1998 Kia Sephia Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE ACTIVATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE WIPER SCRATCHED THE WINDSHIELD AND DID NOT CLEAR THE RAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V271000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10508669

Incident

Apr 16, 2009

Mileage

55,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10052538

Incident

Nov 24, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

PRE OWNED VEHICLE PURCHASED IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND STILL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. AT PURCHASE FRONT OF DASHBOARD WAS SLIGHTLY WARPED. SINCE PURCHASE, FRONT OF DASHBOARD HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY WARPED, DEFROST VENTS ARE SEVERELY CRACKED, CAUSING FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROST NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008300

Incident

Jan 30, 2001

Mileage

19,830 mi

WHILE IN MOTION, THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW CRACKED IN TO VERY SMALL PIECES. *JG *JB

NHTSA ID

10001482

Incident

Sep 8, 2002

Mileage

18,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CAME LOOSE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER . PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

897069

Incident

Mar 6, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

562464

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

NHTSA ID

562408

Incident

Dec 8, 1998

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.

NHTSA ID

746288

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

DRIVER SIDE WIPER LINK FALLS OFF WHEN WINDSHIELD GETS ALITTLE DRY & WIPERS START TO DRAG

NHTSA ID

730184

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

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

784683

FAN MOTOR FAILED CAUSING THE CUSTOMER TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX AND UNDER THE HOOD. NLM

NHTSA ID

552299

Incident

Apr 20, 2000

SERVICE THE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DUE TO HOSE CLAMP LOOSE AT CANISTER, HOSE BACKED OFF. YH

NHTSA ID

551951

Incident

Oct 19, 1998

BRAKES PULSATE BADLY DUE TO FAULTY FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. YH

NHTSA ID

551826

Incident

Nov 2, 1999

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V271000/WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE PIVOT DRIVE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP FOR APPOINTMENT. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. WOULD CALL WHEN PARTS WERE IN. *AK

NHTSA ID

859834

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

CAR NEEDS FRONT AXLES. ALSO, MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH FLYWHEEL AND FUEL PUMP. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER JUST RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 99V271/ WINSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE. CAR IS 1 YEAR OLD AND HAS 26000 MILES, OWNER HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

858186

Incident

Mar 8, 2000

SINCE THE TIME THAT I HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR IT HAS BEEN FALLING APART. THE CAR IS CONSTANTLY SHUTTING DOWN OR IT JUST WON'T START. AT THIS PRESENT TIME MY CAR IS SITTTING AT STONEMOUNTAIN KIA WHEREAS IT IS IN NEED A THIRD BATTERY ALL WITHIN LESS THAN A YEARS TIME. EVENTHOUGH THEY KNOW THE DANGEROUS HISTORY OF THIS CAR THAT I PURCHASED NEW, THEY CONTINUALLY RETURN THE CAR TO ME WITHOUT DOING A SAFETY CHECK. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THEIR LOCATION SEVERAL TIMES IN THE SAME WEEK BECAUSE THEY HAVE FELLED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ONCE AGAIN MY CAR IS CONTINUALLY SUFFERING FROM THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO GROW WORST. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. THE DRIVESHAFT IS ALWAYS STICKING IN THE GEARS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY BLINK AND STAY ON FOR PERIODS AT A TIME. THE EXHAUST STILL MAKING LOUD NOISE THAT I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT SINCE I BROUGHT THE CAR. THE ENGINE JERKS AND THE CAR IS BURNING A LOT OF GAS. THE BATTERY ACID CONTINUES TO LEAK OUT INTO THE CAR. THE AIR VENTS BROKE JUST FROM A SLIGHT TOUCH AND SO DID THE KNOB THAT CONTROL THE AIR CIRCULATION. THE CAR IS CONSTANTLY STALLING. THE CAR SHAKES BADLY WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. FIRESTONE REFUSES TO WORK ON KIA'S BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OF ALL THE FAULTY SYSTEM PERTAINING TO KIA'S. LATION

NHTSA ID

719814

Incident

Dec 1, 1998

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

NHTSA ID

551042

Incident

Feb 11, 1999

RECALLED WINDSHIELD WIPER REPAIR COMPLETED HOWEVER CONSUMER FEELS THEY STILL DON'T OPERATE PROPERLY. NLM

NHTSA ID

550983

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 99V271000 FOR A WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED THE CORRECTION PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

856350

A/C AND DEFROST DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY. NLM

NHTSA ID

783940

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES 99V318000 AND 99V271000. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO TAKE CARE OF THE RECALLS. ALSO, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

855082

BRAKES FAILED AND REPLACED. *MJS

NHTSA ID

550399