2001 Kia Sephia LS from North America - Comments

Rear brakes build up a lot of dust requiring a cleaning once ever two month,that is if you can get the drums off without a drill. (I've be doing my own mantaince on vehicle for almost 20 years)

Have had car into dealership twice for mystery problem,will not start 25% of the time. Dealership has replaced the alternator (?) $800.00 to fix it,spent 1 full day on diagnostic $116.00 and still no satisfaction.

Should not the maker of a vehicle have some idea as where to start looking to fix these problems? Or did these vehicles just create themselves without the aid of engineers beacause the dealership was at a loss, to find ther problem.

Bottom line it's a cheap means of conveyance. An appliance if you will. Unfortunately the money it saved in sound deadening and refinement wasn't folded back into the car for quality engineering. What can you say about a car company that can't glue it's own label on it's product straight.

I am having the exact same problems with my 2001 Sephia Ls! My parking brake sticks and as a result I must now replace the rear back tire. I am also having problems getting it started, and, after a new alternator (@$500- because we bought the part elsewhere) (which didn't fix the problem) and then computer codes being reset ($116) (which didn't fix the problem) my husband thinks HE may have determined the problem! He is going to clean the idle air valve - $5 can of brake cleaner. Wish us luck!

Good God you paid $500 for an Alternator. Give me a buzz when you need another one.

I believe the parts are expensive because they are hard to find. I had a transmission problem with a 2000 sephia, and was told by 3 mechanics that parts are rare. One of them even suggested the junkyard, which didn't surprise me because probably all of the KIA owners ended up selling their cars to them as their last option. I did not fix the car and ended up selling it for $200.

$500 for the alternator, yes, that is expensive, but at least he did not pay $800, like the original poster did.

Omg...please don't tell me this! I just baught a 2001 kia sephia ls for 1,700 dollars and I'm not having problems except with the ac belt and I think it's like 30 dollars what else can go wrong?...I'm worried now!