2000 Kia Sephia from North America - Comments

This car has had continual brake problems starting from 6 months after I purchased this car. The brakes would screech, clunk and make all kinds of sounds, but the car dealer has been unable to find the problem. Other individuals have posted that the sephia brakes fail completely after making noises for some time. Because of this I have now traded the car in, because I do not feel like it is worth risking my life or the life of my loved ones to save money.

The engine itself has been fine, and I otherwise liked the car.

Please for your own safety do not consider purchasing a Kia Sephia. The "value" of this car is not worth the known brake issue, which could cost you your life. Kia also knows the problem exist, and refuses to do anything about it.

You have many other "value" car options which are more reliable and safe (for example, a used Honda civic or Toyota echo are great cars).

I thought at first when reading these reviews regarding the sephia that other people are not maintaining the brakes correctly, or that I could just bring it in to the dealer should I hear any brake sounds. Don't make this same mistake! Even after my brakes started making sounds, the car shops could not find the problem, and I would worry every time I drove the car if I was risking my life.

Kia makes poor quality cars, and the sephia is a death trap.

I had a 2000 Kia Sephia for 3 years and had no problems whatsoever with it. It was quiet and a smooth ride, no brake problems. The only reason I traded it in was to get a 4WD Sportage as I live in an area where snow and ice in the winter are a problem.

I had the same brake problems. I ended up crashing into a dirt hill. The brakes completely stopped. This is a crappy first car for a sixteen year old.

I bought my 2000 Sephia in November 2000. Since then my car has been in the shop numerous times for problems with the transmission it's been replaced over 10 times we've had problems with starters and alternators. I would not recommend this car for anyone It's left my daughter and I stuck on the side of the road too many times to count. The roadside assistance people know my car by heart they have towed it enough. If you care about your family don't put them in this car. We go through brakes every 5 thousand miles or so. they screech all the time.

I want to thank everyone on here for their comments I was considering buying a KIA Sophia until I read about all of the brake and transmission problems, I read some good things, but I think I've read more bad things about this car.

I agree with these comments. I'm 17 years old, and own a 2000 Kia Sephia. My brakes went out on me and I too, rear ended somebody. Luckily, creeping to a stop light so there wasn't any damage done.

I was just in another accident last week, a guy t-boned me going 5 mph (pulling out of a stop sign). I was doing about 30 MPH. He hit my driver door causing my car to have $2,500 in damage. The whole door caved in and I had to crawl out the passenger side. Keep in mind the driver hit me going only FIVE MPH. And he caused this much damage to the car. The exterior of the car is very cheap.

I bought my KIA Sephia LS in 2002. I loved it for about a month. Then after pulling out of a gas station, I realized that my car would not go faster than about 20 mph. After calling a tow truck, I was informed that my transmission needed to be replaced at 22,000 miles.

When I got the car back from the KIA garage, the over drive off light would not go off. I was told to bring it back, that it was probably an electrical issue. After my third trip to the garage, the car was back in drivable condition.

Then winter set in, and I tried to open my drivers door, and couldn't; it was frozen shut. Thinking it was the lock I used lock de-icer, liquid graphite, and wd40; nothing worked. So I learned to deal with it by dumping hot water on the door, which was fine except for when I drove the water froze, the door froze, and I could not get out.

Another great thing that happened with the KIA was with the radio; whenever I hit a speed bump or pothole or rumble strip, the radio would turn up to a deafening level. I had no choice but to replace the radio or do without.

The dashboard clock switched itself to military time, and will not change back. Also the door chimes sound like they are under water.

At about 59,000 thousand miles my car started blowing black smoke from the exhaust. I took it once again to a KIA garage and they told me that I had too much oil in the car, and that's why it was burning oil. So then my 60,000 power train warranty was up, and at 60,111 miles my head gasket went, which I know was the problem when I took it to the garage.

SO after putting another 1,600 dollars into a car that is worth less that 3,000 dollars, I have a car that I cannot easily get in and out of in the winter, and only get about 19 miles per gallon, which is horrible for a vehicle. My parent's mini van get better mileage that that.

So my advice is don't buy a KIA. If you ask me, KIA stands for Keep It Alive.

I have a 2000 Kia Sephia. At 80,000 miles, I'm having transmission problems. I'm trying to decide now if I should have it replaced. I haven't had brake problems but my power windows went out a couple of years ago and I've had trouble with the inside lights going out.

I have had my 2000 KIA SEPHIA since 2001 and I've had major repairs done maybe 4-5 times... I still have my car! I need tires and GAS, but I'm good! KEY: PRAYER!!!

I love my car!