10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,416 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Kia Sephia electrical problems

electrical problem

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1998 Kia Sephia Owner Comments

problem #5

Mar 021999

Sephia 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Georgetown, DE, USA

problem #4

Dec 292003

Sephia 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles
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 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

- Ft Hood , TX, USA

problem #3

Nov 042003

Sephia 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles
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.

- Severn, MD, USA

problem #2

Aug 092001

(reported on)

Sephia

  • miles
Consumer stated the vehicle has been riddled with problems since the day of purchase, the wire harness melting and failed.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #1

Jun 062000

(reported on)

Sephia

  • miles
Electrical wiring and battery failed. Nlm

- Columbus, OH, USA

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