Kia Sephia Midsize | Compact
Kia Sephia Midsize | Compact
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[Apr 09, 2001]
Melvin
Model Reviewed:
KIA Sephia
Strength:
Good price at dealership. Well advertised at the time I got it.
Weakness:
The car is sluggish when driving this automatic.I'm going on my fourth set of rotors at under 50,000 miles. The oxygen sensor went out a few months ago and was a costly repair. The engine light is now coming on again. Parts are scarce and repairs are costly. The car does not hold its value for resale. I regret investing in this car because of its costly repair bills. This car does not hold up in the long run. When your warranty runs out you definitely at a loss. Similar Products Used: Ford Escort, Ford Tempo |
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[Apr 04, 2001]
Robert
Model Reviewed:
Sephia
Strength:
30+ m.p.g, front passenger leg room
Weakness:
Alternator failed @ 20,000, weather stripping coming off, carpet on driver's side is loose, stereo system failed after two months, dash light problem, very dangerous trunk lid design--trunk is unlit so it's very easy to hit your head on the trunk latch Dearler replaced alternator same day we brought car in. It's just a plain car, nothing fancy, but the m.p.g. is really good. Similar Products Used: None |
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[Mar 09, 2001]
Marci and Charles Connell
Model Reviewed:
Kia sephia
Strength:
Wow what a tough question, may I respond with none....well it does start when we need to go somewhere...LOL....no honestly there isnt any strengths for my vehicle....NONE
Weakness:
this is the easy question..we have had to have new brakes, new tires at 18000 miles, recalls on fuel pump, line, and valve, recall on ac/heat which my car is still in shop for until monday, recall air bag, weatherstripping has come off of passenger side door 3 times and the first time the car was only a couple of days old..still fighting that problem, car needed new battery at 7 mnths old. the console has come apart and had to be replaced. we just had to have a whole entire new exhaust system put on our vehicle. i am in the process of trying to fight kia further because i can not get out of this vehicle according to any dealership including Kia without 5,000 down on a new car. i do not have this kind of money and feel that i am the one who is suffering with a car that really should not be on the road..period..i am scared for my children to ride in this vehicle because of all the problems i have encountered and all the problems that have been documented.. I would not want anyone to waste their time or money on a Kia..My salesperson was the only great thing about my experience with Kia. I hope that anyone and everyone soon finds out exactly what Kia means...JUNK.....my advice dont buy a Kia...i am trying to warn people that have talked about Kia's and i will not refer anyone to another Kia dealership EVER... Similar Products Used: i cant answer this but i know that we are FORD people and we should have stayed with FORD>.....maybe Kia compares to a beat up dump truck..all trash |
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[Mar 07, 2001]
JENNIFER POWELL
Model Reviewed:
SEPHIA
Strength:
The initial cost is affordable, and it is a pretty decent looking car. Very spacious interior compared to most cars its size. Good gas mileage.
Weakness:
BRAKES,BRAKES,BRAKES. My rotors and break pads have been changed 6 times in 2 yrs. Even with those being changed the break often drops to the floor and won't stop you need to press several times for it to finaly stop(usually occurs when trailing in slow traffic). Weahter stripping on doors needed to be replaced within first year. Several recalls including odometer, windshield wiper, and fuel pump etc. Never a recall on the important problem, BAD BREAKS. Car did not start twice once for faulty battery and once for starter problems. The lock on the gear shift doesn't always release when break is pressed. Volume on CD player changes stations rather than lowering the volume. Stitching on the seats coming out. (minor problem)The small door on the fuse box has not stayed on since the first day I bought the car. I would not recommend this car to anyone. If you do decide to buy this car plan on having your breaks and rotors replaced at each oil change (every 3 months). As well as dealing with other major problems. Not to mention the loss in trade in value. Most of my repairs were covered by warranty only becuase I argued that I personally can not wear out breaks and rotors in less then 3 mos. I did file suit for Lemon Law and settled out of court. Kia is not to friendly dealing with that. Similar Products Used: This is my first new car but truthfully I would have rather kept my 1980 Pontiac Pheonix over this car. |
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[Mar 04, 2001]
Amber
Model Reviewed:
Kia Sephia
Strength:
NONE!!!!!
Weakness:
This car is a piece of junk. I have not had this car a year and can't count the many times it has been in the shop. It has knocking problems on front drivers side when I take off and turn. AC appears to make a loud noise, there was an imperfection in the upholstry that I had to have fixed. I think that took 4 times to the dealer before they finally got it right. When I am at a stop it appears to want to die. I have fought with the dealer for several months on this issue and still no resolution. I experienced a manufacturing defect that was a dealer installed option and they were going to charge me to fix that issue, so finally I said to hell with it. When it leaves me stranded which I am certain it will do then I will deal with it. The dealers here in the area are a joke. They can NEVER EVER seem to find a problem with the vehicle every time I take it in and they just keep telling me that everything is fine and they send me on my way. I am now having issues with my turn signals. They don't want to work, well when I turn on my emergency flashers and then turn them off then the signals will work again. Just another defect somewhere I am sure. Don't buy this car.. It is a headache. I bought it as my first real car because someone told me they were made like tanks. Well, I figure tanks aren't made very well then are they? Read the reviews you will see... This car is a piece of junk. I have had more problems with this car than I did not having a new car. To think that having a new car with an extended warrenty would get rid of my automobile headaches. What a joke!! Owning a Kia is a joke. |
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[Mar 01, 2001]
AL Hughes
Model Reviewed:
sephia
Strength:
economy
Weakness:
have had no major problems with this car my wife drives this car every day and we have had no problems with this car Similar Products Used: nothing on the market compares to this vehicle,Honda Acura Toyta and all the others are in a higher class,everyone else that gives this car a bad review comparing to Honda ect...why didnt you get that car in the first place?because you are a bunch of whiney children that wernt beat enough by your parents...get a life will ya,or better yet just grow up and quit being such a bunch of babys..... |
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[Mar 01, 2001]
Kelly
Strength:
None
Weakness:
what isnt a weakness in this piece of junk Im driving a 2001 Kia Rio an equally if not bigger hunk of junk than the Kia Sephia.Ive had my car in for the brakes 3 times, and they still squeek,the dashboard rattles, the airbag light comes on and off, the trunk light needed replacement,the front grill is peeling,the clutch peddle makes noise,and the dealership I bought it from packed up and left overnight.I might as well be driving a pinto, I might be better off.Rating ? one star for the lowest? this car gets a big fat zero |
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[Mar 10, 2001]
Dave
Strength:
Decent gas mileage.
Weakness:
Falling apart at the seams! This is actually my wife's car. She bought it brand new in '95 (3 years before I met her) and if we would have been together at that time I would have told her not to buy it. It has just about 100,000 miles on it now and it's never really had a major problem; just new brakes, CV joints, and regular maintenance. It's just that it seems like I'm gambling with my life when I get in the darn thing! The only reason we still keep it is because it gets about 28 mpg around town which is better than the 21 I get in my '99 Sentra SE or the 14.5 I get in my 2001 Frontier Crew Cab. We'll probably keep it until it dies, but I can definitely tell you I would never buy, nor would I let my wife buy, another Kia. Similar Products Used: Honda's and Nissan's...no comparison! |
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[May 19, 2001]
jason burley
Model Reviewed:
sephia
Strength:
warranty
Weakness:
none so far don't listen to people who try to tell you they are junk. Similar Products Used: 1999 hyundai accent |
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[Feb 18, 2001]
Kias Arejunk
Model Reviewed:
Kia Sephia
Strength:
Strengths? Haaaa!! That word does not apply to this thing. It did start every once in a while though.
Weakness:
Now this category is more like it. Brakes, brakes, engine, transmission, exhaust, feul system, battery, stereo, ac, doors, trunk, hood, suspension, every hose,nut,bolt,and all the super glue I think they used to put this piece of junk together. If you want to see your life flash in front of you every time you get behind the wheel, this is the car for you. Nothing is more eye opening than going 50mph down the road and realizing that you dont have brakes anymore. Or that the noise you just heard outside was your exhaust hitting the concrete after the coat hangers they used to secure it break. Or how about your hood flying open as your cruisin' doing 70 down the highway, and not being able to see a thing,now thats a driving expierience I can honestly say I never had before. I went out the other day to go to work, unlocked the door, and it literally fell off the hinges!!!! Thats O.K., I just call up John (dealer service rep) and I'll be on the the road in no more than two weeks he says. Yeah me and John go way back. Ive only known him a year but it seems like so much longer with all the time me, my car, and him spend together. Who would have thought that my first borns godparents would work in the kia service dept, and not be a relative like I had counted on. But anyway, back to the car.(if thats what you want to call it) I never knew they used Zip-Loc freezer bags as air bags until I ran off that embankment and was "missing" for a week. I wish they would have offered life insurance as part of the warranty package so my family will be taken care of when this car takes me to the promised land. This is the only dealership who has a lot full of parts cars "just in case" they say. I also think I set some kind of record for "least miles driven" after the purchase of a new car (206, 78 of which are test miles after a repair) Similar Products Used: The only thing I would compare this thing to is one of those scooters that all the kids are pushin' these days. One of those little bastards pulled up next to me the other day and I got smoked. The only time I passed him was when he was waiting at the next stop light and I flew past him because my brakes failed (5th time). I showed him whose boss!!! |


