10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 9,567 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
While driving 70 mph overdrive and engine check light came on. Vehicle then dropped down to 20 mph. Towed to dealer, and transmission was replaced. This happened again, and transmission was replaced again. Consumer doubted that it was replaced the second time. She never received anything in writing. On 4 June, 2001 this problem happened again. After a few minutes, she was able to resume driving at normal speed. Consumer believed transmission was defective.
- Ft Worth, TX, USA
Consumer has had transmission replaced twice. Contacted dealer.
- Mareno Valley, CA, USA
Car has been towed for repair 8 times in less than 18 months. No safety defect listed.
- Sunbury, OH, USA
Transmission replaced twice, wiring to sensor of transmission repaired and grounding wiring to transmission upgraded, however, transmission still slips, it does not shift properly and hesitates when pulling off from a stop.
- Englewood, NJ, USA
Transmission slips ( might happen at any time), and speedometer quit working. Both have been replaced by the Kia dealer, but both continue to experiance the same problems. Dealer just says they can't find any cause.
- Bixby, OK, USA
Brakes squeaking when applied. Dealer notified, and rplaced both front brake rotors. Transmission failed twice within two months. The brake failure resulted in accident. Check engine light came on several times but dealer checked and stated okay.
- Rahway, NJ, USA
No summary
- Chicago, IL, USA
No summary
- Chicago, IL, USA
Upon test driving a different Kia Sephia on the evening of our purchase, I noticed the rough shift of the vehicle.I was told by the sales person that it was a very new car and that it shifted hard because it had not been driven.I accepted that explaination and we proceeded to purchase a different Kia Sephia that evening. My wife drove the car to work and noticed that this vehicle shifted very hard also, especially when cold. We called the dealership and mentioned this to the salespreson greg, and he said that the service department would check it out later that week when they repaired a scratch we saw on the spoiler at the time of purchase. They said a 200 mile trip we were planning would help smooth everything out. It didn't. after another week we complained again and were told the car needed 10,000 miles on it before the transmission would smooth out. When we mentioned that seemed strange they then dropped the miliage estimate to between 3000-5000 miles. We feel the design of this car's transmission is faulty and uncomfortable to drive. We were basically told "too bad...we don't think so". they even went as far as to tell us that all new vehicles shift very hard. In addition to the very hard shift, our gas miliage is well below the advertised fuel economy information. We were also told this will improve in 7000-10,000 miles. We are very unhappy with this car and would appreciate any help you can give us.
- Naples, FL, USA
While traveling at 35 mph transmission failed without any indication.
- Nashua, NH, USA
Had the car one moth had bad transmission,1 month later horn sounds off and on.
- Wenatchee, WA, USA
I have reported this because of the fact that upon failure, due to the fact that the transmission shifts erratically, it caused a near miss at approx 30 miles per hour because the vehicle would move fast enough to get out of the way of an approaching semi-truck.
- Nunica, MI, USA
Brakes overheated badly, and consumer was able to smell them. Also, brake pedal went to the floor. Even when pumping it hard, brake pedal still remained at the floor. In addition, transmission failure. When shifting gears, it caused vehicle to jerk violently. Dealer notified, and was unable to resolve the problems.
- Columbus, OH, USA
When coming out of first gear vehicle will stall. It may stall anytime of the day.
- Quitman, MS, USA
Horn failure. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that transmission needs to be replaced. They do not know how long before replacement transmission would arrive. Asking NHTSA to look into this matter, and provide additional information.
- Lumberton, NC, USA
- Pinon Hills, CA, USA