Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Kia Sephia submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 49 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.
The 25 most recent of 49, in the owner's own words
THE SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS IS LOCKED UP & THEY (BOTH DRIVER/PASSENGER) SEATBELTS "DO NOT" REEL BACK 2 PROVIDE SECUREMENT OF THE PASSENGER(S). ALSO, THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE IS THE HORN DOES NOT WORK EVEN WHEN THERE'S A NEW FUSE & HORN. THERE'S A DEFECT IN THE STEERING WHEEL HORN BUTTON.
I 🅾WN A 2000 KIA SEPHIA & THE FRONT DRIVERS SEATBELT RETRACTS SLOW& DOES NOT LOCK. THE PASSENGER SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT @ ALL. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK AS IF THE LOCK ACTUATOR HAS SEIZED UP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAILED. THE HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT FUNCTION AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE GONE AT THE SAME TIME...AT 65,000 MILES...WHICH WHEN I CHECKED WITH REPAIR SHOP IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL THAT AT THIS LOW MILES ONE WOULD GO LET ALONE BOTH...HE SAID IT IS A QUALITY ISSUE. KIA SAYS ITS NOT COVERED...WHEN WENT TO GET OUT OF DRIVERS SIDE THE DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED OFF. AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER...TOOK TO KIA EAST SYRACUSE, NY THEY SAID THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANY MORE BECAUSE SO MANY PROBLEMS. *NM
DT: WHILE DRIVING, THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN HOT. THE COOLING SYSTEM ROCKETED TO HIGH AFTER THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE WENT DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CHECK THE VEHICLE UNTIL AFTER JULY 11TH. THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHAT EXACTLY THE DEALERSHIPS DIAGNOSIS WAS BECAUSE THEY HAVE YET TO CHECK VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUSPECTED THIS WAS A COOLING SYSTEM ISSUE WITH BATTERY PROBLEMS AS WELL. *AK
THE VEHICLE CUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. ALSO, THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK THE DASH BOARD LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT. *SC *JB
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE LIGHTS WON'T STAY ON. CONSUMER REPLACED FUSES SEVERAL TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, BUT CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. WINDSHIELD SEPARATED FROM FRAME, MOLDING FELL OFF 4 TIMES DURING FIRST 4 MONTHS OF PURCHASE ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE. BATTERY REPLACED AFTER ONLY HAVING VEHICLE 2 MONTHS. AIR CONDITION (A/C) FUSE BLEW TWICE FAN FUSE BLEW ONCE CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. BACK DOORS STICK SHUT. BACK DOORS HINGES RUSTED AND BENT CAUSING SQUEAKING AND NOT COMPLETELY TO SHUT. TRANS SHIFTS HARD AND SOMETIMES STICKS. ENGINE LIGHT AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKED TRANS WAS SHIFTED BY ITSELF. HAD TRANS FLUSHED SEEMS TO BE OK. CAR SHAKES AT HIGH SPEEDS. TAPE PLAYER MAKES FUNNY NOISES IF USED FOR LONG TIME.GAS MILEAGE HAS BEEN POOR SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED. MOLDING TURNED WHITE. CAR HAS HAD FUEL FILTER REPLACED TWICE. FUEL SENSOR IN TANK REPLACED THREE TIMES. *LA
ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY FOR NO APPEARENT REASON IN TRAFFIC
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
CAR SUFFERS INTERMITTENTLY STARTING PROBLEM WHILE HOT OR COLD WITH LOSS OF POWER.DEALER REPORTS ADVISORY ABOUT PROBLEM, BUT STATES ONLY COVERED FOR 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A PROBLEM.DEALER REPORTS FAULTY ENGINE COMPUTER JUNCTION BOX. SERVICE ADVISOR REPORTED A" SHORT IN FUSE BOX" TO ME.*AK
STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER (USED FOR CELL PHONE CHARGER) SHORTING OUT - PULLED FUSE SO IT'S WOULDN'T START A FIRE. THEN AT THE END OF JUNE AIR CONDITIONER STARTED GOING ON AND OFF WHEN I WOULD HIT A BUMP. FINALLY WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND NOW BEING TOLD WIRING HARNESS HAS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. KIA WILL NOT PAY FOR BECAUSE MY WARRANTY IS OUT! SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE THEY SAID WIRES ARE MELTING!! *NLM
THE CONSUMER BELIEVED A DEFECT EXISTED WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ALTERNATOR. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE 3 FAILED BATTERIES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN ENOUGH FOR BATTERY TO CHARGE ITSELF. FAILURES OCCURRED ON 07/01, AND 06/03 RESPECTIVELY. *AK THIS WAS THE THIRD BATTERY THAT WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. *SCC *JB
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRE HARNESS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE TURN SIGNALS TO BE INOPERATIVE. *JB
WHEN GETTING MY 3,000 MAINTENANCE. THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT PERFORM THE MAINTENANCE CHECK BECAUSE THE CAR NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, SO THE MAINTENANCE WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY. I'VE CALLED EVERY OTHER WEEK, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT AND WERE THE ARE ON GETTING THE COMPUTER. HERE IT IS ALMOST JUNE, AND NO REPLACEMENT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO GONE ON AND OFF EVERY OTHER DAY. I AM TIRED OF CALLING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 3 BOYS WITH ONE INCOME. THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED A KIA, BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A RELIABLE CAR. CAN THIS PLEASE BE INVESTIGATED FARTHER THAN WHAT I CAN DO. *NLM
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
THE HORN WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH ON THE VEHICLE.*JB
THE DASH LIHT AND TAIL LIGHT FUSES SHORT OUT RESULTING IN NO LIGHTS AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. NLM
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
STARTER KEEPS GOING OUT, HAS HAD IT REPLACED 3 TIMES, NOT COVERING THIS TIME, SINCE THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE IN AUGUST, 2000. DEALER IS IN PROCESS OF ORDERING ANOTHER NEW STARTER FOR AUTO.*AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IT CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WILL NOT START BACK UP. CONSUMER HAS TO GET IT TOWED EVERY TIME. THEN, IT IS TOWED BACK TO DEALER, YET, DEALER CANNOT FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES HE IS AFRAID THAT HE OR HIS DAUGHTER IS GOING TO GET HURT.*AK CONSUMER ADDS THERE IS SUDDEN ACCELERATION THEN SLOWING DOWN OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKES BEING APPLIED. EXPERIENCING FUEL RELATIONS PROBLEMS POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE FUEL BOX. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY FAILED. *TT
WHEN ROYAL SOLD US THE CAR NO INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO US THAT THE CAR HAS 5 PROBLEMS,WITH IT.ON THE WINDOW WAS A SIGN SAYING IT HAD CRUISE CONTROL IT DOESN'T.ALSO THE FINANCE COMPANY THAT IS THE HOLDER HAS BEEN REALLY UNPROFESSIONAL.I HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY 4MONTHS HAD INSURANCE THEY KEPT TELLING ME I DIDN'T,THEY SEND A MAN OUT TO CHECK FOR THE THIRD TIME.I WENT TO MY CAR TO GIVE HIM THE INFORMATION,HE CALLED THE OFFICE OF A.B.C. FINANCE TO LET THEM KNOW I HAD INSURANCE, STARTING JOKING WITH SOMEONE ON THE OTHER LINE SAYING I HAD A KNIFE TO HIS THROAT.THERE WAS TRUTH TO THAT LATTER HE RETURNED TO THE OFFICE WHERE HE HAD LEARNED THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO MY HOME. POLICE KNOCKED ON MY DOOR WITH GUNS DRAWED READY TO SHOOT. I WAS SITTING WITH MY DAUGHTER WHEN THEY TOLD US TO KEEP OUR HANDS UP,DON'T MOVE. I'M ON MEDICATION FOR DEPRESSION SO THAT DIDN'T HELP MATTERS AT ALL.*AK
WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WENT FORM SOME BLACK SMOKE TO FLAMES HOT ENOUGH TO MELT INTERIOR ITEMS SUCH AS WINDOW VISOR AND EXTERIOR ITEMS SUCH AS FRONT TIRES. FIREWALL HELD. FIRE OCCURRED IN FRONT OF HILLSBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT BLDG AND WAS PUT OUT WITHIN MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
HORN WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE THAT APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED BY SPARKS IN THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD, THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 38-J818-276. *SLC
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.
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