293 of the
3,080 complaints filed about the KIA Sephia
are about the transmission —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
293
Complaints
10%
Share of all complaints
10
Crashes
7
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2000 Kia Sephia. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart after being jumpstarted. The contact continued to drive; however, the failure recurred 5 times while driving and depressing the brake pedal or the accelerator pedal. After each failure, the vehicle was able to be restarted when jumpstarted. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys and diagnosed; however, no fault code was retrieved. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #11459275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM COMPLAINING BECAUSE MY GEAR SHIFT WON'T SHIFT. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, IT SAYS IF THIS HAPPENS TO REMOVE THE SMALL CAP ON THE GEAR SHIFT BOX AND PUT A SCREW DRIVER IN THE HOLE TO MANUALLY SHIFT, WHICH I HAVE HAD TO DO FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. IF THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND PLACED A BACK-UP PLAN IN THE MANUAL, WHY DIDN'T THEY FIX IT TO BEGAN WITH? IT WOULD COST A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO DO THIS? I THINK IT IS KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE MY GEAR SHIFT CABLE. LIKE I SAID, IT IS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO USE A SCREW DRIVER IF THE GEAR SHIFT FAILS. UPDATED 04/21/11
NHTSA complaint #10396329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
I NOTICED A CLUNKING SOUND IN MY FRONT END OF MY 1997 KIA SEPHIA. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW AXLE SHAFTS ON BOTH SIDES. THE DEALER INFORMED ME HE WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PARTS OVERNIGHT AND THAT HE DID NOT WANT ME TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE AXLE SHAFTS ARE CRUMBLING AND HE HAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. HE SAID YOU DON'T SEE THAT IN KIA VEHICLES. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BUT HAD I WAITED THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND I HAVE ASKED THEM TO HOLD ON TO THE AXLE SHAFTS WHEN THEY ARE REMOVED.
NHTSA complaint #10149273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE PREVIOUS FEW MONTHS, PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, I NOTICED THAT THE 2000 KIA SEPHIA WITH 80000 MILES BEGAN TO HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE SHIFTER. IT BECAME INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. IT CONTINUALLY FELT LIKE THE SHIFTER WAS STUCK. I ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED VIA FLATBED BECAUSE THE CAR REFUSED TO START. AFTER GETTING IT TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED, HOWEVER, BEING THE CAR ONLY HAD 83000 MILES I SOUGHT A SECOND OPINION. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM TO ONE OF THE MECHANICS (WHO WILL NOT BE NAMED), I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL KIA. THAT THE SEAL IS FAULTY IN THE TRANSMISSION CASING AND AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME DIRT AND/OR WATER LEAKS INTO THE LINKAGE CAUSING IT TO NOT SHIFT. THE WAY TO CORRECT IS TO EITHER REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OR TO HAVE THE LINKAGE REDONE AND RE-LUBRICATED FOR PROPER OPERATION. A THIRD OPINION REVEALED THE SAME INFORMATION. A KILL SWITCH DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START UNLESS THE CAR IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. SO ONCE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS MANUALLY SHIFTED INTO PARK THE CAR STARTED IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS INDICATED THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON AND WILL MORE THAN LIKELY RE-OCCUR BUT THAT THE "TREATMENT" SHOULD HOLD FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. AFTER $485.00 IN REPAIRS NOT INCLUDING THE TOW THE TRANSMISSION IS BEGINNING TO ACT UP AGAIN. I DON'T WANT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMPLAINT IS LODGED AND URGE THAT TRANSMISSION ISSUE RECORDS BE SEIZED BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY COMMON KNOWLEDGE THING AMONG MECHANICS THAT THIS HAPPENS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL KIA SEPHIA. THE SEALS HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND THE LINKAGE PROPERLY LUBRICATED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, READING THE KIA WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A NON-SERVICEABLE AREA AND THE DEALER IS SUPPOSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF $1800.00 PLUS LABOR AND TAXES.
NHTSA complaint #10146130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
(1)CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD STICK NEAR FLOOR, WOULD'NT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION. (2)WITH CLUTCH PEDAL DEPRESSED TO FLOOR WHILE AT A LONG LIGHT, VEHICLE BEGINS TO CREEP FORWARD, NO FURTHER PEDAL TRAVEL TO DISENGAGE AVAILABLE. (3)NOTHING YET.
NHTSA complaint #10122396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. THEN ANOTHER DAY THE CAR DIED GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD, AND THEN I GOT IT STARTED BACK UP ,AND WAS GOING HOME AND THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING AGAIN. WHEN I GOT IT RUNNING AGAIN I TOOK IT HOME, AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. I BOUGHT IT AT A USED CAR DEALER AND IT ONLY HAD 37,000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT BOUGHT IT. IT IS NOT QUITE 93,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND I AM STILL HAVING TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES.THE DYA IT QUIT RUNNING TWICE WITH ME IS DEC. 21 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME.I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC. SO I JUST PARKED IT IN MY BACKYARD.
NHTSA complaint #10117986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE CA FROM THE FROM THE VEHICLE. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION.
NHTSA complaint #10117284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CONTROL MODULE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED ONCE AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10111223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH EXCESSIVE SPEED. THE DRIVER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10097314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
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.
WHILE SHIFTING TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN, AND THE SHIFT LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE SHIFT LEVER IN ORDER TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10089958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BEFORE 40,000 MILES, HAD FUEL PUMP CHANGED 2 TIMES, STARTER CHANGED 2 TIMES, NEW TRANSMISSION, IGNITION CONTROL MODULE ONCE, DOORS REPLACED DUE TO DEFECT, NEW PAINT JOB DUE TO TRASH UNDER ORIGINAL PAINT JOB, ALL HUB CAPS AND TRIM WERE REPLACED DUE TO FADING AT 10,000 MILES (WHICH FADED AGAIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER), AC BLOWER RESISTOR MOTOR REPLACED, ALL MIRRORS WERE REPLACED, ELECTRICAL SHORT IN DOME LIGHT, & IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCT 2001, AND WAS PUT IN SHOP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JAN. 2002 AND HAS BEEN THERE 55 DAYS SINCE. I HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. SORRY, BUT THIS CAR IS JUNK. AND I HATE TO HAVE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE BUYING MY FIRST NEW VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10088107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TRANSMISSION REPLACED ON 5/28/04 (47,800 MILES). ON 7/5/04 HAD SAME ACCELERATION PROBLEMS, DEALER FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PROBLEM AFTER HAVING CAR FOR 2 DAYS. ON 8/3/04 AGAIN HAD SAME ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, AGAIN AFTER HAVING CAR FOR 2 DAYS, DEALER FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PROBLEM. SAME DAY (8/5/04) TOOK CAR HOME TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. PULLED OFF ROAD, PUT CAR IN PARK, SHUT OFF CAR, WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES, RESTARTED CAR, NO PROBLEM AT THAT POINT WITH SHIFTING. CALLED DEALERSHIP IN BRANDON (WHO REPLACED TRANSMISSION) SPOKE WITH ANDY ADVISED HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. HE STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND IT WAS RESETING ITSELF ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. HE SAID HE WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH HIS TECHNICAL PEOPLE TO FIND OUT WHAT TO REPLACE TO FIX CAR. I HAVE CALLED ANDY EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES TWICE A DAY AND ALL I CAN GET FROM HIM IS HIS PEOPLE WILL NOT RETURN HIS CALL AND IN TURN ANDY IS NOT RETURNING MY CALLS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON AND NOW YOU HAVE TO BUMP THE STARTER A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET THE CAR CRANKED. THE STARTER WAS NOT GIVING ME A PROBLEM UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ALL I AM ASKING IS FOR THIS CAR TO BE PROPERLY FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10086648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE HAD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THE GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT STAY IN PARK. WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING IT OFF VEHICLE ROLLED INTO REVERSE. CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING BACK. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER MAINTAINED THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10081877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.