2000 Kia Sephia Brakes Problems

NEARLY FATAL CAR ACCIDENT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE BREAKS DID NOT LOCK UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643737

Incident

Oct 9, 2014

Mileage

190,000 mi

REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE SHOES ,BECAUSE OF A NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. WHEN THE BRAKE DRUM WAS REMOVED THE ON THE RIGHT SIDE THE BRAKE LINING FELL ON THE FLOOR. IT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE BRAKE SHOE. THE BRAKE DRUM SHOWED NO SIGN OF OVER HEATING SUCH AS IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS LEFT ON.(,CHECKING)ALL THE SHOES APPEAR TO BE FAILING. .THE VEHICLE HAS FRONT DISC AND HAS 64000 MILES ON IT . THE BRAKE SHOES APPEAR TO BE FACTORY. THE DEFECTIVE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243942

Incident

Sep 26, 2008

Mileage

63,890 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SEPHIA. THE BRAKES MAKE A BANGING AND KNOCKING NOISE WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKES WERE CHANGED, BUT THE NOISE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10214017

Incident

Jul 24, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

REGULAR DRIVING CAUSING BRAKES ON 2000 KIA SEPHIA TO REQUIRE CONSTANT MAINTENANCE ON THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. AT VARIED INTERVALS, THE BRAKES WOULD BEGIN TO START VIBRATING WHEN APPLIED, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS (60 MPH) AND GOING DOWN HILLS. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS BUT MANY CLOSE CALLS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD. THERE IS CLEARLY A FLAW IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM, THAT KIA OBVIOUSLY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ROTORS THIS WEEK BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SHAVED DOWN SO MUCH. FIVE TIMES IN 2 YEARS, AND I WON'T EVEN DRIVE THE CAR FOR MONTHS AT A TIME. MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THIS REASON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10159417

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

PURCHASED VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT AND NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE BRAKES WERE "MUSHY" AND STOPPING DISTANCE SEEMED UNUSUAL. INDIVIDUAL SELLING VEHICLE (NOT DEALER) STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO BE CERTAIN SINCED MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR VERY TOUCHY BRAKES AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT JUST BE AN ADJUSTMENT PERIOD. HOWEVER, I AM A CAREFUL AND PATIENT DRIVER AND IN 20 YEARS OF DRIVING HAVE HAD ONLY 4 SPEEDING TICKETS AND ZERO ACCIDENTS UNTIL I DROVE THIS CAR. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 9-10 DAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 15 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH ABOUT ONE CAR LENGTH BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE PICKUP IN FRONT OF ME. THE PICKUP DRIVER SLAMMED HER BRAKES AND I SLAMMED MINE ONLY TO HAVE THEM GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND PROVIDE NO RESISTANCE. I HIT THE PICKUP HARD ENOUGH TO SEVERELY BRUISE MY ARM ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAUSE SEVERAL DAYS OF BACK AND NECK PAIN. SOME OF THIS MIGHT HAVE ALSO BEEN AVOIDED IF THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED, BUT EVEN THOUGH THIS CRASH WAS A FULL FRONTAL ACCIDENT THEY DID NOT. AFTER I LEFT THE VEHICLE, ANOTHER SMALL CAR HIT THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND THE FRONT OF HERS. HER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IMMEDIATELY AND SHE SUSTAINED ZERO INJURIES. MY CAR HAD ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIRES WERE NEARLY NEW, SO IT APPEARS TO ME THAT I HAD BOTH BRAKE AND AIRBAG FAILURE RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF MY VEHICLE AND PERSONAL INJURY AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES OF THE OTHER TWO DRIVERS. SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT FINANCED, IT HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE ONLY. I HAVE NOTICED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE REGARDING BOTH BRAKE AND AIRBAG FAILURES IN THE KIA SEPHIA, YET I FOUND NO RECALLS FOR THESE ITEMS BY KIA.

NHTSA ID

10133738

Incident

Aug 16, 2005

Mileage

58,000 mi

FRICTION MATERIAL ON REAR DRUM BRAKES SEPARATED FROM BRAKE SHOE, CAUSING RIGHT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO LOCK UP WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION. *AK REAPIRED PROBLEM WITH REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE SHOES, RETURNED OLD SHOES TO PEP BOYS IN EAST PROVIDENCE, RI FOR CORE BEFORE I THOUGHT ABOUT FILING COMPLAINT. CAR ONLY HAS 44,950 MILES ON IT AND SHOES HAS APPROX. 60% OF USEFUL LIFE LEFT

NHTSA ID

10104170

Incident

Dec 19, 2004

Mileage

44,950 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. ABS LIGHT, AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER STATED, THIS PROBLEM STARTED AFTER A "SERVICE CAMPAIGN " WAS DONE TO THE BATTERY CABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103336

Incident

Sep 15, 2004

Mileage

59,000 mi

REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP WHEN WET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10090649

Incident

Aug 26, 2004

Mileage

66,000 mi

THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING EVERY FOUR MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

10091427

Incident

Sep 5, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY 2000 KIA SEPHIA AROUND SEPTEMBER OF 1999. I HAD A NEW SET OF BRAKES AND ROTORS AT 2000 MILES, AGAIN AT 11000 MILES, 20000, NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE HAD ABOUT 6 SETS OF BRAKES AND FOUR SETS OF ROTORS. NOT TO MENTION CALIPERS A COUPLE OF TIMES. I TRIED TO DECLARE THE LEMON LAW ON THIS PIECE OF WORK BUT, THE DEALERS WOULD NOT LISTEN. I DID MAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT PRIOR. AFTER ALL I HAVE BEEN THRU I AM SO SICK I HAVE ALL BUT, GIVEN UP... MY BRAKES NOW, OVERHEAT AND SMELL, THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, IF I HAD TO ACTUALLY STOP WITHOUT WARNING I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO . I HAVE RESORTED TO DOWN SHIFTING IN SUDDEN INSTANCES.THE NOISE IS UNBEARABLE NOT TO MENTION EMBARRASSING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIX IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. *AK

NHTSA ID

10082790

Incident

Jul 27, 2004

Mileage

2,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN BRAKING THE BRAKES FELT VERY MUSHY. CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ALSO, THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE BEFORE VEHICLE STOPPED. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT NEW BRAKES WERE INSTALLED LAST YEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081558

Incident

Jul 8, 2004

Mileage

95,500 mi

TRANSMISSION ON VEHICLE WAS FIXED 7 TIMES. *MR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP, SHIFT HARD AND AT TIMES THE REVERSE GEAR WOULD NOT WORK. FRONT ROTORS WARPED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10073780

Incident

Feb 10, 2004

Mileage

67,251 mi

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION. THE PADS WERE CHANGED. HOWEVER, THE BRAKES STILL CONTINUE TO SQUEAL LIKE METAL TO METAL. THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE AGAIN, AND THEY WANT CONSUMERTO PAY THE DEALER $360.00.*AK THE BRAKES SOUNDED LIKE METAL RUBBING METAL WHEN APPLIED. FRONT SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AN SINCE HAS BEEN REPLACED. *TC

NHTSA ID

10089810

Incident

Apr 14, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE <45000 MILES ON MY CAR (2000 KIA SEPHIA) AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED 3X AND THE BACK BRAKES REPLACED 1X. ALSO, WHEN I TURN ON THE AC, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE CAR HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED. THE CAR ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO PULL SOMETHING OF GREAT WEIGHT WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH. THE BACK SEATBELTS DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE SEAT BELTS ARE ONLY TO LOCK WHEN THE BRAKES ARE SLAMMED OR THE VEHICLE IS HIT (SO HOW IS A CHILD BOOSTER SEAT SUPPOSED TO STAY PUT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION?) *JB

NHTSA ID

10064556

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

Mileage

18,000 mi

GEAR SHIFT IS MY BIG PROBLEM RIGHT NOW WITH MY CAR. IT HAS BEEN IN 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. 1ST TWO TIMES WAS DUE TO THE IN-ABILITY TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. 1ST REPAIR COULD NOT GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. REPAIR WAS LUBRICATE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE. (ACCUSED DRIVER OF GETTING POP IN THE GEAR SHIFTER) 2ND REPAIR COULD NOT GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE. 3RD REPAIR CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD AND WOULD NOT START. REPAIR &#34;FREE-UP SHIFTER SHAT IN TRANSMISSION (WOULD NOT GO ALL THE WASY IN PARK AND WAS HARD TO FIND ANY GEARS AND WOULD CAUSE A NO START)&#34;. THIS IS THE QUOTE ON THE BACK OF THE REPARI TICKET. WHEN THE CAR WAS PICK-UP. THE CAR AGAIN REFUSED TO START. WAS TOLD THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER ON THE FLOOR HAD TO BE SHOVED TO THE CONSOLSE TO MAKE THE CAR RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IN THE &#34;PARK&#34; LOCATION. WHAT I WANT IS FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR MY CAR FROM KIA. RIGHT NOW GETTING RUN AROUND. THEY NEED MORE INFORMATION FROM THE KIA REPAIR AND SERVICE MANAGER BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE CAN BE DONE. RIGHT NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE IF IT STALLS ON A BUSY ROAD, IT TAKES ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO FORCE THE GEAR SHIFT INTO THE RIGHT LOCATION TO GET THE ENGINE TO TURN OVER. SECOND COMPLAINT IS NOW I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDS NEW TIRES AND BRAKES (ROTORS). AGAIN KIA BLAMING THE DRIVER, BREAK DOWN IS DUE TO BAD BRAKING HABBITS.

NHTSA ID

10070775

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

21,788 mi

WHEN MY BOY FRIEND WENT TO CHANGE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS ON MY 2000 SEPHIA HE WAS TOLD THAT KIA DIDN'T MAKE PADS FOR MY CAR.WE HAD TO PURCHASE NEW ROTORS BECAUSE THE OLD ONES WERE SO WARPED YOU COULD HARDLY DRIVE THE CAR.KIA SAID THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE ROTORS AND THAT REPLACEMENT ONES WERE AVAIABLE(AT MY EXPENSE).THIS OCURRED IN SPRING OF 2003 THEN IN SEPT 2003 MY CV AXLES WENT OUT.MY BOY FRIEND IS AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANB AND HE IS CONTINUNING HIS EDUCATION AT AUSTIN PEAY STATE UNIVERSITY. HE TOOK MY CAR TO HIS PROFESSOR WHO IS A.S.E. CERTIFIED AND HE WAS TOLD THAT THE AXLES MOST LIKELY WENT OUT DUE TO THE VIBRATION OF THE ROTORS. WE REPLACED THE ROTORS BUT WAITED UNTIL THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THEY WERE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY.THUS THE DAMAGE INCURRED BECAUSE OF THE ROTORS WAS KIA MOTOR COMAPNIES FAULT.WE HAVE PAID OVER 1200.00 DOLLARS ON REPAIRS IN 2003 AND THIS VECHICLE ONLY HAS 42000 MILES ON IT.CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US?*AK

NHTSA ID

10048960

Incident

Sep 23, 2003

Mileage

328,000 mi

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC.*MR CONSUMER JUST SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO STOP. BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT TO NO AVAIL. CONSUME KEPT PUMPING THE BRAKES BUT NOTHING. TWO REPAIRS SHOPS STATED BRAKE FAILURE. CONSUMER CHECKED THE INTERNET AND LEARNED OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR BRAKE FAILURE ON 1998-2000 SEPHIA'S/SPORTAGE'S FOR BRAKE FAILURE. *PH

NHTSA ID

10048289

CAR DIED ON THE ROAD FOR NO REASON. THEN CAR WOULD NOT START. DRIVER VERIFIED THAT GEAR-SHIFT WAS LOCKED IN "PARK" POSITION. JUST GLAD THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP DUE TO GETTING THE CAR INTO OR OUT OF PARK. REPAIRS OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS HAVE BEEN RE-LUBRICATED THE GEAR-SHIFT CABLE (1ST REPAIR). REPLACE THE GEAR-SHIFT CABLE (2ND REPAIR). THE LAST (3RD) REPAIR WAS A RE-LUBRICATION OF THE REPLACED GEAR-SHIFT CABLE AND RE-ADJUSTMENT OF THE LINKAGE SO CAR COULD RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS IN PARK. THESE REQUIRED REPAIRS ARE BEING BLAMED ON NOT DRIVING THE CAR ENOUGH. ALSO HAVING TROUBLE WITH PREMATURE WARRING ON THE BREAK ROTORS AND PADS. CAR HAS JUST OVER 22,000 MILES ON IT. REASON IS DRIVER (THAT IS NOT DRIVING ENOUGH) IS TOO HARD ON THE BREAKS. (MY OTHER CAR HAS 78,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS NOW READY FOR THE 1ST BREAK JOB.) I AM ALSO BEING TOLD THAT THE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED. AGAIN THE CAR HAS ONLY 22,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ REPORTS ON THE INTERNET THAT MIS-ADJUSTMENTS FORM THE FACTORY CAN LEAD TO EARLY WARE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043482

Incident

Aug 14, 2003

Mileage

21,788 mi

I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON MY OWN, I FOUND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST KIA SEPHIA & SPORTAGES FOR THEIR 1998-2000 MODELS FOR BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKES EITHER COMPLETELY FAIL AT ONCE OR A PERSON IS CONTINUALLY REPLACING BRAKES/PADS, ETC. I ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO FILE A COMPLAINT IF THEY HAVE ANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *NLM *CB

NHTSA ID

10032551

Incident

Jul 10, 2002

Mileage

20,000 mi

THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. SPEED WAS UNDETERMINED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH A GUARDRAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO REPORT AT THIS TIME, THE VICTIM WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR OBSERVATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10038355

Incident

Sep 5, 2003

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BRAKE FAILURE. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE A/C HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER THE FIRST USE, AND THE GAS LIGHT STAYED ON. (TURI MILLER CAN BE REACH AS WELL AT: D-715 726 8887 OR H-715 833 6309 AND VIA [email protected]) *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10038593

Incident

Jul 8, 2002

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON A 2000 KIA SEPHIA.*MR *TS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS DUE TO INEFFICIENT SERVICE *JB

NHTSA ID

10031969

SERVICE BRAKES ARE OUT WEARING PREMATURELY. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026272

Mileage

8,000 mi

OUR KIA SEPHIA 2000 IS A LEMON. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES FOUR TIMES BECAUSE OF PREMATURE WARE AND SHAKING DUE TO POOR DESIGN. WE RECEIVED THE CAR WITH A DEAD BATTERY. WE ARE ON OUR THIRD BATTERY. WE WERE ON OUR THIRD SET OF TIRES BEFORE 30,000 MILES. THE GEAR SHIFT WILL STICK SO THAT YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. THE WEATHER MOLDING IS FALLING OFF. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND THEY COULD NOT KEEP IT FROM COMING ON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018598

Incident

Mar 5, 2000

Mileage

549 mi

IN THE 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR, THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES AND ARE BEING SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. EVERYTIME I TAKE IT IN THEY TELL MY THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE, BUT NOTHING MORE IS DONE.

NHTSA ID

10016741

Incident

Apr 3, 2003

Mileage

3,000 mi