Kia Sephia won't start problems

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 Jan 6, 2006 · Airbags, Brakes · 21,200 miles · IL · fire

This car has been a constant repair and financial problem for the last 4 years starting two weeks after I purchased the car. It is an unsafe vehicle and can not be kept maintained for safety or reliability it was purchased with 21000 miles on the vehicle and a majority of repairs has had to be fixed. 4 starters, ignition switch, ignition switch wiring harness (ignition still doesn't work), air bag sensor, air bag wiring (air bags still does not work), alternator, front passenger side drive axel broke while I was driving the car, right passenger ball joint fell off the car while I was driving the car, master cylinder and rear brake cylinder went out at the same time while I was driving the car, heater/air conditioning motor. The car has been towed 3 times, and has left me and my children stranded too many times to count. The car is still in need of major repair. The driver rear stabilizer bushings need replaced, the driver's side drive axel needs replaced, the air bags still do not work, the ignition switch still gets stuck and won't turn over, and two weeks ago a piston was thrown through the engine and caught the car on fire. The car is now parked in my drive way leaving me stuck with a car payment and a car that is not worth fixing.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Tires · 21,788 miles · OH

Gear shift is my big problem right now with my car. It has been in 3 times in the past 2 years. 1st two times was due to the in-ability to get the car out of park. 1st repair could not get the car out of park. Repair was lubricate the gear shift cable. (accused driver of getting pop in the gear shifter) 2nd repair could not get the car out of park. Repair was to replace the gear shift cable. 3rd repair car stalled on the road and would not start. Repair "free-up shifter shat in transmission (would not go all the wasy in park and was hard to find any gears and would cause a no start)". This is the quote on the back of the repari ticket. When the car was pick-up. The car again refused to start. Was told that the gear shifter on the floor had to be shoved to the consolse to make the car recognize that it is in the "park" location. What I want is fair market value for my car from kia. Right now getting run around. They need more information from the kia repair and service manager before anything else can be done. Right now I am afraid to drive this car because if it stalls on a busy road, it takes about 30 seconds to force the gear shift into the right location to get the engine to turn over. Second complaint is now I am being told that the car needs new tires and brakes (rotors). Again kia blaming the driver, break down is due to bad braking habbits.

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 23, 2003 · Brakes, Tires · 21,788 miles · OH

Car died on the road for no reason. Then car would not start. Driver verified that gear-shift was locked in "park" position. Just glad this did not happen on a busy highway. This is the 3rd time the car has been in the repair shop due to getting the car into or out of park. Repairs over the past 18 months have been re-lubricated the gear-shift cable (1st repair). Replace the gear-shift cable (2nd repair). The last (3rd) repair was a re-lubrication of the replaced gear-shift cable and re-adjustment of the linkage so car could recognize that it was in park. These required repairs are being blamed on not driving the car enough. Also having trouble with premature warring on the break rotors and pads. Car has just over 22,000 miles on it. Reason is driver (that is not driving enough) is too hard on the breaks. (my other car has 78,000 miles on it. It is now ready for the 1st break job.) I am also being told that the tires need to be replaced. Again the car has only 22,000 miles on it. I have read reports on the internet that mis-adjustments form the factory can lead to early ware.

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 Aug 10, 2003 · Electrical · TX

Started having problems with the cigarette lighter (used for cell phone charger) shorting out - pulled fuse so it's wouldn't start a fire. Then at the end of june air conditioner started going on and off when I would hit a bump. Finally went completely out and now being told wiring harness has to be completely replaced. Kia will not pay for because my warranty is out! Scared to drive it because they said wires are melting!!

Filed Jul 15, 2003 · Transmission · 54,000 miles · MD

When starting vehicle will not start. Consumer has to move the gear shifter to another gear, and then back to park. Then ,the vehicle will start.

Filed Jun 11, 2002 · Electrical, Engine · LA

When vehicle was being driven it cuts off without warning. Also, will not start back up. Consumer has to get it towed every time. Then, it is towed back to dealer, yet, dealer cannot find out the problem. Consumer states he is afraid that he or his daughter is going to get hurt.*ak consumer adds there is sudden acceleration then slowing down of the vehicle without brakes being applied. Experiencing fuel relations problems possibly related to the fuel box. It is also possible that the alternator and battery failed.