1998 Kia Sephia review from North America
"I made a mistake by purchasing this car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Motor mounts had to be replaced at 45,000 miles.
CV boots went at 50,000 miles.
Heater stopped working at 52,000 miles.
Many defects in the interior: Air vents would fall out when you tried to adjust, temp controls would stick in position, gauges would stop working occasionally.
Car also would seem to short out once a week and not start for 10-15 minutes and then all of the sudden start right up.
At 80,000 miles the engine blew. Keep in mind I take care of cars. I change the oil, filters and fluids like clockwork. It would have been at least $2500 to fix it and the car was only worth $1500.
General comments?
Car had a great price, but don't be fooled. Kia must be Korean for Krapola. DON'T BUY A USED KIA. If someone gets lucky and their new Kia is a good car, they wouldn't be selling it. The quality is extremely poor throughout, from engine parts to interior design. The car was not made for long term functionality.
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 |
| Model Year | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 4 cylinder Manual |
| Performance marks | 5/10 |
| Reliability marks | 5/10 |
| Comfort marks | 2/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 42000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 80000 miles |
| Previous car | Honda Accord |
| Date of Entry | 19th November, 2006 |