1999 Kia Sephia: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jul 10, 2015 · Engine · 162,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 kia sephia. While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled and all the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The failure recurred seven times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 162,000.

Filed Jul 17, 2009 · Fuel system · 14,000 miles · TN

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 kia sephia. The contact received a recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign id number 99v317000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump). He was not experiencing any failures at the time, but he took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the fuel pump connectors. In 2003 (three years later), the engine service light illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle would sporadically stall at any speed. The vehicle also experienced a no start condition. He took the vehicle back to the dealer and they stated that the fuel pump connector was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred in 2006. He took the vehicle back to the dealer and they stated that the fuel pump connector was corroded again. The vehicle was repaired again; however, the contact believes that the recall repair is not the correct remedy because the corrosion occurs every three years. The failure mileage was 14,000 and current mileage was 54,000. Updated 08/06/09.

Filed Feb 17, 2005 · Engine · NY

The federal safety agency campaign 99v317000; kia issued an engine stalling recall. This vehicle was included in the recall, but the problem is still occurring even after repair. The fuel pump will not receive enough current to maintain the vehicle on.

Filed Oct 3, 2004 · Brakes, Electrical · 15,000 miles · AL

The car died while driving down the road repeatedly. Battery leaked. Brakes had to be replaced for the entire car at 60,000 miles. The vents on the dashboard have popped up and broken. Now the defroster does not blow the air on the windshield. This vehicle was stored in a garage. The seams on the seat come undone. The cigarette lighter broke and flops in the dash. The switch to override the transmission lock is broken. The rear brake light broke when replacing the struts which you have to remove the back dash to get to. The board that is under the carpet in the trunk warped. The carpets came up from the sides of the car. The storage bin in the center console broke, twice. The wind shield chips and errodes when in a car wash. I have never seen a windshield in this bad shape before. The back seat does not stay down. The headlights have a bad seal and there is water now in them. The rubber around the doors comes out repeatedly. Gear shifter is continually stuck. Brakes take twice as long to stop my car as any other vehicle I have ever driven. I have to drive 2 & 1/2 hours to get repairs. The gas milage is closer to 24 mpg then the 35 that was marked on it when I bought it. There are noises from the engine compartment that are loud and unpleasant. There is a ground fault wire that is bad they want $75 an hour minimum of 10 hours to repair it. The fuse panel cover broke. The headlights cannot be alligned.

Filed Dec 31, 2003 · Engine · 52,000 miles · AL

There was an ongoing / intermittent problem with the vehicle stalling while taking off from a stop position or while driving 25 MPH or more. The vehicle hesitated before it stalled. The vehicle had been to the dealer three times and they were unable to correct/ duplicate the problem. Please provide any further information concerning this issue.

Filed Nov 13, 2002 · Engine · AL

This vehicle just turns off during driving - stalls out at any time. Had the vehicle towed into dealership 2 times, only to drive off both times and break down. It's in the shop now for the third time. They said it was the fuel pump (replaced, still stalls), then the catalytic converters (replaced, still stalls), now the wiring harness. Too dangerous to drive this car. They don't have a clue what's wrong. I'm scared to drive it after I've been virtually run over when the engine cuts off. Dt

Filed Oct 3, 2002 · Brakes, Engine · NY

On four occasions the ignition failed causing the vehicle to stall while in traffic, the dealer has not been able to duplicate the problem. Nlm

Filed May 1, 2002 · Engine · NY

While driving vehicle stalls without warning, also vehicle will not start until after 8 or 9 tries. Dealer contacted.

Filed Sep 26, 2001 · Engine · NJ

While at a stop sign and attempting to make a turn vehicle died. Took vehicle to dealer, and they could not duplicate. Problem still was occurring. Recall 99 v 318 000 concerning engine stalling, but this vehicle was not included due to VIN. Engine check light stayed on, and after refueling it will not start. Please provide any further information.

Filed Sep 16, 2001 · Engine · AZ

Engine light recurringly goes on. Diagnosed and repaired, previously, for emissions solenoid part failure. When brought in and, again, codes came up as emissions / small evap leak in system, dealership kept vehicle over 16 hours, told owner they could not locate an available kia mechanic to look at or work on, so they had a different manufacturer (hyundai) without my authorization look at the vehicle. The hyundai mechanic, svc mgr said, couldn't figure out what to do, and then svc manager told owner that the hyundai mech moved some things under the hood and tightened gas cap, vehicle then seemed okay and vehicle okay to drive with engine light on- just not when flashing on and off' and if goes back on, bring back in when a kia mechanic could look at it. I told them that I did not feel safe driving, esp. As it had just been repaired for the emissions system/engine light several months before and could he please call other local dealer. He said he did not have access to their warranty work or their local system repair records and said not necessary for them to call or take to another kia dealership (even though other dealership only 20 minutes and a local phone call away). Also asked dealership to check transmission and change oil/wash (had dealership online coupons for latter svcs) of which, of course, no services done either (even after having vehcle over 16 hrs). Transmission still sticks/drags while driving and vehicle still random cold-start stalls.

Filed Aug 13, 2001 · Electrical, Engine · CT

The car wouldn't start shortly after I bought it. It took several trips to the dealer in order for them to replace the starter. After the starter was replaced the problem continued and the flywheel was finally replaced. Approximately one week prior to receiving a recall notice on the wiper blades the wipers stopped working during heavy rain on a highway which almost caused me to get into an accident. I have had electrical problems such as the ceiling light going on and off whenever I turned corners. The car battery was even replaced after the new starter and flywheel were put in because the car still had problems starting. Recently the transmission had to be replaced. A week after the transmission was replaced the overdrive light and the engine light started blinking on and off. The car finally stalled and had to be towed. The car was given back to me and I was told that a gasket in the transmission was leaking. A week after that the over drive light and the engine light started flashing again and the car starting driving as if it was stuck in first gear. The car finally stalled again and wouldn't move.

Filed May 22, 2001 · Fuel system, Transmission · AZ

Since earnhardt kia re-ground transmission wiring harness and worked on fuel pump (another recall), car has still stuck in gear, dragged, made grinding sound and shakes from 45 to esp. 55-75 MPH, partic when running hot (over 15 minutes). It also still randomly stalls on cold start or when rainy/wet. Kia consumer affairs called and requested I not take the vehicle back to earnhardt or to thomas motors authorized kia dealerships and to please take it to another dealership and they would call back to confirm a loaner vehicle....which they did not. Sure enough, this morning, on the way to work, it was doing it's usual dragging, grinding, and shaking while I drove except, this time, it stuck in 1-2 gear all the way up to 45mph, then jumped, and then when it went up to 65mph (freeway) right afterwards, I smelled a strange smokey chemical smell and the engine light came on immediately. I was two exits from work so was able to make it to work and called kia and another dealership (childress kia) right away. The vehicle only has 28,800 miles and kess than 2 years old. To make matters worse, I twice had to call kia back when one of their representatives and then the tow truck driver they had arranged to take the vehicle indicated that kia had placed a note in my file that my warranty was "pre-expired." it took calling back, being put on hold numerous times before they finally indicated that they had made an administrative mistake and, of course, still warrantied. This manufacturer has been nothing less than unresponsive and incompetent mechanically and administratively in resolving this vehicles major powertrain defects (past and current) and request investigation remain open until vehicle recalled and returned.