Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 01/10/2005 | 1 | 08/26/1997 | |
| Dt: 1997 kia sephia, the dashboard is lifting. when the consumer entered the vehicle she smelled something burning. upon inspecting the dash she noticed the driver's side dash was burned. when the consumer cleaned the dash the cleaning cloth smelled burned and there was a brown residue on the cloth. the vehicle has not been taken to the dealer because it is out of warranty and the consumer cannot afford to have it fixed. *ak *jb *nm | |||
| 3 | |||
| Is leaking causing electrical lights damage, the hazards or signals aren't working and the truck smells like mildew. ts | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer installed new radio, wires were crossed causing check engine light to illuminate, in the owner's manual it states that non-stock electrical equipment will cause engine light to illuminate, owner's manual neglects to mention that engine light will illuminate if the gas cap is not on tight enough, vehicle also experienced dashboard failure. *slc | |||
| 11/28/1998 | 1 | 02/01/1998 | |
| While at a stop light next to a large truck with a cb radio, the radio experienced static and the vehicle cut off. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 08/17/2005 | 75000 | 11 | 04/12/2004 |
| I have a 1997 kia sephia rs and i have replaced the alternator belt 11 times and 4 of those have been in the last 3 months. i am unable to get any answers about why the belt keeps breaking from any repair shop, other than it must be a sizing defect by kia. this last belt was replaced 6/05 and broke off again 8/17/05. i can only seem to get about 1-3 month use from a belt. i checked with the previous owner of the car, which i knew and she indicates that she had the same problems. i now have spoken to another kia sephia rs owner same year and they got rid of theirs for that very reason.*jb | |||
| 03/18/1999 | 1 | 07/01/1997 | |
| On march 18 1999 my car would not start up instantly i had to try a few times to start my car and after three tries it finally started i took it to the dealership and thats when i found out i needed a new starter, flywheel,fuel trim malfunction, new dtc groung improvements procedures. | |||
| 01/20/1998 | 3 | 04/01/1997 | |
| No summary included. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 12/01/1998 | 5 | 12/03/1997 | |
| Since consumer owned car brakes had to be changed five times. 3 batteries had to be put in. engine light came on on instrument panel, anti-freeze is leaking and the engine is running rough. *ak *slc | |||
| 08/26/2000 | 2 | 07/01/2000 | |
| I have only had this car for 1 month. it had been in the shop 3 times. it has never been fixed to my satisfaction. the battery died the day after i brought it home. the brakes had to be completely replaced. that cost ~$200. i have a small infant and bought this car for safety (dual airbags) the dealer won't buy the car back and the service department can't seem to fix the car. help!!! | |||
| 3 | |||
| While driving differential went out/ digital laser failed to work on cd panel/ power window electrical switch stopped working, and engine check light came on & did not go off. dashboard covering was separating from window. there was water in the headlights, and battery would go dead. took vehicle to dealer. vehicle needed alignment due to problem with transmission & the brake assembly needed replacing due to excessive wear.*ak | |||
| 09/15/1998 | 3 | 05/21/1997 | |
| Ongoing problem with battery failure; dealer notified, and replaced faulty battery on two occasions, and problem reoccurred. also, and problem engine hesitation. dealer notified. *ak the consumer found out right after leasing the vehicle, that the radio was inoperable. the vehicle began squeeking in the rear end when turning. the heater malfunctioned. the left rear strut assembly failed causing knocking noise at right rear. the o-ring failed causeing the distributor leak and there was loss of power while driving. *yh | |||
| 03/14/1998 | |||
| The brakes and rotors were excessively worn outand replaced twice. tansmission faild causing, loud knocking noise and new transmission was replaced. left axle failed and replaced. the battery went out. the vehicle failed to start.*ak | |||
| 08/07/1998 | 04/20/1997 | ||
| Warped front and rear rotors/ intermittent stalling. replaced starter/battery/throttle body/starter motor and adjusted timing gear and chain. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||
| 07/30/1999 | 2 | 02/01/1998 | |
| Car still does not start right a way/engine lgts still on/rgt sig does not wrk/cars a lemon/fuse blows evertime i turn on rgt signal. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 11/13/2001 | 3 | ||
| Vehicle would not start intermittently, vehicle been to the dealer on three occasions, and problem still occurring. feel free to provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 6 | |||
| When driving vehicle would stall for no reason. have taken vehicle to dealership at least 6 different times for repairs. mechanic could not locate cause of problem.*ak | |||
| 01/10/2001 | 0 | ||
| While driving about 15 mph ngine will die without a prior warning. problem just like recall for engine stalling .*ak | |||
| 05/28/1998 | 1 | 11/01/1997 | |
| The check engine light came on and i had transaxle problems getting the car in gear . i also had problems getting keys from ignition switch part took two weeks and was relaced at dealership | |||
| Intermittently the vehicle would not start. also, dealer has replaced transmission and brake system. the manufacturer has been notified. *ak | |||
| 1 | 01/01/1998 | ||
| Ignition system fails intermittently. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 01/08/1999 | 20 | 01/01/1999 | |
| I started having brake failure and grinding from the rear after 5 days of purchasing the car.i was coming up to a stop sign and the car would not stop after applying the brakes.when backing up or coming to a stop i had a grinding sound and sounded like a liquid was splashing around at the same time.i took the car back to southlake kia and told the service rep about the problems.before that i was checking the spark plugs and when they were pulled out one by one they were burned out and the air filter was almost as black as tar.i told the service rep about plugs and air filter.the spark plugs was changed but i was told that the filter was not going to be replaced.i talked to darryl harris/sealer/and he had to talk to his boss in order to get the filter replaced.darryl's boss told me that air filters was not going to be replaced,so i spoke with darryl again and he finally got them to change the air filter as well.after telling darryl why i was back so soon he called where the cars are taken to be serviced and was told that the car had never been serviced,and that's when the air filter was replaced.after explaining about my brakes and advising the service department that it was my back brakes that failing the most i was told by tom and the mechanic/i believe his name is george,i not really sure/that cars do not have back brakes.i was told by tom in so many words that a car does not have to be serviced and that a car can be sold even if it is know that it has brake or any other type of problems.i spoke with tony at 800 333 4542 ext 35014 who said that he would get someone from dps who could authorize the repairs.to date i still have not heard from anyone who can assist me with my problems.on 7/26/99 tom had the mechanic to replace front pads and rotors with updated pars,cleaned and adjusted rear barkes.the front pads had uneven wear as well.after the repairs tom told me that he had the front and back brakes replaced and replaced the pads. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||
| 08/07/1998 | 04/20/1997 | ||
| Warped front and rear rotors/ intermittent stalling. replaced starter/battery/throttle body/starter motor and adjusted timing gear and chain. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 01/01/1998 | |||
| Vehicle stalled and died due to faulty wiring--fire resulted. the dealer has replaced the wiring system. manufacturer has been notified. *ak *ml | |||
| 04/23/1996 | 6 | 05/30/1997 | |
| Synchronizer for transmission failed. also, wiring harness/vapor hose/air bag light malfunctioned. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 03/01/2003 | 87000 | 1 | |
| The engine wire harness malfunctioned, which caused the engine to stall. *jb | |||
| 04/29/2000 | 0 | 08/21/1997 | |
| While stopping at a red light saw/smelled smoke. after investigating where it was coming from, consumer raised the hood and found smoke coming from the conjuction box. tires had to be replaced after 27,667 miles. *ak *ml | |||
| 10/21/1998 | 4 | 03/05/1998 | |
| Engine stalling constantly, several repair attempts, however final repair of the engine wiring harness corrected problems. *mjs | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 02/10/2003 | |||
| Dash has large brown burn spot on drivers side. this spot started as just a small spot and has over 6 months time continued to grow larger and larger. now the entire dash is starting to lift up and curl up away from the windshield and the instrument control panel. | |||
| 110000 | |||
| The vehicles dashboard seems to be breaking away from the windshield. consumer is concerned the airbag may deploy unexpectedly. please provide any further information.ts | |||
| Dashboard has come apart. also, seals around airbag on passenger's side has lifted up, exposing parts underneath. heater vent on dash has cracked, causing heater to become inoperative.*ak | |||
| 06/11/2000 | 1 | 01/01/1997 | |
| Dashboard started to fold and bend out of shape. dashboard is separating from around the instrument panel. also turned the color brown on top of the dashboard *ak | |||
| 05/28/1998 | 1 | 11/01/1997 | |
| The check engine light came on and i had transaxle problems getting the car in gear . i also had problems getting keys from ignition switch part took two weeks and was relaced at dealership | |||