Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 90 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 90, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SEPHIA. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND EVENTUALLY SHUT OFF. PRIOR TO SHUTTING OFF, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY AND THE CONTACT STRUCK A CURB. THE CV AXLE JOINT WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
I OWN A 1999 KIA SEPHIA AND MY DAUGHTER USES IT AT SCHOOL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT KIA WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CASE REF NBR IS K1085742. MANY REASON WERE GIVEN, ALL RELATING TO A MANUAL ENGINE FLUSH, COOLANT FLUSH,ETC. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE IS NO CORRELATION BETWEEN THE DEFECTIVE PART AND THE SELECTED MAINTENANCE ITEM. MY DAUGHTER SHOULD NOT HAVE PAID FOR THE CONVERTER. (ALSO THEY ARE ABOUT 50% OF THEIR COST ON THE OPEN MARKET). *NM
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
1) AIR CONDITIONER HOSES DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT HOLD CHARGE 2) CAR RATTLES AND MAKES NOISE COMING FROM TRUNK AREA, TAKEN TO DEALER REPEATEDLY WITHOUT ANY IDEA OF HOW TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM 3) CAR WOULD LOOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND AT DANGEROUS TIMES, TOOK TO DEALER 3 TIMES BEFORE THE CAR FAILED COMPLETELY AND THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM 4) REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW STICKS AND RATTLES, TAKEN TO DEALER UN-REPAIRABLE 5) REAR DOOR LOOK DOES NOT WORK, TAKEN TO DEALER REPAIRED BUT NOW IT DOESN'T WORK YET AGAIN 6) ENGINE LIGHT ON, TOLD BY DEALER THE GAS CAP WASN'T TIGHT ENOUGH 7) POWER LOCKS OPEN AND CLOSE AT INTERVALS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR 8) ENGINE LIGHT BLINKING, NO IDEA WHAT PROBLEM IS THIS TIME CONTACTED KIA AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO FIELD REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS TOLD THAT KIA COULD DO NOTHING TO ASSIST OWNER IN FIXING OWNER. THIS CAR IS A MONEY PIT AND DO NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE TO BUY A KIA UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. *JB
LIGHTS ARE BLINKING OFF AND ON CONSTANTLY WHEN I DRIVING AT NIGHT. I WENT TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN WILLIAMSBURG. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THAT IT WILL TAKE THEM A COUPLE OF DAYS. THAT I WOULD BE CHARGE BY THE HOUR. I WAS SO UPSET I LEFT THE DEALERSHIPS AND THEY CHARGE ME 350 DOLLARS AND MY CAR WAS NOT FIX. I WAS TOTALLY RIP OFF BY THEM. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT SAME DAY TO FIX MY AIR CONDITIONER DUE TO IT WAS SHUTTING OFF AND ON WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES. WHEN I USING THE GAS PEDAL MY AIR CONDITIONER WORKS AND THEN WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES THAT AIR CONDITIONER SHUT OFF. THE KIA DEALER DID NOT HAVE CLUE WHAT TO DO>>>>HELP!!IT ALSO DOING THIS WITH THE HEAT ALSO.....I NOT SURE ON THE EXACT DATE OF SERVICE. I WILL FIND RECEIPT AND BANK STATEMENTS TO GO ALONG WITH THIS. *NM
OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, APPROXIMATELY 70,00 MILES ON MY CAR, THE AC/HEATER FAN MOTOR WILL BLOW AIR INTERMITTENTLY, REGARDLESS OF THE FAN'S SPEED SETTING. EVENTUALLY, THE FAN STOPS BLOWING ALL TOGETHER. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON MY 1998 KIA SEPHIA AS WELL. *JB
NHTSA CAMPAIGN 99V317000; KIA ISSUED AN ENGINE STALLING RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING EVEN AFTER REPAIR. THE FUEL PUMP WILL NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH CURRENT TO MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE ON. *NM
CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE MOTOR REBUILT. *PH THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT BECAUSE THE ENGINE KEPT OVERHEATING. NOW THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT THE CONSUMER CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR IT. THE STARTER WAS ALSO REPLACED. *NM
THERE WAS AN ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION OR WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH OR MORE. THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT/ DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. *JB
REPEATED PROBLEM WITH BATTERY. REPLACED 3 TIMES. NEVER LIKED TO START, ALWAYS SHIMMIED.RETURNED TO DEALER FOR TUNE UP. CAR WAS RETURNED WITH MORE PROBLEMS THAT TURNED IN WITH. CAR WOULDN'T KEEP A CONSTANT GAS FLOW.*AK TRADED IT IN AND THE DEALER SAID THE MOTOR WAS BAD AND HEADED FOR A TOTAL BREAK DOWN. WHEN IT DIED - IT WAS THREE YEARS OLD WITH 60,000 MILES.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *MR *CB *NLM
CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH 1999 KIA SEPHIA. NAR 07/21/2003.*MR TRANSMISSION, REAR BLINKERS, BRAKE PADS, FUEL PUMP AND VALVE. *CB
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE AND PULLED OVER, THE CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED BY A PASSING MOTORIST, THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *TS *JB
AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB
CONSUMER STATED THE RESONATOR SEPARATED AT THE SEAM AND COULD CAUSE VEHICLE FUMES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, AND WAS NOT DAMAGED WITH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. SCC *JB
THIS VEHICLE JUST TURNS OFF DURING DRIVING - STALLS OUT AT ANY TIME. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES, ONLY TO DRIVE OFF BOTH TIMES AND BREAK DOWN. IT'S IN THE SHOP NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME. THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP (REPLACED, STILL STALLS), THEN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS (REPLACED, STILL STALLS), NOW THE WIRING HARNESS. TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT'S WRONG. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT AFTER I'VE BEEN VIRTUALLY RUN OVER WHEN THE ENGINE CUTS OFF. DT
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
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 30,000, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT EVENTUALLY THERE WOULD BE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE, CONSUMER STATED IT TOOK NUMEROUS TIRES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. TS *JB
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
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, ALSO VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNTIL AFTER 8 OR 9 TRIES. DEALER CONTACTED.*JB
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION TRANSMISSION HOSE BURSTED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK AND SPRAY ON WIRES RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK DEALER DID NOT REPLACE WIRING, BUT INSTEAD APPLIED ELECTRICAL TAPE OVER BURNT WIRES AND CASINGS, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY PERSONAL MECHANIC THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT FLAMMABLE, THEREFORE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, CONSUMER HAS A LAWYER TO INVESTIGATE, POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2ND AND 3RD GEAR RATIO. *TT
INSURED HAD JUST FUELED UP AND STARTED THE VEHICLE, WHEN SMOKE STARTING COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE GAS ATTENDANT CAME OUT AND LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. CLAIM NUMBER 02-0422-914. *YH
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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