1999 Kia Sephia Transmission Problems

TRANSMISSION FAILURE 3 TIMES/ REPLACED 2 TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10174116

Incident

Jan 6, 2000

Mileage

44,805 mi

(1)CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD STICK NEAR FLOOR, WOULD'NT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION. (2)WITH CLUTCH PEDAL DEPRESSED TO FLOOR WHILE AT A LONG LIGHT, VEHICLE BEGINS TO CREEP FORWARD, NO FURTHER PEDAL TRAVEL TO DISENGAGE AVAILABLE. (3)NOTHING YET.

NHTSA ID

10122396

Incident

Apr 5, 2005

Mileage

102,566 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

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

NHTSA ID

10071557

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE; LEAKAGE AROUND WINDOWS, TRUNK; GAS SPLASH BACK (FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS, NEVER FIXED BY PREVIOUS OWNER); FEAR SHIFT BUTTON WON'T GO IN TO CHANGE FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE; TRANSMISSION HESTITATES AT TIMES, THEN LUNGES; CAR OVERHEATS WHILE SITTING OR DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED (FAN WORKS AND RADIATOR FULL); SMELL COMES FROM AIR CONDITIONING WHEN STOPPED (IT REALLY STINKS, WORSE THAN A SKUNK); WHEN FILLING GAS TANK TO FULL, MARK NEVER REGISTERS FULL. I SPOKE TO KIA ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS AND THEY SAID I'D HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE RECALLS ON THESE PROBLEMS AS THE PEOPLE AT KIA ARE NOT VERY FRIENDLY NOR WILLING TO HELP OUT PEOPLE. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND THOUGHT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS STEMMED FROM THAT. HOWEVER, IN RESEARCHING THE BRAKE PAD ISSUE, I FOUND MANY OF THESE SAME PROBLEMS BEGAN EARLY IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THESE VEHICLES. UNFORTUNATELY, I AM NOT UNDER WARRANTY LIKE OTHERS SO HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AS SOON AS I GET THE BRAKE PADS FIXED. I DO WISH THE NTHSA COULD DO SOMETHING TO HELP US OUT ON THESE PROBLEMS WHICH ARE NOT BEING FIXED BY KIA. THANKS - DON'T BUY A KIA SEPHIA 1999 MODEL. TOO MANY PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10060905

Incident

Mar 9, 2004

Mileage

82,000 mi

THE DEALER HAD REPLACED TWO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS A LEASE AND HAD ONLY ONE YEAR REMAINING AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE TRANSMISSION LINES LEAKED, AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY WERE NOISY. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10047899

Incident

Nov 13, 2003

Mileage

32,000 mi

WHEN ACCELERATING, THE DRIVER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN ANY POWER. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACE AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN PLACED IN VEHICLE. *PH WHEN ACCELERATING, THE DRIVER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN ANY POWER. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACE AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN PLACED IN VEHICLE.*MR

NHTSA ID

10047788

Incident

Feb 20, 2002

TOOK CAR TO BRENNER AND THEY SAID IT WAS OK THE FIRST TIME. OVERDRIVE KEPT TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. 7/03 TOOK MY CAR BACK AND NOW IT NEEDS A TRANSMISSION AND THEY DON'T WANT TO PUT IT IN, BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THEM DO THE MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR. I SHOWED PROOF THAT THE WORK WAS DONE. THEY ARE WAY OVER PRICED WHEN IT COMES TO MAIN. THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10028398

Incident

Jul 14, 2003

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE WILL NOT START. CONSUMER HAS TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER TO ANOTHER GEAR, AND THEN BACK TO PARK. THEN ,THE VEHICLE WILL START. *AK

NHTSA ID

10027333

Mileage

54,000 mi

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

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED UP HILL AND WITH NO WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL DECELERATE EVEN WHEN FOOT IS ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026177

Incident

Apr 15, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION KEEPS SKIPPING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PH

NHTSA ID

10006736

Incident

Nov 6, 1999

Mileage

500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

8021280

Incident

Oct 10, 2002

Mileage

30,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THERE HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE. VEHICLE NEEDS A THIRD TRANSMISSION, THE LAST INCIDENT CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO GO IN REVERSE, CAUSING SOMEONE TO REAREND HER. *SCC

NHTSA ID

567639

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-65MPH TRANSMISSION WILL DOWNSHIFT, AND ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018291

Incident

Aug 6, 2002

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WOULD GO IN REVERSE AND NOT GO IN DRIVE. THIS HAPPEN ON TWO OCCASIONS. DEALER CONTACTED.*JB

NHTSA ID

8008929

CONSUMER STATES WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE SPEED DECREASES INSTEAD OF INCREASING. REPLACED PARTS 4 TIMES. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. NLMVEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR WIRING HARNESS AND SENSOR FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS BURNT AND IT IS LEAKING FLUID AT THE SHIFT SHAFT (CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION), THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES DUE TO THE HOLD UNIT NOT BEING APPLIED. *JG

NHTSA ID

8008117

Incident

Apr 16, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

8005931

Incident

Mar 18, 2002

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2ND AND 3RD GEAR RATIO. *TT

NHTSA ID

564517

SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR WE HAD A RECALL ON JANUARY OF 2000 FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.AFTER THAT WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE LIGHT GOING ON THAT WAS DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS,WISH IN FACT HAD TO BE REPAIR TWICE AND REPLACE ONCE.ALSO AIR BAG LIGHT TURN ON DUE TO ALTERNATOR PROBLEM ON 02/05/2002,ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACE.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE MATTER OF FACT THE CAR SHOULB BE UNDER THE LEMON LAW.THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

758552

Incident

Jan 15, 2002

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. FIRST IT WAS THE ROTORS AND BRAKES, THEN ALL THE RECALLS. BRAKES ARE GOING AGAIN, HAD TO GET A NEW BATTERY AFTER ONE YEAR. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON 11/16/01 AND I WAS OUT OF STATE. DIDN'T GET A CAR WHILE IT WAS BEING FIXED. HUSBAND HAD TO RENT A CAR. ONLY HAD 24825 MILES. I MISSED THREE DAYS OF WORK BECAUSE OF IT. NOW, IT HASS HAPPENED AGAIN. ON 1/19/02 ON MY WAY TO WORK. I MISSED WORK THAT DAY. OF COURSE IT IS A WEEKEND AND CAN'T GET AHOLD OF ANYBODY. IT HAS ONLY BEEN TWO MONTHS SINCE LAST TIME AND I WAS TOLD IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, CAUSE THEY HAVE A NEW AND IMPROVED TRANSMISSION. IMAGINE THAT. COULD SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME, I AM SO SICK OF THIS CAR. I NEED A CAR I CAN RELY ON FOR WORK. I HAVE TO GO ON MEETINGS OUTSIDE AND THIS IS KIND OF HARD WITHOUT A VEHICLE. IF I CAN'T WORK I CAN'T PAY MY PAYMENTS NOW CAN I. CYNETTE CHEAL, VA. *AK

NHTSA ID

757106

Incident

Nov 16, 2001

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL JUMP OUT OF GEAR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE FOUR TIMES BEFORE CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN, DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BUT IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

899282

Incident

Nov 15, 2001

MY LEFT FRONT TIRE IS COMPLETELY THREAD BARE, AND MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THE REMAINING THREE ARE IN DIRE NEED OF REPLACEMENT AS WELL. THIS IS THE SECOND PAIR OF THESE TIRES TO BE REPLACED ON THIS CAR. THE FIRST PAIR WAS AT 2,000 MILES. I HAVE READ OF MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MANUFACTURER'S TIRES IN THE NHTSA DATA BASE. MOST OF THE REPORTS FOR THE KIA SEPHIA DID NOT MENTION THE MAKE AND MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE. I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TIRE TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. HAD I NOT HAD MY CAR IN TO HAVE IT SERVICED AND THE TIRES ROTATED I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE WARE PROBLEM AND COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. IN REFERENCE TO THE TRANSMISSION ON THE KIA SEPHIA I HAVE HAD TWO TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN THIS CAR SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD RETURNED THE CAR TO THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. WHY IS KIA PERMITTED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE DEFECTIVE MATERIALS FOR THESE VEHICLES?*AK

NHTSA ID

754251

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

I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER IN SEVERAL OCASIONS. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AUTO LINE, BUT CASE WAS CLOSED BECAUSE CAR IS NOT A LEMON. THE DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEMS OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE IGNITION. KIA HAD SAID THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON A "GOOD FAITH OFFER" BUT AFTER THE BBB CLOSED THE CASE, DID NOT HEAR FROM THEM ANYMORE. I DO NOT WISH TO KEEP THE CAR. KIA HAS NOT HONORED THE WARRANTY PROMISE; THEREFORE THEY ARE IN DEFAULT OF THE WARRANTY. KIA DEALERS WON'T CHECK THE CAR IF COMPUTER DOES NOT PROMPT A CODE. THE LAST TIME I DROPPED THE CAR AT THE DEALER, LEFT IT FOR OVER 5 DAYS FOR THEM TO INSPECT AND NOTIFIED KIA OF THIS ACTION, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS. MONTHLY PAYMENT ON CAR IS $422.52. CAN'T AFFORD A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, BESIDES OF PAYING FOR TOW TRUCKS AND MISSING FROM WORK DUE TO CAR FAILURES. TRANSMISSION HAVE BROKEN TWICE. EVERY TIME THEY FIX IT, IT DOES NOT WORK FOR LONG. THIS CAR IS NO LONGER RELIABLE AND I DO NOT WISH TO WASTE MY TIME AT DEALERS. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS. I AM DESPERATE FOR A SOLUTION. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ADVISE BEFORE A PROCEDE LEGALLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

752802

Incident

Aug 28, 2001