1999 Kia Sephia Fuel system Problems

SEAT BELTS WORK IMPROPERLY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, FUEL PUMP IS WORKING INEFFICIENTLY.

NHTSA ID

10929466

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

FILLED TANK & HAD OVERFLOWING SPILLAGE DOWN SIDE OF CAR (INDICATED VERY FULL TANK) FINISHED CLEANING UP EXCESS FUEL & TURN CAR ON BUT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD ONLY READ 2/3 FULL, THEN NEEDLE ROSE TO 3/4- I JUST GOT THE CAR ON MONDAY 11/7/16 & THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW, ONCE WHEN LEAVING LA AFTER BUYING/TRANSFERRING TITLE & AGAIN TODAY. DECIDED TO GOOGLE THE 'SYMPTOM' & I'M SHOCKED THAT A 17-YEAR-OLD CAR FROM 1999 HAD RECALL RECORDS BUT WAS NEVER FIXED!!! PREVIOUS OWNER(S) WAS OLDER COUPLE THAT HAD BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALERSHIP & OWNED IT SINCE 2004. THE 17-YEAR-OLD '99 SEPHIA HAS ONLY 75K MILES ON ODOMETER AS OF NOVEMBER 2016 HOWEVER WAS NEVER REPAIRED UNDER RECALL ORDER.

NHTSA ID

10925279

Incident

Nov 9, 2016

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V317000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). HE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY FAILURES AT THE TIME, BUT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTORS. IN 2003 (THREE YEARS LATER), THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A NO START CONDITION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED IN 2006. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR WAS CORRODED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE RECALL REPAIR IS NOT THE CORRECT REMEDY BECAUSE THE CORROSION OCCURS EVERY THREE YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 08/06/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10277113

Incident

Sep 24, 1999

Mileage

14,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10159458

Incident

May 1, 2006

FUEL SPIT BACK FROM FILLER SPOUT: WHEN TRYING TO ADD FUEL, THE FUEL SPITS BACK OUT AT YOU. IT'S NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT, BUT ENOUGH TO SOAK YOUR CLOTHING, THE SIDE OF YOUR CAR, ETC. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS BEING SHUNTED BY KIA CORP. ON THIS VEHICLE, THE RECALLED VALVE WAS REPLACED, THEN REPLACED AGAIN . THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE SPIT BACK PROBLEM. I CALLED KIA DIRECTLY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT TO A KIA DEALER. I TOLD THEM THAT WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE ON THIS SITE AND MOST LIKELY, MANY OTHERS, THAT THEY MUST KNOW. THEY SAID NO, BRING IT TO A DEALER. THEY ALSO TOLD ME TO LET THEM KNOW WHEN IT WOULD BE THERE AND THEY WOULD CALL THE DEALER TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS A MONETARY SET UP IN MY OPINION.... I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEN THE DEALER CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THE CAR NEEDED A GAS TANK, I ASKED THEM WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE ORIGINAL ONE. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS FUNNY THAT KIA CALLED THEM FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND TOLD THEM THAT IT NEEDED A GAS TANK. THERE IS A VALVE THAT IS MOST LIKELY TO MALFUNCTION AND THAT THERE IS NO REPAIR OTHER THAN TO REPLACE IT. A BAD VALVE DOES MAKE SENSE AND ALSO THE WAY KIA INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDNT KNOW , YET THEY TOLD THE DEALER THE FIX , AND ALSO, I GOT CHARGED $ 95.00 FOR 1 HOUR LABOR. THEY DID NOTHING TO THE CAR, JUST ANSWERED THE PHONE. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED MORE AGGRESSIVELY CAUSE WITH THE PROBLEM OF STATIC ELECTRICITY AND FUEL ALL OVER THE CAR AND YOUR CLOTHING, THERE COULD BE SEVERE PROBLEMS. BEWARE OF KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043380

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

I HAVE A 1999 KIA SEPHIA THAT WAS PURCHASED USED. AFTER CALLING THE KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER I WAS INFORMED ON THE RECALL CONCERNING THE FUEL TANK . MY PERSONAL PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANK WAS THE "SPITTING OUT" OF FUEL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL UP THE GAS TANK. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE COLUMBUS, GA KIA AUTOSPORT WHERE THEY FIXED THE RECALL ISSUE AND STATED THAT I SHOULD NO LONGER HAVE THE ISSUE WITH GAS RUNNING OUT WHEN TRYING TO FILL THE TANK. AFTER THE RECALL WAS FIXED, I WENT TO PUT GAS IN MY CAR AND THE ISSUE STILL EXISTED. AFTER TAKING THE CAR BACK I WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE AND THE MANUFACTUERER WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO REPAIR AGAIN. I WAS ALSO TOLD DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO WHEN PUMPING FUEL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING. THE ISSUE STILL EXISTS. THE PAINT BELOW AND AROUND THE AREA IN WHICH YOU DISPENSE FUEL IS BEGINING TO FADE AWAY DUE TO GAS RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CAR WHEN FILLING THE TANK. THERE WAS ALSO AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE CAR SMOKING. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT IT WAS THE SHORT BLOCK OF THE ENGINE AND REPLACED THAT, BUT THE CAR CONTINUES TO SMOKE. AFTER READING MORE ON THE RECALL I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHETHER ENGINE PROBLEMS CAN BE A AFFECT OF THE FUEL RECALL ISSUE NOT BEING PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF. THE SERVICE CENTER NEVER CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANOTHER ISSUE AS TO WHY THE FUEL CONTINUES TO RUN OR "SPIT" OT WHEN FILLING THE TANK. THE DATE PLACED IN "INCIDENT DATE" IS APPROXIMATE, BUT THE ISSUE IS ONGOING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10033451

Incident

Feb 23, 2003

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

NHTSA ID

10024509

Incident

Jun 19, 2003

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH 1999 KIA SEPHIA. NAR 07/21/2003.*MR TRANSMISSION, REAR BLINKERS, BRAKE PADS, FUEL PUMP AND VALVE. *CB

NHTSA ID

10030046

Incident

May 19, 2003

Mileage

594 mi

I HAVE OWNED A 1999 -2000 KIA SEPHIA FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW AND IT HAS CAUSED ME NOTHING BUT TROUBLE, AT THE MOMENT I HAVE HAD A KIA DEALERSHIP FIX THE FUEL CENSORS THREE TIMES AND THIS TIME WE WENT TO GO GET IT CHECKED CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINES LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL THEY DID WAS TURN THE LIGHT OFF AND SAY THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT NEW AGAIN WHEN WE WENT BACK THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT , ALL I KNOW IS THAT ONE DAY ME OR SOMEONE ELSE DRIVING ME CAR IS GOING TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH A VERY DEAD CAR EITHER HURT OR HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE HURT . *NLM

NHTSA ID

10010554

Incident

Mar 15, 2003

CONSUMER STATES HAD RECALL 00V175000 REMEDIED IN 06/02. STILL EXPERIENCING DEFECT. NOT ONLY IS FUEL TANK NOT FILLING UP TO CAPACITY, BUT NOW FUEL GAUGE IS NOT REGISTERING AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK. TS REFERENCED IN RQ03-006

NHTSA ID

8023231

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATEED WHILE DRIVING SHE SMELLED GAS, THEN VEHICLE CUT OFF BECAUSE OF THE FUEL RAIL POPPING OFF WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TO LEAK. NLM *TT

NHTSA ID

8008129

Incident

Apr 18, 2002

WHILE PUMPING SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK GAS WILL SEEMS OVER FLOWING AND SPILL.*AK

NHTSA ID

8004464

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN STEERING COLUMN AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN ENGINE OFF BY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. INSURANCE COMPANY IS IN POSSESSION OF VEHICLE, BUT HAS NOT INFORMED CONSUMER AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE TO OCCUR.*AK CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN ENGINE OFF, BUT WAS ABLE TO JUMP OUT OF VEHICLE WHILE MOVING, THREE RECALLS WERE PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE AND CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED PRIOR TO PURCHASE, CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOISY, EXHIBITS HARD START CONDITION, SLUGGISH ACCELERATION, AND INOPERATIVE FUEL GAUGE. *TT

NHTSA ID

8001937

Incident

Dec 15, 2001

VEHICLE STALLS, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY, FUSE BOX, AND THE FUEL PUMP, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, DEALER REPLACED THE FUSE BOX, STALLING COULD POSSIBLY BE DUE TO FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *SLC

NHTSA ID

563703

Incident

Mar 24, 2001

THE VEHICLES GAS TANK WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS ON RECALL, THE DEALER ATTEMPED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE TANK WAS STILL SPITTING GAS OUT WHEN FILLING GAS, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.*YH

NHTSA ID

562947

RECALL NUMBER 99V318000. REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM , FUEL PUMP DOES NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH CURRENT WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. *AK VEHICLE ONLY SHUTS DOWN WHEN IT IT STOPPED OR IS SLOWING FOR A TURN. *SLC

NHTSA ID

893860

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED A SPLIT IN SEAM, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

891532

SINCE EARNHARDT KIA RE-GROUND TRANSMISSION WIRING HARNESS AND WORKED ON FUEL PUMP (ANOTHER RECALL), CAR HAS STILL STUCK IN GEAR, DRAGGED, MADE GRINDING SOUND AND SHAKES FROM 45 TO ESP. 55-75 MPH, PARTIC WHEN RUNNING HOT (OVER 15 MINUTES). IT ALSO STILL RANDOMLY STALLS ON COLD START OR WHEN RAINY/WET. KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS CALLED AND REQUESTED I NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO EARNHARDT OR TO THOMAS MOTORS AUTHORIZED KIA DEALERSHIPS AND TO PLEASE TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD CALL BACK TO CONFIRM A LOANER VEHICLE....WHICH THEY DID NOT. SURE ENOUGH, THIS MORNING, ON THE WAY TO WORK, IT WAS DOING IT'S USUAL DRAGGING, GRINDING, AND SHAKING WHILE I DROVE EXCEPT, THIS TIME, IT STUCK IN 1-2 GEAR ALL THE WAY UP TO 45MPH, THEN JUMPED, AND THEN WHEN IT WENT UP TO 65MPH (FREEWAY) RIGHT AFTERWARDS, I SMELLED A STRANGE SMOKEY CHEMICAL SMELL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY. I WAS TWO EXITS FROM WORK SO WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO WORK AND CALLED KIA AND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP (CHILDRESS KIA) RIGHT AWAY. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 28,800 MILES AND KESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, I TWICE HAD TO CALL KIA BACK WHEN ONE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND THEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER THEY HAD ARRANGED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INDICATED THAT KIA HAD PLACED A NOTE IN MY FILE THAT MY WARRANTY WAS "PRE-EXPIRED." IT TOOK CALLING BACK, BEING PUT ON HOLD NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE THEY FINALLY INDICATED THAT THEY HAD MADE AN ADMINISTRATIVE MISTAKE AND, OF COURSE, STILL WARRANTIED. THIS MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTHING LESS THAN UNRESPONSIVE AND INCOMPETENT MECHANICALLY AND ADMINISTRATIVELY IN RESOLVING THIS VEHICLES MAJOR POWERTRAIN DEFECTS (PAST AND CURRENT) AND REQUEST INVESTIGATION REMAIN OPEN UNTIL VEHICLE RECALLED AND RETURNED.*AK

NHTSA ID

745715

Incident

May 22, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE . DEALER WILL REPLACE FUEL INJECTION HARNESS/ COOLING SYSTEM, AND VARIOUS OTHER PARTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

879651

Incident

Jan 8, 2001

RECALL 00V15 000. AFTER REPAIR OF RECALL VEHICLE'S CONDITION WORSENED. DEALER HAS SINCE REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

875476

Incident

Nov 13, 2000

FUEL TANK DOESN'T REGISTER FULL ON METER. ALSO, GASOLINE SPILLS OUT OF TANK ASSEMBLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK REFERENCED IN RQ03-006

NHTSA ID

875104

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

SINCE I BOUGHT VEHICLE, PUMP TURNS OFF EARLY. HAD CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES TO DEALERSHIP AND MENTIONED, SAID TO BRING IT IN NEXT SERVICE. WHEN FUEL ASSEMBLY RECALLED, ASSUMED THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. WHEN IT DIDN'T, I KEPT THINKING IT WAS THE GAS STATION PUMP AND WHEN DEALERSHIP ASKED IF ANY ADDTL PROBLEMS (PITRE/THOMAS) MENTIONED, BUT THEY ASSUMED, I THINK, IT WAS PROBABLY GAS PUMP ALSO AND THAT I WAS OVERSENSITIVE. WHEN RECALLED ON 10/9 FOR FUEL INTAKE/EMISSIONS, DEALERSHIP INITIALLY SAID (SAME DAY) THAT THIS IS WHAT CAN CAUSE PUMP TO TURN OFF EARLY (RECALL PROBLEMS AND BALL, ETC), SO I ASSUMED FIXED. THAT DAY (10/9) DEALERSHIP CALLED AND TOLD ME CAR WOULD NOT BE READY TO GO HOME THAT EVENING AND WAS IN PIECES/DISASSEMBLED- THE PART WAS SUPPOSED TO COME IN, AND DIDN'T. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THEY COULDN'T PROVIDE A LOANER. I TOLD THEM TO "REASSEMBLE IT, AS I LIVE 36 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE A TAXI OR BUS, ESP. WITH A WARRANTY." THEY AGREED AND STAYED LATER AND REASSEMBLED IT. WHEN I PICKED IT UP THAT EVENING, WITH A WITNESS, AND ASKED IF REASSEMBLING IT SO QUICKLY WOULD MAKE IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, THEY CLAIMED "WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT, BUT SHOULD BE OKAY." WHEN IT STARTED, IT SOUNDED FUNNY. THEY SAID TO RETURN THE NEXT DAY TO FINISH THE WORK, WHICH I DID. THE SAME PROBLEMS EXISTED, SO I BROUGHT IT BACK. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOW SAYING THAT MY FUEL NECK IS ALL TWISTED AND THAT THE FUEL FILLER DOOR IS PLASTIC WHEN IT SHOULD BE MADE OF METAL, THAT THEY DIDN'T DO THIS AND CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THESE TWO PROBLEMS. KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND OF NO ASSISTANCE (SCOTT DOWNS NOR ANY REP HAS TAKEN A CALL- ALWAYS VOICE MAIL- AND HAS NOT EVER/DOES NOT RETURN CALLS. I AM FURIOUS. THE CAR IS OBVIOUSLY ASSEMBLED WRONG AND NEITHER THE DEALERSHIPS OR KIA ARE ADDRESSING OR YET RESOLVING THE DEFECTIVE PROBLEM.*AK REFERENCED IN RQ03-006

NHTSA ID

734579

Incident

Sep 19, 1999

THIS CAR HAS BEEN, NONSTOP, 1 MECH PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER WITH KIA CO & MANUF CLAIMING 'NORMAL WEAR/TEAR OR FIRST HEARD OF PROBLEMS.' YOUR SITE SHOWS THAT OTHER CONSUMERS OF SAME VEHICLE HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEMS (ESP BRAKES, BATTERY, TIRES, STEERING COLUMN, FUEL ASSEMBLY). KIA & DEALERSHIP UNRESPONSIVE AND UNACCOUNTABLE FOR PRODUCTS SOLD AND REPRESENTED- ESP. HIGHLY DANGEROUS VEHICLE PROBLEMS/DEFECTS. (DOT NUMBER: 96737 TIRESIZE: P185/65R14)

NHTSA ID

733787

Incident

Oct 1, 1999

WHEN TANK IS FILLED GAS IS BLOWN OUT OF TANK. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE ; HOWEVER OWNER MOTIFICATION HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED.*AK

NHTSA ID

872210

RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED VEHICLE, MUSIC SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED IN LESS THAN A YEAR.HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR TWO RECALLS. BRAKES SOMETIMES SQUEAK WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY CAR WILL START TO VIBRATE. THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE OVER A HALF OF TANK OF GAS. ENGINE IS RACING TO HIGH. NOTICE IN JULY/00 WHILE DRIVING CAR STARTS TO JERK OR PLUNG FORWARD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALSO WHEN YOU APPLY YOUR BRAKES IT WILL DO THIS. RECENTLY I HAVE TAKEN CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ID

732080