1998 Kia Sephia from North America - Comments

I had purchased the car with a 3 year 30 thousand mile warranty on it within that time nothing had happened. As soon as the warranty expired I had to replace the clutch. About 3 months later the car was giving me problems starting so I had to have the starter replaced. The speakers are fading in and out. The paint on the car is fading. The car gets a lot of dings and dents. The brake light goes out when you turn the headlights on. The driver side door cannot be opened from the outside because the handle broke. The battery has been replaced twice. The car is having problems starting again I think it might be a problem with the starter or maybe the electrical system. It failed inspection. And to top it off the engine has a leak somewhere. So with all these problems I would never buy another one of these cars. I don't care if they offer a 50year 500000 mile warranty. It's a piece of junk through and through.

I would never buy another Kia Sephia.

I couldn't help, but notice something about this review of the Sephia. Dings, broken handles, fading paint and burning up a clutch are all either abuse or neglect. As a Kia technician I see many people neglecting and abusing these cars and expecting them to take it like a Mercedes. These cars treat you as well as you treat them (assuming you have a good mechanic). My boss owns a 1999 Sephia with 126,000 city miles on it. Besides the bumper paint flaking, the car is like new.

I disagree with the previous comment. THIS CAR IS GARBAGE! If you're a kia tech, I'm sure you make a lot of money.

I have to say that the Kia Sephia is a piece of junk. I don't know what the Koreans were thinking when they built this car.

I have had nothing, but problems withthis car. I have had to replace the Master brake cylinder, brake pads, rotors, the battery. The car shakes no matter what is done to the alignment or balancing. It has a hard time starting anytime, not just the cold. One person said that when your headlights turn on the brake light turns off. Well that happens to me. Never in my life have I experienced a car with this many problems. Kia Techs have to make good money to lie about this car. The kia Sephia is like heroin, NO ONE NEEDS IT!!!

I also own a 1998 KIA sephia, which I have had problem after problem with. My daughter originally bought it as a first car, from day one she had problems with the radio. It had to be replaced. It was towed in several times because it would not start. The dash is bowing up by both vents. The brake rotors had to be replaced because they had prematurely warped (according to the kia mechanic). The passenger door lock does not work properly. And now the radio is not working again. The brakes lights don't work when the headlights are on. and now I am having to have the cv joints replaced.. and believe you this car was not abused it was taken very good care of.