39 of the 3,080 complaints filed about the KIA Sephia are about the doors, latches and locks — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2000.
39
Complaints
1%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE LOCKS FREEZE UP IN COLD TEMPS, ENOUGH TO TWIST AND BEND MY KEY. EVEN TRYING TO FORCE IT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE DOES NOT WORK. I ALMOST BROKE MY THUMB TRYING TO FORCE IT OPEN UNLESS YOU PUT A HEATER IN THE CAR FOR A LONG TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10700871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2000 KIA SEPHIA DOOR LATCHES DO NOT WORK WHEN WEATHER IS FREEZING AND DASHBOARD CURLED UP NOT ALLOWING DEFROST OF FRONT WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #10380780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I JUST TAKE OVER A 2001 KIA SEPHIA FROM MY BROTHER IN-LAW AND HE WARNED ME NOT TO LOCK THE CAR IF I LOCK THE CAR DOORS I MIGHT NOT GET IN OR OUT SOME TIMES, TO DAY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR BUT I COULD NOT CLOSE THE DOOR, THEN I TRIED TO PRESS THE LOCK SWITCH AND SLAMMED THE DOOR, THE DOOR WAS CLOSED, AND I DROVE THE CAR TO A COFFEE SHOP I PARKED MY CAR THERE BUT I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR, LUCKY ME I CAN OPENED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND I GOT OUT FROM THERE. AFTER I LEFT THE COFFEE SHOP I HAD TO GET IN FROM THE SAME DOOR WHEN I GOT OUT, WHEN I GOT HOME I CAN OPEN THE DOOR AND THE DOOR LOCKS SEEMED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY, BUT AFTER I LEFT IT FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE WEATHER OUTSIDE WAS ABOUT -6 DEGREE, I WENT ONLINE CHECKED THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND SAME TYPE OF CAR THAT I HAD , I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE PRESSURED TO KIA LET THEM RECALL ALL OF THE MODEL WHICH HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TO CORRECT IT!
NHTSA complaint #10373825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SEPHIA. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 25 DEGREES NONE OF THE DOORS LATCHES FUNCTION PROPERLY AND ITS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41000. UPDATED 03/01/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPPED, THE DOOR LOCKS DID NOT LATCH. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS TO HOLD DOOR WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, THE DASH BOARD WAS FALLING APART. UPDATED 08/20/10.
NHTSA complaint #10300338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WHEN IT GETS COLD, ABOUT 20 DEGREES, THE FRONT DOORS WILL FREEZE OPEN. FOR INSTANCE, IN THE MORNING I WILL HAVE TO PULL ON THE DOOR HARD TO GET IT TO OPEN BECAUSE IT'S FROZEN AND THEN THE DOOR WILL STAY OPEN (THE LATCH WILL FREEZE) UNTIL IT GETS ABOVE 35 DEGREES. EVEN WITH THE HEAT GOING FOR OVER AN HOUR IT WILL NOT UNFREEZE. I HAVE TO HOLD THE DOOR CLOSED AS I DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10266203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
IN NORMALLY OPENING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE IN COLD WEATHER, THE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE BROKE BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR WAS BY ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPERATING THE DOOR USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM IF THE CAR NEEDS TO BE EXITED QUICKLY.
NHTSA complaint #10260897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER) DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. DOOR LATCH WILL NOT UNLOCK. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I HAD TO CUT A HOLE IN THE INSIDE DOOR PANEL TO ACCESS THE INTERIOR OF THE DOOR. THE LOCK MECHANISM WAS RUSTED DUE TO A POORLY DESIGNED WINDOW SEAL THAT DRAINS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE DOOR--RIGHT ONTO THE LOCK. THIS IS DANGEROUS-- MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON BULLETIN BOARDS ALL OVER THE NET. THERE IS A TSB (625894) THAT DEALS WITH LATCHES, BUT I HAVE NOT CHECKED IT YET WITH THE DEALER. I UNDERSTAND KIA HAS SOME COVER OR SOMETHING THAT SHIELDS THE LOCK. PERHAPS THE TSB IS FOR THE SHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #10208734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
I OWN KIA-SEPHIA-2000. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS UNDER 0 DEGREES THE DOORS FREEZE SO BADLY THAT I CANNOT SHUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OR ANY OTHER DOOR THAT I MIGHT OPEN AND THEN TRY TO CLOSE. MOST OFTEN,. AFTER I STARTED AND RAN THE HEAT AT THAT TIME THE DOOR MIGHT CLOSE SHUT. ONE EVENING IN JANUARY, I HAD TO DRIVE THE ENTIRE TIME , 27 MILES OR 45 MINUTES WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR UNABLE TO CLOSE. I WAS HOLDING IT CLOSED AS TIGHTLY AS I COULD. NO AMOUNT OF WD40 WOULD HELP THIS SITUATION. I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT GOES DOWN TO 40 BELOW, AND THAT IS NOT THE WIND CHILL FACTOR. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE A BLOCK HEATER WAS IMMEDIATELY ADDED TO IT FOR ANTICIPATION OF THE COLD WEATHER.
NHTSA complaint #10191005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH /FREEZES UP IN WINTER, AND THE DOOR CANNOT BE CLOSED. ONCE THE WEATHER WARMS UP, THE DOOR CLOSES.
NHTSA complaint #10148899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
1) AIR CONDITIONER HOSES DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT HOLD CHARGE 2) CAR RATTLES AND MAKES NOISE COMING FROM TRUNK AREA, TAKEN TO DEALER REPEATEDLY WITHOUT ANY IDEA OF HOW TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM 3) CAR WOULD LOOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND AT DANGEROUS TIMES, TOOK TO DEALER 3 TIMES BEFORE THE CAR FAILED COMPLETELY AND THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM 4) REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW STICKS AND RATTLES, TAKEN TO DEALER UN-REPAIRABLE 5) REAR DOOR LOOK DOES NOT WORK, TAKEN TO DEALER REPAIRED BUT NOW IT DOESN'T WORK YET AGAIN 6) ENGINE LIGHT ON, TOLD BY DEALER THE GAS CAP WASN'T TIGHT ENOUGH 7) POWER LOCKS OPEN AND CLOSE AT INTERVALS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR 8) ENGINE LIGHT BLINKING, NO IDEA WHAT PROBLEM IS THIS TIME CONTACTED KIA AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO FIELD REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS TOLD THAT KIA COULD DO NOTHING TO ASSIST OWNER IN FIXING OWNER. THIS CAR IS A MONEY PIT AND DO NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE TO BUY A KIA UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
NHTSA complaint #10146137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE DOORS ON MY KIA'S DON'T CLOSE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PERSON BUMP THE DOOR CLOSE FROM THE OUTSIDE. MY DOOR AND THE PASSENGER DOOR OPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I'M VERY FEARFUL OF DRIVING DURING IN THE WINTER, ESPECIALLY WITH MY KIDS.
NHTSA complaint #10137468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WHEN BELOW FREEZING, DOORS AND LOCKS CONSISTENTLY FREEZE, AND WILL NOT ALLOW ENTRY OR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY (DOORS WILL NOT CLOSE). THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY YEAR I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THIS PAST YEAR, THE KIA DEALER TRIED TO FIX, AND ONLY IMPROVED FOR A FEW DAYS (LUBRICATE/OIL ETC). USUALLY HAD TO "WARM UP" CAR FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO DEFROST LOCK JUST TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE DOORS (I TRIED TO NOT LOCK CAR ONCE WINTER BEGINS). THE LOCKS ARE FROZEN DAILY AND CANNOT LOCK OR UNLOCK UNTIL INTERIOR IS WARMED UP. NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO WINTER AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10090837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
IN FREEZING TEMPATURES DOOR LOCK FREEZE UP AND ARE UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUT. ALSO DOOR LATCH WILL FREEZE AS WELL CAUSING DOOR TO NOT LATCH PROPERLY UNTIL CAR HAS WARMED UP.
NHTSA complaint #10088168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE HOOD OPENED AND DENT THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER INDICATED FOR THE LAST PAST SIX MONTHS THE HOOD HASN'T BEEN OPENED. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10083291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
RIGHT FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. DOOR LATCH NOT UNLOCKING.
NHTSA complaint #10051436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LATCHED WILL FREEZE IN KIA, SEPHIA AND SPECTRA VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10011275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DRIVERS DOOR DID NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, HOWEVER IT OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10009151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
VEHICLES' MANUAL DOORS ARE INOPERATIVE. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HESITATED TO OPEN. AFTER CONSUMER ENTERED THE VEHICLE ALL FOUR DOORS UNLOCKED BUT THEY WILL NOT OPEN, CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN THEIR VEHICLE. A PASSER BI HAD TO PRY OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY MOTHER NATURE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH
NHTSA complaint #10002049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK PROPERLY CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. TS ALSO THE DOORS WILL NOT SHUT CLOSE WHEN WEATHER IS COLD.
NHTSA complaint #10001831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
CONSUMER STATES AT TIMES KEY UNLOCKS ALL DOORS AND OTHER TIMES ONLY UNLOCKS DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, DEALER FOUND THAT THE ROD WAS ADJUSTED TIGHTLY, LOCK SOLENOID WAS MOVED DOWN AND TIGHTEN.
NHTSA complaint #561836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.