2001 Kia Sephia Reviews - Page 6 of 8

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2001 Kia Sephia Kia LS 1.8 5 Speed Manual from North America

Year of manufacture2001
First year of ownership2001
Most recent year of ownership2003
Engine and transmission 1.8 5 Speed Manual Manual
Performance marks 10 / 10
Reliability marks 10 / 10
Comfort marks 8 / 10
Dealer Service marks 10 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 8 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
9.2 / 10
Distance when acquired50 miles
Most recent distance33683 miles
Previous carFord Escort

Summary:

Good introductory car, at a good price

Faults:

Only problems with the car so far, is that the headlights and instrument panel will dim while I'm driving.

The seat belts will sometimes stick when fitting them into the buckle.

My tires had to be replaced early at about 20,000 miles.

Slow increase in speed when pulling onto the highway.

Wish I had cruise control.

General Comments:

I've had the car now for 2 years.

No major problems have come up.

Drives really nice.

Lots of fun since it is a manual.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 24th May, 2003

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2001 Kia Sephia LX from North America

Year of manufacture2001
First year of ownership2001
Most recent year of ownership2003
Engine and transmission Automatic
Performance marks 7 / 10
Reliability marks 7 / 10
Comfort marks 7 / 10
Dealer Service marks 8 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 8 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
7.4 / 10
Distance when acquired35 miles
Most recent distance14500 miles
Previous carSaturn SC

Summary:

A solid car for the money

Faults:

A transmission fluid hose came loose at about 1000 miles. Dealer repaired it quickly.

At about 11,000 miles the guys at the oil change place notices an oil leak. The dealer said the oil pan had not been fully tightened. Problem fixed quickly by the dealer.

General Comments:

Overall we like this car and feel that it is worth the money. The roadside assistance and warranty are a big plus.

Handles nicely for a 13,000 dollar car, and is fuel efficient.

Seems to me that the car's problems are from the assembly line and not the engineering office. Higher quality control on the line would make this car comparable to a Honda Civic etc.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th April, 2003

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2001 Kia Sephia 4 cylinder from North America

Year of manufacture2001
First year of ownership2001
Most recent year of ownership2002
Engine and transmission 4 cylinder Automatic
Performance marks 1 / 10
Reliability marks 0 / 10
Comfort marks 3 / 10
Dealer Service marks 1 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 2 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
1.4 / 10
Distance when acquired11 miles
Most recent distance28000 miles
Previous carDodge Shadow

Summary:

Horrible and worthless automobile

Faults:

Everything and anything that could go wrong with a car has happened to my Kia.

I have owned the car for 19 months and it has been nothing but trouble.

I have has two brand new transmissions installed. The first one at 18,000 miles and the second last month at 27,000 miles. Both have been because of a grinding and groaning noise during acceleration and a shifting problem while accelerating.

I have had two exhaust systems installed, too. The exhaust systems have been installed in order to help correct the noise described above.

I have had a new engine mount installed for the same reasons as listed above.

I have had work on the A/C lines for the reasons listed above.

Now, the car is not starting properly. When I crank the ignition, the car's engine will not turn over all the way. It took over 20 minutes to start it yesterday! While it is trying the start, the front end vibrates violently up and down.

General Comments:

This is the worst piece of engineering and workmanship I have ever seen.

The dealership was wonderful when I bought the car, but has been horrible since then.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 2nd December, 2002

Comment on this review

13th May 2004, 09:31

Well, first of all your transmission went out because it was an automatic and you probably drove the car hard. I have a 2000 KIA Sephia and with a 5 speed transmission. I have put over 20 thousand miles on it and I have had NO problems with the car. I feel that the problems were from the operator.

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4th Aug 2004, 07:07

My Father-in-law bought a 2000 KIA Sepia in 2003 from a dealership in town since the past week he is having a problem with starting the car. He was just at my place and it took probably a good 10 minutes to start and he knew he was draining the battery. Could his problem be a simple fix? He is 70 years old and on a fixed income and a major problem would leave him unable to repair is vehicle. Thank you for any input you may have.

C. Bachynski, Lr. Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada

charba39@yahoo.ca.

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21st Feb 2005, 09:52

I have personaly experienced all of the problems mentioned in this post. I bought my 2001 Kia Sephia from a dealership in 2004. And right now I have to replace the transmission. Buying that kia was by far the worst mistake I have ever made.

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22nd Sep 2005, 09:33

I recommend calling KIA, because the transmission should be covered under their 5 year 100,000 km or 100,000 mile power train warranty.

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Average review marks: 6.8 / 10, based on 32 reviews