2000 Kia Sephia from North America - Comments

The front doors no longer open in cold weather making it extremely difficult to enter and exit the vehicle while climbing through the back doors and getting into the front seat. Terrible winter transportation option.

An intense squealing noise that is an enigma.

The brakes, alignment, battery, belts, and tires went kaput around 60,000 miles. Fixed for just over a thousand bucks.

Heat shield had to be taken off, common with these vehicles.

Hydro-planing is common in the rain and can become unnerving as one loses stability.

Some interior parts have come completely off, you can't roll down the rear back window (driver's side) because the handle is off.

I'm afraid to drive this car, but it gets great gas mileage. I've calculated 35mpg in the summer on the highway. It's great to beat on in good weather. Due to the current fuel crisis with increases to almost three dollars a gallon, I have no choice, but to extend the life of this car.

Just don't expect it to last much longer then 100,000 miles.. These are "throw away cars" and will get you around cheap for awhile, but once they start falling apart they're done for. Take my advice and trade it in around 100k before everything on it starts going south. The repair costs just aren't worth the value of the car.

You know, regarding the doors not opening in cold weather, I've seen many other KIA owners also complain about this. My cousin had a 2000 sephia, and I remember I rode with her, in the middle of winter, to a place about 1 hour from where she live. Even though we had already driven it for a while, we went inside a supermarket, we must have been inside for at least 1 hour. We finally got ready to drive off and the driver side door would not open. I remember her boyfriend, who was driving, had to get in by the front passenger side. When we got to the gas station to get some gas about 1 mile from there, he still could not get the door open from inside. Once we got to her home, it was warm enough inside for the door to open, though. It was the first time I had seen a car door not opening, even for winter time.