Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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. 21 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
WHEN IT GETS COLD, ABOUT 20 DEGREES, THE FRONT DOORS WILL FREEZE OPEN. FOR INSTANCE, IN THE MORNING I WILL HAVE TO PULL ON THE DOOR HARD TO GET IT TO OPEN BECAUSE IT'S FROZEN AND THEN THE DOOR WILL STAY OPEN (THE LATCH WILL FREEZE) UNTIL IT GETS ABOVE 35 DEGREES. EVEN WITH THE HEAT GOING FOR OVER AN HOUR IT WILL NOT UNFREEZE. I HAVE TO HOLD THE DOOR CLOSED AS I DRIVE. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE 45MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THIS RESULTED IN A COLLISION, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE DRIVER'S SEAT FELL BACKWARD DURING THE COLLISION. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED; THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED , NO REPAIRS MADE.
THE DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH /FREEZES UP IN WINTER, AND THE DOOR CANNOT BE CLOSED. ONCE THE WEATHER WARMS UP, THE DOOR CLOSES.*AK
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
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
WHEN BELOW FREEZING, DOORS AND LOCKS CONSISTENTLY FREEZE, AND WILL NOT ALLOW ENTRY OR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY (DOORS WILL NOT CLOSE). THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY YEAR I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THIS PAST YEAR, THE KIA DEALER TRIED TO FIX, AND ONLY IMPROVED FOR A FEW DAYS (LUBRICATE/OIL ETC). USUALLY HAD TO "WARM UP" CAR FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO DEFROST LOCK JUST TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE DOORS (I TRIED TO NOT LOCK CAR ONCE WINTER BEGINS). THE LOCKS ARE FROZEN DAILY AND CANNOT LOCK OR UNLOCK UNTIL INTERIOR IS WARMED UP. NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO WINTER AGAIN.*AK
THE DRIVERS DOOR DID NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, HOWEVER IT OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE.*JB
VEHICLES' MANUAL DOORS ARE INOPERATIVE. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HESITATED TO OPEN. AFTER CONSUMER ENTERED THE VEHICLE ALL FOUR DOORS UNLOCKED BUT THEY WILL NOT OPEN, CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN THEIR VEHICLE. A PASSER BI HAD TO PRY OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY MOTHER NATURE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH
ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENTAL PANEL COME ON AND STAY ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORT. HAD DIFFERENT PART REPLACED, PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTISIDE HOUSE, AND NEXT MORNING CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WINDOWS LOOKED TINTED. SHE OPENED VEHICLE AND SMOKE CAME OUT. DRIVER'S SIDE BOTTOM SEAT WAS BURNED. VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE OVERNIGHT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
WE HAVE HAD MANY PRBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. FIRST THE ORVR VALVE FOR THE GAS TANK WEAD, THEN WE HAVE HAD PRBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS NOT OPENING OR CLOSING THE OTHER DOORS FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, THEN THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS ON THE PASSANGER SIDE BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK DOORS HAVE GONE UP VERY SLOWLY ALMOST TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO PUSH THEM UP BY HAND. THEN A DASH WAS REPLACED, DO TO IT BUBLING UP. WE HAVE A BATTERY REPLACED ONCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. ALSO JUST RECENTLY WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AFTER ONLY TWO WEEKS OF THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DID A ELECTRICAL CHECK ON THE CAR AND SAID THAT IT WAS OK (TEMPE DODGE KIA) LOCATED IN TEMMPE, AZ. THE REASON WE HAD THEM CHECK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OUT WAS BECAUSE AFTER THE REPLACED THE DASH WE NOTICED THAT THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR THE FAN AND THE AIR FLOW SELACTOR WERE DIMMING OUT AND THE A/C WAS RUNNING REALLY SLOW AT IDLE SPEED. ALL IN ALL THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE AND WE HAVED COTACTED KIA MOTTORS CORP. SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO REAL ANSWERS TO ARE PROBLEMS AND NO COMPENSATION OR UPGRADE OF A WARRANTY ON THE EXISTING WARRANTY. IF YOU COULD PLEASE HELP US OUT IN ANY WAY AT ALL OR NOT PLEASE E-MAIL US AT [email protected] OR CONTACT US AT 480-481-0351 OR 602-625-8079. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THESE MATTERS. JESSICA JUNE BRADY & KEIL WILLIAM CONLEY.*AK
COMPLETE LEMON. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. REPLACED BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, 2 AXLES, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, FLYWHEEL, FAULTY WIRING IN DOOR, BATTERY, STARTING PROBLEMS, BLINKER SWITCH REPLACED, SEAT TORE UPON CAR PICK-UP, TOO MANY THINGS GONE WRONG TO LIST
REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
IN COLD WEATHER VEHICLE WILL NOT START NOR WILL DOORS OPEN. ALSO, WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN DOORS WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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)
A FIRE COMMENCED UNDER THE DASH. INSURANCE COMPANY HAS VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE 3 TIMES. BUT, PROBLEM CONTINUES TO RETURN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING 15MPH IN A HEAVY SNOW STORM, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING. HAD BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED 4 TIMES. DEALER SAID THAT BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. ALSO, INTERIOR LIGHT BLEW OUT, BUT DEALER REPLACED IT WITH A DIMMER LIGHT.
DURING FRONTAL 65 MPH IMPACT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK BROKE AND JAMMED FORWARD, NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS RESULTING IN INJURY. MJS
WHEN LOCKING THE DRIVER' SIDE DOOR ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL LOCK. BUT WHEN LOCKING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, ALL THE LOCKS LOCK AND OPEN. *AK
PASSENGER'S INSIDE DOOR LOCK ISN'T WORKING. CONSUMER CAN'T GET INSIDE VEHICLE O PASSENGER'S SIDE. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *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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