Automatic Transmission problems of the 1999 Kia Motor Sephia

Sudden brake failure; leakage around windows, trunk; gas splash back (found out there was a recall on this, never fixed by previous owner); fear shift button won't go in to change from park to drive or reverse; transmission hestitates at times, then lunges; car overheats while sitting or driving at slow speed (fan works and radiator full); smell comes from air conditioning when stopped (it really stinks, worse than a skunk); when filling gas tank to full, mark never registers full. I spoke to kia about these problems and they said I'd have to pay to have them fixed. I think there needs to be recalls on these problems as the people at kia are not very friendly nor willing to help out people. We bought this car used and thought some of the problems stemmed from that. However, in researching the brake pad issue, I found many of these same problems began early in the manufacturing of these vehicles. Unfortunately, I am not under warranty like others so have no recourse but to sell this vehicle as soon as I get the brake pads fixed. I do wish the nthsa could do something to help us out on these problems which are not being fixed by kia. Thanks - don't buy a kia Sephia 1999 model. Too many problems.

Consumer had to have the motor rebuilt. The engine was rebuilt because the engine kept overheating. Now the transmission needs to be replaced but the consumer cannot afford to repair it. The starter was also replaced.

Took car to brenner and they said it was ok the first time. Overdrive kept turning off while driving. 7/03 took my car back and now it needs a transmission and they don't want to put it in, because I did not have them do the maintenance on my car. I showed proof that the work was done. They are way over priced when it comes to main. That is not covered under warranty.

Consumer states that while driving at any speed up hill and with no warning transmission will decelerate even when foot is on the accelerator, and it will be hard for the consumer to control the vehicle. Dealer notified.

While driving between 40-65mph transmission will downshift, and engine light will come on, making it hard for consumer to control vehicle. Dealer notified.

When accelerating, the driver noticed the vehicle would not gain any power. Consumer took vehicle to the dealership to replaced the transmission. A few months later, the transmission was replace again for the same problem. This is the third transmission that has been placed in vehicle. When accelerating, the driver noticed the vehicle would not gain any power. Consumer took vehicle to the dealership to replaced the transmission. A few months later, the transmission was replace again for the same problem. This is the third transmission that has been placed in vehicle.

Since we bought the car we had a recall on January of 2000 for electrical system. After that we had problems with engine light going on that was due to transmission problems,wish in fact had to be repair twice and replace once. Also air bag light turn on due to alternator problem on 02/05/2002,alternator had to be replace. I would like to see a resolution to this problem because of the matter of fact the car shoulb be under the lemon law. Thank you.

I have had nothing but problems since I bought this car. First it was the rotors and brakes, then all the recalls. Brakes are going again, had to get a new battery after one year. Then the transmission went. The first time was on 11/16/01 and I was out of state. Didn't get a car while it was being fixed. Husband had to rent a car. Only had 24825 miles. I missed three days of work because of it. Now, it hass happened again. On 1/19/02 on my way to work. I missed work that day. Of course it is a weekend and can't get ahold of anybody. It has only been two months since last time and I was told it will never happen again, cause they have a new and improved transmission. Imagine that. Could someone please help me, I am so sick of this car. I need a car I can rely on for work. I have to go on meetings outside and this is kind of hard without a vehicle. If I can't work I can't pay my payments now can I. Cynette cheal, va.

This the third letter I have sent you. I want to complaint about my kia, I can't take it anymore, this car is making me sick. This car has caused me many inconvinience from missing work, getting late to work, leaving early from work, my daughter had missed school, getting late to school, and plus a lot of headackes. This car its only two years old, its a new car, I'm still paying for this junk. And it does not qualify for the lemon law because the same thing had to happen in order to qualify, but the thing is that every time is a different problem and the botton line is that im driving a lemon and no one can help me. No safety defect listed.

I have already contacted the manufacturer in several ocasions. Filed a complaint with the bbb auto line, but case was closed because car is not a lemon. The dealers have not been able to find the problems of the transmission and the ignition. Kia had said that they were working on a "good faith offer" but after the bbb closed the case, did not hear from them anymore. I do not wish to keep the car. Kia has not honored the warranty promise; therefore they are in default of the warranty. Kia dealers won't check the car if computer does not prompt a code. The last time I dropped the car at the dealer, left it for over 5 days for them to inspect and notified kia of this action, but they could not find the intermittent problems. Monthly payment on car is $422. 52. Can't afford a defective vehicle, besides of paying for tow trucks and missing from work due to car failures. Transmission have broken twice. Every time they fix it, it does not work for long. This car is no longer reliable and I do not wish to waste my time at dealers. They have not been able to repair the problems. I am desperate for a solution. I would appreciate your advise before a procede legally.

Repair attempted 4 times, still not fixed, lost 30 days of work thus far. No safety defect mentioned.

Have taken vehicle for fuel pump problems over 6x. . 3 recalls & still seems to run hard/stall. Transmission first brought in on 1/1/00, they couldn't diagnose and then 3/23/01 diagnosed for same problem- repaired. Now sticks in 3-4th gear. All 4 original tires have separated and been replaced (15k miles and 24k miles). Electrical still causing powertrain and accessory-related (radio) recurringly fail. Car is extremely dangerous and kia/dealership fails to diagnose/repair only until recall on exact prev brought in problems occur (and keep recurring). This partic vehicle is extreme hazard/liability to drive. (tiresize: 185/65r14)( dot number: tire size: 185/65r14 ).

While driving at highway speeds transmission line seal that leads to motor cracked and ignited a fire, causing total loss of vehicle, without warning.

Engine check light would stay on, vehicle overheated & overdrive would blink on/off. Ground wire was suppose to be fixed,but vehicle caught on fire. Vehicle was totalled. Manufacturer said they couldn't do anything, filed a lawsuit. Warranty was not up on vehicle.

Tires was replaced Feb. 29th 2000 plus alignment and flywheel replaced in transmission . After that heard rubbing nioses when I turned wheel lt. To rt. Asked mechanic about niose he stated I know what it is , when he came back to return my car (he stated) it was your mounts to the transmission was not aligned, bolts . Plus this is my second kia Sephia and I not getting any help with the problems and I could go on and on , but I would write a best seller. Thanks for listening.

I have turned this car into service two times and they state that there is nothing wrong with this vehicle. But I still have the problems and they want do anything about it. Also the vehicle was stolen from the dealership serv. Dept. On 3/6/00 and located in another state with physical damage and there are no id #'s on car any longer. I feel like this dealership should have to replace or the lemon law needs to be in effect for this car. No safety defect listed within summary.

Since I purchase the car it has been in the shop five times one for replacement of transmission and the other four for the brakes. I contact the company and ask the to give me a knew car but they refuse to. In the mean while the transmission is going again and the brakes are still messed up and it feels like someone is pushing me from the back of the care. I cannot go fast on the high way or the steering wheel will start shaking very fast. They cannot fix the problem I took the car their five times and they donot want to replace it. If you can help me I would like that someone needs to get involved in this situation I pay $350 month and I cannot see why. Thank you.

I bought this car just over a year ago. It has been to the shop 9 going on 10 times, not to mention that there have been two recalls within the last month. This is not what I expected out of a brand new car, in fact, this is what I was trying to avoid by buying new versus used. I still have alot of problems with the transmission, it just doesn't shift right. Sometimes I accellerate, but the car goes nowhere. Someday, I will probably get hit. The car starts hard, this was supposedly fixed by some "fix it" that kia came up with, but it still does it. My check engine light keeps coming on, and I think I've come to the conclusion that when it comes on, I am backing up. We have filed a lawsuit on this car against kia, but they have not done anything toward settlement. Court date is 6/99.

I thought the brakes were going bad in December, they shafed the rotors. In less than three moths they replaced them on March 2, 2000. They have replaced the brake pads three times. They have replaced the exhaust. They have two recalls. They have had to fix my transmission. The pin stripes are now starting to come off. The rubber peice around the back passenger doors are also comming off. ( dot number: 0 tire size: 14 ).

While driving the automatic transmission keeps skipping. The dealership has replaced the transmission 3 times and the problem still exist. Ph.

Brakes and rotors replaced 3 times once at 8208, 16257, and 20368 having same problem and transmission replaced with rebuilt one o\d lights flashes and check engine still having the same problem transmission went out again 1 day after they said they fixed it.

Vehicle would die out when gears are shifted. Happens also when starting out to drive. Would lose power & have to down shift to get power back. Had notified dealer & manufacture twice about problem. Cause cannot be located.

When starting the engine it would turn over & then vehicle would stall. Once started, vehicle would hesitate. The fuel gauge fails to register fuel intake. Also, vehicle is very hard to shift into gear properly. Took vehicle to dealer to have problems checked. The mechanic replaced the fly wheel & the gas tank.

No wonder auto so cheap. . . Poorly made, poor service at dealer too. Just a ton of little things have gone wrong with this car since purch. New in may '99 major mistake on my part, should have checked out complaint data base first before buying this car. No safety defect listed in the summary.

Vehicle experiencing transmission problems with the 2nd and 3rd gear ratio.

Every time the car is off for 2 hours or more, when car is first started cannot shift out of park. Button on side of stick will not push in & car must be allowed to heat up for 2-5 minutes whether it's hot or cold outside. This morning it would not move at all for 20 minutes until I sprayed wd40 around the base & around the button. I was told by the dealer it was sticky due to liquid being dropped in stick compartment. I have never spilled anything in there. They said it was stiff due to the cold in the morning. Now it's hot in the morning -- and it still sticks!!!!.

Transmission was replaced and turn signals became inoperative, both within 500 miles.

My left front tire is completely thread bare, and my mechanic tells me the remaining three are in dire need of replacement as well. This is the second pair of these tires to be replaced on this car. The first pair was at 2,000 miles. I have read of many complaints about this manufacturer's tires in the NHTSA data base. Most of the reports for the kia Sephia did not mention the make and manufacturer of the tire. I would like for this tire to be investigated before someone is seriously injured. Had I not had my car in to have it serviced and the tires rotated I would not have been aware of the severity of the ware problem and could have been involved in an accident. In reference to the transmission on the kia Sephia I have had two transmissions installed in this car since April of this year and the previous owner had returned the car to the manufacturer to have a new transmission installed. Why is kia permitted to continue to provide defective materials for these vehicles?.

Complete lemon. Nothing but problems. Replaced brakes, transmission, 2 axles, windshield wiper motor, flywheel, faulty wiring in door, battery, starting problems, blinker switch replaced, seat tore upon car pick-up, too many things gone wrong to list.

I am well aware of ocassional problems with new vehicles , I feel that some one must rectify this situation , I would like very much to be a part of this . I have owned the car for 3 months and have had more than my share of problems with this car and attitudes from the dealership about having them fixed, I would like very much to be contacted by a representitive of NHTSA just to let me know that all my time was not wasted with this questionaire, hopefully you can do something to help me and my family and the many others I have talked to that are having these same problems with their kia's sincerely , donald r lavallee.