1998 Kia Sephia Suspension Problems

I WAS IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 7TH, AT 10:30 AM WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE MASS PIKE RT. 90 FRAMINGHAM, MASS. I THOUGHT MY KIA SEHPIA WAS IN ACCELENT CONDITION, BUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE, THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN STARTED SHAKING AND I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. I TRIED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE BUT COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CAR SCREECHED AND WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. TO MY IMMEDIATE RIGHT WAS A LARGE RYDER RENTAL TRUCK, I BRACED MYSELF AND HIT THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. THE REST IS A BLUR, I SPUN AROUND AND THE REAR OF MY CAR HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND I FORTUNATELY STOPPED IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE. IT HAPPENED SO FAST, BUT WHAT IS MOST UPSETTING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS A STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM OR A TIRE PROBLEM. ALL I KNOW IS, I WAS DRIVING SAFETLY AND THEN MY CAR WHEN OUT OFF CONTROL. THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY VECHICLE WAS SEVERLY DAMAGED, AND MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ID

766723

Incident

Aug 7, 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

WHEN DRIVING REAR END SLIDES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. ALSO, TIRES ARE BALD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

874586

Incident

Feb 2, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON OLD ROUTE 50 ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT ACROSS IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP, AND HIT VEHICLE BROADSIDE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. SINCE THE ACCIDENT, AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN ON ALL THE TIME. ALSO, HAD BRAKES REPLACED 5 OR 6 TIMES. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. ALSO, DONE AN ALIGNMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

862030

Incident

Jul 10, 1999

ON FRIDAY MAY 12, 2000 MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VERY ERATICALLLY. AFTER MAKING A THREE POINT TURN AND STRAIGHTING THE CAR OUT AND PROCEEDING FORWARD, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS CLOCKED UPSIDE DOWN AND BEGAN TO SHAKE. AS MY FIANCE PROCEEDED TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT YOU COULD HEAR A LOUD POP SOUND COME FRONT THE FRONT AND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER SHE PULLED OVER SHE TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT, YOU TURN THE WHEEL ABOUT A QUARTER TURN AND THEN ANOTHER LOUD POP. THE WHEELS WOULD TURN TO THE RIGHT BUT, AS YOU TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE TIRES WOULDN'T MOVE. THE STEERING WHEEL TURN AND POP BUT, THE TIRES WOULD NOT RESPOND. I GUESS I'M VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY FIANCE AND 2 YEAR OLD SON DIDN'T GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION AND HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. THANK YOU, MR. RICHARD SOTO. *AK

NHTSA ID

722742

Incident

May 12, 2000

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES A CLICKING NOISE WOULD APPEAR FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

860773

Incident

Nov 5, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN COULD HEAR NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, LIKE TOUCHING THE SIDES. BUT, MANUFACTURER NOR DEALER COULD FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

859153

Incident

Mar 23, 2000

WE HAVE HAD REPEATED RECALLS. WE OWN TWO KIAS PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME . THE DEALERSHIP HAS MADE MANY ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLES. THEY ARE AS FRUSTRATED AS WE ARE. THE CARS HAVE HAD SIMILAR BUT ADDITIONAL ISSUES. THEY DO NOT SEEM TO HOLD AN ALIGNMENT. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH SETS OF FRONT TIRES. WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE BRAKES RENEWED IN THE ONE YEAR WE OWN THE VEHICLES. THERE HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WE HAVE HAD CONNECTORS AND BATTERY RENEWAL. THE DEFROSTERS DO NOT ADEQUATELY DEFROST THE WINDOWS CAUSING HAZERDOUS AND LIMITED VISIBILITY. THE DOOR HANDLE ON ONE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE STARTERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THEY BOTH FAILED INSPECTION RECENTLY BECAUSE OF SERIOUS EMMISSIONS FAILURE. FUMES WERE COMING INTO THE PASSENGER AREA FROM A CORRRODED TAILPIPE THAT IS GIVING WAY AT THE SEAMS. KIA SAYS THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS. THIS OCCURED IN BOTH CARS. THE TAILPIPES WERE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS GHAS BEEN AN OCCURENCE BEFORE. OUR WARRENTY IS RUNNING OUT AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL FAIL NEXT. PLEASE ADVISE US OF A REALISTIC COURSE OF ACTION. THANK YOU. ELLEN L. OPPENHEIMER PLEAE NOTE MY DATES ARE OFF AS I DO NOT HAVE ALL THE PAPER WORK HOWEVER IT CAN BE OBTAINED. *AK

NHTSA ID

718002

Incident

Feb 25, 1999

FRONT BRAKES FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

551304

Incident

May 18, 1998

THE CAR JERKS AS IT IS PASSING 20TH MILE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WORSE WITH TIME FOR THE LAST 8 MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ID

718336

STRUTS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

550293

THE VEHICLE VIBRATES SEVERELY DUE TO FAULTY REAR SHOCK ABSORBER. YH

NHTSA ID

549719

THE POWER WINDOWS & DOOR LOCKS WOULD GO UP & DOWN ON THEIR OWN. THE DOORS ARE NOT LOCKED SECURELY. THE WINDOWS FAIL TO REMAIN CLOSE OR OPEN WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE AFTER VEHICLE IS STARTED. WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, VEHICLE SHAKES. THE TIRE MOULDING & THE TRIM IS PEELING OFF. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE STOPS, IT WOULD TO BE JUMP STARTED, CONSTANTLY. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER TO REPAIR PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

852093

Incident

Sep 4, 1999

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS,AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL PULL TO EITHER SIDE, AND THERE IS STRONG VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

851970

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING AND VIBRATING. PULLED OVER. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE GARAGE. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS, BUT VEHICLE IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

851965

Incident

Oct 25, 1999

ENGINE OVERHEATED. NLM

NHTSA ID

548995

Incident

Jun 26, 1998

TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE FUNNY NOISES WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. VEHICLE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. BRAKES: WOULD SQUEAL WHEN APPLIED. HAD ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM CHANGED TWICE & PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALIGNMENT: DUE TO THE BRAKES, THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT ON THE INSIDE & HAD TO BE CHANGED. *AK *YC

NHTSA ID

839390

Incident

Apr 7, 1999

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

782534

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHAKES OR VIBRATES AND A NOISE OCCURS IN THE FRONT END, CAUSE UNKNOWN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

838102

THE FLOOR SHIFTER HAS A RATTLING NOISE. HAD SHIFTER REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DASHBOARD RATTLES. GLOVE COMPARTMENT FELL DOWN. RADIO SPEAKERS BLOWN. BEARINGS IN WHEEL GRIND. DOING FWY SPEED, VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY & SHAKE. WHEN SLOWING TO STOP, BRAKES WOULD JERK. WHILE WAITING AT STOP, ENGINE WOULD BE SURGING. *AK

NHTSA ID

836418

Incident

Oct 19, 1998

WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY WOULD START TO MAKE A POPPING NOISE. IT WOULD SOUND LIKE METAL RUBBING. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED A NUT WAS LEFT OUT OF THE SUSPENSION. IT WAS REPLACED, BUT VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING AGAIN LIKE IT'S OUT OF BALANCE. *AK THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER RIGHT AND SPOSE GAS OUT WHILE FILLING. *YH

NHTSA ID

828926

Incident

Sep 13, 1998

VEHICLE VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH OR MORE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND CONDITION CANNOT BE RESOLVED. MANUFACTURER ALSO NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

828258

Incident

Jul 14, 1998