTERY REPLACED AND OTHER REPAIRS COMPLETED HOWEVER THE ENGINE IS STILL NOT STARTING. *MJS

NHTSA ID

784789

GLOVE BOX LATCH FELL OUT. *MJS

NHTSA ID

552123

Incident

Aug 2, 1999

THE BACK SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMING OFF. YH

NHTSA ID

551042

Incident

Feb 11, 1999

BRAKES FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. NLM

NHTSA ID

550349

FRONT ROTORS FAILED CAUSING VIBRATION IN FRONT END WHEN APPLIED. NLM

NHTSA ID

550020

Incident

Oct 14, 1998

FAILURE OF FRONT BRAKES 3 TIMES, DASH BOARD WIRE HARNESS FAILURE CAUSING DASH BOARD DISPLAYS, STARTER WIRE HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, PAINT RUBBING OFF AND BLISTERING, LOWED NOISES/VIBRATION UNDER DRIVER SIDE WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITTIONS,, POOR GAS MILAGE, FAULTY GAS GUAGE, BROKEN RIGHT REAR SPEAKER, BACK RIGHT DOOR WEATHER GASKET FALLING OFF FOR THE THIRD TIME, SLOPP STEERING RESPONCE DURING QUICK TURNS

NHTSA ID

715783

Incident

May 27, 1999

HARD STARTING UP VEHICLE IN THE MORNINGS, AND GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ FULL TANK. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR IS BROKEN AT THE HINGES. HAD THE PANEL REPLACED. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ID

851213

Incident

Jul 5, 1999

ENGINE STALLS, ESPECIALLY WHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE IN THE MORNINGS. GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ FULL, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR IS BROKEN. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD REPAIR. REPLACED DOOR PANEL. DOOR HINGES WERE BROKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

851011

Incident

Jul 5, 1999

CAN FEEL BRAKES PULSATING WHEN ATTEMPTING STOP VEHICLE. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE. INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE STRUCTURE WOULD LEAK. BEEN TO DEALER & HAD ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

850641

Incident

Aug 15, 1998

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

NHTSA ID

549014

Incident

Jul 21, 1998

HAS BEEN IN 17 TIMES AND STILL NEED BRAKES AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK !!MANUFACTOR REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

713110

Incident

Jul 8, 1998

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, WHENEVER IT RAINS WATER GETS INTO VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID

847778

Incident

Nov 1, 1998

THE DOOR SEALS FAILED ALLOWING FUMES TO ENTER THE CAR. NLM

NHTSA ID

782573