1997 KIA SEPHIA Power Train Problems

I NOTICED A CLUNKING SOUND IN MY FRONT END OF MY 1997 KIA SEPHIA. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW AXLE SHAFTS ON BOTH SIDES. THE DEALER INFORMED ME HE WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PARTS OVERNIGHT AND THAT HE DID NOT WANT ME TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE AXLE SHAFTS ARE CRUMBLING AND HE HAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. HE SAID YOU DON'T SEE THAT IN KIA VEHICLES. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BUT HAD I WAITED THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND I HAVE ASKED THEM TO HOLD ON TO THE AXLE SHAFTS WHEN THEY ARE REMOVED. *NM

Mileage: 49,900

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE BRAKES FELT BAD BECAUSE I HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER HAVING IT FOR 2 WEEKS OTHER THING STARTED TO GO WRONG. I HAD TO BUY A CAP AND ROTOR AND GET SPARK PLUG AND WIRES. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS MESSING UP. THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PUT ME IN SOMETHING BETTER. THEY WANT ME TO PAY ON A JUNK CAR THAT I WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO BE FIXING DAY AFTER DAY.

Mileage: 63,000

CONSUMER STATES THAT WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO OVERDRIVE, DOWNSHIFTS AND LURCHES FORWARD EXCESSIVELY. CONSUMER HAD TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER COMMAND CHIP REPLACED AT 18K MILES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TS

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL SWITCH GEAR ON ITS OWN, PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WANTED TO SELL THEM SOMETHING ELSE.*AK

DURING THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE BOTH DRIVE AXLES REPLACED ON MY 1997 KIA SEPHIA (AT A COST OF OVER $400) DUE TO A VIBRATION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HASN'T COMPLETELY RESOLVED MY PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK SHOULD POINT TO THE NEED FOR A RECALL: (1) THIS PROBLEM IS UNIQUE TO THE 1997 MODEL YEAR; (2) MID-WAY THROUGH THE 1997 MODEL YEAR, THE DESIGN FOR THE DRIVE AXELS WAS CHANGED AND MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO THIS CHANGE. SURELY A CHANGE DURING THE MANUFACTURING YEAR WOULD INDICATE A DESIGN FLAW. DT

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTATCED. *AK CONSUMER SAID WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHENEVER STOPPING, TOOK BACK TO DEALER MANY TIMES FOR REPAIR, VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SPEEDOMETER IS ACTING ERRACTICALLY, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. *YD

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTATCED. *AK CONSUMER SAID WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHENEVER STOPPING, TOOK BACK TO DEALER MANY TIMES FOR REPAIR, VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SPEEDOMETER IS ACTING ERRACTICALLY, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. *YD

TRANSMISSION- DROVE CAR TO DEALER BECAUSE OF SUSPECTED AXEL PROBLEM(REACURRING), WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT OUT OF DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED AXEL (3RD TIME) THEN SAID IT WAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM NOT TO DO TRANSMISSION WORK, THEY REMOVED NEW AXEL( SAID IT WASN'T DEFECTIVE AFTER ALL) HAD CAR TOWED AT MY EXPENSE FROM DEALERSHIP. AXEL WAS REPLACED 1ST TIME, BROKE WITHIN 30 DAYS, REPAIRED AGAIN. 11 MONTHS LATER STARTED HAVING SAME PROBLEM. BRAKES REPLACED 3 TIMES. TIRES REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 3 YEARS.*AK

TRANSMISSION- DROVE CAR TO DEALER BECAUSE OF SUSPECTED AXEL PROBLEM(REACURRING), WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT OUT OF DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED AXEL (3RD TIME) THEN SAID IT WAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM NOT TO DO TRANSMISSION WORK, THEY REMOVED NEW AXEL( SAID IT WASN'T DEFECTIVE AFTER ALL) HAD CAR TOWED AT MY EXPENSE FROM DEALERSHIP. AXEL WAS REPLACED 1ST TIME, BROKE WITHIN 30 DAYS, REPAIRED AGAIN. 11 MONTHS LATER STARTED HAVING SAME PROBLEM. BRAKES REPLACED 3 TIMES. TIRES REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 3 YEARS.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CONSUMER STATES VACUUM HOSES FAILED AND THERE WERE LEAKS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HAD A LEAKING PROBLEM FROM REAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT BRAKES HAD ONLY DUST ON THEM, AND IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE. DROVE VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AND RIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE, CAUSING TIRE TO ROLL DOWN INTERSTATE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING.CONSUMER WILL STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP ACCELERATION, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP, AND CONCERNED ABOUT FACT OF AN ACCIDENT.*AK TRANSMISSION FAILED. BRAKES MAKE NOISE DUE TO ROTOR FAILURE. WIPER BLADES FAILED. BATTERY FAILED. *YH

AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES OFF AND LOSES POWER. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK AFTER THE 7TH TIME DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE SENSOR AND THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE. *YH

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT/ DIGITAL LASER FAILED TO WORK ON CD PANEL/ POWER WINDOW ELECTRICAL SWITCH STOPPED WORKING, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON & DID NOT GO OFF. DASHBOARD COVERING WAS SEPARATING FROM WINDOW. THERE WAS WATER IN THE HEADLIGHTS, AND BATTERY WOULD GO DEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. VEHICLE NEEDED ALIGNMENT DUE TO PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION & THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT/ DIGITAL LASER FAILED TO WORK ON CD PANEL/ POWER WINDOW ELECTRICAL SWITCH STOPPED WORKING, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON & DID NOT GO OFF. DASHBOARD COVERING WAS SEPARATING FROM WINDOW. THERE WAS WATER IN THE HEADLIGHTS, AND BATTERY WOULD GO DEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. VEHICLE NEEDED ALIGNMENT DUE TO PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION & THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR.*AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BATTERY FAILURE; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED FAULTY BATTERY ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED. ALSO, AND PROBLEM ENGINE HESITATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT RIGHT AFTER LEASING THE VEHICLE, THAT THE RADIO WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SQUEEKING IN THE REAR END WHEN TURNING. THE HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. THE LEFT REAR STRUT ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING KNOCKING NOISE AT RIGHT REAR. THE O-RING FAILED CAUSEING THE DISTRIBUTOR LEAK AND THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. *YH

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE/ THE ENGINE SEIZED AT 30000 MILES/ THE BRAKES WARPED THREE TIMES AND WERE REPLACED 3 TIMES/ THE WINDOWS ARE HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE/ THE BRAKE PEDAL IS EXTREMELY LOW. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE CHANGING GEARS. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK

SEEMS LIKE EVERY 3-4 MONTHS BRAKES START TO PULSATE, 3 TIMES SO FAR, EACH TIME REPLACED, BEING TOLD THAT WRONG STYLE BEING USED, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT JUST STARTED ACTING UP FOR THE 6TH TIME, EACH TIME BEING TOLD IT IS SENSORS OR GROUND CONNECTIONS. JUST NOTICED THE CLUTCH PROBLEM OF GOING TOO LOW TO FLOOR FOR THE 6TH TIME, EACH TIME BEING TOLD SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THIS IS GETTING OLD. WENT TO OPEN DRIVERS DOOR ONE DAY AN HANDLE WOULD NOT WORK. WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE ANOTHER TIME TO FIND IT WAS THE AXLE SEAL, WHICH WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES. GETTING READY TO TELL DEALER THEY CAN HAVE THIS CAR. FOR ONLY HAVING LESS THAN 14,000 MILES, TOO MUCH IS HAPPENING TOO OFTEN. *AK

AXLE FAILED. *ET

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TRANSAXLE PROBLEMS GETTING THE CAR IN GEAR . I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS GETTING KEYS FROM IGNITION SWITCH PART TOOK TWO WEEKS AND WAS RELACED AT DEALERSHIP

GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS LOOSE, SHIFTER LINKAGE FELL OUT OF PLACE. MJS

RUBBER CLUTCH PEDAL STOPPER WEAK CAUSING ENGINE TO NOT CRANK. MJS

THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN OUTAND REPLACED TWICE. TANSMISSION FAILD CAUSING, LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND NEW TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. LEFT AXLE FAILED AND REPLACED. THE BATTERY WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON, AND VEHICLES ENGINE STALLS . THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE SOLUTION. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPEIENCING ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM; BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS BEFORE CORRECTION WAS MADE. AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON UNTIL CORRECTION WAS MADE CONCERNING THE CLUTCH.. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL IN THIS MATTER. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ALSO, DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ON MARCH 18 1999 MY CAR WOULD NOT START UP INSTANTLY I HAD TO TRY A FEW TIMES TO START MY CAR AND AFTER THREE TRIES IT FINALLY STARTED I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THATS WHEN I FOUND OUT I NEEDED A NEW STARTER, FLYWHEEL,FUEL TRIM MALFUNCTION, NEW DTC GROUNG IMPROVEMENTS PROCEDURES.

NO SUMMARY INCLUDED.

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO STICK INTO FIRST GEAR ON OCCASIONS.

CLUTCH EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE.

THE STICK ROD BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT ENGAGE IN GEARS. CONSUMER STATED WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 30 TO 35 MPH THE CV JOINTS BROKE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

THE STICK ROD BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT ENGAGE IN GEARS. CONSUMER STATED WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 30 TO 35 MPH THE CV JOINTS BROKE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

SYNCHRONIZER FOR TRANSMISSION FAILED. ALSO, WIRING HARNESS/VAPOR HOSE/AIR BAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED.

SYNCHRONIZER FOR TRANSMISSION FAILED. ALSO, WIRING HARNESS/VAPOR HOSE/AIR BAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED.