25 of the 203 complaints about the 1996 KIA Sephia are about the electrical system — 12% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 3 miles.
25
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I BAUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED BUT THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON. MY CAR WILL NOT PASS CALIFORNIA SMOG WITH THE LIGHT ON WHICH MEANS THAT I CANNOT RENEW MY REGISTRATION THE NEXT TIME THE DMV REQUIRES A SMOG CHECK.
NHTSA complaint #10007909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WHOLE DASH BOARD CAME OFF. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS. TS
NHTSA complaint #10003960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
THE FIRST WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS ORDERED FOR THIS CAR ON 10/29/02 WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY ORDERED A SECOND ONE. I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR THEY SAY WAS READY AND EVERYTHING IS WORKING. BEFORE I DROVE OFF THE LOT I NOTICED MY DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON. HOWEVER ALL OF THE DOORS WERE CLOSED INCLUDING THE TRUNK. SO TOMORROW I AM TAKING MORE TIME OFF FROM WORK SO THEY CAN INSTALL A THIRD WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE TAKEN OFF 2 DAYS 3 HOURS SO FAR. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IS ABOUT 45 MILES AWAY. I ONLY HAVE THAT ONE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED OVER THERE THE LAST TIME BECAUSE THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE SEEN TONIGHT ON THIS WEB SITE YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD CALL A RECALL. I WILL NOT REST UNTIL SOMEONE TAKES RESPONSIBLITY FOR THE CAR THAT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT THE SHOP EVERY SINCE I HAD IT. DT
NHTSA complaint #769631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THIS IS THE THIRD WIRING HARNESS THEY ARE ORDERING. DT
NHTSA complaint #769352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #738431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #738431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE TOP OF THE DASH ACTUALLY HAS A LARGE BURN SCORCH MARK ABOUT THE SIZE OF A GRAPEFRUIT AND THE FOAM LIKE MATERIAL IS BULGING OUT, THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF FLORIDA'S SUMMER HEAT AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE OF MY WORK BUT A CAR ONLY 3 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE, OVER YEARS HAVE OWNED OLD CARS OVER TEN YEARS OLD BEFORE EVER SAW DASH PROBLEMS AND NOTHING LIKE THIS, DONT KNOW IF THIS COULD HAVE SOMEHOW IGNITED A FIRE OR IF DASH IS NOW LOOSE COMPROMISING OTHER EQUIPMENT IN THE DASH. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW OF ANY OTHER PROBLEMS OR RECALLS WITH THIS MODEL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #735334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
STARTER FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #782370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO WIRING HARNESSES FAILURE. YH
NHTSA complaint #552709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & NOTICED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. PULLED OVER & SMOKE FILLED THE INTERIOR. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC CHECKED UNDER HOOD & NOTICED THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE FRAYED. COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF THE FRAYED WIRES.
NHTSA complaint #861168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DUE TO WIRING PROBLEMS VEHICLE HAD STALLED, A FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. *AK
NHTSA complaint #856845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DASHBOARD GETS HOT AND IS DETERIORATING ABOVE INSTRUMENT PANEL
NHTSA complaint #711742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #707941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE FIRST MONTH I HAD CAR THE IGNITION/STEERING LOCKED AND NEEDED TOWING BY KIA-NOTHING CHARGED TO ME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND STAYING ON SHORTLY AFTER 'REPAIR' EVER SINCE I BOUGHT CAR 3-28-1998. I JUST GOT "RUN-AROUND' FROM WESTERN DIVERSIFIED/KIA AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP OVER AXLES. KIA TOLD ME NOTHING COVERED AFTER 36,000 MI.. AFTER I THOUGHT I COULD SEND IN BILL FOR AXLES TO EXTENDED WARRANTY INSTEAD OF CALLING AT THE TIME (MALE CHAUVINIST MECHANIC) AND AFTER WESTERN DIVERSIFIED SEEMINLY INDICATED AXLES PART OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE (CV BOOT-DIDN'T KNOW WERE GOING BAD) AND I COULDN'T AFFORD $200-300 FOR DEALER TO CHECK CAR EARLIER-- DEALERS AND KIA THEN SAY I HAVE 5/60 WARRANTY ON ENGINE/TRANS AND NOW WON'T COVER AXLES BECAUSE OF INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOUCHING CAR AND HE WON'T BACK UP HIS 'WARRANTY'. I JUST STARTED FULL-TIME WORK NOT AS A TEMP (BUT TERM) WITH CO I WORKED 5 1/2 YRS BEFORE. ALL MY MONEY IS GOING ALTERNATELY TO CAR REPAIRS THEN CATCH UP ON CAR PMTS AND INS AND I STILL NEED TO MOVE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO AND REALLY STEAMED AND WRITING TO ATTY GENERAL ABOUT KIA--Y2K MEANS YUCK TO KIA.
NHTSA complaint #707178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE FIRST MONTH I HAD CAR THE IGNITION/STEERING LOCKED AND NEEDED TOWING BY KIA-NOTHING CHARGED TO ME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND STAYING ON SHORTLY AFTER 'REPAIR' EVER SINCE I BOUGHT CAR 3-28-1998. I JUST GOT "RUN-AROUND' FROM WESTERN DIVERSIFIED/KIA AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP OVER AXLES. KIA TOLD ME NOTHING COVERED AFTER 36,000 MI.. AFTER I THOUGHT I COULD SEND IN BILL FOR AXLES TO EXTENDED WARRANTY INSTEAD OF CALLING AT THE TIME (MALE CHAUVINIST MECHANIC) AND AFTER WESTERN DIVERSIFIED SEEMINLY INDICATED AXLES PART OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE (CV BOOT-DIDN'T KNOW WERE GOING BAD) AND I COULDN'T AFFORD $200-300 FOR DEALER TO CHECK CAR EARLIER-- DEALERS AND KIA THEN SAY I HAVE 5/60 WARRANTY ON ENGINE/TRANS AND NOW WON'T COVER AXLES BECAUSE OF INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOUCHING CAR AND HE WON'T BACK UP HIS 'WARRANTY'. I JUST STARTED FULL-TIME WORK NOT AS A TEMP (BUT TERM) WITH CO I WORKED 5 1/2 YRS BEFORE. ALL MY MONEY IS GOING ALTERNATELY TO CAR REPAIRS THEN CATCH UP ON CAR PMTS AND INS AND I STILL NEED TO MOVE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO AND REALLY STEAMED AND WRITING TO ATTY GENERAL ABOUT KIA--Y2K MEANS YUCK TO KIA.
NHTSA complaint #707178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
THE FIRST MONTH I HAD CAR THE IGNITION/STEERING LOCKED AND NEEDED TOWING BY KIA-NOTHING CHARGED TO ME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND STAYING ON SHORTLY AFTER 'REPAIR' EVER SINCE I BOUGHT CAR 3-28-1998. I JUST GOT "RUN-AROUND' FROM WESTERN DIVERSIFIED/KIA AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP OVER AXLES. KIA TOLD ME NOTHING COVERED AFTER 36,000 MI.. AFTER I THOUGHT I COULD SEND IN BILL FOR AXLES TO EXTENDED WARRANTY INSTEAD OF CALLING AT THE TIME (MALE CHAUVINIST MECHANIC) AND AFTER WESTERN DIVERSIFIED SEEMINLY INDICATED AXLES PART OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE (CV BOOT-DIDN'T KNOW WERE GOING BAD) AND I COULDN'T AFFORD $200-300 FOR DEALER TO CHECK CAR EARLIER-- DEALERS AND KIA THEN SAY I HAVE 5/60 WARRANTY ON ENGINE/TRANS AND NOW WON'T COVER AXLES BECAUSE OF INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOUCHING CAR AND HE WON'T BACK UP HIS 'WARRANTY'. I JUST STARTED FULL-TIME WORK NOT AS A TEMP (BUT TERM) WITH CO I WORKED 5 1/2 YRS BEFORE. ALL MY MONEY IS GOING ALTERNATELY TO CAR REPAIRS THEN CATCH UP ON CAR PMTS AND INS AND I STILL NEED TO MOVE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO AND REALLY STEAMED AND WRITING TO ATTY GENERAL ABOUT KIA--Y2K MEANS YUCK TO KIA.
NHTSA complaint #707178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DASHBOARD IS BUSTING AND BURNING TO PIECES INTO THE AIRBAG. MANUACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #838406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
STARTER FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #782370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #521446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #521446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE THE ENGINE JUST STOPS WITHOUT WARNING. THE WIRING HARNESS AND ENGINE WERE REPLACED IN APRIL OF 97. WIRING HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACED (2) OTHER TIMES, 6/20/97 & 8/15/ 97. THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS REPLACING FOR A FOURTH TIME.
NHTSA complaint #816283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL; IGNITION FAILURE/ AIR BAG LIGHT COME SON/INTERIOR LIGHTS GO DIM.
NHTSA complaint #509355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL; IGNITION FAILURE/ AIR BAG LIGHT COME SON/INTERIOR LIGHTS GO DIM.
NHTSA complaint #509355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE'S ABS BRAKES FAILED THREE TIMES, MAKE GRONDING NOISE/DIMMER SWITCH OVERHEATED/REPLACED RUSTED MUFFLER/GAS ACCELERATOR TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE PEDAL/ VEHICLE BUCKS AND HESITATES AT LOW SPEED/NOISY LIFTERS.
NHTSA complaint #984857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN VEHICLE STALLS OUT, REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH TO NO AVAIL.
NHTSA complaint #985027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.