164 of the
3,080 complaints filed about the KIA Sephia
are about the fuel system —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1998.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V317000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR THE RECALL IN 1999. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HANSON KIA (2300 CARRIAGE LOOP SW, OLYMPIA, WA 98502, (360) 943-2120) AND WAS INFORMED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
NHTSA complaint #11281090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FILLED TANK & HAD OVERFLOWING SPILLAGE DOWN SIDE OF CAR (INDICATED VERY FULL TANK) FINISHED CLEANING UP EXCESS FUEL & TURN CAR ON BUT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD ONLY READ 2/3 FULL, THEN NEEDLE ROSE TO 3/4- I JUST GOT THE CAR ON MONDAY 11/7/16 & THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW, ONCE WHEN LEAVING LA AFTER BUYING/TRANSFERRING TITLE & AGAIN TODAY. DECIDED TO GOOGLE THE 'SYMPTOM' & I'M SHOCKED THAT A 17-YEAR-OLD CAR FROM 1999 HAD RECALL RECORDS BUT WAS NEVER FIXED!!! PREVIOUS OWNER(S) WAS OLDER COUPLE THAT HAD BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALERSHIP & OWNED IT SINCE 2004. THE 17-YEAR-OLD '99 SEPHIA HAS ONLY 75K MILES ON ODOMETER AS OF NOVEMBER 2016 HOWEVER WAS NEVER REPAIRED UNDER RECALL ORDER.
NHTSA complaint #10925279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR GIVES OFF A VERY BAD GAS ODOR. EVERYTIME I PUT GAS IN THE CAR, THE GAS INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD GOES DOWN AND CAR CUTS OFF ON ME WHEN IM DOING 20 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10415436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUALLY OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR FROM THE BLOWER VENTS WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED A LEAK IN THE FUEL DAMPENER AT THE CONNECTION WITH THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10377912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V317000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). HE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY FAILURES AT THE TIME, BUT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTORS. IN 2003 (THREE YEARS LATER), THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A NO START CONDITION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED IN 2006. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR WAS CORRODED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE RECALL REPAIR IS NOT THE CORRECT REMEDY BECAUSE THE CORROSION OCCURS EVERY THREE YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 08/06/09.
NHTSA complaint #10277113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD PERIODICALLY FAIL TO START. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 99V317000 AND 99V318000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) AND SHOWED THE CONTACT A WIRE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT WAS NOT INSULATED AND HAD BEEN OVERHEATING. ONCE THE WIRE WAS REMOVED, THE FAILURE SEEM TO BE RESOLVED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED ALL THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS AND RE-SAUTERED EVERYTHING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ALREADY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,250 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,083.
NHTSA complaint #10261658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
THE VEHICLE CUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. ALSO, THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK THE DASH BOARD LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10090326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM JUST A LITTLE DISGUSTED BY THE FACT THAT I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VEHICLE SO THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT REPAIRS FOR AWHILE. I BOUGHT A 2001 KIA SEPHIA IN AUGUST OF 2001 AND IT IS NOW JULY 2004 AND MY FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED TWICE NOW. I HAVE HAD VEHICLES IN THE PAST THAT HAVE HAD WELL OVER 100,000 MILES BEFORE EVER HAVING TO REPLACE A FUEL PUMP. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD LAST MORE THAT A YEAR OR YEAR AND A HALF. I ALSO HAD THE SHIFTER REPLACED DUE TO A DEFECT. THIS IS A PART I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPACE ON A VEHICLE EVEN WITH 300,000 MILES!! THE FUEL PUMP IS MY BIGGEST COMPAINT HOWEVER. I AM JUST OVER THE 60, 000 MILE WARRANTY AND THE FUEL PUMP IS GOING OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACE AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ONLY A YEAR. THE MAJORITY OF THE MILES ON THE CAR ARE HIGHWAY MILES AS I HAVE APPROX. A 70 MILE COMMUTE PER DAY. I CAN'T BELIEVE I WOULD BE THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. ALL MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN DONE ON SCHEDULE. I ONLY USE GAS FROM EITHER A TEXACO OR CHEVRON STATION...NO CHEAP GAS SO THIS IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO SWALLOW. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SIMILAR COMPAINTS. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10081302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A KIA IN MARCH 02' I USED THE CAR FOR LONG TRIPS THE FIRST YEAR I HAD OWNED THE CAR AND I HAD NO FAULTS IN JAN.- FEB 03' THE CAR BEGAN TO SHIFT IN TO NUMEROUS GEARS AND THEN STALL. I WAS THEN DEPLOYED TO IRAQ. I LEFT THE CAR WITH A GOOD FRIEND. WHEN I CAME BACK HE INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. FRIEND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP.FRIEND THEN REPLACED FUEL PUMP AGAIN WHEN CAR WOULDN'T START. FRIEND LEFT THE CAR ALONE,WHEN IT DIDN'T START, UNTIL I HAD RETURNED FROM IRAQ. I CAME BACK AND TOOK THE CAR TO MIDAS, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE DEALER DIDN'T HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. MIDAS THEN SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I HAD IT REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME. CAR RAN FOR A DAY THEN DIED. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MIDAS THEY SAID IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. I HAD THAT REPLACED. CAR STILL DIDN'T START. SO MIDAS SAID THREE WEEKS LATER THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL MODULE. THE CAR THEN WORKED FOR ABOUT A MONTH THEN WOULDN'T START. TOOK CAR TO SEVERAL SHOPS ALL SAID IT WAS THE PUMP. I THEN HAD A MECHANIC FROM MY UNIT CHECK IT OUT. HE SAID IT WAS WITHIN THE WIRING TO THE FUEL PUMP STILL HASN'T FIGURED IT OUT. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND THAT IT HAS A FAULTY CONNECTION WITH THE CONNECTING CABLES NEAR THE FUEL PUMP UNDER THE BACK SEAT. THE CONNECTORS HAVE BEEN MISS FIRING AND HAS BURNT A HOLE IN MY BACK SEAT. I'VE TRIED TO GO TO THE DEALER BUT THEY INSIST ON DOING A DIANOSTIC AND CHARGE ME $60.00 JUST TO TELL ME THE SAME THING THAT I ALREADY KNOW. THEY ALSO SAID THEY CAN'T ORDER THE PART UNTIL A DIANOSTIC WAS DONE. I'VE ALSO HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK OVER FILLING AND NOT READING FULL ON THE GAUGE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES FOUR TIMES IN 18 MONTHS.THE POWER STEERING ALSO GOES OUT QUITE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE ALSO HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT OF THE CAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT WEAR AND TEAR OCCURS ON A VEHICLE BUT THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IAM DISSAPONTED IN KIA
NHTSA complaint #10051293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A KIA IN MARCH 02' I USED THE CAR FOR LONG TRIPS THE FIRST YEAR I HAD OWNED THE CAR AND I HAD NO FAULTS IN JAN.- FEB 03' THE CAR BEGAN TO SHIFT IN TO NUMEROUS GEARS AND THEN STALL. I WAS THEN DEPLOYED TO IRAQ. I LEFT THE CAR WITH A GOOD FRIEND. WHEN I CAME BACK HE INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. FRIEND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP.FRIEND THEN REPLACED FUEL PUMP AGAIN WHEN CAR WOULDN'T START. FRIEND LEFT THE CAR ALONE,WHEN IT DIDN'T START, UNTIL I HAD RETURNED FROM IRAQ. I CAME BACK AND TOOK THE CAR TO MIDAS, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE DEALER DIDN'T HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. MIDAS THEN SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I HAD IT REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME. CAR RAN FOR A DAY THEN DIED. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MIDAS THEY SAID IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. I HAD THAT REPLACED. CAR STILL DIDN'T START. SO MIDAS SAID THREE WEEKS LATER THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL MODULE. THE CAR THEN WORKED FOR ABOUT A MONTH THEN WOULDN'T START. TOOK CAR TO SEVERAL SHOPS ALL SAID IT WAS THE PUMP. I THEN HAD A MECHANIC FROM MY UNIT CHECK IT OUT. HE SAID IT WAS WITHIN THE WIRING TO THE FUEL PUMP STILL HASN'T FIGURED IT OUT. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND THAT IT HAS A FAULTY CONNECTION WITH THE CONNECTING CABLES NEAR THE FUEL PUMP UNDER THE BACK SEAT. THE CONNECTORS HAVE BEEN MISS FIRING AND HAS BURNT A HOLE IN MY BACK SEAT. I'VE TRIED TO GO TO THE DEALER BUT THEY INSIST ON DOING A DIANOSTIC AND CHARGE ME $60.00 JUST TO TELL ME THE SAME THING THAT I ALREADY KNOW. THEY ALSO SAID THEY CAN'T ORDER THE PART UNTIL A DIANOSTIC WAS DONE. I'VE ALSO HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK OVER FILLING AND NOT READING FULL ON THE GAUGE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES FOUR TIMES IN 18 MONTHS.THE POWER STEERING ALSO GOES OUT QUITE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE ALSO HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT OF THE CAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT WEAR AND TEAR OCCURS ON A VEHICLE BUT THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IAM DISSAPONTED IN KIA
NHTSA complaint #10051293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PAID TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED BUT I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO. WHEN REFUELING MY 1998 KIA SEPHIA, THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF GASOLINE THAT WOULD SPILL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE FUEL TANK--WHETHER I COMPLETELY FILL THE VEHICLE OR SIMPLY PUT A GALLON OR TWO IN THE TANK. I COULD NOT PUT MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THAT THE GAS WATER HEATER WOULD CAUSE AN EXPLOSION--THE LINGERING FUMES WOULD EXIST FOR A DAY OR TWO AFTER EACH VISIT TO THE GAS PUMP.
NHTSA complaint #10043394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SPIT BACK FROM FILLER SPOUT: WHEN TRYING TO ADD FUEL, THE FUEL SPITS BACK OUT AT YOU. IT'S NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT, BUT ENOUGH TO SOAK YOUR CLOTHING, THE SIDE OF YOUR CAR, ETC. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS BEING SHUNTED BY KIA CORP. ON THIS VEHICLE, THE RECALLED VALVE WAS REPLACED, THEN REPLACED AGAIN . THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE SPIT BACK PROBLEM. I CALLED KIA DIRECTLY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT TO A KIA DEALER. I TOLD THEM THAT WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE ON THIS SITE AND MOST LIKELY, MANY OTHERS, THAT THEY MUST KNOW. THEY SAID NO, BRING IT TO A DEALER. THEY ALSO TOLD ME TO LET THEM KNOW WHEN IT WOULD BE THERE AND THEY WOULD CALL THE DEALER TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS A MONETARY SET UP IN MY OPINION.... I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEN THE DEALER CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THE CAR NEEDED A GAS TANK, I ASKED THEM WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE ORIGINAL ONE. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS FUNNY THAT KIA CALLED THEM FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND TOLD THEM THAT IT NEEDED A GAS TANK. THERE IS A VALVE THAT IS MOST LIKELY TO MALFUNCTION AND THAT THERE IS NO REPAIR OTHER THAN TO REPLACE IT. A BAD VALVE DOES MAKE SENSE AND ALSO THE WAY KIA INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDNT KNOW , YET THEY TOLD THE DEALER THE FIX , AND ALSO, I GOT CHARGED $ 95.00 FOR 1 HOUR LABOR. THEY DID NOTHING TO THE CAR, JUST ANSWERED THE PHONE. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED MORE AGGRESSIVELY CAUSE WITH THE PROBLEM OF STATIC ELECTRICITY AND FUEL ALL OVER THE CAR AND YOUR CLOTHING, THERE COULD BE SEVERE PROBLEMS. BEWARE OF KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE.
NHTSA complaint #10043380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. WINDSHIELD SEPARATED FROM FRAME, MOLDING FELL OFF 4 TIMES DURING FIRST 4 MONTHS OF PURCHASE ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE. BATTERY REPLACED AFTER ONLY HAVING VEHICLE 2 MONTHS. AIR CONDITION (A/C) FUSE BLEW TWICE FAN FUSE BLEW ONCE CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. BACK DOORS STICK SHUT. BACK DOORS HINGES RUSTED AND BENT CAUSING SQUEAKING AND NOT COMPLETELY TO SHUT. TRANS SHIFTS HARD AND SOMETIMES STICKS. ENGINE LIGHT AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKED TRANS WAS SHIFTED BY ITSELF. HAD TRANS FLUSHED SEEMS TO BE OK. CAR SHAKES AT HIGH SPEEDS. TAPE PLAYER MAKES FUNNY NOISES IF USED FOR LONG TIME.GAS MILEAGE HAS BEEN POOR SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED. MOLDING TURNED WHITE. CAR HAS HAD FUEL FILTER REPLACED TWICE. FUEL SENSOR IN TANK REPLACED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10042942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. WINDSHIELD SEPARATED FROM FRAME, MOLDING FELL OFF 4 TIMES DURING FIRST 4 MONTHS OF PURCHASE ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE. BATTERY REPLACED AFTER ONLY HAVING VEHICLE 2 MONTHS. AIR CONDITION (A/C) FUSE BLEW TWICE FAN FUSE BLEW ONCE CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. BACK DOORS STICK SHUT. BACK DOORS HINGES RUSTED AND BENT CAUSING SQUEAKING AND NOT COMPLETELY TO SHUT. TRANS SHIFTS HARD AND SOMETIMES STICKS. ENGINE LIGHT AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKED TRANS WAS SHIFTED BY ITSELF. HAD TRANS FLUSHED SEEMS TO BE OK. CAR SHAKES AT HIGH SPEEDS. TAPE PLAYER MAKES FUNNY NOISES IF USED FOR LONG TIME.GAS MILEAGE HAS BEEN POOR SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED. MOLDING TURNED WHITE. CAR HAS HAD FUEL FILTER REPLACED TWICE. FUEL SENSOR IN TANK REPLACED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10042942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DEALER REPLACED IN THE LAST PAST THREE MONTHS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: IGNITION COIL/FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM TWICE/WIRING HARNESS, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HOWEVER, PROBLEMS STILL RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10042366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.