RoadVitals

1999 Kia Sephia Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
20
Latest Dec 1, 2016
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.
5%
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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 20 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 visibility

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

Fuel systemSeat beltsVisibility
Filed Dec 1, 2016

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

NHTSA ID
10929466
Incident
Nov 1, 2016
Body & structureEngineInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Dec 27, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10146137
Incident
Dec 14, 2005
Mileage
78,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jan 4, 2005

THE DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING FROM THE WINDSHIELD, PREVENTING THE DEFROSTER FROM CIRCULATING TO THE WINDSHIELD. MANUFACTURER STATES THEY CAN NOT ASSIST THE CONSUMER.*AK *TC

NHTSA ID
10103664
Incident
Apr 13, 2004
Mileage
61,500 mi
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
BrakesElectricalFuel system+2 more
Filed Jul 18, 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
BrakesEngineFuel system+2 more
Filed Jul 4, 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
Visibility
Filed Aug 27, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

AT SLOW SPEED VEHICLE WAS SIDESWIPED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, DRIVERSIDE MIRROR WAS DESIGNED TO FOLD INWARD WHEN THIS HAPPENED; INSTEAD, MIRROR EXPLODED, AND DRIVER WAS HIT BY GLASS, WINDOW WAS DOWN. DRIVER SUFFERED MULTIPLE FACIAL CUTS. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017315
Incident
Aug 26, 2002
ElectricalEngineTransmission+1 more
Filed Aug 13, 2001

THE CAR WOULDN'T START SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT. IT TOOK SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER IN ORDER FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE STARTER. AFTER THE STARTER WAS REPLACED THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THE FLYWHEEL WAS FINALLY REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK PRIOR TO RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE ON THE WIPER BLADES THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING HEAVY RAIN ON A HIGHWAY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE CEILING LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF WHENEVER I TURNED CORNERS. THE CAR BATTERY WAS EVEN REPLACED AFTER THE NEW STARTER AND FLYWHEEL WERE PUT IN BECAUSE THE CAR STILL HAD PROBLEMS STARTING. RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. A WEEK AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE CAR FINALLY STALLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE CAR WAS GIVEN BACK TO ME AND I WAS TOLD THAT A GASKET IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING. A WEEK AFTER THAT THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AGAIN AND THE CAR STARTING DRIVING AS IF IT WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. THE CAR FINALLY STALLED AGAIN AND WOULDN'T MOVE.*AK

NHTSA ID
750368
BrakesVisibility
Filed Mar 28, 2001

WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO STRESS CRACKS. *AK ROTORS WERE REPLACED TWO TIMES. *SLC

NHTSA ID
884480
Incident
Sep 1, 1999
Visibility
Filed Feb 21, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING VIEW OF DRIVER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
880957
Incident
Feb 16, 2001
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
ElectricalTransmissionVisibility
Filed Oct 25, 2000
Fire reported

CONSUMER STATED THEY HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING A WIRING PROBLEM AND HAD THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 11-3544-661. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900589
Incident
Oct 24, 2000
EngineVisibility
Filed Apr 17, 2000

RECALLS 99V271 000/WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE AND 99V318 000/ENGINE STALLING. BOTH RECALL NOTICES WERE RECEIVED BY CONSUMER, AND WAS UNABLE TO GET DEALER TO HONOR RECALLS. WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THEY WERE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST, AND WILL BE CONTACTED WHEN THEIR NAMES COME UP. CONTACTED DEALER ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS, AND NOW THEY MISPLACED THE LIST. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
860461
Incident
Nov 19, 1999
Visibility
Filed Apr 17, 2000

DEFROSTER NOT KEEPING WINDSHIELD FREE OF ICE. *AK

NHTSA ID
721599
Fuel systemVisibility
Filed Feb 17, 2000

VEHICLE RECALL REPAIR DENIED DUE TO PROBLEM WITH DEALERSHIP/SCHEDULING. (99V-317/318 AND 99V-271). *MJS

NHTSA ID
550996
BrakesElectricalVisibility
Filed Feb 9, 2000

POSSIBLE DEFECT IN BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSING CONTINUED VIBRATION,PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED DUE TO VIBRATION. YH (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER)

NHTSA ID
550860
Incident
May 26, 1999
BrakesVisibility
Filed Feb 7, 2000

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
550530
BrakesInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Feb 2, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

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.

NHTSA ID
856074
Incident
Jan 30, 2000
Body & structureBrakesEngine+3 more
Filed Oct 21, 1999

CONSUMER STATED VECHICLE WAS DEFECTED WHEN SHE PURCHASED IT ON SEP 11 1999 . CONSUMER TOOK IT BACK ON SEP 13 1999 BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS, SUCH AS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HER VECHICLE. ALSO, BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. PEDALS WENT ALLTHE DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ALSO VECHICLE OVERHEATED. ALSO, FRONT GRILL /WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND GAS GAUGE HAD TO B EREPLACED, AND I STILL DON'T WORK . AT THIS TIME THE CONSUMER HAS REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH THE LEMON LAW. HER CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR A PART. *AK

NHTSA ID
851472
Incident
Sep 12, 1999
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Apr 20, 1999

STARTER WON'T WORK, AND CONSUMER CAN'T START VEHICLE UP UNTIL THE THIRD TIME. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPER'S ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
836917
Incident
Apr 12, 1999

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

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .