10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,775 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2000 Kia Sephia:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #3

Sep 072004

Sephia 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,325 miles
I've had many problems with the catalytic converters disintegrating from within. I've had them replaced many times at least 3 or 4 times in the last 2 yrs the most recent was this summer about 2 months ago. I am having this problem again it begins to act like it's going to stall, then starts vigourously shaking, and it also loses acceleration speed. I'll be driving and all of a sudden it starts acting up and losing speed and it wont go any higher than 20 mph or so. This is a continuous problem and one that I consider very dangerous because I could be driving on a busy street or a hwy and I lose acceleration speed and it shakes. This poses a problem to my own safety and that of others driving while these effects occur. I'm scared it will blow up, burn up, or fall apart with all the shaking or even stall and cause a major accident. Please help!!! I've taken it numerous times to the dealership to get this fixed and I've only gotten a temporary fix as you can see. If its not the catalytic converter, its the fuel injectors, or the fuel gauge, it's always one thing or anther. This car is a lemon!!!

- College Station, TX, USA

problem #2

Jan 242003

Sephia 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 72,000 miles
The sensor/gas level in the gas tank went out when the car had 53000 + or - on it and it cost us $300 to fix it. The driver's door doesn't seal. And now, as we left a store tonight, the flashing (yes flashing) check engine light came on again and the car is sputtering and clanging from under the bonnet. It is in the evening and a Friday night. I opened the hood and it smelled funky/burnt. It was sputtering. The car currently has 72000 miles on it. I'll try to get it looked at in the morrow.

- Winchester, VA, USA

problem #1

Jun 022002

(reported on)

Sephia

  • miles
The mold in the car has caused two people to get sick. We have told Kia of the problem and they have not done anything for us. The car has been test for toxicity mold. I have contacted the BBB auto line and nothing as been resolved in this matter. We are seeing a doctor for the mold and are unable to drive the vehicle on doctor's order and do to the level of mold in the vehicle.

- Tucson, AZ, USA