RoadVitals

1999 Kia Sephia Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Mar 22, 2006
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 428 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 10 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.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 22, 2006

THE HIGH BEAMS ARE NOT AIMED CORRECTLY. WHEN YOU TURN THE HIGH BEAMS ON THEY SHINE TO THE LEFT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND HAVE THEM ON THE RIGHT HALF OF THE LANE YOU ARE IN THE DARK BECAUSE THE AIM OF THE HIGH BEAMS ARE OFF. IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE IF ANYTHING OR ANYONE IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND IT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE LANE WHEN YOU GO AROUND A RIGHT CORNER OR CURVE. I HAVE TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM DUE TO HOW THE HEADLAMPS WERE DESIGNED AND INSTALLED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10153385
Incident
Mar 21, 2006
Mileage
7 mi
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Sep 12, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10136277
Incident
Jun 14, 2005
BrakesElectricalInterior & seats+4 more
Filed Oct 3, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10093527
Incident
Oct 2, 2004
Mileage
15,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+6 more
Filed Jan 28, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
740062
Exterior lighting
Filed May 8, 2000

TURN SIGNAL FAILED DUE TO EMERGENCY FLASHER FAILURE. YH

NHTSA ID
552139
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Mar 15, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
720127
Incident
Mar 10, 2000
Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Oct 26, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 500 MILES. MJS

NHTSA ID
549207
Exterior lightingTransmission
Filed Sep 29, 1999

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND TURN SIGNALS BECAME INOPERATIVE, BOTH WITHIN 500 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID
849212
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 26, 1999

TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS HAVE FAILED TO WORK ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER FIXED A FUSE. THE SECOND TIME A REPLACEMENT PART WAS NEEDED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE REMEDY WILL BE YET. HOWEVER, I AM SEEKING ARBITRATION. SHORTS IN WIRING, FUSE BOX LID FALLS OFF, A/C CLUMP SOUNDS WHEN TURNED ON, AND BRAKES MAKE A CLINK NOISE WHEN APPLIED.

NHTSA ID
710570
Incident
Aug 18, 1999
BrakesFuel systemExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Aug 10, 1999

I AM WELL AWARE OF OCASSIONAL PROBLEMS WITH NEW VEHICLES , I FEEL THAT SOME ONE MUST RECTIFY THIS SITUATION , I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO BE A PART OF THIS . I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD MORE THAN MY SHARE OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND ATTITUDES FROM THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT HAVING THEM FIXED, I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO BE CONTACTED BY A REPRESENTITIVE OF NHTSA JUST TO LET ME KNOW THAT ALL MY TIME WAS NOT WASTED WITH THIS QUESTIONAIRE, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP ME AND MY FAMILY AND THE MANY OTHERS I HAVE TALKED TO THAT ARE HAVING THESE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR KIA'S SINCERELY , DONALD R LAVALLEE

NHTSA ID
709824

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .