Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||||
| 98020100498 | 06/17/1998 | 600994 | Provided information related to the kia motors america technical assistance center and the tech line worksheet. *yc | 06/17/1998 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | |||
| 06/01/2007 | 80200 | 1 | |
| The dash board is curling up around the front window vents which is kicking the vents out. *tr | |||
| 07/15/2005 | 80000 | 0 | |
| 1-leaking brake fluid inside firewall 2-dashboard disfiguring 3-exaust manifold gaskets not lasting | |||
| 71000 | 1 | ||
| Dashboard is beginning to lift and bubbles are forming near the vents for the defrostr. consumer believes dashboard may obstruct vision. cause is unknown.*ak | |||
| 11/19/1999 | 1 | 02/04/1999 | |
| Driver side outside molding is discoloring. yh | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 1 | |||
| While driving approximately 65 mph, hood released and smashed into windshield which blocked vision of driver, consumer felt problem was due to brake pads and rotors that cause severe vibration and had to be replaced frequently, there was no crash or injury to report when this incident occurred.*ak brakes would vibrate and were noisy, requested rear brakes be cleaned lubed, dealer found rotors warped and pads worn and excessive dust in rear brakes, numerous engine problems such as cooling fan rumble, check engine light on, engine stall, burning smell, belt squeaks, electric cooling fan inoperative, fan blade, plug wires and coil boots, valve cover gasket were replaced, evaporator was replaced and recharged, many electrical problems including ignition switch, starter, alternator, multifunction switch, battery terminal, and bulb failure, dealer has also found corrosion, poor connections and low voltage, consumer states numerous problems with shifter, harsh shifts and clunks, dealer replaced old style flex plate, binding shifter which was cleaned and lubed, fluid leaks, dealer replaced leaking power steering hose, multiple structural problems such as missing wiper arm cap, key will not open trunk, trunk lever does not release, broken trunk release handle, left rear door molding coming off, dealer replaced trunk release, reinstalled door weatherstrip, found oil leaks, and undercarriage showing signs of damage, bubbles in dash pad, sunvisor coming loose, dealer replaced dash pad, dealer found tail pipe damaged, both front aftermarket tires (no tire information) worn, left rear rim bent, rear tires (no tire information) cupped and feathered due to lack of rotation and alignment problems, consumer also requested dealer to check cv boots for grease leak, dealer found no problem. *tt | |||
| 09/24/1999 | 1 | 10/01/1998 | |
| The glove box latch is loose. nlm | |||
| 1 | |||
| Glove box and sunvisor fell off. *mjs | |||
| 08/02/1999 | 1 | 06/27/1998 | |
| Glove box latch fell out. *mjs | |||
| 1 | |||
| Glove compartment became detached. nlm | |||
| 08/15/1998 | |||
| Can feel brakes pulsating when attempting stop vehicle. this causes the vehicle to pull to the right. would make grinding noises when this happens. the steering wheel would shake. inside the vehicle, the structure would leak. been to dealer & had entire brake system replaced. *ak | |||
| 11/01/1998 | |||
| When driving at any speed and applying the brakes, vehicle shakes when coming to a stop. also, whenever it rains water gets into vehicle on the passenger's side. *ak | |||
| 03/20/1999 | 4 | 12/01/1998 | |
| Tail light had to be replaced because of leaking, this is 4th time for brakes squeaking and pulsating, cow panel baffle needed replaced because of water pouring in behind glove box.people i don't know pull me over and complain about their kia sephias and similar problems with them. also the engine sometimes won't start the first time. it takes two or three times once in a while. it also sounds like the engine will jump right out of the car because it jerks so hard when starting. the gas tank has yet to let me fill it all the way. it gets almost full, then spits the gas out and won't let you squeeze it full. it's like there is no venting going on. i have heard similiar reports from other owners. *ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR | |||
| 07/19/1999 | 3 | 10/01/1998 | |
| The window seal is faulty causing rain to leak into the vehicle onto the right front floor, the weahterstrip on the right rear door is distorted. nlm | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer states she now has a broken door handle, due to the repair shop locking the keys in the vehicle the driver's side lock is broken.*jb | |||
| 11/01/1998 | |||
| Vehicle taken to dealer 4-5 times for driver's door repairs. door will not stay shut. while driving door will fly open. other times consumer is not able to open door at all. dealer has replaced seal + lubricated seal.*ak | |||
| 08/25/1998 | 1 | ||
| Signal lights fail to work properly when in use during cold weather for 15 minutes or so. sometimes this happens when it's raining. the dealer replaced the hazard switch and there have not been any failures since. seat belts have been replaced 3 times. brakes and rotors have been replaced 3 times. windshield wipers failed prior to recall. head gasket replaced at 3500 miles. molding on the doors fell off and was replaced. tailpipe was replaced due to excessive exhaust fumes. *slc | |||
| 09/24/2000 | 1 | 07/01/1998 | |
| Brakes,lights,seats,battery,airbags,odometer,leaks,aircondition,leftdoorhandle (tiresize: 14`)( dot number: tire size: 14` ) | |||
| 06/15/1998 | 1 | ||
| The front passenger side door can not be opened from the outside because outer handle is inoperative. nlm | |||
| 1 | 02/18/1999 | ||
| Door seal failed. nlm | |||
| 1 | 02/18/1999 | ||
| The door seals failed allowing fumes to enter the car. nlm | |||
| 11 | 07/29/1998 | ||
| Premature wear of brake pads and rotors. dealer has repaired and replaced the brakes several times.*ak in addition heater core, alternator, starter,spark plugs, front windshield and door weather strips failed. *yh | |||
| 06/15/1998 | 1 | ||
| The front passenger side door can not be opened from the outside because outer handle is inoperative. nlm | |||
| 05/27/1999 | 1 | 02/01/1998 | |
| Failure of front brakes 3 times, dash board wire harness failure causing dash board displays, starter wire harness failed and needed to be replaced, paint rubbing off and blistering, lowed noises/vibration under driver side when driving in wet condittions,, poor gas milage, faulty gas guage, broken right rear speaker, back right door weather gasket falling off for the third time, slopp steering responce during quick turns | |||
| 08/21/1998 | 1 | 05/13/1998 | |
| Molding is deformed at rear door. nlm | |||
| 1 | 02/18/1999 | ||
| The door seals failed allowing fumes to enter the car. nlm | |||
| 1 | 02/18/1999 | ||
| Door seal failed. nlm | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | |||
| 02/11/1999 | 1 | 02/04/1999 | |
| Driver side weather stripping is coming off of door. yh | |||
| 07/05/1999 | |||
| Hard starting up vehicle in the mornings, and gas gauge does not read full tank. also, passenger's side door is broken at the hinges. had the panel replaced. this will be the third repair. *ak | |||
| 07/05/1999 | |||
| Engine stalls, especially when starting up vehicle in the mornings. gas gauge does not read full, and passenger's side door is broken. this will be the third repair. replaced door panel. door hinges were broken. *ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 08/09/2002 | |||
| The whole wheel apron came loose, got caught under the tire and was thrown off the car at highway speed causing instability to my steering and as parts flew off, causing a hazard to other drivers.*ak | |||
| 07/08/1998 | 2 | 07/01/1998 | |
| Has been in 17 times and still need brakes and everything else. what a piece of junk !!manufactor refuses to honor warranty. | |||