31 of the 994 complaints about the 1998 KIA Sephia are about the body and structure — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,000 miles.
31
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STRUCTURE
THE DASH BOARD IS CURLING UP AROUND THE FRONT WINDOW VENTS WHICH IS KICKING THE VENTS OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10234731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
1-LEAKING BRAKE FLUID INSIDE FIREWALL 2-DASHBOARD DISFIGURING 3-EXAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS NOT LASTING
NHTSA complaint #10128964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD IS BEGINNING TO LIFT AND BUBBLES ARE FORMING NEAR THE VENTS FOR THE DEFROSTR. CONSUMER BELIEVES DASHBOARD MAY OBSTRUCT VISION. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10038264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE WHOLE WHEEL APRON CAME LOOSE, GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE TIRE AND WAS THROWN OFF THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING INSTABILITY TO MY STEERING AND AS PARTS FLEW OFF, CAUSING A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS.
NHTSA complaint #765442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, HOOD RELEASED AND SMASHED INTO WINDSHIELD WHICH BLOCKED VISION OF DRIVER, CONSUMER FELT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS THAT CAUSE SEVERE VIBRATION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FREQUENTLY, THERE WAS NO CRASH OR INJURY TO REPORT WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED.*AK BRAKES WOULD VIBRATE AND WERE NOISY, REQUESTED REAR BRAKES BE CLEANED LUBED, DEALER FOUND ROTORS WARPED AND PADS WORN AND EXCESSIVE DUST IN REAR BRAKES, NUMEROUS ENGINE PROBLEMS SUCH AS COOLING FAN RUMBLE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, ENGINE STALL, BURNING SMELL, BELT SQUEAKS, ELECTRIC COOLING FAN INOPERATIVE, FAN BLADE, PLUG WIRES AND COIL BOOTS, VALVE COVER GASKET WERE REPLACED, EVAPORATOR WAS REPLACED AND RECHARGED, MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING IGNITION SWITCH, STARTER, ALTERNATOR, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, BATTERY TERMINAL, AND BULB FAILURE, DEALER HAS ALSO FOUND CORROSION, POOR CONNECTIONS AND LOW VOLTAGE, CONSUMER STATES NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTER, HARSH SHIFTS AND CLUNKS, DEALER REPLACED OLD STYLE FLEX PLATE, BINDING SHIFTER WHICH WAS CLEANED AND LUBED, FLUID LEAKS, DEALER REPLACED LEAKING POWER STEERING HOSE, MULTIPLE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS MISSING WIPER ARM CAP, KEY WILL NOT OPEN TRUNK, TRUNK LEVER DOES NOT RELEASE, BROKEN TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE, LEFT REAR DOOR MOLDING COMING OFF, DEALER REPLACED TRUNK RELEASE, REINSTALLED DOOR WEATHERSTRIP, FOUND OIL LEAKS, AND UNDERCARRIAGE SHOWING SIGNS OF DAMAGE, BUBBLES IN DASH PAD, SUNVISOR COMING LOOSE, DEALER REPLACED DASH PAD, DEALER FOUND TAIL PIPE DAMAGED, BOTH FRONT AFTERMARKET TIRES (NO TIRE INFORMATION) WORN, LEFT REAR RIM BENT, REAR TIRES (NO TIRE INFORMATION) CUPPED AND FEATHERED DUE TO LACK OF ROTATION AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, CONSUMER ALSO REQUESTED DEALER TO CHECK CV BOOTS FOR GREASE LEAK, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8001511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE WINDOW SEAL IS FAULTY CAUSING RAIN TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE ONTO THE RIGHT FRONT FLOOR, THE WEAHTERSTRIP ON THE RIGHT REAR DOOR IS DISTORTED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE GLOVE BOX LATCH IS LOOSE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMER STATES SHE NOW HAS A BROKEN DOOR HANDLE, DUE TO THE REPAIR SHOP LOCKING THE KEYS IN THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOCK IS BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #561722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 4-5 TIMES FOR DRIVER'S DOOR REPAIRS. DOOR WILL NOT STAY SHUT. WHILE DRIVING DOOR WILL FLY OPEN. OTHER TIMES CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO OPEN DOOR AT ALL. DEALER HAS REPLACED SEAL + LUBRICATED SEAL.
NHTSA complaint #877879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
SIGNAL LIGHTS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN IN USE DURING COLD WEATHER FOR 15 MINUTES OR SO. SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS WHEN IT'S RAINING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH AND THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY FAILURES SINCE. SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL. HEAD GASKET REPLACED AT 3500 MILES. MOLDING ON THE DOORS FELL OFF AND WAS REPLACED. TAILPIPE WAS REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE EXHAUST FUMES. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #876173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
GLOVE BOX AND SUNVISOR FELL OFF. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #784789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
BRAKES,LIGHTS,SEATS,BATTERY,AIRBAGS,ODOMETER,LEAKS,AIRCONDITION,LEFTDOORHANDLE (TIRESIZE: 14`)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 14` )
NHTSA complaint #732876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE OUTER HANDLE IS INOPERATIVE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #550020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOOR SEAL FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #782572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DOOR SEALS FAILED ALLOWING FUMES TO ENTER THE CAR. NLM
NHTSA complaint #782573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. DEALER HAS REPAIRED AND REPLACED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES.*AK IN ADDITION HEATER CORE, ALTERNATOR, STARTER,SPARK PLUGS, FRONT WINDSHIELD AND DOOR WEATHER STRIPS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #869138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
GLOVE BOX LATCH FELL OUT. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #552123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DRIVER SIDE WEATHER STRIPPING IS COMING OFF OF DOOR. YH
NHTSA complaint #551042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
DRIVER SIDE OUTSIDE MOLDING IS DISCOLORING. YH
NHTSA complaint #551042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
GLOVE COMPARTMENT BECAME DETACHED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #550349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE OUTER HANDLE IS INOPERATIVE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #550020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
FAILURE OF FRONT BRAKES 3 TIMES, DASH BOARD WIRE HARNESS FAILURE CAUSING DASH BOARD DISPLAYS, STARTER WIRE HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, PAINT RUBBING OFF AND BLISTERING, LOWED NOISES/VIBRATION UNDER DRIVER SIDE WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITTIONS,, POOR GAS MILAGE, FAULTY GAS GUAGE, BROKEN RIGHT REAR SPEAKER, BACK RIGHT DOOR WEATHER GASKET FALLING OFF FOR THE THIRD TIME, SLOPP STEERING RESPONCE DURING QUICK TURNS
NHTSA complaint #715783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
MOLDING IS DEFORMED AT REAR DOOR. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
HARD STARTING UP VEHICLE IN THE MORNINGS, AND GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ FULL TANK. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR IS BROKEN AT THE HINGES. HAD THE PANEL REPLACED. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #851213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
ENGINE STALLS, ESPECIALLY WHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE IN THE MORNINGS. GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ FULL, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR IS BROKEN. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD REPAIR. REPLACED DOOR PANEL. DOOR HINGES WERE BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #851011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
CAN FEEL BRAKES PULSATING WHEN ATTEMPTING STOP VEHICLE. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE. INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE STRUCTURE WOULD LEAK. BEEN TO DEALER & HAD ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #850641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
HAS BEEN IN 17 TIMES AND STILL NEED BRAKES AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK !!MANUFACTOR REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #713110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, WHENEVER IT RAINS WATER GETS INTO VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #847778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOOR SEAL FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #782572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DOOR SEALS FAILED ALLOWING FUMES TO ENTER THE CAR. NLM
NHTSA complaint #782573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.