1997 Kia Sephia from North America - Comments

Had to replaced the alternator.

Would die at the most unexpected moments.

Overdrive would suddenly switch off causing the car to suddenly lose power, to stall, jerk and drag. This could happen at any time and at any speed. When it happens when you're driving seventy five miles an hour on the highway, it is frightening.

I have spent over a thousand trying to find the problem. I brought the car to two different Kia dealerships. They keep telling me they can't find anything wrong with the car yet the overdrive problem happens to me at least twice every day on the way to and back from work. I have changed the transmission fluid twice, put in a new fuel pump, new distribution cap and rotor and new spark plugs. But the problem persists. I have no choice but to drive this car every day but I'm always tense on the road because the problem could hit anytime. Each time the overdrive kicks off, I have to stop. As soon as I stop, the car goes back to normal.

Very clearly written. Problems were stated factually and without unnecessary colorful opinion. It was easy and pleasant to read. It left me with a clear understanding of what the writer was trying to convey, with enough passion to make the comments believable.

I heard about your problem, about transmission check/or change the rubbery fasteners that hold the engine and gear box if it's old and the engine shakes hard it changes gear even if transmittion o.k.

I have this exact same problem, and I too am terrified while driving my car. I went to an AutoZone to have the diagnostics test and I was initially told that it was the Oxygen sensor, well it wasn't because $300+ USD's later I am still having the problem, I went again to have a diagnostics test done, and now I am told it is the speed sensor and the crank shaft, although apparently Kia does not call the parts by tis name, they had to tell me the name. It apparently will cost me over another $300 USD's to get it fixed, just thought I would let you know.

Thanks for this forum to share experiences. My wife and I purchased a 1997 Kia Sephia with 51k miles as a "beater" car to get us back and forth to work, and take the kids to school. At 57k miles, it is in the shop after having many instances where the check engine light would come on, the overdrive light would flash, and the car would not upshift beyond 3rd gear (and would downshift if we were already at highway speeds). Once this happened, the car would shift from 1st through 3rd gears, albeit a delayed shift, but would not go into overdrive or lockup the torque converter. At highway speeds, this would cause the engine to rev thousands of rpm's higher than normal, and (I'm sure) reduced the life of the engine.

It turns out that the kia sephia transmission is electronically controlled, and there's a circuit that controls shifting and torque converter lockup that should be replaced.

I'll continue to drive the car and will let you know if the problem recurs.

I have a 97 Kia Sephia that's been in the shop for 5 months. The car just died on me in the middle of the road one night. Everyone thought it was the fuel pump so we changed that. Then the car wouldn't start at all. We then changed the fuel filter and that did nothing. I finally ended up taking it to the Kia dealer in which they took forever to fix and kept telling me to replace everything!I ended up changing the distributor, the alternator, the battery and the computer (3 times!!) Now the car runs, but at stops the car jerks and feels like its gonna die on me. I love my kia, but this problem sucks. I just want it to run smoothly!

Your problems are the speed sensor all of you.

It won't go past third change the speed sensor for the tranny real easy self repair cost under $50.

I own a Kia Sephia and it has 110 Thousand miles on it and no problem. I haven't run into any problems at all. I just get the car checked every 3,000 miles and I have been fine.

Mine has 147000 on it and I have had no probs whatsoever with it.other than normal maintainance.if you abuse it.it will let you down.maintain it regularly, (oil, tranny,brakes, tune ups.ETC...it will last a good long time.