1998 Kia Sephia Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about brakes that wear quickly, pulse or grind, and about repeated transmission replacements often made after hard-shift or no-start complaints. Many reports come in the 30,000–70,000 mile range, and a number of stalling, fuel-pump and fuel-tank complaints reference open recalls from 1999 and 2000.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Premature front brake wear, vibration and grinding

   • 158 complaints (32%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2008

   Complaints describe front pads and rotors needing replacement far more often than expected, sometimes every few thousand miles, with pedal or steering-wheel vibration, squealing and grinding when braking. Several owners say the dealer resurfaced or replaced rotors and pads repeatedly without resolving the symptom, and some note the rear shoes and drums working harder as a result. Others mention extended stopping distance and difficulty getting a repair covered once the brake warranty expired. Reported across a wide mileage range, with many complaints filed between roughly 30,000 and 85,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have the front rotors and pads inspected for thickness and warping, and ask for service records showing how often they were replaced. Note that a bulletin on rear bulb durability is unrelated to brake wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The brakes on this car are terrible! I have been in and out of the shop since this car was bought. I have had numerous pad and rotor replacements. I even got into a rear-end accident 1 1/2 years ago that I could have avoided with competent brakes. I now have to replace the drums and rear shoes because they have been working overtime to compensate for the poor front brakes. Thanks a bunch Kia! Worst car I've ever driven.”

   NHTSA complaint #10000371, filed 2002-12, 50,000 miles

   “Break pads and rotors need to be replaced approximately every 3000 miles when car is taken in for oil change. I could not fill the gas tank completely when I first purchased the car because the automatic shut off. Gas tank and float valve were replaced after waiting a month for the parts. Check engine light would stay on and o/d off light would flash, called dealer and had to wait a week for appointment. Dealer stated new coupling was needed. Waited month for part. When I went to pick up car, dealer stated it need a new transmission instead. …”

   NHTSA complaint #708778, filed 1999-07
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission replaced more than once for shifting problems

   • 44 complaints (9%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2007

   Owners describe transmissions that shift oddly, make noise when engaging, slip or pop out of reverse, or leave the car unwilling to move, with the dealer sometimes replacing the transmission after a shifter or coupling repair did not help. A few reports mention two or three replacement units and recurring symptoms afterward. Others tie the transmission work to a check engine light or flashing overdrive light. Appears in complaints spanning low mileage up to about 130,000 miles, with several under 50,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive from cold through all gears including reverse, listen for noise or slipping, and ask whether the transmission or shifter assembly has ever been replaced. A bulletin covers which automatic transmission fluid is specified for the model.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought a 1998 Kia Sephia in feb of 2000 I have had to replace 3 gear shifters and three transmissions and the car has only been driven 2/3 of the time that I have owned this car. My signal light on one side has never really worked properly and the the headlight constantly shorts out. Of course now I'm out of warranty and still experiencing these problems and many more I dont know where else to turn because all I'm ever told is that's a Kia for you. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10045388, filed 2003-11, 42,000 miles

   “I bought a 1998 Kia Sephia from toyota carlsbad 2 years ago in may, 2001 that I paid cash for. Right after I bought the Kia Sephia the check engine light came on. I took it back to toyota carlsbad and they told me that I didn't put the gas cap back on correctly. August, 2002 the check engine light came back on. I took it to my mechanic at future automotive in rancho bernardo and he told me it was the transmission. Future automotive sent the car to mike's transmission in poway. Mike worked and worked on the transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070176, filed 2004-01, 44,508 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Stalling and no-start traced to fuel pump circuit

   • 54 complaints (11%)
   • median 113,541 mi at 10.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2019

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning while driving, or a car that will not restart, with fuel pump replacement tried one or more times without a lasting cure. Several reports reference the fuel pump ground and connector campaigns and say the vehicle had already been serviced under them or that parts were unavailable. Mechanics in later complaints point to a corroded or overheated connection in the pump wiring. Reported from very low mileage up to about 160,000 miles, with most filed on older, higher-mileage vehicles.

   Recall 99V318000Recall 99V317000

   What to check: Ask whether both fuel pump campaigns (99V317000 and 99V318000) were completed and keep proof; have the fuel pump connector and ground inspected for corrosion or heat damage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10051293, filed 2003-12, 65,000 miles

   “Recall # 99v318000 kisa engine/stalling (c304/c305). When consumer contacted dealership, dealer stated that parts would be available in about a week. When contacting dealer for the second time, no parts were available. Dealer has no idea when parts will be available. Consumer worried because recall states condition would result in death.”

   NHTSA complaint #855350, filed 2000-01
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel spills or spit-back when refueling

   • 17 complaints (3%)
   • median 56,500 mi at 6.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2004

   Owners report gasoline spitting back or spilling on the ground during refueling, sometimes after only a gallon or two, and a fuel gauge that does not read the tank level correctly. Some say the tank, float valve or sending unit was replaced, and a few describe leaks returning shortly after repair. One complaint notes the condition persisted after the tank vent recall work was performed. Mostly reported on vehicles from near-new up to roughly 85,000 miles.

   Recall 00V175000

   What to check: Fill the tank slowly during a test drive and watch for spit-back or drips underneath, and confirm the 00V175000 recall work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I paid to have this problem fixed but I probably shouldn't have had to. When refueling my 1998 Kia Sephia, there was a small amount of gasoline that would spill on the ground under the fuel tank--whether I completely fill the vehicle or simply put a gallon or two in the tank. I could not put my car in the garage at night because I was afraid that the gas water heater would cause an explosion--the lingering fumes would exist for a day or two after each visit to the gas pump.”

   NHTSA complaint #10043394, filed 2003-10, 48,000 miles

   “Consumer received recall 00v175000, and had it repaired in december 2000. Problem has reoccurred as though it was never fixed. When tank is full gas spits out. Dealer isn't responding to recall. Tank makes a thumping sound when gas is put in vehicle, and begin to start vehicle, consumer states she is scared to drive vehicle that it may explode. Referenced in rq03-006”

   NHTSA complaint #888777, filed 2001-05
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbags that did not deploy, or deployed without impact

   • 19 complaints (4%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 18 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2007

   Complaints describe airbags that failed to deploy in a frontal collision, and in one case a passenger-side bag that deployed while the car was stopped at a light, after which the dealer said the cause could not be determined. Owners report being told no explanation was available or that no further diagnosis would be done. Reported from about 30,000 to 130,000 miles, mostly on cars over ten years old at the time of filing.

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning lamp behaves normally at startup and ask whether the airbag system has ever been diagnosed or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The airbag in my daughters Kia Sephia 1998 passenger side only deployed while she was sitting at a red light. There was no accident and no reason for the airbag to go off. Took to dealship for review and was told that the expert looked at the car and said there is nothing they can do and no idea why it happen. Then continued to say that someone could have done something wrong to the car and we would never no, but they were not going to spend any more time or money to find out what really may have caused this. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10202846, filed 2007-09, 30,090 miles

   “While driving 60 MPH the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. The dual air bag did not deploy upon impact. The consumer sustained bruising from the seat belt. Please provide additional information.”

   NHTSA complaint #10096855, filed 2004-10, 128,333 miles

Buying note. These reports center on brake wear and repeated transmission and fuel-pump repairs, so a pre-purchase inspection of the brakes, transmission behavior and fuel system is worthwhile. Confirm whether the fuel pump and fuel tank vent recalls were completed and keep the paperwork.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.