KIA Sephia headlight problems

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS COLLECTING INSIDE THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS NOT BUMPER-TO-BUMPER AND WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA complaint #10215224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DASHBOARD WARPED AND COMING UP AND TOUCHING WINDSHIELD. IT IS BREAKING OR BLOCKING THE VENT/DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM. THEREFORE THE WINDOWS BARELY DEFROST AND THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I KNOW OF TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DASHBOARD. ALSO "DOOR OPEN" LIGHT REMAINS ON AND DRAINS BATTERY.

NHTSA complaint #10202861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE HIGH BEAMS ARE NOT AIMED CORRECTLY. WHEN YOU TURN THE HIGH BEAMS ON THEY SHINE TO THE LEFT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND HAVE THEM ON THE RIGHT HALF OF THE LANE YOU ARE IN THE DARK BECAUSE THE AIM OF THE HIGH BEAMS ARE OFF. IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE IF ANYTHING OR ANYONE IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND IT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE LANE WHEN YOU GO AROUND A RIGHT CORNER OR CURVE. I HAVE TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM DUE TO HOW THE HEADLAMPS WERE DESIGNED AND INSTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10153385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

LIGHTS ARE BLINKING OFF AND ON CONSTANTLY WHEN I DRIVING AT NIGHT. I WENT TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN WILLIAMSBURG. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THAT IT WILL TAKE THEM A COUPLE OF DAYS. THAT I WOULD BE CHARGE BY THE HOUR. I WAS SO UPSET I LEFT THE DEALERSHIPS AND THEY CHARGE ME 350 DOLLARS AND MY CAR WAS NOT FIX. I WAS TOTALLY RIP OFF BY THEM. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT SAME DAY TO FIX MY AIR CONDITIONER DUE TO IT WAS SHUTTING OFF AND ON WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES. WHEN I USING THE GAS PEDAL MY AIR CONDITIONER WORKS AND THEN WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES THAT AIR CONDITIONER SHUT OFF. THE KIA DEALER DID NOT HAVE CLUE WHAT TO DO>>>>HELP!!IT ALSO DOING THIS WITH THE HEAT ALSO.....I NOT SURE ON THE EXACT DATE OF SERVICE. I WILL FIND RECEIPT AND BANK STATEMENTS TO GO ALONG WITH THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10136277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHT HOUSING HAS SEVERE DISCOLORATION AFTER ONLY A LITTLE OVER 4.5 YEARS OF USE. PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS. BOTH SIDE MARKERS RIGHT NEXT OF THE HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS ARE AS CLEAR AS GLASS, HOWEVER, THE HEADLIGHT HAS TURNED VERY DINGY, DULL YELLOW TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. UPON DISCUSSING IT WITH KIA, THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER REPORTED CASES OF THIS HAPPENING. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHERE I GET MY VEHICLE SERVICED AND HAD THE HEADLIGHTS LOOKED AT STATED LIKEWISE THAT KIA KNOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT IF THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY WHICH IT IS BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THERE WAS ONLY A 5/50 WARRANTY. THE PRICE OF THE PARTS NEARLY $400.00 WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED TO ME SINCE THERE IS A CLEAR DEFECT IN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING THAT IS CAUSING THE DISCOLORATION TO OCCUR IN SUCH SHORT TIME OF OWNERSHIP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT REQUIRES TO BE ADDRESSED BY KIA.

NHTSA complaint #10120008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

THE CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD REPEATEDLY. BATTERY LEAKED. BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE ENTIRE CAR AT 60,000 MILES. THE VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD HAVE POPPED UP AND BROKEN. NOW THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT BLOW THE AIR ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS VEHICLE WAS STORED IN A GARAGE. THE SEAMS ON THE SEAT COME UNDONE. THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER BROKE AND FLOPS IN THE DASH. THE SWITCH TO OVERRIDE THE TRANSMISSION LOCK IS BROKEN. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BROKE WHEN REPLACING THE STRUTS WHICH YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE BACK DASH TO GET TO. THE BOARD THAT IS UNDER THE CARPET IN THE TRUNK WARPED. THE CARPETS CAME UP FROM THE SIDES OF THE CAR. THE STORAGE BIN IN THE CENTER CONSOLE BROKE, TWICE. THE WIND SHIELD CHIPS AND ERRODES WHEN IN A CAR WASH. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A WINDSHIELD IN THIS BAD SHAPE BEFORE. THE BACK SEAT DOES NOT STAY DOWN. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE A BAD SEAL AND THERE IS WATER NOW IN THEM. THE RUBBER AROUND THE DOORS COMES OUT REPEATEDLY. GEAR SHIFTER IS CONTINUALLY STUCK. BRAKES TAKE TWICE AS LONG TO STOP MY CAR AS ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. I HAVE TO DRIVE 2 & 1/2 HOURS TO GET REPAIRS. THE GAS MILAGE IS CLOSER TO 24 MPG THEN THE 35 THAT WAS MARKED ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THERE ARE NOISES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT ARE LOUD AND UNPLEASANT. THERE IS A GROUND FAULT WIRE THAT IS BAD THEY WANT $75 AN HOUR MINIMUM OF 10 HOURS TO REPAIR IT. THE FUSE PANEL COVER BROKE. THE HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE ALLIGNED.

NHTSA complaint #10093527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD REPEATEDLY. BATTERY LEAKED. BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE ENTIRE CAR AT 60,000 MILES. THE VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD HAVE POPPED UP AND BROKEN. NOW THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT BLOW THE AIR ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS VEHICLE WAS STORED IN A GARAGE. THE SEAMS ON THE SEAT COME UNDONE. THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER BROKE AND FLOPS IN THE DASH. THE SWITCH TO OVERRIDE THE TRANSMISSION LOCK IS BROKEN. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BROKE WHEN REPLACING THE STRUTS WHICH YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE BACK DASH TO GET TO. THE BOARD THAT IS UNDER THE CARPET IN THE TRUNK WARPED. THE CARPETS CAME UP FROM THE SIDES OF THE CAR. THE STORAGE BIN IN THE CENTER CONSOLE BROKE, TWICE. THE WIND SHIELD CHIPS AND ERRODES WHEN IN A CAR WASH. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A WINDSHIELD IN THIS BAD SHAPE BEFORE. THE BACK SEAT DOES NOT STAY DOWN. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE A BAD SEAL AND THERE IS WATER NOW IN THEM. THE RUBBER AROUND THE DOORS COMES OUT REPEATEDLY. GEAR SHIFTER IS CONTINUALLY STUCK. BRAKES TAKE TWICE AS LONG TO STOP MY CAR AS ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. I HAVE TO DRIVE 2 & 1/2 HOURS TO GET REPAIRS. THE GAS MILAGE IS CLOSER TO 24 MPG THEN THE 35 THAT WAS MARKED ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THERE ARE NOISES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT ARE LOUD AND UNPLEASANT. THERE IS A GROUND FAULT WIRE THAT IS BAD THEY WANT $75 AN HOUR MINIMUM OF 10 HOURS TO REPAIR IT. THE FUSE PANEL COVER BROKE. THE HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE ALLIGNED.

NHTSA complaint #10093527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

WHILE BACKING OUT PASSENGER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO COME ON. CONSUMER REPLACED THE LIGHT FIXTURE WITH A FUSE AND BULB, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.

NHTSA complaint #10094893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

CONSUMER STATED THAT HEADLIGHTS CHANGED FROM BRIGHT TO DIM CONSTANTLY. FIRST THEY WERE BRIGHT, THEN THEY GRADUALLY BECAME DIM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD BY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE HEADLIGHTS NEVER STOPPED WORKING, THEY JUST DIMMED ENOUGH THAT IT WAS HARD TO VIEW IN FRONT WHILE DRIVING. *AK THERE WAS TROUBLE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY. THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP WOULD NOT UNLOCK. WHILE DRIVING, THE PROBLEM SEEMED WORSE AT A MODERATE STEADY SPEED. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10050495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

THE VEHICLE'S REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE IS A SHORT IN CIRCUIT. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10048503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

I BOUGHT A 1998 KIA SEPHIA IN FEB OF 2000 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 GEAR SHIFTERS AND THREE TRANSMISSIONS AND THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 2/3 OF THE TIME THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. MY SIGNAL LIGHT ON ONE SIDE HAS NEVER REALLY WORKED PROPERLY AND THE THE HEADLIGHT CONSTANTLY SHORTS OUT. OF COURSE NOW I'M OUT OF WARRANTY AND STILL EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS AND MANY MORE I DONT KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN BECAUSE ALL I'M EVER TOLD IS THAT'S A KIA FOR YOU. I STILL HAVE A LOAN OF THIS CAR AND DONT THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT ALMOST EVERY YEAR THE GEAR SHIFTER AND TRANS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD GREAT APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME BECAUSE I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS BECAUSE THE GEAR SHIFTER WONT COME OUT OF PARK AND WHEN IT DID THE TRANS RACED WHEN REACHING 2 GEAR. THERE IS NO WAY ANYONE SHOULD EXPERIENCE THIS MUCH TROUBLE WHETHER BEING A USED CAR OR NOT. PLEASE HELP ME.

NHTSA complaint #10045388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THERE IS WATER INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENT CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER FAIRS. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA complaint #8022499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS

CONSUMER STATES RECIEVED RECALL LETTER, CALLED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS FOR RECALL WERE NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER STATES ITS BEEN A MONTH AND PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. MR

NHTSA complaint #8020931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

CONSUMER STATES SHE CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS BLOWING OUT, THE DEALER TOOK THE LIGHT OUT AND ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM REOCCURED, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE SOCKET AND THAT THE DEALER HAD MESSED UP THE BULB SOCKET, PARTS OF THE SOCKET WERE BENT CAUSING THE 10 AMP FUSE TO BLOW, ONCE THE BRAKE LIGHT COVER WAS SNAPPED BACK ON, THE FUSE WOULD BLOW.

NHTSA complaint #564679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT

30 NOV 99-BLINKERS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE (MO=2,415);28 DEC 99-BLINKERS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE (MO=3,044);13 JAN 00-BLINKERS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE (MO=3,423);16 MAR 00-BLINKERS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE (MO=5,268);8 MAR 01-GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERMITTENTLY WON'T SHIFT(MO=26,471);20 NOV 01-GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERMITTENLY WON'T SHIFT(MO=33,853);30 MAY 02-GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERMITTENTLY WON'T SHIFT(MO=33,853);5 JUN 02-GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERMITTENLY WON'T SHIFT(MO=33,933);19 JUN 02-GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERMITTENLY WON'T SHIFT(MO=34,443);20 JUN 02-GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERMITTENLY WON'T SHIFT(MO=34, 536);GEAR SHIFT ASSY CHANGED 4 TIMES--COMPANY CLAIMS CAN'T VERIFY PROBLEM. HAVE TWO WITNESSES WITH SIGNATURES FROM PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WHO HAVE SIGNED STATEMENTS THAT THEY TRIED TO GET GEAR SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK WITHOUT SUCCESS. CAR GOES OUT OF BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IN LESS THAN 1500 MILES. POWER TRAIN WARRANTY STILL IN EFFECT. INFORMED COMPANY THAT REFUND IS DESIRED. FILED WITH BBB HERE IN CA AS REQUIRED. THIS PROBLEM PRESENTS A REAL DANGER TO MYSELF IF CAN'T GET CAR OUT OF PARK; CAN'T TRUST CAR.

NHTSA complaint #763537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS OUT, DEALER REPLACED BULB.

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

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

WHEN CONSUMER GOES TO USE TURN SIGNALS THEY WILL CLICK, BUT UNABLE TO SEE THEM ON THE DASH.

NHTSA complaint #563225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

LEFT REAR TURNING LIGHT EMITTING WHITE LIGHT ON A KIA SEPHIA SEEN IN TRAFFIC. THE CLEAR LENS AND A WHITE LIGHT BULB ARE THE CULPRITS. THIS ILLEGAL WHITE LIGHT IS FROM WHITE LIGHT BULBS MISTAKENLY USED VICE AMBER BULBS. THE ONLY WHITE LIGHT TO SHINE BEHIND A CAR IS BACK-UP LIGHTS. I DON'T KNOW IF THE OWNER OF THAT CAR REPLACED THE BULBS HIMSELF WITH THE WRONG BULBS OR IF ALL KIA'S ARE BEING PRODUCED THAT WAY. STRONGLY SUGGEST REPLACING ALL CLEAR TURN SIGNAL LENSES WITH AMBER ONES. YES, A RECALL. THAT WILL STOP ILLEGAL WHITE LIGHT FROM SHINING IN OTHER DRIVERS EYES ESPECIALLY AT NIGHTTIME. THANK YOU FOR A PROMPT RESPONSE.

NHTSA complaint #760894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #562457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

WHEN CONSUMER GOES TO USE TURN SIGNALS THEY WILL CLICK, BUT UNABLE TO SEE THEM ON THE DASH.

NHTSA complaint #563225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.