1998 Kia Sephia: won't start

Filed Dec 30, 2003 · Brakes, Electrical · 65,000 miles · TX · fire

I purchased a kia in march 02' I used the car for long trips the first year I had owned the car and I had no faults in jan.- feb 03' the car began to shift in to numerous gears and then stall. I was then deployed to iraq. I left the car with a good friend. When I came back he informed me that the car wouldn't start. Dealer said it was the fuel pump. Friend replaced the fuel pump.friend then replaced fuel pump again when car wouldn't start. Friend left the car alone,when it didn't start, until I had returned from iraq. I came back and took the car to midas, due to the fact that the dealer didn't have an idea of what was going on. Midas then said it was the fuel pump. I had it replaced for a third time. Car ran for a day then died. I took the car back to midas they said it was the wiring harness. I had that replaced. Car still didn't start. So midas said three weeks later they said it was the fuel module. The car then worked for about a month then wouldn't start. Took car to several shops all said it was the pump. I then had a mechanic from my unit check it out. He said it was within the wiring to the fuel pump still hasn't figured it out. Since then I have found that it has a faulty connection with the connecting cables near the fuel pump under the back seat. The connectors have been miss firing and has burnt a hole in my back seat. I've tried to go to the dealer but they insist on doing a dianostic and charge me $60.00 just to tell me the same thing that I already know. They also said they can't order the part until a dianostic was done. I've also had numerous problems with the fuel tank over filling and not reading full on the gauge. I have also had to replace the brakes four times in 18 months.the power steering also goes out quite frequently. I have also had a serious problem with the alignment of the car. I understand that wear and tear occurs on a vehicle but the problems that I have had with this car is not normal wear and tear. Iam dissaponted in kia

Filed Oct 16, 2003 · Electrical · 57,000 miles · IL

I own a 1998 kia sephia and ever since I have had this car it sometimes will not start even the battery is working fine. The dealer remedy for this is just replace the starter. I have replaced the starter several times and this seems to provide a cure temporarily. Just recently I had this happen again... I had it towed to a local mechanic that had just again replaced the starter for me...this time he took the starter back to the rebuilder and there was nothing wrong with the starter...the mechanic did some more searching and found the the solenoid that was designed to need a minimum of 11 volts to start was only receiving 7 volts....the mechanic felt the this was a design fault with the car. The starter rebuilder recommended the use of an alternate solenoid from an early model ford that only required 6 volts....with this fix the car has been starting very well... The problem that I am having is that with all of the kia high paid engineers why couldn't the figure this out....

Filed Aug 13, 2003 · Transmission · 12,800 miles · NJ

Vehicle wouldn't start intermittently. About a month ago it started to happen more frequently. Shifter assembly was replaced. Vehicle would also roll while in park. Dealer told consumer that transmission would have to be replaced to solve the problem.

Filed Jun 19, 2001 · Electrical · CA

Interior is falling apart dash coming undone, door panel cracked, control knobs broke, defective electrical connections at fuse box failure with relays causing no start, no defroster, no horn, stalling of vechicle. Concerned of possible electrical fire

Filed Apr 10, 2001 · Engine · MD · fire

I also had to bring the car in for service 5 times for the sme problem. Engine check light would come on 02/06/99 took car in because engine light came on they found code po 440 for evap emissions system malfunction they found hose that rubbed against bracket created leak 02/27/99 check engine light on again and smell gas fumes found engine surges and hard to start performed g300 ground wire repair under drivers seat to correct problem 03/15/99 check engine light on again code po172 replaced defective mass air flow meter solenoid valve during road test engine misfire #3 spark plug fouled replaced plugs 03/10/99 check engine light on again codes po270,p1505,po0300 injector circuit to low , random misfire they found egiharness was cut and pinced going through firewall replaced eci harness & control unit car would not start after check over found no power to starter solenoid. Found new harness missing a wire replaced wire. The car was a lemon, kia refused to take car back.

Filed Mar 21, 2001 · Brakes, Electrical · IL

Transmission has been worked on over past year. *ak ABS light came on and stayed on due to catalytic converter failure. Wheel bearing failed and was replaced. Automatic transmission had no engagement due to half shaft failure. Engine stalled at a stop due to transmission assembly failure. Brakes were noisy and were replaced, including the rotors. Engine will not start due to battery and starter failure.

Filed Jan 5, 2001 · Electrical · FL

Consumer had tried to start vehicle, but sometimes it will not start. When it is on could turn it off whitout prior warning. At time when consumer restarted, engine will not restart.

Filed Jan 1, 2001 · Engine, Transmission · CA

Check engine light on & o/d light flashes after almost every 300 miles since recall campaign to replace orvr valves was serviced by dealer. O/d light flashes would then follow engine stalling (after driven 150 miles) and would only crank engine but wont start. Also after orvr was replaced, every full tank of fuel ( 12.7 gals.) would cause hesitation but would go away after driven for 8 miles . Engine stalling luckily occurred only on street roads but could pose serious risk if it would happen on freeways.

Filed Jun 20, 2000 · Electrical, Transmission · MI

The first problem was the electrical system, the car kept blowing fuses and would not start. After 4 visits to a kia service center it was learned that the fuse box had been built wrong. Kia had a rebuild kit on hand for this problem and corrected it, as well as replaceing a number of sensors and other equipment damaged by this problem. Next was the transmission, which whould and does switch gears for no reason, jumping into higher gear or downshifing into lower gear without warning and staying there until the car is brought to a complete halt. This problem has not been traced, kia service technicians claimed to have driven the vehicle extensively but could not reproduce the problem, dispite the fact that it occures frequently for myself and my wife. The brakes started acting funney at around 11,000 miles and upon inspection by kia personell were found to be worn excessively in the center of the rotors, dispite telling me that it was a very common problem kia refused to repair it, saying that it was a maintiance issue, and not a defect. The door latches failed on a trip to indiana and the doors had to be locked or they would not stay closed. The glove compartment latch failed at the same time, falling open at any bump and the handle was falling off, so it had to be left open the entire time. The weather stripping began falling off shortly thereafter causeing water leaks into the car, and sometimes preventing the doors from closeing correctly. I have attempted on numerious occasions to have these issue delt with by kia motors and they have faid to do so, beyond the bare minimum. I have even been attempting to return the car in accordiance with michigan's `lemon law' and kia's only response is to attempt to half-hartedly repair the vehicle at my expense. Dispite the fact that some of these issues could be dangerious.

Filed Mar 7, 2000 · Brakes, Electrical · GA

Since the time that I have purchased this car it has been falling apart. The car is constantly shutting down or it just won't start. At this present time my car is sittting at stonemountain kia whereas it is in need a third battery all within less than a years time. Eventhough they know the dangerous history of this car that I purchased new, they continually return the car to me without doing a safety check. I have had my car towed to their location several times in the same week because they have felled to fix the problem. Once again my car is continually suffering from the same problems that are continuing to grow worst. The air conditioning system fails to work properly. The driveshaft is always sticking in the gears. The air bag light continually blink and stay on for periods at a time. The exhaust still making loud noise that I have complained about since I brought the car. The engine jerks and the car is burning a lot of gas. The battery acid continues to leak out into the car. The air vents broke just from a slight touch and so did the knob that control the air circulation. The car is constantly stalling. The car shakes badly when pressing on the brakes. Firestone refuses to work on kia's because they are aware of all the faulty system pertaining to kia's. Lation

Filed Dec 13, 1999 · Airbags, Brakes · TN

Engine check light/air bag lights are on. Car will not start, also, there was a problem with the brakes. When applying the brakes, pedal went to the floor, consumer almost had a collision.

Filed Dec 4, 1999 · Engine · CO

Since purchase have returned car under warranty at least 10 times, always for the same problem having to do with the catalytic converter, emissions system, and brakes. About once a month, check engine light flashes, car lurches and is shakey, often with a funny noise and bad smell. Dealership has "fixed" same problem each time, to no avail. Danger factor has increased as I now live in snowy climate. Car has no power, then lurches forward at high speed, stops in traffic, stalls or won't start at all. Tachometer goes up to 4 or 5 before leaving first gear (car is automatic). Dealer sold this car to me as a demo, but contract says used. Help -- this is a terrible, dangerous car and has been in the shop for at least 90 out of the last 300 days.