23 of the
375 complaints about the 1997 KIA Sephia are about the
body and structure — 6% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
49,000 miles.
THE DASHBOARD IS WARPED/COMING UP AND HAS BENT/RUINED THE DEFROST/DEFOGGER SYSTEM. IT HAPPENED ALL ON IT'S OWN, WE DID NOTHING TO PROVOKE THIS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. I AM CONCERNED IF IT HAS CAUSED AIRBAG DAMAGE. IT IS A HAZARD NOT TO BE ABLE TO DEFROST/DEFOG WINDOWS. ALSO THE TAILPIPE KEEPS GETTING HOLES IN IT AND WE HAVE TO KEEP GETTING WELDING DONE ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10203109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 59,000 milesHyrum, UT
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
DASHBOARD WARPED AND COMING UP AND TOUCHING WINDSHIELD. IT IS BREAKING OR BLOCKING THE VENT/DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM. THEREFORE THE WINDOWS BARELY DEFROST AND THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I KNOW OF TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DASHBOARD. ALSO "DOOR OPEN" LIGHT REMAINS ON AND DRAINS BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #10202861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hayesville, NC
STRUCTURE
DT: CONSUMER OWNS 1997 KIA SEPHIA. SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE DASHBOARD. THE VENTS FOR THE DEFROSTER FELL OFF, AND THE DASHBOARD WAS BROWN, WHICH BEGAN AS A SMALL SPOT AND GREW TO COVER THE WHOLE DASHBOARD. SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DASHBOARD FALLING APART MIGHT SOMEHOW AFFECT THE AIRBAGS. SHE SAYS THAT THERE IS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM DASH, SMELL HAS BEEN THERE SINCE SHE PURCHASED VEHICLE. SHE DID PURCHASE VEHICLE NEW.
NHTSA complaint #10133360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 22,590 milesWayne, NJCrash
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD LIFTED UP FROM THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS A HOLE THAT BURNED INTO THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING OR DEPLOYING PREMATURELY. *AK *SC
NHTSA complaint #10082004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plantersville, AL
STRUCTURE
PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS AND DASHBOARD. *MR *SC
NHTSA complaint #10079704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Land O' Lakes, FL
STRUCTURE
THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD IS LIFTING UP, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS MAY CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #10040743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roseburg, OR
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD CAME LOOSE AND LIFTED FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE.*MR. THE MOLDING STRIP AROUND THE REAR WINDOW WAS LOOSE.*TS
NHTSA complaint #10037744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seattle, WA
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD IS PULLING APART AND THIS IS UNSAFE AND I WORRY ABOUT THE AIR BAGS BLASTING OFF AND OTHER DAMAGE. I KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS PREVELANT TO THIS CAR ALSO THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BREAKS THEY SQUEAK HORRIBLY, BUT THE BREAK PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T NEED TO BE REPLACED, UNSURE OF THE CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #10037350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glen Burnie, MD
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD AREA, IN FRONT OF DRIVER'S SEAT DEVELOPED "BURN" SPOTS AND SINCE THEN POPPED OUT, NEAR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS AND BLURRED VISION WHEN DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE SUN CONTACTED THE DASH AND HAD GIVEN OFF SOME TYPE OF CHEMICAL. *AK THE BURN SPOT WAS APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES IN DIAMETER. EVERY THREE TO FOUR DAYS IT CREATED A FILM ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD(THE SIZE OF THE BURN AREA) AND ALSO HAD GIVEN OFF AN ODOR. THE ODOR MADE THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND SICK AND HER SISTER'S EYES BURN. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10025007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sayreville, NJ
STRUCTURE
THE DASH BOARD STARTED TO LIFT/ EXPAND, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #10015823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glen Rock, PA
STRUCTURE
IS LEAKING CAUSING ELECTRICAL LIGHTS DAMAGE, THE HAZARDS OR SIGNALS AREN'T WORKING AND THE TRUCK SMELLS LIKE MILDEW. TS
NHTSA complaint #9006758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MDCrash
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON, THE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE AND THEY STILL MADE NOISE BUT THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO, THE HINGE ON THE BACK DOOR FAILED, THE LEFT STRUT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS TIME THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED THE CAR SKIPPED WHEN IN DRIVE TO REVERSE AND THE BREAKS WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. KIA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS THESE CARS HAVE TOO MANY DEFECTS AND I'M SURE THEY HAVE MANY MOR PEOPLE JUST DON'T REPORT THEM ALL THE TIME
NHTSA complaint #730809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MDCrash
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON, THE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE AND THEY STILL MADE NOISE BUT THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO, THE HINGE ON THE BACK DOOR FAILED, THE LEFT STRUT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS TIME THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED THE CAR SKIPPED WHEN IN DRIVE TO REVERSE AND THE BREAKS WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. KIA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS THESE CARS HAVE TOO MANY DEFECTS AND I'M SURE THEY HAVE MANY MOR PEOPLE JUST DON'T REPORT THEM ALL THE TIME
NHTSA complaint #730809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Reseda, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DOOR SEAL FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #784251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Laude, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LOCK RODS AND OUTER HANDLE. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Laude, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
DASH WARPED AND FADED CAUSING POOR FIT. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Isle OF PA, SC
STRUCTURE:BODY
CENTER CONSOLE REPLACED DUE TO BROKEN CUP HOLDER. MJS
NHTSA complaint #544913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Isle OF PA, SC
STRUCTURE:BODY
DRIVER'S SUNVISOR LOOSE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. MJS
NHTSA complaint #544913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portland, OR
STRUCTURE:BODY
DASHBOARD CONTINUALLY RATTLES.
NHTSA complaint #536034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelph, PA
STRUCTURE
WATER LEAKS INTO VEHICLE DURING RAIN.
NHTSA complaint #541440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelph, PA
STRUCTURE:BODY
PARTS CHIPPING FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE VISORS.
NHTSA complaint #541440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Valdosta, GA
STRUCTURE:BODY
DASHBOARD REPLACED TWO TIMES DUE TO SEPARATING PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #541807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Memphis, TN
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WHILE DRVING THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE , AND OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #827350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.