1999 Kia Sephia Suspension Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10147054

Incident

Dec 9, 2005

Mileage

21,200 mi

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

THIS CAR HAS SO MANY PROBLEMS THEY CANT ALL BE LISTED.THE BATTERY MELTED,THE TIRES WONT STAY INFLATED PROPERLY, THE A/C BROKE,THE CRUISE CONTROL BROKE, JUST TO NAME A FEW. THE CAR SHAKES IF YOU GO OVER 60 AND THE DEALER CHARGED ME TO ALIGN THE FRONT END,TOLD ME IT NEEDED TO BE DONE EVERY 6 MONTHS.ALSO SAID I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THE BATTERY WOULD MELT,ITS KOREAN.*AK

NHTSA ID

762823

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH FRONT END SUPPORT SYSTEM ON PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE VERY HARD AND PULLING TO THE RIGHT. BOLTS CAME OUT OF SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND NUTS CAME OFF DRIVERS SIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003012

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

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING SEVERAL PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE TIRES, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AFTER 45MPH, VEHICLE VIBRATES, 3 TIRES HAVE WENT FLAT, A RING OF ONE OF THE TIRES BENT AND WAS REPLACED, ONE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING AFTER CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS, TIRE ROTATIONS, BALANCING, AND LOWERED TIRE PRESSURE, CONSUMER DID NOT GIVE A TIRE MAKE, MODEL, OR SIZE, THIS PROBLEM COULD ALSO BE RELATED TO A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. *SLC *SLC

NHTSA ID

559316

Incident

Feb 15, 2000

FRONT END DISC BRAKES KEEP WEARING OUT. AT APPROXIMATELY 12000 MILES ALL FOUR DISC BRAKES AND PADS WERE REPLACED, COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN, AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY AT 25OOO MILES FRONT END DISC AND PADS WERE REPLACED. PADS WERE REPLACED UNDER CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. CURRENTLY, AT 31OOO MILES, FRONT END DISC AND PADS ARE WEARING OUT. ALSO, CONSUMER FEELS VIBRATION ON PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT 55MPH OR GREATER. *AK

NHTSA ID

876320

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

NEIGHBOR CALLED CONSUMER AND STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, INVESTIGATOR FEELS FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, CLAIM 59-V593-419. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900587

Incident

Oct 9, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 AND 70 MPH THE VEHICLE VIBRATES SEVERELY CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN STEERING AND LEAVING CONSUMER WITHOUT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA ID

553673

TIRES WAS REPLACED FEB.29TH 2000 PLUS ALIGNMENT AND FLYWHEEL REPLACED IN TRANSMISSION . AFTER THAT HEARD RUBBING NIOSES WHEN I TURNED WHEEL LT. TO RT. ASKED MECHANIC ABOUT NIOSE HE STATED I KNOW WHAT IT IS , WHEN HE CAME BACK TO RETURN MY CAR (HE STATED) IT WAS YOUR MOUNTS TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ALIGNED, BOLTS . PLUS THIS IS MY SECOND KIA SEPHIA AND I NOT GETTING ANY HELP WITH THE PROBLEMS AND I COULD GO ON AND ON , BUT I WOULD WRITE A BEST SELLER. THANKS FOR LISTENING

NHTSA ID

725528

Incident

Jun 9, 2000

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING 75MPH FROM FT LAUDERDALE TO BROOKSVILLE, HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING AND KEEPING VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND SWERVED OFF OF THE ROAD. WAS ABLE TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD AND CONTINUE. GOT VEHICLE BACK FROM DEALERSHIP FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND 4 NEW TIRES AND STILL THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING. WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

859741

Incident

Mar 31, 2000

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING, ALIGNED 4 TIMES, PULLING CAUSED TIRES TO BE REPLACED TWICE DUE TO WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRES. BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, LEAKING BOOT AXLE REPLACED ONCE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

859602

Incident

Aug 25, 1999

HAS HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM, AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. THE CAR VIBRATES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP.*AK

NHTSA ID

720692

Incident

Jun 17, 1999

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, VEHICLE VIBRATES UNCONTROLLABLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FIVE TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

858366

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE START VIBRATING AND NOISE COME FROM DASHBOARD. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

856083

Incident

Feb 2, 2000

WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE THERE IS A HORRIBLE VIBRATION. IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL AND STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE BRAKING. OUR GAS TANK WILL NOT TAKE IN GAS. THE TANK COULD BE COMPLETELY EMPTY AND IT WILL TAKE A DOLLAR'S WORTH OF GAS, THEN GAS WILL START SPEWING OUT ALL OVER. OUR CAR DEALER SAID HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT COULD BE AND HASN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM KIA ABOUT THIS BEING A PROBLEM. (IT ISN'T THE GAS GAUGE.) THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED. WE GOT THIS FIXED AND HAVEN'T HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS AGAIN. ALSO, WE HAVE A MANUEL TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH IT KICKING OUT OF GEAR. WE COULD BE GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY AND IT WILL KICK OUT OF FIFTH GEAR. IT DOES ITS OWN THING. WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE AUGUST AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. MY WIFE AND I NO LONGER TRUST THIS CAR AND THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE WE HAVE TO RELY ON. WE ALSO HAVE GOTTEN 2 RECALL NOTICES FROM KIA. ONE FOR THE WIPERS, THEY CAN FLY OFF AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND FOR THE FUEL PUMP BEING IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. WE CONTACTED OUR DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY ARE WAITING FOR KIA TO SEND THEM MORE PARTS, UNTIL THEN WE MUST WAIT TO BRING OUR CAR IN TO BE CHECKED OUT. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING.

NHTSA ID

717753

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HEARD A NOISE AND THE RUBBER STRIPPING FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR. CAME OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. ALSO, BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING. AS SOON AS CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE ,IT STARTED SHAKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

853063

Incident

Jun 20, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE FRONT END IS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE TIRES ARE BALD. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE. *AK *YC

NHTSA ID

844672

Incident

Dec 12, 1998