1998 Kia Sephia from North America - Comments

When I first got the car, the man I bought it from told me that it would be a good car if I treated it well. I don't drive it hard; I'm very light-footed, and have still had an unbelievable amount of problems.

The car has had to be taken into the shop at least once a month, and usually more often than that. I've put almost as much money into repairing it as I actually payed for it initially.

First, I took it to my mechanic because the car would "jump" around a bit whenever it changed gears (it also shimmied around when I was idling). The mechanic told me that KIA just makes bad transmissions and that there was nothing he could do about it. Since then, in addition to more transmission problems, I have had problems with the wiring underneath the car (first a transmission line busted while my mother was driving it, leaving her stranded. Just weeks later, my fuel line busted, leaving me stranded with gas puddling around my car), and the brakes. I almost got into a really bad accident recently as a result of the brake problems. Also, the car has decided that it doesn't want to start sometimes. The lining around one of the rear doors has begun to come off, my windshield wipers stopped working once (and now that they're actually working, they don't effectively wipe off the rain - they actually make it more difficult to see), and on occasion, the driver-side door doesn't unlock. Also, the tape player makes a high-pitched squealing sound.

This car, although it looks nice and is comfortable, terrifies me.

Every other Sephia owner I've ever talked to has had similar problems and similar dissatisfaction.

My Mazda (which I still own) is an '89, and has not had nearly as many problems as the Sephia.

First of all, who would compare a Mazda to a Kia. Second of all, the money that was spent on the car, what did you expect and thirdly my Kia Sephia LX has had no problems, and as to the person who talks about "dings" on the car, well, it doesn't drive itself now does it?

Correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I know, the mechanicals in the earlier kia's were mazda made.,beside that I've known several people who've had one, with few problems.

I own a '99 kia sephia & have had a recent problem that I now believe is in the wiring after replacing two separate censors. The check engine light just turned on one day along with a boging of the engine. I'll be driving normally when the car will act as if it is no longer getting gas. It will continue to idle, but no acceleration. I have now replaced the spark plugs, fuel filter, throttle position censor, main computer and one other censor near the throttle censor, but I don't recall the name. I'm now going to go threw all the wires and check for shorts.

You would have been better off just replacing the Fuel Pump. That would have saved you a lot of money.

My Mother Had a 1998 Sephia. She was going up a hill and the gas pedal got hung-up.She ended hitting a house and the air bags never deployed. The car was totaled with mild little damage done, Because the insurance agent said that a Kia cost more to fix then they are worth. All she got was 31 hundred dollars for a car with 23,000 thousand miles on it. She had to have the brakes replaced at 20,000 miles, Exhaust system replaced at 19,000 miles, Battery dead at 18,000 miles Paint was chipping very bad on back bumper te car dented easy. Had many recalls done. After all this she still like the car. It had good power on the road, Gas mileage was real bad.

I own a 1999 Sephia, and up till now have had no real major problems with it other than brakes. But now it seems to only start when it wants to, and nobody knows what is wrong with it. I have taken it to local mechanics who have checked fuel pump, fuel injectors and compression stating that there is nothing wrong with any or them. I am slightly confused as to how a car can start one day and run fine, but not start another day. Now, I never know if it does start if I am going to get back home. It is very irritating, not to mention, nobody knows what is wrong. Any ideas?

I have a 1998 KIA Sephia and "knock on wood" I haven't had any major problems with it!

I've had it 4 yrs now. It has 160000 miles on it. I've only replaced the alternator, water pump, brake jets, a spring I broke (I like to fly over bumps and pot holes), and normal things like spark plugs, oil filter, air filter, belts, brakes, tires.

Its great on gas, I can make it to North Carolina with a tank of gas and still have gas left over (I went on a road trip)!

I don't even take very good care of it.I've even let it run out of oil. I beat my car up and so have my friends.

I love my KIA and I will never get rid of it as long as I can fix it!