Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Kia Sephia submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 108 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 108, in the owner's own words
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
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
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 600.00 TO FIX IT. I HAVE A LIMITED INCOME OF 535.00 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.
DEAR SIR: KIA SEPHIA 1998 HAS SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH NEVER BEEN REPORTED. MY CAR (VIN# [XXX]; 52,000 MILES) HAS (1) AN OIL LEAK FROM THE ENGINE HEAD (VALVE COVER) GASKET, WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY CREATE A FIRE, AND IT HAS (2) VERY PURE AIR FLOW ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH REDUCE MY DRIVING VISABILITY DUE TO FOG ACCUMULATION INSIDE OF THE WIENDSHIELD. BOTH CONDITIONS ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND MAY LEAD TO A CAR CRASH. PLEASE INFORM KIA MANUFACTURING CORPORATION THAT THESE DEFICIENCIES SHOULD BE FIXED FOR FREE. THANKS! SINCERELY, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] *AK UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS
PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1999. HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS STARTING IT. REPLACED THE STARTER 3 TIMES. STILL HAVE PRBLEMS STARTING IT. 2002 DIDN'T PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF EXAUST, KIA DEALERSHIP WAS SUPPOSE TO FIX PROBLEM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING AND EXAUST INSPECTION FAILED AGAIN. *AK
VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO COME TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE ON THE LAWN IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. AND THEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TT *JB
THE ENGINE/THROTTLE FAILS CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR WITH EXTREME FORCE TO GET THE VEHICLE RUNNING. *JB
CONSUMER STATES HAVING A PROBLEM W/ITH "CABLE" THAT GOES FROM GAS TANK TO ENGINE. CONSUMER ADVISES THAT CABLE IS ATTACHED TO A WIRING HARNESS THAT GETS VERY HOT AND IS SHOWING SIGNS OF MELTING. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE STALLS W/O WARNING AND WIRINGS HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED BEFORE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO RESTART. MR
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, 00V175000, AFTER FOUR ATTEMPTS THE RECALL WAS FIXED, THE PROBLEM IS BETTER BUT AT CERTAIN TIMES THE VEHICLE STILL BLOWS OUT GAS *YD
RECALL 00V175000 REPAIRS ON ORVR VALVE WAS DONE THE SECOND TIME IN NOV. 2001. WHEN FUELING VEHICLE FUEL IS STILL SPILLING ON GROUND, DEALER NOW DETERMINED THE CANISTER AND CANISTER VALVE NEED TO BE REPLACED. REFERENCED IN RQ03-006
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
VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT STARTER'S FUSE BURNED OUT. *AK
THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS OUT, DEALER REPLACED BULB. *YH
CONSUMER STATES HE IS EXPERIENCING MUFFLER PROBLEMS. *YH
THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT, THE DEALER PERFORMED 4 WHELL ALIGMNENT AND ROTATED THE TIRES. NLM
WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER, AND DISCOVERED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD VARIABLE THINGS, SUCH AS THE PROBLEM IS FIXED WE NOW HAVE HONDA BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE, TO IT'S NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT THE WAY YOU DRIVE AFTER JUST HAVING THE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED 2000 MILES AGO 2 TIMES IN A ROW.*AK
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.
ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER SAID ENGINE WAS SLUDGED UP DUE TO NO REGULAR OIL CHANGES. CONSUMER HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES DONE AT VERY SAME DEALERSHIP, CONSUMER DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT IS THE REASON ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. KIA IS OF NO HELP. *AK
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN WORKED ON OVER PAST YEAR. *AK ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. WHEEL BEARING FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD NO ENGAGEMENT DUE TO HALF SHAFT FAILURE. ENGINE STALLED AT A STOP DUE TO TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY FAILURE. BRAKES WERE NOISY AND WERE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE ROTORS. ENGINE WILL NOT START DUE TO BATTERY AND STARTER FAILURE. *YH
WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING ,CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LOOSE POWER UPON ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NO CAUSE WAS FOUND. NLM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON & O/D LIGHT FLASHES AFTER ALMOST EVERY 300 MILES SINCE RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE ORVR VALVES WAS SERVICED BY DEALER. O/D LIGHT FLASHES WOULD THEN FOLLOW ENGINE STALLING (AFTER DRIVEN 150 MILES) AND WOULD ONLY CRANK ENGINE BUT WONT START. ALSO AFTER ORVR WAS REPLACED, EVERY FULL TANK OF FUEL ( 12.7 GALS.) WOULD CAUSE HESITATION BUT WOULD GO AWAY AFTER DRIVEN FOR 8 MILES . ENGINE STALLING LUCKILY OCCURRED ONLY ON STREET ROADS BUT COULD POSE SERIOUS RISK IF IT WOULD HAPPEN ON FREEWAYS.*AK
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
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON GAS GAUGE. AFTER TAKING IT IN GAS GAUGE DID NOT GO TO FULL. CURRENTLY, GAS GAUGE STILL DOES NOT GO TO FULL. JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL LETTER FOR PCV VALVE. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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