1998 Kia Sephia Steering Problems

“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. …”

“The contact owns a 1998 Kia Sephia. The contact was reversing from a parking space when he heard an unusual click. The steering wheel began to lock yet the contact was able to move the wheel. He proceeded to drive to his residence as the steering became increasingly difficult. The contact noticed the rack and pinion mounting bracket had fractured from the fire wall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 120,553.”

“Rear drum brakes squealed loudly, and it did not feel as if they were working in moist conditions. Also, a steering gear bracket weld cracked, making it difficult to steer vehicle. At low speeds consumer had difficult maintaining control. Steering wheel was flopping around.”

“While driving approximately 65 MPH, hood released and smashed into windshield which blocked vision of driver, consumer felt problem was due to brake pads and rotors that cause severe vibration and had to be replaced frequently, there was no crash or injury to report when this incident occurred. …”

“The stering wheel shakes when applying presure to the breaks. Breaks makes noise when slowing down. Had a wheel alignment and got new tires the problem still is accuring this is what the dealer told me to do in order for it to stop and it has not to this day. Kias are lemons.”