Structure Problems of Kia Motor Sephia - part 1

The dash board is curling up around the front window vents which is kicking the vents out.

See all problems of the 1998 Kia Motor Sephia 🔎.

Right front (passenger) door will not open. Door latch will not unlock. First time it happened, I had to cut a hole in the inside door panel to access the interior of the door. The lock mechanism was rusted due to a poorly designed window seal that drains into the interior of the door--right onto the lock. This is dangerous-- many complaints about this on bulletin boards all over the net. There is a TSB (625894) that deals with latches, but I have not checked it yet with the dealer. I understand kia has some cover or something that shields the lock. Perhaps the TSB is for the shield.

See all problems of the 2000 Kia Motor Sephia 🔎.

Sephia kia dash board . . . . Warranty,is only 36,000 miles the seams are torn out on the dash board in front of the mileage odometer and making me sick,the dashboard on the passenger side is buffed up with the air vent buffered up toward the window, keeping me from getting any air. I have taken the car too dr. Vinlyn. . The only person that fixes dash boards in my state, and to an upholstery shop, neither one would fix it. . They state, kia manufacturer is not making the dashboards the same and there only made out of plastic now, no use in fixing it, might as well buy a new dashboard, cause kia doesn't make great dashboards for cars any longer, and the dashboards are only plastic. . I was also told, a lot of kia's cars have been buffered up, and nothing but plastic. I was told I would be better off, if I could find a better dashboard than what I have now,cause it would just come a loose again by the heat,if it is still plastic. . Kia cars of America. . . Claims my warranty is only 36,000 miles warranty,but I need my car fixed by kia cars of America,my dash board is made out of plastic,and I fault Kia Motors for building this car like this, I have breathing problems, and unless kia wants to give me another car, I want them to fix this car,this is not the way I brought this car and it is torn up inside, busted up by heat. Thank you for e-mailing me back, at my email above. I am very disappointed in kia cars, I wanted to stick with kia cars, but after this ,I don't know, I just know, I need kia cars of America to fix this car. The smell in this car with the seams busted is making me sick.

I have a 2000 kia Sephia and the vents started to crack. Now the whole dashboard is curling up to where the vents won't even work. It is a safety issue because the defroster will not work because of the deformation of the dash. And with this car just being 6 years old when it happened I believe it should be recalled. It may cause me to wreck from not being able to clear the fog off of the window. Every kia Sephia that I have seen has this problem now. Which is a very serious problem with a car that is not even 10 years old.

The contact owns a 2000 kia Sephia. When the temperature dropped below 25 degrees none of the doors latches function properly and its difficult to close the door. The failure mileage was 25000 and the current mileage was 41000. Updated 03/01/10 the consumer stated when temperature dropped, the door locks did not latch. The consumer stated she has to hold door while driving. Also, the dash board was falling apart. Updated 08/20/10.

1) air conditioner hoses defective and will not hold charge 2) car rattles and makes noise coming from trunk area, taken to dealer repeatedly without any idea of how to remedy the problem 3) car would loose power without warning and at dangerous times, took to dealer 3 times before the car failed completely and they were finally able to fix the problem 4) rear drivers side window sticks and rattles, taken to dealer un-repairable 5) rear door look does not work, taken to dealer repaired but now it doesn't work yet again 6) engine light on, told by dealer the gas cap wasn't tight enough 7) power locks open and close at intervals while driving the car 8) engine light blinking, no idea what problem is this time contacted kia and asked to speak to field representative and was told that kia could do nothing to assist owner in fixing owner. This car is a money pit and do not recommend to anyone to buy a kia under any circumstances.

See all problems of the 1999 Kia Motor Sephia 🔎.

The dashboard is warped/coming up and has bent/ruined the defrost/defogger system. It happened all on it's own, we did nothing to provoke this. I am the original owner and the car has never been in a wreck. I am concerned if it has caused airbag damage. It is a hazard not to be able to defrost/defog windows. Also the tailpipe keeps getting holes in it and we have to keep getting welding done on it.

See all problems of the 1997 Kia Motor Sephia 🔎.

1999 kia Sephia dashboard has become detached from where the windshield meets. This problem had continued to get worst. While the vehicle was in motion, a motorized noise was heard coming from the passenger side airbag. The consumer was aware of other kia vehicles experiencing this same problem. The consumer was informed that her vehicle would not be repaired because the warranty had expired.

1-leaking brake fluid inside firewall 2-dashboard disfiguring 3-exaust manifold gaskets not lasting.

Dashboard separated from windshield without warning. Driver's side came loose, and now the other side was loose. Manufacturer was called, and they said they had a recall on that problem. Dealer has not been contacted yet.

See all problems of the 2001 Kia Motor Sephia 🔎.

The dashboard lifted up from the chassis of the vehicle. Also, there was a hole that burned into the top of the dashboard. The consumer was concerned with the air bags not deploying or deploying prematurely.

Problems with seat belts and dashboard.

The dashboard is separating from the windshield, preventing the defroster from circulating to the windshield. Manufacturer states they can not assist the consumer.

The dashboard is pulling apart and this is unsafe and I worry about the air bags blasting off and other damage. I know this problem is prevelant to this car also there is something wrong with the breaks they squeak horribly, but the break people say they don't need to be replaced, unsure of the cause.

Master cylinder needs to be replaced due to leaking brake fluid. Consumer is adding a pint of brake fluid daily. Brake light illuminates on dashboard, when the brakes are applied, there is extended stopping distance. . Consumer stated the master cylinder has been replaced previously, this will be the 3rd master cylinder, the vehicle also vibrates and the dealer stated it was because the vehicle was out of alignment, however the vibration continued after the alignment, the transmission was replaced at 17,000 miles.

Before 40,000 miles, had fuel pump changed 2 times, starter changed 2 times, new transmission, ignition control module once, doors replaced due to defect, new paint job due to trash under original paint job, all hub caps and trim were replaced due to fading at 10,000 miles (which faded again a few thousand miles later), ac blower resistor motor replaced, all mirrors were replaced, electrical short in dome light, & ignition switch replaced. I bought my car in oct 2001, and was put in shop for the first time in Jan. 2002 and has been there 55 days since. I have kept up with all required maintenance. Sorry, but this car is junk. And I hate to have had a bad experience buying my first new vehicle.

Engine and lots of others.

Our kia Sephia 2000 is a lemon. We have had to replace the brakes four times because of premature ware and shaking due to poor design. We received the car with a dead battery. We are on our third battery. We were on our third set of tires before 30,000 miles. The gear shift will stick so that you can not take it out of park. The weather molding is falling off. Check engine light goes on and they could not keep it from coming on.

Driver side outside molding is discoloring. Yh.

Consumer stated vechicle was defected when she purchased it on Sep 11 1999 . Consumer took it back on Sep 13 1999 because she has been having problems, such as transmission fluid leaking out from underneath her vechicle. Also, brakes not working properly when applying brakes. Pedals went allthe down to the floor. Also vechicle overheated. Also, front grill /windshield wipers and gas gauge had to b ereplaced, and I still don't work . At this time the consumer has registered a complaint with the lemon law. Her car is at the dealership waiting for a part.

Consumer owns 1997 kia Sephia. She had a problem with the dashboard. The vents for the defroster fell off, and the dashboard was brown, which began as a small spot and grew to cover the whole dashboard. She was concerned that the dashboard falling apart might somehow affect the airbags. She says that there is a burning smell coming from dash, smell has been there since she purchased vehicle. She did purchase vehicle new.

Dashboard is separating from the frame of the interior of the vehicle. Dealer has examined the vehicle on four occasions, and was unable to resolve the problem.

See all problems of the 1996 Kia Motor Sephia 🔎.

I purchased a 1996 kia Sephia and have the same problam as alot of other owners. The dashboard is lifting and peeling away from the frame.

Rattling sounds throughout the car when driving.

Dealer replaced 4 brakes/flex plate/ speakers3/powsteerpump/ 2x gear shift assembley/ electric system and transmission.

Consumer feels the vehicle is contructed of cheap/weak metal and unsafe.

Is leaking causing electrical lights damage, the hazards or signals aren't working and the truck smells like mildew. Ts.

The dash board started to lift/ expand, which may cause the air bag to deploy.

The dashboard area, in front of driver's seat developed "burn" spots and since then popped out, near the front windshield. As a result, the consumer experienced respiratory problems and blurred vision when driving for an extended period of time. The consumer believed the sun contacted the dash and had given off some type of chemical. The burn spot was approximately 12 inches in diameter. Every three to four days it created a film on the inside of the windshield(the size of the burn area) and also had given off an odor. The odor made the consumer's husband sick and her sister's eyes burn.

Dashboard is beginning to lift and bubbles are forming near the vents for the defrostr. Consumer believes dashboard may obstruct vision. Cause is unknown.

The dashboard came loose and lifted from the interior of the vehicle. . The molding strip around the rear window was loose.

Water leaks into vehicle during rain.

Consumer states that dashboard is peeling off from the car's foundation.

The passenger side dashboard is lifting up, consumer believes this may cause the airbag to deploy. Dealer has been contacted.

The dash board buckled to the point where the consumer had to cut off portions of it. The consumer was concerned it may affect the performance of the air bag.