1998 KIA Sephia transmission problems

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I BROUGHT A NEW KIA SEPHIA IN 1998, AND HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT! TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES BY THE MECHANIC FOR KIA MOTORS, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN ON 7/2007. ALSO , THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. NOW THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BUT NO MECHANIC CAN LOCATE THE ELECTRICAL SHORT PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10196733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE SHIFTING TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN, AND THE SHIFT LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE SHIFT LEVER IN ORDER TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA complaint #10089958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I BOUGHT A 1998 KIA SEPHIA FROM TOYOTA CARLSBAD 2 YEARS AGO IN MAY, 2001 THAT I PAID CASH FOR. RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE KIA SEPHIA THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO TOYOTA CARLSBAD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I DIDN'T PUT THE GAS CAP BACK ON CORRECTLY. AUGUST, 2002 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AT FUTURE AUTOMOTIVE IN RANCHO BERNARDO AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. FUTURE AUTOMOTIVE SENT THE CAR TO MIKE'S TRANSMISSION IN POWAY. MIKE WORKED AND WORKED ON THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS IN HIS SHOP FOUR TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE KIA SEPHIA WAS IN THE SHOP, IT WAS THERE FOR THREE WEEKS. TOYOTA CARLSBAD TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T HELP ME BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, BUT THEY WOULD GLADLY SELL ME ANOTHER CAR. WHEN I TOLD THEM I COULDN'T AFFORD THAT, TOYOTA CARLSBAD TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT HELP ME WITH MY PROBLEM. BOTH TIMES THE BBB TRIED TO HELP ME, KIA STATED THE FIRST TIME THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE SECOND TIME, KIA STATED THAT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE YOUR VEHICLE EXCEEDS THE AGE REQUIREMENTS SET OUT IN THE MANUFACTURER'S PROGRAM SUMMARY. LIGHT COMES ON. I WAS INFORMED THAT I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO TOYOTA CARLSBAD OR ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. WHEN I STATED THAT I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA CARLSBAD TO TAKE IT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT THE DVM FRAUD UNIT. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN?T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR, I HAD IT TOWED TO NORTH COUNTY GMC JEEP KIA IN ESCONDIDO. MY KIA WAS AT NORTH COUNTY GMC JEEP KIA FOR SIX WEEKS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. MY CAR HAS HAD THREE TRANSMISSIONS PUT IN THE CAR. THE KIA TECH SPECIALIST WORKED ON MY CAR SEVERAL TIMES DURING THAT TIME. IN ORDER TO GET THE TRANSMISSION WORK CORRECTLY, I REPLACED THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER, A NEW FUEL FILTER AND A WHOLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I ONLY NEEDED A SMALL PART REPLACED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, BUT I HAD TO BUY THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.

NHTSA complaint #10070176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THEN, THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #10046277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

I BOUGHT A 1998 KIA SEPHIA IN FEB OF 2000 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 GEAR SHIFTERS AND THREE TRANSMISSIONS AND THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 2/3 OF THE TIME THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. MY SIGNAL LIGHT ON ONE SIDE HAS NEVER REALLY WORKED PROPERLY AND THE THE HEADLIGHT CONSTANTLY SHORTS OUT. OF COURSE NOW I'M OUT OF WARRANTY AND STILL EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS AND MANY MORE I DONT KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN BECAUSE ALL I'M EVER TOLD IS THAT'S A KIA FOR YOU. I STILL HAVE A LOAN OF THIS CAR AND DONT THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT ALMOST EVERY YEAR THE GEAR SHIFTER AND TRANS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD GREAT APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME BECAUSE I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS BECAUSE THE GEAR SHIFTER WONT COME OUT OF PARK AND WHEN IT DID THE TRANS RACED WHEN REACHING 2 GEAR. THERE IS NO WAY ANYONE SHOULD EXPERIENCE THIS MUCH TROUBLE WHETHER BEING A USED CAR OR NOT. PLEASE HELP ME.

NHTSA complaint #10045388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS, AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD 5 RECALLS AND THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD CONSISTS OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND O/D LIGHT FLASHING. ALSO, CAR ACTS AS IF IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO INTO GEAR. WHEN IT IS PUT INTO REVERSE IT ALSO SEEMS AS IF HESITATE TO CRANK UP AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10041479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE WOULDN'T START INTERMITTENTLY. ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT STARTED TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE WOULD ALSO ROLL WHILE IN PARK. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10033809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION WAS VERY BAD AND DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE WOULD STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA complaint #10002299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE STOP WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE REMAIN RUNNING BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE REPAIR WAS MADE AT THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBBLEM IS REOCURRING. TS

NHTSA complaint #8023745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY

SHIFTER KNOB WAS LOOSE.

NHTSA complaint #562464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

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.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #562457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED, HOWEVER THREE DAYS LATED CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #562189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE CONSUMER HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF REPAIR SHOP 10-12 TIMES,CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED.

NHTSA complaint #561722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR VARIOUS BRAKE PROBLEMS AND ALTHOUGH REPAIRS WERE MADE I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN THE RELIABILITY OF THIS CAR. AND, NOW THAT TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE, I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT KIA IS NOT AWARE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES! THANK YOU FOR LOOKING OUT FOR OUR SAFETY.

NHTSA complaint #747400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT WOULD FLASH, SECOND TIME VEHICLE JUST QUIT, THIS WAS SECOND TRANSMISSION VEHICLE HAS HAD.

NHTSA complaint #887551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

11 MAJOR FAILURES WITH MY VEHICLE. NOT ALL ARE LISTED IN THIS COMPLAINT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.

NHTSA complaint #744591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I BOUGHT MY KIA SEPHIA IN 1998. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES FIXED 2 TIMES AND TAY REPLACED ONCE. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ALSO. RECENTLY MY CAR HAS BEEN RIDING VERY SLUGGISH. WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS IT MAKES A VERY LOUD SOUND. WHEN I TR TO ACCELERATE THE CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO CHANGE INTO GEARS. IT ALSO CONSTANTLY MAKES A LOUD HUMMING SOUND WHEN I AM AT ABOUT 40-50MPH. THIS CAR HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT TROUBLE AND $$$. I AM TRYIN TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE HAS BEEN A WHOLE BUNCH OF RECALLS I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT OR IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I MAY BE ABLE TO DO HERE TO SAVE MONEY. I STILL OWE 9,000 AND FEEL LIKE I AM CONSTANTLY INCONVININCED BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR CONSTANT REPAIR. HELP!

NHTSA complaint #744051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING IN THIRD GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES FAILED AS WELL. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE ISSUES FOUR TIMES TO DATE. I HAD TO HAVE A TOTAL BRAKE REPLACEMENT IN THE PAST TWO YEARS AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT 6800 MILES. SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILTED, I HAVE RETURNED IT FOUR TIMES FOR ADDITIONAL FAILURE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE..

NHTSA complaint #742277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE IGNITION SYSTEM IS HARD STARTING AT TIMES, EVEN RIGHT AFTER I GOT A TUNE UP FROM THE DEALER. GLOVEBOX HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE BECAUSE THE CLOSING MECHANISM JAMS AND WILL NOT OPEN. TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED, SHIFTS ROUGHLY SINCE NEW. THE BRAKES GRIND CONSTANTLY, DEALER HAS REPLACED ROTORS, THEN REPLACED BRAKE PADS AFTER THAT, NOW GRINDING AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #742422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN WORKED ON OVER PAST YEAR. *AK ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. WHEEL BEARING FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD NO ENGAGEMENT DUE TO HALF SHAFT FAILURE. ENGINE STALLED AT A STOP DUE TO TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY FAILURE. BRAKES WERE NOISY AND WERE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE ROTORS. ENGINE WILL NOT START DUE TO BATTERY AND STARTER FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #883649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND VEHICLE STALLED/ MALFUNCTIONED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #882698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 7000 MILES ON IT, IT HAS NEEDED 4 BRAKE JOBS (EVERY 7K -FRONT THEN REAR THEN FRONT THEN REAR) IN THE 28K THAT I'VE OWNED IT. THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE SO THE FRONT BRAKES WEAR OUT. I HAD IT PUT ON A RACK AND SOMEONE STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE REAR TIRES COULD BE TURNED EASILY. WITH STRONG PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL, THE REAR TIRES WERE HARD TO MOVE, BUT STILL COULD BE MOVED BY HAND. THE 2X THE REAR BRAKES WERE SERVICED, THE CYLINDERS HAD CRACKED AND LEAKED. A FRIEND HAS SUGGESTED THIS MEANS THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IS GOING INTO THE CYLINDERS BUT THEY WERE A 'BAD CASTING' AND THE PRESSURE ISN'T PUSHING THE PISTONS OUT, BUT EVENTUALLY CAUSES THEM TO CRACK. 09/18/00 A FLEXPLATE IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LESS THAN 6 WEEKS LATER, THE CAR WENT OUT OF GEAR AS I PULLED INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, DRIVE SHAFT, AND FRONT AXLE ON THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #740593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO PUT INTO PARK. NLM

NHTSA complaint #783940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON & O/D LIGHT FLASHES AFTER ALMOST EVERY 300 MILES SINCE RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE ORVR VALVES WAS SERVICED BY DEALER. O/D LIGHT FLASHES WOULD THEN FOLLOW ENGINE STALLING (AFTER DRIVEN 150 MILES) AND WOULD ONLY CRANK ENGINE BUT WONT START. ALSO AFTER ORVR WAS REPLACED, EVERY FULL TANK OF FUEL ( 12.7 GALS.) WOULD CAUSE HESITATION BUT WOULD GO AWAY AFTER DRIVEN FOR 8 MILES . ENGINE STALLING LUCKILY OCCURRED ONLY ON STREET ROADS BUT COULD POSE SERIOUS RISK IF IT WOULD HAPPEN ON FREEWAYS.

NHTSA complaint #738588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE IS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #784789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THE CAR KEPT BLOWING FUSES AND WOULD NOT START. AFTER 4 VISITS TO A KIA SERVICE CENTER IT WAS LEARNED THAT THE FUSE BOX HAD BEEN BUILT WRONG. KIA HAD A REBUILD KIT ON HAND FOR THIS PROBLEM AND CORRECTED IT, AS WELL AS REPLACEING A NUMBER OF SENSORS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT DAMAGED BY THIS PROBLEM. NEXT WAS THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WHOULD AND DOES SWITCH GEARS FOR NO REASON, JUMPING INTO HIGHER GEAR OR DOWNSHIFING INTO LOWER GEAR WITHOUT WARNING AND STAYING THERE UNTIL THE CAR IS BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE HALT. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN TRACED, KIA SERVICE TECHNICIANS CLAIMED TO HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE EXTENSIVELY BUT COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, DISPITE THE FACT THAT IT OCCURES FREQUENTLY FOR MYSELF AND MY WIFE. THE BRAKES STARTED ACTING FUNNEY AT AROUND 11,000 MILES AND UPON INSPECTION BY KIA PERSONELL WERE FOUND TO BE WORN EXCESSIVELY IN THE CENTER OF THE ROTORS, DISPITE TELLING ME THAT IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM KIA REFUSED TO REPAIR IT, SAYING THAT IT WAS A MAINTIANCE ISSUE, AND NOT A DEFECT. THE DOOR LATCHES FAILED ON A TRIP TO INDIANA AND THE DOORS HAD TO BE LOCKED OR THEY WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LATCH FAILED AT THE SAME TIME, FALLING OPEN AT ANY BUMP AND THE HANDLE WAS FALLING OFF, SO IT HAD TO BE LEFT OPEN THE ENTIRE TIME. THE WEATHER STRIPPING BEGAN FALLING OFF SHORTLY THEREAFTER CAUSEING WATER LEAKS INTO THE CAR, AND SOMETIMES PREVENTING THE DOORS FROM CLOSEING CORRECTLY. I HAVE ATTEMPTED ON NUMERIOUS OCCASIONS TO HAVE THESE ISSUE DELT WITH BY KIA MOTORS AND THEY HAVE FAID TO DO SO, BEYOND THE BARE MINIMUM. I HAVE EVEN BEEN ATTEMPTING TO RETURN THE CAR IN ACCORDIANCE WITH MICHIGAN'S `LEMON LAW' AND KIA'S ONLY RESPONSE IS TO ATTEMPT TO HALF-HARTEDLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT MY EXPENSE. DISPITE THE FACT THAT SOME OF THESE ISSUES COULD BE DANGERIOUS.

NHTSA complaint #724280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.