Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 62 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 62, in the owner's own words
I BROUGHT A NEW KIA SEPHIA IN 1998, AND HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT! TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES BY THE MECHANIC FOR KIA MOTORS, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN ON 7/2007. ALSO , THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. NOW THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BUT NO MECHANIC CAN LOCATE THE ELECTRICAL SHORT PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE SHIFTING TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN, AND THE SHIFT LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE SHIFT LEVER IN ORDER TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THEN, THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED. *AK
I BOUGHT A 1998 KIA SEPHIA IN FEB OF 2000 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 GEAR SHIFTERS AND THREE TRANSMISSIONS AND THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 2/3 OF THE TIME THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. MY SIGNAL LIGHT ON ONE SIDE HAS NEVER REALLY WORKED PROPERLY AND THE THE HEADLIGHT CONSTANTLY SHORTS OUT. OF COURSE NOW I'M OUT OF WARRANTY AND STILL EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS AND MANY MORE I DONT KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN BECAUSE ALL I'M EVER TOLD IS THAT'S A KIA FOR YOU. I STILL HAVE A LOAN OF THIS CAR AND DONT THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT ALMOST EVERY YEAR THE GEAR SHIFTER AND TRANS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD GREAT APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME BECAUSE I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS BECAUSE THE GEAR SHIFTER WONT COME OUT OF PARK AND WHEN IT DID THE TRANS RACED WHEN REACHING 2 GEAR. THERE IS NO WAY ANYONE SHOULD EXPERIENCE THIS MUCH TROUBLE WHETHER BEING A USED CAR OR NOT. PLEASE HELP ME. *AK
I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS, AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD 5 RECALLS AND THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD CONSISTS OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND O/D LIGHT FLASHING. ALSO, CAR ACTS AS IF IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO INTO GEAR. WHEN IT IS PUT INTO REVERSE IT ALSO SEEMS AS IF HESITATE TO CRANK UP AS WELL. *LA
VEHICLE WOULDN'T START INTERMITTENTLY. ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT STARTED TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE WOULD ALSO ROLL WHILE IN PARK. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION WAS VERY BAD AND DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE WOULD STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. TS
THE VEHICLE STOP WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE REMAIN RUNNING BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE REPAIR WAS MADE AT THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBBLEM IS REOCURRING. TS
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
AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING IT IN PARK VEHICLE CAME OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED BACK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS OUT, DEALER REPLACED BULB. *YH
CONSUMER STATES HE IS EXPERIENCING MUFFLER PROBLEMS. *YH
CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED, HOWEVER THREE DAYS LATED CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AGAIN.*YH
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR VARIOUS BRAKE PROBLEMS AND ALTHOUGH REPAIRS WERE MADE I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN THE RELIABILITY OF THIS CAR. AND, NOW THAT TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE, I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT KIA IS NOT AWARE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES! THANK YOU FOR LOOKING OUT FOR OUR SAFETY.
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
IN 2 YEARS I HAD TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION, REPLACE MY BRAKES 6 TIMES, SERVICE ENGINE PROBLEMS 7 TIMES, FUEL PUMP, 8 RECALLS, WIPERS, NEW TIRES, AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS... COPIES OF REPAIRS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. I HAVE ALSO BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY THE DEALER MANY TIMES.
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT WOULD FLASH, SECOND TIME VEHICLE JUST QUIT, THIS WAS SECOND TRANSMISSION VEHICLE HAS HAD. *AK
11 MAJOR FAILURES WITH MY VEHICLE. NOT ALL ARE LISTED IN THIS COMPLAINT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
I BOUGHT MY KIA SEPHIA IN 1998. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES FIXED 2 TIMES AND TAY REPLACED ONCE. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ALSO. RECENTLY MY CAR HAS BEEN RIDING VERY SLUGGISH. WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS IT MAKES A VERY LOUD SOUND. WHEN I TR TO ACCELERATE THE CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO CHANGE INTO GEARS. IT ALSO CONSTANTLY MAKES A LOUD HUMMING SOUND WHEN I AM AT ABOUT 40-50MPH. THIS CAR HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT TROUBLE AND $$$. I AM TRYIN TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE HAS BEEN A WHOLE BUNCH OF RECALLS I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT OR IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I MAY BE ABLE TO DO HERE TO SAVE MONEY. I STILL OWE 9,000 AND FEEL LIKE I AM CONSTANTLY INCONVININCED BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR CONSTANT REPAIR. 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
THE IGNITION SYSTEM IS HARD STARTING AT TIMES, EVEN RIGHT AFTER I GOT A TUNE UP FROM THE DEALER. GLOVEBOX HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE BECAUSE THE CLOSING MECHANISM JAMS AND WILL NOT OPEN. TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED, SHIFTS ROUGHLY SINCE NEW. THE BRAKES GRIND CONSTANTLY, DEALER HAS REPLACED ROTORS, THEN REPLACED BRAKE PADS AFTER THAT, NOW GRINDING AGAIN. *AK
TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND VEHICLE STALLED/ MALFUNCTIONED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK
MY VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING IN THIRD GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES FAILED AS WELL. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE ISSUES FOUR TIMES TO DATE. I HAD TO HAVE A TOTAL BRAKE REPLACEMENT IN THE PAST TWO YEARS AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT 6800 MILES. SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILTED, I HAVE RETURNED IT FOUR TIMES FOR ADDITIONAL FAILURE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE..*AK
I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 7000 MILES ON IT, IT HAS NEEDED 4 BRAKE JOBS (EVERY 7K -FRONT THEN REAR THEN FRONT THEN REAR) IN THE 28K THAT I'VE OWNED IT. THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE SO THE FRONT BRAKES WEAR OUT. I HAD IT PUT ON A RACK AND SOMEONE STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE REAR TIRES COULD BE TURNED EASILY. WITH STRONG PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL, THE REAR TIRES WERE HARD TO MOVE, BUT STILL COULD BE MOVED BY HAND. THE 2X THE REAR BRAKES WERE SERVICED, THE CYLINDERS HAD CRACKED AND LEAKED. A FRIEND HAS SUGGESTED THIS MEANS THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IS GOING INTO THE CYLINDERS BUT THEY WERE A 'BAD CASTING' AND THE PRESSURE ISN'T PUSHING THE PISTONS OUT, BUT EVENTUALLY CAUSES THEM TO CRACK. 09/18/00 A FLEXPLATE IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LESS THAN 6 WEEKS LATER, THE CAR WENT OUT OF GEAR AS I PULLED INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, DRIVE SHAFT, AND FRONT AXLE ON THE CAR. *AK
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
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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