SERVICE BRAKES
NEARLY FATAL CAR ACCIDENT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE BREAKS DID NOT LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #10643737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
KIA Sephia brake problems
806 of the 3,080 complaints filed about the KIA Sephia are about the braking system — 26% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.
806
Complaints
26%
Share of all complaints
64
Crashes
4
Fires
Brakes complaints by model year
What owners said
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE SHOES ,BECAUSE OF A NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. WHEN THE BRAKE DRUM WAS REMOVED THE ON THE RIGHT SIDE THE BRAKE LINING FELL ON THE FLOOR. IT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE BRAKE SHOE. THE BRAKE DRUM SHOWED NO SIGN OF OVER HEATING SUCH AS IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS LEFT ON.(,CHECKING)ALL THE SHOES APPEAR TO BE FAILING. .THE VEHICLE HAS FRONT DISC AND HAS 64000 MILES ON IT . THE BRAKE SHOES APPEAR TO BE FACTORY. THE DEFECTIVE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10243942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 1998 KIA SEPHIA REAR BRAKE PAD FELL OFF FELL OFF THE SHOE. APPARENTLY THEY ARE HELD ON BY GLUE. IT WAS REPLACED BUT I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN IT RAINS A LOT , THEY LOCK UP WHEN PARKED. I DON'T DARE USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE THE BRAKES LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #10234729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
HAVE REPLACED PADS AND TURNED ROTORS MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE MAY 07. IN MAY 08 MY ABS SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING A WRECK! HAD PADS REPLACED IN JANUARY 08.
NHTSA complaint #10224335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SEPHIA. THE BRAKES MAKE A BANGING AND KNOCKING NOISE WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKES WERE CHANGED, BUT THE NOISE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. UPDATED
NHTSA complaint #10214017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FAX ON BEHALF OF, RE AN ACCIDENT WITH HIS 1999 KIA SEPHIA THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE BACK BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. *KB
NHTSA complaint #10208320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
2001 KIA Sephia
Livermore Falls, ME
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
IN AUGUST OF 2006 I HAD TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR BRAKES. COMING TO FIND OUT MY BRAKES WERE BAD, I NEEDED NEW ROTORS AND MY WHEEL CYLINDERS BLEW OUT. CAUSING ME TO LOSE MY BRAKES ONE DAY ON MY WAY TO WORK. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED IN TO HAVE IT FIXED. CALLED THE DEALER THEY SAID THERE IS NO COMPLAINTS ON THIS. HAD THE CAR FIXED.. TOOK THEM 6 HOURS TO BLEED THE BRAKES. TOOK THE CAR HOME, THE NEXT MORNING WENT TO LEAVE AND HAD NO BRAKES AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED BACK TO SHOP. HAD TO BLEED BRAKES AGAIN, THEN IN DECEMBER I WENT TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, I HAD NO BRAKES. GOT THE CAR TO THE SAME SHOP THAT FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME. COMING TO FIND OUT THE WHEEL CYLINDERS BLEW OUT AGAIN CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK ALL OVER MY BRAKES. THEY HAD TO REPLACE MY WHEEL CYLINDERS AND BRAKES . THEY WANTE TO CHARGE ME LABOR SINCE THEY SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. I REFUSED TO PAY THE LABOR. WE TOLD THEM NOT TO TOUCH THE CAR UNTIL WE CALLED THEM BACK. (I THINK THEY KNEW I WAS CALLING SOMEONE ELSE) THEY CALLED ME BACK NOT EVEN 5 MINUTES LATER AND THEY OFFERED TO EAT THE COST OF THE LABOR. SO IT WAS FIXED FOR NOTHING AND TO THIS DAY IT STILL ACTS UP. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS SINCE I READ MORE OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHERS.
NHTSA complaint #10182223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 KIA Sephia
Graham, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN STARTING THE CAR MOSTLY IN THE MORNING, THE BRAKE FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE PEDAL WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR (LEVEL WITH THE CLUTCH) BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10178913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 KIA Sephia
Seattle, WA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REGULAR DRIVING CAUSING BRAKES ON 2000 KIA SEPHIA TO REQUIRE CONSTANT MAINTENANCE ON THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. AT VARIED INTERVALS, THE BRAKES WOULD BEGIN TO START VIBRATING WHEN APPLIED, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS (60 MPH) AND GOING DOWN HILLS. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS BUT MANY CLOSE CALLS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD. THERE IS CLEARLY A FLAW IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM, THAT KIA OBVIOUSLY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ROTORS THIS WEEK BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SHAVED DOWN SO MUCH. FIVE TIMES IN 2 YEARS, AND I WON'T EVEN DRIVE THE CAR FOR MONTHS AT A TIME. MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THIS REASON.
NHTSA complaint #10159417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999 KIA Sephia
Cadyville, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1999 SEPHIA BRAKES, TRANSMISSION WERE REPLACED. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE EXHAUST SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TS THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINE THAT THERE WAS A SPLIT IN THE CENTERPIPE OF THE EXHAUST WHICH CAUSED IT TO BE LOUD. THE PART IS A PIECE OF FLEXIBLE HOUSING. THE PART COULD NOT BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY BUT THE CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE PIPE. THE PART WAS REPLACED BUT SPLIT AGAIN THREE MORE TIMES. *NM SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED AND GAS LEAKAGE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10159458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
THIS CAR HAS BEEN A CONSTANT REPAIR AND FINANCIAL PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS STARTING TWO WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. IT IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND CAN NOT BE KEPT MAINTAINED FOR SAFETY OR RELIABILITY IT WAS PURCHASED WITH 21000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND A MAJORITY OF REPAIRS HAS HAD TO BE FIXED. 4 STARTERS, IGNITION SWITCH, IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS (IGNITION STILL DOESN'T WORK), AIR BAG SENSOR, AIR BAG WIRING (AIR BAGS STILL DOES NOT WORK), ALTERNATOR, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DRIVE AXEL BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, RIGHT PASSENGER BALL JOINT FELL OFF THE CAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, MASTER CYLINDER AND REAR BRAKE CYLINDER WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED 3 TIMES, AND HAS LEFT ME AND MY CHILDREN STRANDED TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT. THE CAR IS STILL IN NEED OF MAJOR REPAIR. THE DRIVER REAR STABILIZER BUSHINGS NEED REPLACED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DRIVE AXEL NEEDS REPLACED, THE AIR BAGS STILL DO NOT WORK, THE IGNITION SWITCH STILL GETS STUCK AND WON'T TURN OVER, AND TWO WEEKS AGO A PISTON WAS THROWN THROUGH THE ENGINE AND CAUGHT THE CAR ON FIRE. THE CAR IS NOW PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY LEAVING ME STUCK WITH A CAR PAYMENT AND A CAR THAT IS NOT WORTH FIXING.
NHTSA complaint #10147054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
PURCHASED VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT AND NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE BRAKES WERE "MUSHY" AND STOPPING DISTANCE SEEMED UNUSUAL. INDIVIDUAL SELLING VEHICLE (NOT DEALER) STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO BE CERTAIN SINCED MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR VERY TOUCHY BRAKES AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT JUST BE AN ADJUSTMENT PERIOD. HOWEVER, I AM A CAREFUL AND PATIENT DRIVER AND IN 20 YEARS OF DRIVING HAVE HAD ONLY 4 SPEEDING TICKETS AND ZERO ACCIDENTS UNTIL I DROVE THIS CAR. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 9-10 DAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 15 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH ABOUT ONE CAR LENGTH BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE PICKUP IN FRONT OF ME. THE PICKUP DRIVER SLAMMED HER BRAKES AND I SLAMMED MINE ONLY TO HAVE THEM GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND PROVIDE NO RESISTANCE. I HIT THE PICKUP HARD ENOUGH TO SEVERELY BRUISE MY ARM ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAUSE SEVERAL DAYS OF BACK AND NECK PAIN. SOME OF THIS MIGHT HAVE ALSO BEEN AVOIDED IF THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED, BUT EVEN THOUGH THIS CRASH WAS A FULL FRONTAL ACCIDENT THEY DID NOT. AFTER I LEFT THE VEHICLE, ANOTHER SMALL CAR HIT THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND THE FRONT OF HERS. HER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IMMEDIATELY AND SHE SUSTAINED ZERO INJURIES. MY CAR HAD ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIRES WERE NEARLY NEW, SO IT APPEARS TO ME THAT I HAD BOTH BRAKE AND AIRBAG FAILURE RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF MY VEHICLE AND PERSONAL INJURY AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES OF THE OTHER TWO DRIVERS. SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT FINANCED, IT HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE ONLY. I HAVE NOTICED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE REGARDING BOTH BRAKE AND AIRBAG FAILURES IN THE KIA SEPHIA, YET I FOUND NO RECALLS FOR THESE ITEMS BY KIA.
NHTSA complaint #10133738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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.
1999 KIA Sephia
Wyoming, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
KIA SEPIA 1999 SOUND COMING FROM REAR BRAKES. *BF THREE OF THE FOUR BRAKE PADS HAD FALLEN OFF OF THE SHOES. THE PADS WERE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BUT THE GLUE THAT HELD THEM TO THE SHOES HAD DISINTEGRATED.
NHTSA complaint #10113557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
FRICTION MATERIAL ON REAR DRUM BRAKES SEPARATED FROM BRAKE SHOE, CAUSING RIGHT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO LOCK UP WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION. *AK REAPIRED PROBLEM WITH REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE SHOES, RETURNED OLD SHOES TO PEP BOYS IN EAST PROVIDENCE, RI FOR CORE BEFORE I THOUGHT ABOUT FILING COMPLAINT. CAR ONLY HAS 44,950 MILES ON IT AND SHOES HAS APPROX. 60% OF USEFUL LIFE LEFT
NHTSA complaint #10104170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TRANSMISSION ON VEHICLE WAS FIXED 7 TIMES. *MR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP, SHIFT HARD AND AT TIMES THE REVERSE GEAR WOULD NOT WORK. FRONT ROTORS WARPED.
NHTSA complaint #10073780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. ABS LIGHT, AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER STATED, THIS PROBLEM STARTED AFTER A "SERVICE CAMPAIGN " WAS DONE TO THE BATTERY CABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10103336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
REAR BRAKE SHOES CAME APART AND LODGED IN THE DRUM, LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL. *PH THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND LEFT REAR BRAKE DRUM. THEY ALSO RESURFACED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE DRUM. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE HE FEELS THIS FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR. *NM (NAR)
NHTSA complaint #10057167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1996 KIA Sephia
Washington, DC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.
NHTSA complaint #10099333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.