1998 Kia Sephia Steering Problems

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 ID

10347268

Incident

Jul 29, 2010

Mileage

120,553 mi

REAR DRUM BRAKES SQUEALED LOUDLY, AND IT DID NOT FEEL AS IF THEY WERE WORKING IN MOIST CONDITIONS. ALSO, A STEERING GEAR BRACKET WELD CRACKED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER VEHICLE. AT LOW SPEEDS CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULT MAINTAINING CONTROL. STEERING WHEEL WAS FLOPPING AROUND. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067356

Incident

Sep 25, 2002

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

WHILE MAKING A TURN AT THE INTERSECTION STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WILL NOT TURN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017598

Incident

Aug 18, 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

DRIVING WITHIN 25 MPH WHEN A THUMP/BREAK WAS HEARD. THE VEHICHLE BECAME INOPERABLE TO DRIVE UNABLE TO STEER OR TURN STEERING WHEEL. DIAGONAL TO ROAD AND FEARED FOR LIFE AS THIS WAS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. HAD PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE INCLUDING DIASABLE PERSON. WAS ABLE TO TURN WHEEL SLIGHTLY AND DRIVE STRAIGHT TO GAS STATION WITHIN 50 FEET. IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOW TRUCK AND HAD TAKEN TO DEALER HALLEEN KIA IN NORTH OLMSTEAD, OHIO AND CONTACTED MANUFACTURER KIA CORPORATION TO ASCERTAIN DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT OR RECALL HISTORY. NO SATISFACTION AS I FEEL KIA SHOULD FIX FRAME SINCE THIS MAJOR COMPONENT FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

755383

Incident

Dec 2, 2001

THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS OUT, DEALER REPLACED BULB. *YH

NHTSA ID

562464

CONSUMER STATES HE IS EXPERIENCING MUFFLER PROBLEMS. *YH

NHTSA ID

562457

BUTTON ON GEAR BOX STOPPED WORKING, HAPPENED A YEAR AGO, BUT THEN DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

882072

Incident

Feb 1, 2000

FRONT OF DASHBOARD HAS WARPED, AND DEFROST VENTS ARE CRAKCED CAUSING DEFROST ON FRONT WINDSHIELD TO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

740661

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

POWER STEERING PUMP MADE A WHINING NOISE WHICH WAS HEARD WHEN CAR GOT WARM, PUMP WAS REPLACED 2 TIME. *ET

NHTSA ID

556045

Incident

Aug 5, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

551042

Incident

Feb 11, 1999

BRAKES FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENT, THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES ALSO ROTORS FUEL PUMP, TRANSMISSION, GLOVEBOX,WIRING HARNESS, MANY OTHER THINGS TOO... COULD HAVE LOST MY 2 OF MY GRANDSONS IN THE ACCIDENT... ARE WE GOING TO PUT UP WITH THIS??? I CAN BE REACHED AT [email protected]

NHTSA ID

718379

Incident

Feb 4, 2000

A/C AND DEFROST DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY. NLM

NHTSA ID

783940

THE STERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN APPLYING PRESURE TO THE BREAKS. BREAKS MAKES NOISE WHEN SLOWING DOWN. HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND GOT NEW TIRES THE PROBLEM STILL IS ACCURING THIS IS WHAT THE DEALER TOLD ME TO DO IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP AND IT HAS NOT TO THIS DAY. KIAS ARE LEMONS.

NHTSA ID

715540

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN ENGINE NOISE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO BE ILLUMINATED. NLM

NHTSA ID

549017

Incident

Jul 21, 1998

VEHICLE WON'T START. NLM

NHTSA ID

549007

Incident

Apr 29, 1998

CAR SHAKES AND VIBRATES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. NLM

NHTSA ID

549003

Incident

Sep 3, 1998

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

713154

Incident

Jul 30, 1999

SINCE PURCHASED THE MV HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR NUMEROUS (13+) PROBLEMS AND DEFECTS. MY CONCERN OVER SAFETY ISSUES HAS BEEN DISMISSED OR GIVEN MANY DIFFERENT ANSWERS. DEALERSHIP DOES NOT ALWAYS GIVES REPAIR ORDER SLIPS WHENEVER THE CAR IS LOOKED AT OR SERVICED. THE SAFETY AND DEPENDABILITY OF THIS MV IS QUESTIONNABLE GIVEN THE NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE REPAIR SHOP. DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE CLAIMS NOTHING WRONG, ALTHOUGH MANUFACUTER'S REPRESENTATIVE DID OFFER REIMBURSEMENT OF 3 CAR PAYMENTS. THE ISSUE OF THE LACK OF DECELERATION HAS STILL TO BE RESOLVED. AS A FEMALE CONSUMER, I FEEL THAT I AM BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS A "LEMON" AND IN ALL LIKELIHOOD WILL CONTINUE TO PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA ID

709986

Incident

Aug 3, 1999

BRAKES FAILED AND REPLACED FOUR TIMES. YH

NHTSA ID

547496

Incident

Dec 10, 1998

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

708345

Incident

Jun 17, 1999

THE DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN CAUSES THE WHEEL TO LOCK UP WHILE MAKING A TURN WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS A NO START WHICH WAS CAUSED A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

831239

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

VEHICLE VIBRATES DUE TO WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS/PADS. ALSO, DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD/PLASTIC PIECES ON SEATS STICKING AND DIGGING INTO SKIN, AND STTERING WHEEL RUBBE RLOOSE ON SPOKES. AK

NHTSA ID

829139

Incident

Sep 2, 1998