2001 KIA Sephia transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

I AM COMPLAINING BECAUSE MY GEAR SHIFT WON'T SHIFT. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, IT SAYS IF THIS HAPPENS TO REMOVE THE SMALL CAP ON THE GEAR SHIFT BOX AND PUT A SCREW DRIVER IN THE HOLE TO MANUALLY SHIFT, WHICH I HAVE HAD TO DO FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. IF THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND PLACED A BACK-UP PLAN IN THE MANUAL, WHY DIDN'T THEY FIX IT TO BEGAN WITH? IT WOULD COST A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO DO THIS? I THINK IT IS KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE MY GEAR SHIFT CABLE. LIKE I SAID, IT IS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO USE A SCREW DRIVER IF THE GEAR SHIFT FAILS. UPDATED 04/21/11

NHTSA complaint #10396329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. THEN ANOTHER DAY THE CAR DIED GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD, AND THEN I GOT IT STARTED BACK UP ,AND WAS GOING HOME AND THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING AGAIN. WHEN I GOT IT RUNNING AGAIN I TOOK IT HOME, AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. I BOUGHT IT AT A USED CAR DEALER AND IT ONLY HAD 37,000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT BOUGHT IT. IT IS NOT QUITE 93,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND I AM STILL HAVING TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES.THE DYA IT QUIT RUNNING TWICE WITH ME IS DEC. 21 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME.I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC. SO I JUST PARKED IT IN MY BACKYARD.

NHTSA complaint #10117986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CONTROL MODULE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED ONCE AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10111223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

BEFORE 40,000 MILES, HAD FUEL PUMP CHANGED 2 TIMES, STARTER CHANGED 2 TIMES, NEW TRANSMISSION, IGNITION CONTROL MODULE ONCE, DOORS REPLACED DUE TO DEFECT, NEW PAINT JOB DUE TO TRASH UNDER ORIGINAL PAINT JOB, ALL HUB CAPS AND TRIM WERE REPLACED DUE TO FADING AT 10,000 MILES (WHICH FADED AGAIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER), AC BLOWER RESISTOR MOTOR REPLACED, ALL MIRRORS WERE REPLACED, ELECTRICAL SHORT IN DOME LIGHT, & IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCT 2001, AND WAS PUT IN SHOP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JAN. 2002 AND HAS BEEN THERE 55 DAYS SINCE. I HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. SORRY, BUT THIS CAR IS JUNK. AND I HATE TO HAVE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE BUYING MY FIRST NEW VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10088107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE HAD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THE GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT STAY IN PARK. WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING IT OFF VEHICLE ROLLED INTO REVERSE. CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING BACK. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER MAINTAINED THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10081877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY CAR HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES. I HAVE NEVER BEEN GIVEN A LOANER TO USE WHILE MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT WHEN YOU WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10067652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES. *AK CONSUMER JUST HAD A SIXTH REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10051866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSION BROKE. DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION ONE TIME. ONCE AGAIN TRANSMISSION BROKE, AND VEHICLE WAS OUT WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10026828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSION BROKE. DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION ONE TIME. ONCE AGAIN TRANSMISSION BROKE, AND VEHICLE WAS OUT WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10026828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

-I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS 2001 KIA SEPHIA LS 4 DOOR. HERE IS MY COMPLAINT.THE INSTRUCTION SIMPLY STATED "TO SHIFT FROM PARK PRESS BRAKE PEDAL". THE BUTTON ,LOCATED IN THE TOP LEFT SIDE OF THE HANDLE,THAT HAS TO BE PRESSED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY IN. SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASED, EVERYDAY WHEN PUTTING GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE I HAD TO WAIT 30 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE THE KNOB CAN BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY IN. I THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION UNTIL TODAY (1 JUNE 03). THE BUTTON WAS COMPLETELY PARALIZED. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE CLOSED ON SUNDAYS. TOMORROW (MONDAY) I WILL REPORT THE PROBLEM TO KIA. I THINK ALL 2001 KIA SEPHIA WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MUST BE RECALLED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONING THAT MY CAR HAD.

NHTSA complaint #10020868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ON ME TWICE. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 2 YEARS OLD. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10018677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY,.GEARS HAVE BECOME HARDER TO CHANGE, AND WHEN DRIVING, TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP AT TIMES. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8015794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

BOUGHT NEW CAR. SEVERAL ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. INSIDE DOOR LOCKS (REPAIRED 2 TIMES). HORN MALFUNCTION (REPAIRED 2 TIMES). SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, AND COIL (REPLACED 1 TIME). REAR DEFROST MALFUNCTION (REPAIRED 1 TIME.) AIR FILTER COVER SCREWS AND HOLES STRIPPED OUT (REPLACED 1 TIME). AIR CONDITIONER FAN-SCRAPING NOISE (NEVER REPAIRED). OUTSIDE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTION (CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT). STICK SHIFT WAS "JUMPING AROUND"-REAR MOTOR MOUNT WAS BAD (REPLACED 1 TIME). KNOCK SENSOR MALFUNCTION (REPLACED 1 TIME). DASH DIALS NOT WORKING (REPLACED FUSE 1 TIME). PROBLEMS STARTED DAY AFTER I PURCHASED CAR-SHOULD HAVE HEEDED THE OBVIOUS WARNING! DO NOT BUY KIA!

NHTSA complaint #764172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANY POWER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO HAS REPLACED WIRE HARNESS/ 2 COMPUTER CHIPS, AND TRANSMISSION TWICE. VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP 7/3/02, AND BROKE DOWN AGAIN. CONSUMER HAS TO HAVE PEDAL FLOORED FOR VEHICLE TO MOVE.

NHTSA complaint #8013960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING CONSTANTLY THE SHIFT LOCKS AND 3-35 MINUTES VEHICLE WILL BE OUT OF POWER.

NHTSA complaint #566019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE THERE IS A CLUNKING AND RUMBLING SOUND. WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPING OR STANDING STILL IT MAKES A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE. WHEN ENTERING HIGHWAY VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE OVER 50 MPH, GAS PEDAL HAS TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE.

NHTSA complaint #8005839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. I MADE SURE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, TURNED OFF AND I REMOVED THE KEY. I WENT INSIDE AND AN HOUR LATER I WAS INFORMED BY MY UNCLE THAT MY CAR WAS SITTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN WE WENT OUTSIDE MY CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL AND HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED BACK UP THE DRIVEWAY I TRIED TO TAKE THE KEY OUT AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND TRIED TO REMOVE THE KEY, IT AGAIN WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO REMOVE THE KEY. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND REMOVED THE KEY. AFTER REMOVING THE KEY, I TRIED TO FORCE THE GEAR INTO REVERSE AND INTO NEUTRAL, IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TOO. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND PULLED ON THE GEAR TO GET IT TO MOVE AND IT WOULD NOT. MY FATHER, AND INSURANCE AGENT, HAD INFORMED ME THAT A WHILE BACK THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN SOME FORD VEHICLE'S. THE RESULT OF THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE THROWING THEMSELVES INTO REVERSE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MECHANICS AND THEY SAY THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A VEHICLE WITH A TRANSMISSION DEFECT TO THROW THEMSELVES INTO NEUTRAL, BUT WHEN I CALLED AROUND TO DIFFERENT KIA DEALERS, THEY REFUSE TO BELIEVE ME AND TELL ME THAT IT WAS HUMAN ERROR. THERE IS NO WAY THAT I COULD HAVE REMOVED THE KEY IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. I AM AFFRAID THAT A CHILD MAY BE PLAYING BEHIND MY CAR, OR AN INDIVIDUAL MAY BE HARMED IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN AGAIN, SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE LOOK INTO IT, AND LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE THAT I CAN DO BESIDES SET MY PARKING BREAK. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #756045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE FIRST DAY DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I DROVE APPROX. 3 MILES AND THE "ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE "OVERDRIVE-OFF" LIGHT KEPT FLASHING OFF AND ON. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS A DEFECTIVE SHIFT LEVER BUSHING AND THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS TO REPLACE THE PART. A WEEK LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT AND O/D LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM, SO THEY CALLED THE KIA MANAUFACTURING PLANT AND THE FACTORY SAID THEY HAVE HAD OVER 2,000 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THERES A FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND IT'S NOT DETRIMENTAL TO THE ENGINE, BUT THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE RIGHT PART TO SEND OUT TO THE DEALERSHIPS TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM. WHETHER THIS IS ACCURATE OR NOT, I WAS ONLTY TAKING THE SERVICE MANAGERS WORD FOR IT.

NHTSA complaint #732037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.