1999 Kia Sephia from North America

Summary:

KIA stands for KILLED IN ACTION

Faults:

Brakes, Calipers, gear 2 ratio problems, spark plugs (before 30K was on it)

Emissions failure because of the engine.

And that's with me changing the oil every 3 thousand miles.

Seat broken, won't raise up. rotors. You name it I have fixed it.

I replaced the factory parts with name brand parts and it has helped a lot.

General Comments:

Good car to have if you want a crash course on how to fix it yourself.

And learn VERY quickly how hard to find parts for it at a decent price.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 3rd June, 2003

1999 Kia Sephia from North America

Summary:

The only thing worse than this piece of junk is the dealer that sells them

Faults:

This car has had 4 transmissions

The car would accelerate upon hitting the brakes

This section isn't big enough to handle the number of problems with this "car"

General Comments:

The only thing worse than this piece of trash is the KIA dealer that sold it to me. After the fourth transmission the dealer refused to honor the warranty.

This is a lousy excuse for a car.

It will be more expensive to own since you will be constantly renting another car while this is being fixed. But don't worry after being fixed it'll break down again.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 22nd May, 2003

1999 Kia Sephia from North America

Summary:

Death Trap on wheels

Faults:

So far I had the brakes replaced 12 times in the first 6 months, once in the first 2 weeks having the car.

Had to have the Compressor replaced because it blew in the first month.

Had to have the spark plugs replaced 6 times in the first 3 monthes because they kept misfiring.

Was recalled 4 times for everything from missing parts, to thin rotors, and dangerous possible malfunction with the windshield wipers.

I have had to have the alignment corrected 7 times due to errors made by dealership mechanics while my car was being serviced.

Dealership mechanics replaced parts with used parts. I threatened to sue so they replaced with new, but then tried to charge me. In the end I was not charged.

Car won't start on cold days. Doesn't like to start on rainy days. Doesn't like to start on any days usually.

Was in accident and airbag didn't deploy.

Hood latch doesn't like to unlock or work.

Trunk refuses to unlatch at times.

Vent covers broke of their own accord due to heat.

A/C had to be replaced because it froze over. A/C also does run worth a crap. Never gets cold enough.

Timing belt snapped 3 days after I got car.

Fuel injectors had to be replaced because of factory recall.

Stereo doesn't work on hot days.

I am constantly given the run around by dealer mechanics. So I went to a family friends auto shop and found out that repairs the dealership had said they had done were done incorrectly or not done at all.

Oh and the automatic transmission does not shift until it technically red lines.

General Comments:

Never buy this car, it is a death trap and the corporation is a gang of crooks. I will never buy one of their cars again.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 25th April, 2003

27th Apr 2003, 20:12

I think this review is fake, I have a 96 Sephia and it hasn't been the best car, but nothing like this, if that much stuff went wrong with the car the lemon law would have taken effect. I think a lot of these Kia reviews are fake on this website, now I'm sure a lot are true, but having a Kia myself I can't believe some of the stories-

18th Nov 2004, 16:26

I have a Kia Sephia completely stripped so I don't have AC problems. I had to replace the gas tank a few times, but that's it. Kia Sephias are good cars and I am not getting rid of it.

14th Jan 2005, 18:02

I have a 1999 Kia Sephia and I think it is a piece of crap. I've been through the recalls and I have had it serviced. It is still worthless. Thank my lucky stars I'm getting rid of it.

29th Jul 2009, 09:48

I don't think this review is fake and how can you say it's fake when every other person has said their Kia is crap? Look at the reviews, they're mostly all bad! I have the same problem with the radio not working on hot days. My car doesn't shift gears properly and never has since I bought it. It's an emissions nightmare, never passed since I bought it. It rattles and shakes if you go above 60 if you can even get it to accelerate at all.

My 1999 Kia Sephia has been nothing but a nightmare (I've only listed a few MINOR problems above).