FaultScore

KIA Sephia acceleration problems

39 of the 3,080 complaints filed about the KIA Sephia are about the throttle and cruise control — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.

39

Complaints

1%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year

1994 Sephia 4 10.3%
1995 Sephia 2 5.1%
1996 Sephia 5 12.8%
1997 Sephia 8 20.5%
1998 Sephia 6 15.4%

Median failure at 160,000 miles

1999 Sephia 7 17.9%
2000 Sephia 4 10.3%
2001 Sephia 3 7.7%

Median failure at 18,004 miles

What owners said

1998 KIA Sephia at 160,000 miles Lee's Summit, MO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO 50 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HE HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL EXCESSIVELY IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DRIVER ALSO STATED THAT HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM.

NHTSA complaint #10313889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 KIA Sephia at 18,008 miles West Point, MS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VECHICAL AT IDLE WENT INTO HIGH RPM AND LOSS OF BRAKES AND LASTED ABOUT 30 TO 45 SECONDS

NHTSA complaint #10005209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 KIA Sephia at 18,000 miles Rock Hill, SC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

THE VEHICLE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT THEIR FOOT HIT THE GAS PEDAL ALSO, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH

NHTSA complaint #10004258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 KIA Sephia Memphis, TN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

AT 40MPH WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR VEHICLE WOULD RATTLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #8011681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 KIA Sephia Lakewood, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE THROTTLE STUCK WHILE DRIVING .

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

1999 KIA Sephia Brentwood, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE WILL MAINTAIN A SPEED OF 35MPH EVEN WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SURGE UP TO 55MPH. DEALER CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #8008926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 KIA Sephia Waco, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER STATES WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE SPEED DECREASES INSTEAD OF INCREASING. REPLACED PARTS 4 TIMES. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. NLMVEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR WIRING HARNESS AND SENSOR FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS BURNT AND IT IS LEAKING FLUID AT THE SHIFT SHAFT (CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION), THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES DUE TO THE HOLD UNIT NOT BEING APPLIED.

NHTSA complaint #8008117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 KIA Sephia Park Falls, WI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE AT 55 MPH DECELERATED TO 30 MPH FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS, AND THEN SPED UP TO OVER 55 MPH BEFORE STALLING OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES ALREADY, AND THERE HAVE BEEN PARTS REPLACED,BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #8006805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 KIA Sephia Tucson, AR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN ROYAL SOLD US THE CAR NO INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO US THAT THE CAR HAS 5 PROBLEMS,WITH IT.ON THE WINDOW WAS A SIGN SAYING IT HAD CRUISE CONTROL IT DOESN'T.ALSO THE FINANCE COMPANY THAT IS THE HOLDER HAS BEEN REALLY UNPROFESSIONAL.I HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY 4MONTHS HAD INSURANCE THEY KEPT TELLING ME I DIDN'T,THEY SEND A MAN OUT TO CHECK FOR THE THIRD TIME.I WENT TO MY CAR TO GIVE HIM THE INFORMATION,HE CALLED THE OFFICE OF A.B.C. FINANCE TO LET THEM KNOW I HAD INSURANCE, STARTING JOKING WITH SOMEONE ON THE OTHER LINE SAYING I HAD A KNIFE TO HIS THROAT.THERE WAS TRUTH TO THAT LATTER HE RETURNED TO THE OFFICE WHERE HE HAD LEARNED THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO MY HOME. POLICE KNOCKED ON MY DOOR WITH GUNS DRAWED READY TO SHOOT. I WAS SITTING WITH MY DAUGHTER WHEN THEY TOLD US TO KEEP OUR HANDS UP,DON'T MOVE. I'M ON MEDICATION FOR DEPRESSION SO THAT DIDN'T HELP MATTERS AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #759401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 KIA Sephia Rochester, WA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE VEHICLE SURGES AT ALL SPEEDS. NLM

NHTSA complaint #559795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 KIA Sephia Philadelphia, PA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON MAR 10 2001 CONSUMER WAS READY TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC WITH FOOT ON BRAKE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE ACCELERATED ONCE BEFORE IN 1999, BUT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #883789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 KIA Sephia Irvington, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

INTERMITTENTLY, ENGINE WILL REV UP AND CANNOT GO OVER 20 MPH. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON. *AK THE CAUSE FOR CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS FOUND TO BE COMPUTERE FAILURE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL.

NHTSA complaint #882324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 KIA Sephia Baltimore, MD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING.CONSUMER WILL STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP ACCELERATION, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP, AND CONCERNED ABOUT FACT OF AN ACCIDENT.*AK TRANSMISSION FAILED. BRAKES MAKE NOISE DUE TO ROTOR FAILURE. WIPER BLADES FAILED. BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #879923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 KIA Sephia Beinbridge Island, WA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER HAD BRAKES/ROTORS AND IDLE CONTROL VALVE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #878115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 KIA Sephia Coral Springs, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ENGINE STICKING AND REVVING TO A HIGH RPM OR BEHAVES AS IF IT GOING TO STALL.

NHTSA complaint #878147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 KIA Sephia Billings, MT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WOULD BE DRIVING AND VEHICLE STALLED OUT. THEN, WOULD RESTART ON ITS OWN. CRUISE CONTROL REMAINED UNRELIABLE. BRAKES WOULD NOT RELEASE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN IT WAS ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC REPLACED ELECTRICAL WIRES. ALSO, EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD HOLES IN IT & WAS LEAKING, AND AIR CONDITIONER WAS REPLACED DUE TO COMPRESSOR SEIZING UP.

NHTSA complaint #876924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 KIA Sephia Pocono Summit, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES OFF AND LOSES POWER. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK AFTER THE 7TH TIME DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE SENSOR AND THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE.

NHTSA complaint #874173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 KIA Sephia Danville, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ENGINE SURGED IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. *AK DEALER STATES SURGING IS A DESIGN FLAW, CANNOT BE CORRECTED.

NHTSA complaint #867808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 KIA Sephia Whittier, CA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON PROCEEDING TO STOP APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. ALSO, VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LUGGED FORWARD. ALSO, FRONTAL SAFETY BELTS DO NOT RETRACT, CAUSING THE BELT TO BE VERY LOOSE . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #864875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 KIA Sephia Joliet, IL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND UPON DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED NINE TIMES, AND PROBLEM RETURNED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #861226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other KIA Sephia problems