Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Kia Sephia submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 174 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 174, in the owner's own words
HAVE REPLACED PADS AND TURNED ROTORS MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE MAY 07. IN MAY 08 MY ABS SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING A WRECK! HAD PADS REPLACED IN JANUARY 08. *TR
FAX ON BEHALF OF, RE AN ACCIDENT WITH HIS 1999 KIA SEPHIA THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE BACK BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. *KB *JB
1999 SEPHIA BRAKES, TRANSMISSION WERE REPLACED. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE EXHAUST SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TS THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINE THAT THERE WAS A SPLIT IN THE CENTERPIPE OF THE EXHAUST WHICH CAUSED IT TO BE LOUD. THE PART IS A PIECE OF FLEXIBLE HOUSING. THE PART COULD NOT BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY BUT THE CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE PIPE. THE PART WAS REPLACED BUT SPLIT AGAIN THREE MORE TIMES. *NM SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED AND GAS LEAKAGE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED.
THIS CAR HAS BEEN A CONSTANT REPAIR AND FINANCIAL PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS STARTING TWO WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. IT IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND CAN NOT BE KEPT MAINTAINED FOR SAFETY OR RELIABILITY IT WAS PURCHASED WITH 21000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND A MAJORITY OF REPAIRS HAS HAD TO BE FIXED. 4 STARTERS, IGNITION SWITCH, IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS (IGNITION STILL DOESN'T WORK), AIR BAG SENSOR, AIR BAG WIRING (AIR BAGS STILL DOES NOT WORK), ALTERNATOR, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DRIVE AXEL BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, RIGHT PASSENGER BALL JOINT FELL OFF THE CAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, MASTER CYLINDER AND REAR BRAKE CYLINDER WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED 3 TIMES, AND HAS LEFT ME AND MY CHILDREN STRANDED TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT. THE CAR IS STILL IN NEED OF MAJOR REPAIR. THE DRIVER REAR STABILIZER BUSHINGS NEED REPLACED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DRIVE AXEL NEEDS REPLACED, THE AIR BAGS STILL DO NOT WORK, THE IGNITION SWITCH STILL GETS STUCK AND WON'T TURN OVER, AND TWO WEEKS AGO A PISTON WAS THROWN THROUGH THE ENGINE AND CAUGHT THE CAR ON FIRE. THE CAR IS NOW PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY LEAVING ME STUCK WITH A CAR PAYMENT AND A CAR THAT IS NOT WORTH FIXING. *NM
KIA SEPIA 1999 SOUND COMING FROM REAR BRAKES. *BF THREE OF THE FOUR BRAKE PADS HAD FALLEN OFF OF THE SHOES. THE PADS WERE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BUT THE GLUE THAT HELD THEM TO THE SHOES HAD DISINTEGRATED. *NM
THE CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD REPEATEDLY. BATTERY LEAKED. BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE ENTIRE CAR AT 60,000 MILES. THE VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD HAVE POPPED UP AND BROKEN. NOW THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT BLOW THE AIR ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS VEHICLE WAS STORED IN A GARAGE. THE SEAMS ON THE SEAT COME UNDONE. THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER BROKE AND FLOPS IN THE DASH. THE SWITCH TO OVERRIDE THE TRANSMISSION LOCK IS BROKEN. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BROKE WHEN REPLACING THE STRUTS WHICH YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE BACK DASH TO GET TO. THE BOARD THAT IS UNDER THE CARPET IN THE TRUNK WARPED. THE CARPETS CAME UP FROM THE SIDES OF THE CAR. THE STORAGE BIN IN THE CENTER CONSOLE BROKE, TWICE. THE WIND SHIELD CHIPS AND ERRODES WHEN IN A CAR WASH. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A WINDSHIELD IN THIS BAD SHAPE BEFORE. THE BACK SEAT DOES NOT STAY DOWN. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE A BAD SEAL AND THERE IS WATER NOW IN THEM. THE RUBBER AROUND THE DOORS COMES OUT REPEATEDLY. GEAR SHIFTER IS CONTINUALLY STUCK. BRAKES TAKE TWICE AS LONG TO STOP MY CAR AS ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. I HAVE TO DRIVE 2 & 1/2 HOURS TO GET REPAIRS. THE GAS MILAGE IS CLOSER TO 24 MPG THEN THE 35 THAT WAS MARKED ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THERE ARE NOISES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT ARE LOUD AND UNPLEASANT. THERE IS A GROUND FAULT WIRE THAT IS BAD THEY WANT $75 AN HOUR MINIMUM OF 10 HOURS TO REPAIR IT. THE FUSE PANEL COVER BROKE. THE HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE ALLIGNED. *AK
HAD TO GO TO HOSPITAL FOR SURGERY. CAR WOULDN'T MOVE THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED. COULDN'T GO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THE BACK WHEELS WOULD JUST SLIDE. THE BRAKES ARE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE HALF THE PAD IS LEFT AND WHEN WE GOT HOME FROM MY SURGERY HUSBAND WENT OUT TO CHECK THE PROBLEM AND HERE THE BRAKES JUST FELL APART IN PIECES. WE HAD TO BUY NEW BRAKES AND PUT THEM ON I CAN SEND THE OLD BRAKES IN THEY ARE THE ORIGINAL BRAKES THAT WHERE ON THE CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. I FEAR THIS COULD HAPPEN WHILE SOMEONE IS DRIVING AND COULD CASE A BAD ACCIDENT.*AK
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 35 MPH THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT RETURN. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES, AND REFUSED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. *AK
EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT WORK WELL. *AK AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES ROLLS WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. EMERGENCY CABLE WAS REPLACED BUT VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE. *LA
THE DEALER HAD REPLACED TWO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS A LEASE AND HAD ONLY ONE YEAR REMAINING AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE TRANSMISSION LINES LEAKED, AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY WERE NOISY. *SCC *JB
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, WHICH RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. *JB
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASED FROM LATCH PLATE. SUBSEQUENTLY THE BUCKLE HIT THE DRIVER SHOULD AND HIT HER IN THE HEAD. THE STRAP BRUISED HER SHOULDER. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE BRAKE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. *AK *SLC *PH *NLM*EA04007*
THE VEHICLE HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS AND PROBLEMS. WHEN THE CONSUMER PUT FUEL IN THE VEHICLE IT LEAKED OUT. WHEN IT DID HIT SHE HAD TO PLAY AROUND WITH IT, UNTIL THE NOZZLE WAS IN THE TANK JUST RIGHT, THEN IT WOULD TAKE THE FUEL. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, AND ROTORS WEARING OUT TOO QUICKLY AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE REPAIR SHOP AT LEAST 10 TIMES AND NEEDED TO BE RETURNED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. *AK THE FUEL TANK PROBLEM HAD BEEN WORKED ON FOUR TIMES AND STILL WAS NOT FIXED. THERE WERE GEAR SHIFT PROBLEMS WHERE THE SHIFTER WOULD STICK, MULTIPLE WIRING CONSOLE LIGHT PROBLEMS, THE WIPER BLADE LINKS WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE BLADE TO COME APART. *SCC *JB REFERENCED IN RQ03-006
CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH 1999 KIA SEPHIA. NAR 07/21/2003.*MR TRANSMISSION, REAR BLINKERS, BRAKE PADS, FUEL PUMP AND VALVE. *CB
THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE SHOE BROKE IN HALF.*JB
DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND ROTORS ON 199 KIA SEPHIA, HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. CAUSES WEAR ON TIRES AND PRESENTS AN UNSAFE CONDITION.
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE STOPPED BY PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AT WHICH TIME THE CONSUMER NOTICED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY BRAKE OR ENGINE FAILURE. NLM
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS BRAKES AND ROTORS ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAD A REACALL ON THE ROTORS THAT HE WAS NOT INFORM ABOUT IT. DEALER STATED THAT HE NEED IT TO CONTAC THE MANUFACTURER FOR MORE INFORMATION. MR
CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS
CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, HE HAS HAD TO CHANGE THE BRAKES/ROTORS EVERY 4-6K MILES-5 TIMES, AND STILL EXPERIENCING SLOW STOPPING. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND THE DEALER STATES THEY CAN'T HELP. (FEELS THE VEHICLE IS A LEMON) SCC
ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE IGNITION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE IN TRAFFIC, THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
ODI #765565 (CONTINUED) I FORGOT TO ADVISE THAT THIS NEW DISC BRAKE & NEW ROTORS WILL COST $150 BEFORE ANY LABOR COSTS ARE ADDED ONTO THE BILL. AGAIN--WHY MUST THE CONSUMER PAY FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW. I BOUGHT A NEW 1979 FORD FIESTA WHICH ALSO HAD A BRAKE DESIGN FLAW & THAT WAS A RECALL. AND CAN YOU PLEASE FIND A WAY TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC TO FILE THESE COMPLAINTS SO THAT YOU CAN INVESTIGATE THESE MATTERS & ADDRESS THEM PROPERLY. I HAPPENED ON THIS WEBSITE BY ACCIDENT BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I COULD REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT.*AK
TRIED TO GET DISC BRAKES REPLACED TODAY--KIA HAS CHANGED THE DISC PADS & ROTORS BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL ONES ARE OF POOR DESIGN?? WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL?? I KNEW AT ABOUT 6000 MI THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. PLUS AN ONLINE FORUM MADE COMMENTS ABOUT THESE BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES. THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY RATED THIS CAR POORLY (BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES?) I CAN'T EVEN BUY THE ORIGINAL BRAKE DISC PADS BECAUSE KIA HAS RECALLED THEM FROM THE DEALERS. WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL. WHY MUST THE CONSUMER PAY FOR THIS DESIGN DEFECT??*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.
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