10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 21,293 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.
The contact owns a 2000 Kia Sephia. The brakes make a banging and knocking noise when they are applied. The contact stated that all of the brakes were changed, but the noise still persists. The current mileage was 129,000 and failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 01/29/08 the consumer stated the vehicle will not stop. Updated
- Sterling Heights, MI, USA
Regular driving causing brakes on 2000 Kia Sephia to require constant maintenance on the front rotors and pads. At varied intervals, the brakes would begin to start vibrating when applied, especially on the highway at high speeds (60 mph) and going down hills. There has been no accidents but many close calls. This is a very dangerous safety hazard. There is clearly a flaw in the braking system, that Kia obviously will not acknowledge. As a matter of fact, I have to replace the rotors this week because they have been shaved down so much. Five times in 2 years, and I won't even drive the car for months at a time. Mostly because of this reason.
- Seattle, WA, USA
Gear shift is my big problem right now with my car. It has been in 3 times in the past 2 years. 1st two times was due to the in-ability to get the car out of park. 1st repair could not get the car out of park. Repair was lubricate the gear shift cable. (accused driver of getting pop in the gear shifter) 2nd repair could not get the car out of park. Repair was to replace the gear shift cable. 3rd repair car stalled on the road and would not start. Repair "free-up shifter shat in transmission (would not go all the wasy in park and was hard to find any gears and would cause a no start)". this is the quote on the back of the repari ticket. When the car was pick-up. The car again refused to start. Was told that the gear shifter on the floor had to be shoved to the consolse to make the car recognize that it is in the "park" location. What I want is fair market value for my car from Kia. Right now getting run around. They need more information from the Kia repair and service manager before anything else can be done. Right now I am afraid to drive this car because if it stalls on a busy road, it takes about 30 seconds to force the gear shift into the right location to get the engine to turn over. Second complaint is now I am being told that the car needs new tires and brakes (rotors). Again Kia blaming the driver, break down is due to bad braking habbits.
- Lakewood, OH, USA
Vehicle experienced brake failure while driving in traffic. Consumer just shifted into second gear when traffic started to stop. Brakes were applied but to no avail. Consume kept pumping the brakes but nothing. Two repairs shops stated brake failure. Consumer checked the internet and learned of a class action law suit for brake failure on 1998-2000 Sephia's/sportage's for brake failure.
- Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Air bags did not deploy, brake failure. The consumer was in an accident due to brake failure and the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled. The A/C had to be replaced after the first use, and the gas light stayed on. (turi miller can be reach as well at: D-715 726 8887 or H-715 833 6309 and via email-turijo@yahoo.com)
- Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Problems with brake equipment on a 2000 Kia Sephia. The vehicle experienced numerous problems with the brakes, however the consumer believed it was due to inefficient service
- Cape Coral, FL, USA
I had a car accident where I rear ended another vehicle because I could not stop. After further investigation on my own, I found there is a class action lawsuit against Kia Sephia & sportages for their 1998-2000 models for brake failure. The brakes either completely fail at once or a person is continually replacing brakes/pads, etc. I encourage anyone to file a complaint if they have any similar problems.
- Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Service brakes are out wearing prematurely. Cause unknown.
- Helena, MT, USA
Our Kia Sephia 2000 is a lemon. We have had to replace the brakes four times because of premature ware and shaking due to poor design. We received the car with a dead battery. We are on our third battery. We were on our third set of tires before 30,000 miles. The gear shift will stick so that you can not take it out of park. The weather molding is falling off. Check engine light goes on and they could not keep it from coming on.
- Ladera Ranch, CA, USA
The brakes failed.
- West Roxbury, MA, USA
- Camden, DE, USA