1997 Kia Sephia from North America

Summary:

Should have kept the Nissan with 200K miles on it

Faults:

For the love of God, do not even THINK about buying this utter piece of crap if your life means anything to you. I am currently being asphyxiated by the engine due to having to keep the gas pressed while driving, otherwise it will stall out in the middle of traffic. I've had the alternator replaced about 5 times. The check engine light is ALWAYS on supposedly due to the oxygen sensor which costs almost $400 on the 1.8L engine (it's $17 on the 1.6L engine)!!! I took it to my favorite import mechanic who previously worked on my Nissan and he literally wouldn't even work on it. It is uncomfortable as hell. The dash/console is coming apart at the seems. The back left turn signal doesn't work and is rusted into the socket because the trunk leaks during rain. Last week I could have gone swimming in the trunk and had to put a blanket in the spare tire compartment to sop it all up. Barely runs at all, despite routine maintenance. The engine, electrical system, and body must have been put together by a couple of blind monkeys on crack. Worst car I've ever owned. Getting rid of it ASAP. Not recommended unless you have a death wish.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 26th January, 2005

1997 Kia Sephia LS 1.8 DOHC from North America

Summary:

I love KIAS and they crush hondas

Faults:

Routers are warped, but with 61,000 miles on them of course they are going to warp.

Dashboard looks like it's burned -- looks like someone took gasoline to the dashboard and lit it.

General Comments:

The car is very quick. I have had a few performance parts put on the car and it runs great! I'm pulling almost 200 hp on a stock engine with a few mods to cams and cam gears, cold air intake headers to full back exhaust.

When I first got the car, it was very torqey and had great speed for a stock engine. This car is a great import to fix up and race, it was beating v8 trucks and cars on a stock engine.

I have never had major problems with the car, except the clutch going out, but that was my fault for beating a stock clutch. It only cost $450 to put in a stage 3 racing clutch. Performance parts are very cheap for Kias, compared to a Honda or other imports.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th November, 2004

4th Jan 2005, 11:13

Your claim that you were beating V8 cars and trucks with your stock Kia Sephia is so ridiculous it needs no rebuttal.

But the only Hondas your KIA would ever crush would be the ones that it is put on top of after it winds up in the junkyard.

If it is not there already!

3rd Feb 2005, 13:24

It's funny you say that, my KIA has torn apart just about every Honda it's come across. The only ones that it hasn't beaten are the modded Honda's.

15th Apr 2009, 10:39

Boy it's getting pretty deep in here, yes congrats your 200hp modded Kia can beat stock Hondas.

1997 Kia Sephia LX from North America

Summary:

A waste of money!

Faults:

DASHBOARDS- There is a hole on the driver's side of the dashboard that looks like a burn and the whole dashboard is peeling away from the windshield, that may cause a hazard while driving by obstructing your view.

General Comments:

ANYONE WITH THIS PROBLEM PLEASE CALL

1-888-327-4236 (Highway Traffic Safety Division) and file a complaint so Kia can resolve this hopefully. The more who file the better our chances are of rectifying this problem.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 14th July, 2004

1997 Kia Sephia LX 1.8L from North America

Summary:

Too many things go wrong with this car

Faults:

What is wrong the dashboard? Mine could not survive Texas heat. Looks like somebody set it on fire and it curled up so bad it blocked the defrost vents.

Desperately need Chilton's or other repair manual to fix all the problems with this car.

Passenger window has come off it's track or cable. Cannot get hand up there to fix, even.

Trunk release doesn't open trunk.

Very rough riding.

Heater takes forever to heat. Never get's to a normal hot temperature.

Only tiny people could be shoehorned into the back seat.

Cd player only works after car is warmed up for 30 minutes.

General Comments:

Does seem to have plenty of power.

Mpg about 40 on trip from Texas to Washington.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 8th March, 2004

5th Nov 2004, 12:11

It is hard to install anything with the amount of space that was given, and the firewall is hard to get through to add any wires. Firewall is also too low. It needs to be raised.