2000 KIA SEPHIA Recalls, Complaints & Safety

The contact owns a 2000 Kia Sephia. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart after being jumpstarted. The contact continued to drive; however, the failure recurred 5 times while driving and depressing the brake pedal or the accelerator pedal. After each failure, the vehicle was able to be restarted when jumpstarted. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys and diagnosed; however, no fault code was retrieved. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

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.

THE STUPID PASSENGER DOOR WONT CLOSE THIS JUST SO DARN FRUSTRATING IT'S ALSO VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM NOT A VERY HAPPY PERSON RIGHT NOW. YOU SHOULD MAKE CARS MORE SAFE IF SOME ONE HAD BEEN HURT WITH THAT STUPID DOOR I WOULD HAVE SUED YOUI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, HEAD, AND JAW BONE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, HEAD, AND NECK INJURIES. THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER SUFFERED A NECK INJURY. ALL THE OCCUPANTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

Crash 3 injured

THE LOCKS FREEZE UP IN COLD TEMPS, ENOUGH TO TWIST AND BEND MY KEY. EVEN TRYING TO FORCE IT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE DOES NOT WORK. I ALMOST BROKE MY THUMB TRYING TO FORCE IT OPEN UNLESS YOU PUT A HEATER IN THE CAR FOR A LONG TIME. *TR

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

Crash 1 injured

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

Crash 1 injured

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.

2000 KIA SEPHIA DOOR LATCHES DO NOT WORK WHEN WEATHER IS FREEZING AND DASHBOARD CURLED UP NOT ALLOWING DEFROST OF FRONT WINDSHIELD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE WOULD RACE FIRST AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD. THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD BLINK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DEALER CHANGED THE SENSORS FOR THE LIGHTS. HOWEVER, THE OVER DRIVE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 162,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,384. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SEPHIA. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 25 DEGREES NONE OF THE DOORS LATCHES FUNCTION PROPERLY AND ITS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41000. UPDATED 03/01/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPPED, THE DOOR LOCKS DID NOT LATCH. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS TO HOLD DOOR WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, THE DASH BOARD WAS FALLING APART. UPDATED 08/20/10.*JB

IN NORMALLY OPENING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE IN COLD WEATHER, THE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE BROKE BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR WAS BY ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPERATING THE DOOR USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM IF THE CAR NEEDS TO BE EXITED QUICKLY. *TR

MY WIFE OWNS A 2000 KIA SEPHIA,WE WERE IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 40MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS ASKED TO MAIL PICTURES OF THIS ACCIDENT TO KIA AND JUST RECEIVED A PHONE CALL BACK SAYING THE IMPACT WAS TOO HIGH FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT,ARE YOU KIDDING ME,THE WHOLE FRONTEND OF THE CAR IS TOTALED AND THAT'S THE BEST ANSWER YOU CAN GIVE ME,OH YEAH HE SAID HE WAS SORRY. *TR

Crash 1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 60 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS AND THE WIPER MOTOR CONTINUED TO ACTIVATE; HOWEVER, THE WIPERS WENT INTO A VERTICAL POSITION AND WOULD NO LONGER OPERATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 138,000.

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

HIT A LIGHT POLE/AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. *TR

Crash 3 injured

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

I HAVE A 2000 KIA SEPHIA AND THE VENTS STARTED TO CRACK. NOW THE WHOLE DASHBOARD IS CURLING UP TO WHERE THE VENTS WON'T EVEN WORK. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK BECAUSE OF THE DEFORMATION OF THE DASH. AND WITH THIS CAR JUST BEING 6 YEARS OLD WHEN IT HAPPENED I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT MAY CAUSE ME TO WRECK FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO CLEAR THE FOG OFF OF THE WINDOW. EVERY KIA SEPHIA THAT I HAVE SEEN HAS THIS PROBLEM NOW. WHICH IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH A CAR THAT IS NOT EVEN 10 YEARS OLD. *TR

RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER) DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. DOOR LATCH WILL NOT UNLOCK. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I HAD TO CUT A HOLE IN THE INSIDE DOOR PANEL TO ACCESS THE INTERIOR OF THE DOOR. THE LOCK MECHANISM WAS RUSTED DUE TO A POORLY DESIGNED WINDOW SEAL THAT DRAINS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE DOOR--RIGHT ONTO THE LOCK. THIS IS DANGEROUS-- MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON BULLETIN BOARDS ALL OVER THE NET. THERE IS A TSB (625894) THAT DEALS WITH LATCHES, BUT I HAVE NOT CHECKED IT YET WITH THE DEALER. I UNDERSTAND KIA HAS SOME COVER OR SOMETHING THAT SHIELDS THE LOCK. PERHAPS THE TSB IS FOR THE SHIELD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 20 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE LEFT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER CHEST. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

Crash 1 injured

I OWN KIA-SEPHIA-2000. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS UNDER 0 DEGREES THE DOORS FREEZE SO BADLY THAT I CANNOT SHUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OR ANY OTHER DOOR THAT I MIGHT OPEN AND THEN TRY TO CLOSE. MOST OFTEN,. AFTER I STARTED AND RAN THE HEAT AT THAT TIME THE DOOR MIGHT CLOSE SHUT. ONE EVENING IN JANUARY, I HAD TO DRIVE THE ENTIRE TIME , 27 MILES OR 45 MINUTES WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR UNABLE TO CLOSE. I WAS HOLDING IT CLOSED AS TIGHTLY AS I COULD. NO AMOUNT OF WD40 WOULD HELP THIS SITUATION. I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT GOES DOWN TO 40 BELOW, AND THAT IS NOT THE WIND CHILL FACTOR. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE A BLOCK HEATER WAS IMMEDIATELY ADDED TO IT FOR ANTICIPATION OF THE COLD WEATHER.*AK

TL*- THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2000 KIA SPECTRUM. THE CONTACT OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 2002 AND ALL FOUR DOORS WILL NOT SHUT WHEN IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THIS FAILURE OCCURRED DURING A SPECIFIC TEMPERATURE. THE CONTACTDID NOT REMEMBER WHAT THE DEALER SAID OR DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS EVENTUALLY SHUT. SHE HAD TIED THE DOORS SHUT TO KEEP THEM FROM OPENING.*AK

PURCHASED A SET OF 4 MICHELIN X RADIAL TIRES 10/2005. IN MAY 2006 NOTICED A CRACK/CUT IN SIDEWALL OF TIRE. TIRE REPLACED AT COSTCO UNDER ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY. IN AUGUST 2006, ANOTHER TIRE SUFFERED A RUPTURE IN THE SIDEWALL CAUSING CAR TO HIT CURB. AGAIN REPLACED UNDER COSTCO ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY, DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVE WE DIDN'T HIT SOMETHING THAT CAUSED SIDEWALL RUPTURE. OCTOBER 2006 STILL ANOTHER TIRE WAS NOTICED WITH A LARGE BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL. REPLACED AGAIN UNDER ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY AT COSTCO. ALL TIRES THAT WERE REPLACED WERE DOT HCP8HYUX2505. *NM

MY KIA SEPHIA WAS PURCHASED IN 2000 AND AT APPROXIMATED 32,000 MILES THE PAINT ON THE CAR IS PEELING AND FADED AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS LIFTED AND IS RAISED. I SEE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH OTHER SEPHIA'S WHEN I AM IN PARKING LOTS OR ON THE ROAD. I CALLED CORAL SPRINGS KIA SEVERAL TIMES AND I AM BEING TOLD THAT BECAUSE I LIVE IN FLORIDA THE PROBLEM IS TO BE EXPECTED. THIS IS A BLATANT LIE. ON MONDAY 9/25 I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE TO JOHN AT EXTENSION 4635. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AND SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY OFFERED TO SUPPLY THE PARTS BUT NOT THE LABOR TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. IF THEY AGREE TO SUPPLY THE PARTS THEN THEY KNEW OR KNOW THIS MAKE A MODEL IS HAVING PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU CAN ADVISE MY NEXT COURSE OF ACTION. *JB

SEPHIA KIA DASH BOARD ....WARRANTY,IS ONLY 36,000 MILES THE SEAMS ARE TORN OUT ON THE DASH BOARD IN FRONT OF THE MILEAGE ODOMETER AND MAKING ME SICK,THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS BUFFED UP WITH THE AIR VENT BUFFERED UP TOWARD THE WINDOW, KEEPING ME FROM GETTING ANY AIR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TOO DR.VINLYN.. THE ONLY PERSON THAT FIXES DASH BOARDS IN MY STATE, AND TO AN UPHOLSTERY SHOP, NEITHER ONE WOULD FIX IT..THEY STATE, KIA MANUFACTURER IS NOT MAKING THE DASHBOARDS THE SAME AND THERE ONLY MADE OUT OF PLASTIC NOW, NO USE IN FIXING IT, MIGHT AS WELL BUY A NEW DASHBOARD, CAUSE KIA DOESN'T MAKE GREAT DASHBOARDS FOR CARS ANY LONGER, AND THE DASHBOARDS ARE ONLY PLASTIC.. I WAS ALSO TOLD, A LOT OF KIA'S CARS HAVE BEEN BUFFERED UP, AND NOTHING BUT PLASTIC. I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE BETTER OFF, IF I COULD FIND A BETTER DASHBOARD THAN WHAT I HAVE NOW,CAUSE IT WOULD JUST COME A LOOSE AGAIN BY THE HEAT,IF IT IS STILL PLASTIC.. KIA CARS OF AMERICA...CLAIMS MY WARRANTY IS ONLY 36,000 MILES WARRANTY,BUT I NEED MY CAR FIXED BY KIA CARS OF AMERICA,MY DASH BOARD IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC,AND I FAULT KIA MOTORS FOR BUILDING THIS CAR LIKE THIS, I HAVE BREATHING PROBLEMS, AND UNLESS KIA WANTS TO GIVE ME ANOTHER CAR, I WANT THEM TO FIX THIS CAR,THIS IS NOT THE WAY I BROUGHT THIS CAR AND IT IS TORN UP INSIDE, BUSTED UP BY HEAT. THANK YOU FOR E-MAILING ME BACK, AT MY EMAIL ABOVE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA CARS, I WANTED TO STICK WITH KIA CARS, BUT AFTER THIS ,I DON'T KNOW, I JUST KNOW, I NEED KIA CARS OF AMERICA TO FIX THIS CAR. THE SMELL IN THIS CAR WITH THE SEAMS BUSTED IS MAKING ME SICK. *JB

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

DASHBOARD WARPED AND BROKE THE DEFROSTER VENT. SAFETY HAS BEEN GREATLY COMPROMISED BECAUSE AIR IS NO LONGER ABLE TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD DURING DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING. *JB

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

THE DEFROSTER VENTS ON TOP OF THE DASHBOARD HAVE POPPED OFF. *JB

1. REAR WINDOW TINT DAMAGED BY DEFOSTER WIRES CAUSING THE TINT TO BUBBLE AND OBSTRUCT REAR VIEW. 2. HEAT DAMAGE TO FRONT DASH RESULTS IN AN ADJUSTMENT OR MOVEMENT TO THE FROMT WINDSHEILD CREATING CRACKS IN WINDSHILED TO LARGE TO REPAIR. OCCURS WITH BOTH FACTORY AND COMMERCIALLY INSTALLED GLASS. 3. A SUB RESULT OCCURS WHERE THE DEFROSTER VENTS ON THE DASH BREAK AND NO LONGER PROVIDE DIRECTED AIR TO THE WINDSHILED, CAUSING OBSTRUCTED VIEWS. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED LETTER INFORMING HIM THAT 2000 KIA SEPHIA SEAT BELT IS UNSAFE. CONSUMER CALLED DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. *TS *NM ***NAR***

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V305000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THEIR VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 3/3/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING A CLANKING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE ENGINE. THEN, WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE OIL AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 03/03/06.*JB

OVER THE COURSE OF THE PREVIOUS FEW MONTHS, PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, I NOTICED THAT THE 2000 KIA SEPHIA WITH 80000 MILES BEGAN TO HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE SHIFTER. IT BECAME INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. IT CONTINUALLY FELT LIKE THE SHIFTER WAS STUCK. I ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED VIA FLATBED BECAUSE THE CAR REFUSED TO START. AFTER GETTING IT TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED, HOWEVER, BEING THE CAR ONLY HAD 83000 MILES I SOUGHT A SECOND OPINION. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM TO ONE OF THE MECHANICS (WHO WILL NOT BE NAMED), I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL KIA. THAT THE SEAL IS FAULTY IN THE TRANSMISSION CASING AND AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME DIRT AND/OR WATER LEAKS INTO THE LINKAGE CAUSING IT TO NOT SHIFT. THE WAY TO CORRECT IS TO EITHER REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OR TO HAVE THE LINKAGE REDONE AND RE-LUBRICATED FOR PROPER OPERATION. A THIRD OPINION REVEALED THE SAME INFORMATION. A KILL SWITCH DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START UNLESS THE CAR IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. SO ONCE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS MANUALLY SHIFTED INTO PARK THE CAR STARTED IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS INDICATED THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON AND WILL MORE THAN LIKELY RE-OCCUR BUT THAT THE "TREATMENT" SHOULD HOLD FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. AFTER $485.00 IN REPAIRS NOT INCLUDING THE TOW THE TRANSMISSION IS BEGINNING TO ACT UP AGAIN. I DON'T WANT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMPLAINT IS LODGED AND URGE THAT TRANSMISSION ISSUE RECORDS BE SEIZED BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY COMMON KNOWLEDGE THING AMONG MECHANICS THAT THIS HAPPENS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL KIA SEPHIA. THE SEALS HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND THE LINKAGE PROPERLY LUBRICATED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, READING THE KIA WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A NON-SERVICEABLE AREA AND THE DEALER IS SUPPOSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF $1800.00 PLUS LABOR AND TAXES. *JB

WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE DOORS ON MY KIA'S DON'T CLOSE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PERSON BUMP THE DOOR CLOSE FROM THE OUTSIDE. MY DOOR AND THE PASSENGER DOOR OPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I'M VERY FEARFUL OF DRIVING DURING IN THE WINTER, ESPECIALLY WITH MY KIDS.*JB

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.

Crash 1 injured

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.

Crash 1 injured

DT: 2000 KIA SEPHIA. CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON JULY 26, 2005 WHEN A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, SHE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND SWERVED TO MISS THE DEER. SHE HIT THE METAL GUARD RAIL AND A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. THIS TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED. CONSUMER HAS A GASH ON RIGHT EYE AND HER LIP WAS SWOLLEN. SHE WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK *JB

Crash 1 injured

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

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN A DEER CROSSED AND WAS HIT BY OUR VEHICLE. THE CAR HIT THE DEER BROADSIDE WITH THE FRONT END, THEN THE CAR WAS KNOCKED DOWN INTO THE DITCH AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT WITH THE FRONT END. BOTH IMPACTS WERE ACROSS THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WITH EITHER IMPACT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL BE TOTALING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE AMONT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE HAD A CRASH IN THIS VEHICLE SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE NOTICED THIS DEFECT.

Crash 1 injured