2000 Kia Sephia Base from North America - Comments

Purchased Nov 2000 and so far the engine block heater cord shocked both my wife and I.

Mass air flow sensor replaced (twice).

Oil smell coming from engine bay (psi washed).

Mud flaps broke off.

Stick shift boot cracked.

Lost gas cap (no lanyard).

Paint chipped everywhere.

Chip gaurd (sticker in front of the wheel wells) fell off.

Heater temp select knob inoperable.

The car is not in the shop for the latter items (6-18-01).

I bought the car knowing it would be cheap. I had previously owned a Festiva and Aspire (both new and manufactured by KIA), the Sephia however is by far the most prone to problems.

The dealer (North Star Ford, Duluth, MN) has gone through several Kia service managers and have a hard time returning calls (ie your parts are in).

Parts seem to be shipped directly from Korea via ship because of the time it takes to get to Duluth.

Gets about 35 MPG. Rain or shine and even started in -35 F. (synthetic oil a must).

Had to laugh at the part about the parts being shipped directly from Korea.

An update to the saga of the cheap car that I bought. We had an engine mount go out on a trip to Indiana (35k on the odometer). The dealership took care of it under the warranty. The neighbor painted his garage with my car parked next to it and the over spray got all over the car. So I got a free buffing and all those other chips show up even better now. I have 50k on the odometer and the car is running like a trooper. We average 37mpg now after a new set of High quality tires from Fleet Farm and a front end alignment. To date the car has been pretty good, but the service at the dealer ships has not gotten much better.

I need to find where the fuel filter is located on the engine??

Well this car has 120K on the odometer (I am the one who started this thread). I think the car has served us well.

Let me see, I have had the car repainted once (covered by the warranty after many, many complaints about the paint) - the result of the car being washed in the car wash, and all the paint coming off right down to the grey plastic bumper. It was a good look during the time it took to get them to paint it.

Then I had the e-brake stick in Texas, that too was covered under warranty.

I had an alternator burn out in Montana.

I had it serviced in Seattle WA, where the service was the best in the country.

My wife backed the car into a tree and crumpled the newly painted trunk :( but the rear trunk was easy to replace with parts I purchased at the local junk yard.

There is a recall on the seat belt that I need to get it in to the dealer.

I have had 4 sets of tires on it and replace the shocks just last week.

I have always changed the oil every 5k with synthetic oil, and the engine is just as strong as it ever has been.

I got a ticket with it in Ohio for 90mph. Not bad for a little sedan.

Again, the car has served me well. It was a little cheap car that I expected to get 100k out of, but now I expect that 200K is not out of the question if I get a new clutch pressure plate and throw out bearing. My oldest just learned to drive and he smoked the clutch a few times.

I am looking at buying a KIA Sorrento from my wife next. The service is still bad at most dealers, but the car is worth it.

It is still kicking! I have 150K on the odometer! My son is getting to be a seasoned driver and I still have the original clutch! Not to mention I had a foreign exchange student and he learned to drive on it too! My son did run into a highway barrels with it. He broke the side mirror. He was also sitting at a traffic light and got rear ended by a minivan. Other than that last year, I have replaced the 2 spark plug wires it has (2 coils are directly over the other 2 spark plugs). I replaced the brakes last fall, well lets say I replaced the brakes, bearings, rotors and shocks last fall. It was really getting bad. This fall I did replace the 4 spark plugs. The evidence on the plugs tells me that the engine is burning remarkably clean. I have never replaced the timing belt yet and I am starting to think I am driving a time bomb in that department. My son and I both go over 300 and the drivers seat is now bent, we blame each other. Overall, looking back on this car that I bought for $8500 7 years ago, I am amazed it is still running. It has been a cheap car from day 1 but yet it has been a story. One thing after another, From Washington state to Ohio, from Canada to Mexico, with most of its life in Wisconsin. It has never stranded me or my family. It has gotten me to work, it has served its purpose. I will check in at 200k or the day I take it to the salvage yard, what ever comes first!