1998 Kia Sephia LS review from North America
"Beware of KIA's service department"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I have had this car for almost five years.
I've replaced the brakes three times and they're bad again.
My air conditioner line broke.
My tires have been replaced twice.
It falls out of alignment every six months.
The door panels are so weak you breath on them and they dent.
The paint on the rear view mirrors has worn off to white.
General comments?
The worst part about owning this car is the service department. I took my car in for an undetermined loud squeak, which is still there, and they wanted to replace my clutch. Six hundred dollars later the squeak is still there and I had to fight with the service department to get half of my money back. I took the old clutch to another mechanic and they told me it was not even worn. The service department was also supposed to change my oil and top my fluids while getting the clutch replaced. They didn't do it. I had to again battle with the KIA service department for reimbursement. I would never again own a KIA mostly due to their service department.
Recommended Reviews:
![]() ![]() | Good for the money, better than American cars |
![]() ![]() | Damn good car for the money |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | Manual |
| Performance marks | |
| Reliability marks | |
| Comfort marks | |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 38000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 26th September, 2002 |

