2000 KIA SEPHIA Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

OVER THE COURSE OF THE PREVIOUS FEW MONTHS, PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, I NOTICED THAT THE 2000 KIA SEPHIA WITH 80000 MILES BEGAN TO HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE SHIFTER. IT BECAME INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. IT CONTINUALLY FELT LIKE THE SHIFTER WAS STUCK. I ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED VIA FLATBED BECAUSE THE CAR REFUSED TO START. AFTER GETTING IT TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED, HOWEVER, BEING THE CAR ONLY HAD 83000 MILES I SOUGHT A SECOND OPINION. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM TO ONE OF THE MECHANICS (WHO WILL NOT BE NAMED), I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL KIA. THAT THE SEAL IS FAULTY IN THE TRANSMISSION CASING AND AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME DIRT AND/OR WATER LEAKS INTO THE LINKAGE...

TRANSMISSION ON VEHICLE WAS FIXED 7 TIMES. *MR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP, SHIFT HARD AND AT TIMES THE REVERSE GEAR WOULD NOT WORK. FRONT ROTORS WARPED. *NM

CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TRANSMISSION REPLACED ON 5/28/04 (47,800 MILES). ON 7/5/04 HAD SAME ACCELERATION PROBLEMS, DEALER FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PROBLEM AFTER HAVING CAR FOR 2 DAYS. ON 8/3/04 AGAIN HAD SAME ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, AGAIN AFTER HAVING CAR FOR 2 DAYS, DEALER FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PROBLEM. SAME DAY (8/5/04) TOOK CAR HOME TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. PULLED OFF ROAD, PUT CAR IN PARK, SHUT OFF CAR, WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES, RESTARTED CAR, NO PROBLEM AT THAT POINT WITH SHIFTING. CALLED DEALERSHIP IN BRANDON (WHO REPLACED TRANSMISSION) SPOKE WITH ANDY ADVISED HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. HE STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND IT WAS RESETING ITSELF ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. HE SAID HE WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH HIS TECHNICAL PEOPLE TO FIND OUT WHAT TO REPLACE TO FIX CAR. I HAVE CALLED ANDY EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES TWICE A DAY...

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES SINCE THE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP WAITING FOR A FIFTH TRANSMISSION. *NM

I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISION REPLACED TWICE IN MY 2000 SEPHIA, AND IT IS ABOUT TO QUIT AGAIN. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLICKERED. THEN ,VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. PER DEALERSHIP THIS WAS DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE.*AK

OUR KIA SEPHIA 2000 IS A LEMON. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES FOUR TIMES BECAUSE OF PREMATURE WARE AND SHAKING DUE TO POOR DESIGN. WE RECEIVED THE CAR WITH A DEAD BATTERY. WE ARE ON OUR THIRD BATTERY. WE WERE ON OUR THIRD SET OF TIRES BEFORE 30,000 MILES. THE GEAR SHIFT WILL STICK SO THAT YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. THE WEATHER MOLDING IS FALLING OFF. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND THEY COULD NOT KEEP IT FROM COMING ON. *JB

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME TO BE REPLACED AND FIXED (TRANSMISSION). *AK *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**765382

THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER REPLACE TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES. TS

30 NOV 99-BLINKERS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE (MO=2,415);28 DEC 99-BLINKERS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE (MO=3,044);13 JAN 00-BLINKERS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE (MO=3,423);16 MAR 00-BLINKERS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE (MO=5,268);8 MAR 01-GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERMITTENTLY WON'T SHIFT(MO=26,471);20 NOV 01-GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERMITTENLY WON'T SHIFT(MO=33,853);30 MAY 02-GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERMITTENTLY WON'T SHIFT(MO=33,853);5 JUN 02-GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERMITTENLY WON'T SHIFT(MO=33,933);19 JUN 02-GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERMITTENLY WON'T SHIFT(MO=34,443);20 JUN 02-GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERMITTENLY WON'T SHIFT(MO=34, 536);GEAR SHIFT ASSY CHANGED 4 TIMES--COMPANY CLAIMS CAN'T VERIFY PROBLEM. HAVE TWO WITNESSES WITH SIGNATURES FROM PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WHO HAVE SIGNED STATEMENTS THAT THEY TRIED TO GET GEAR SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK WITHOUT SUCCESS. CAR GOES OUT OF BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IN LESS THAN 1500 MILES. POWER TRAIN WARRANTY STILL IN EFFECT. INFORMED COMPANY THAT REFUND IS DESIRED. FILED WITH BBB HERE IN CA AS REQUIRED. THIS PROBLEM PRESENTS A REAL DANGER TO MYSELF IF CAN'T GET CAR OUT OF PARK; CAN'T TRUST CAR.*AK

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SIX OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT FUEL SYSTEM DID SHUT DOWN, CAUSING TRANSMISSION AND OTHER FUEL TO LEAK OUT. *AK

THE GEAR SHIFTER GETS STUCK, IT IS HARD TO RELEASE FROM PARK.*JB

TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR SECOND TIME WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ,IT WOULD RUN ROUGHLY. WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN A CERTAIN DISTANCE AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER STATED WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK *JB

THE GEAR SHIFTER GETS STUCK, IT IS HARD TO RELEASE FROM PARK.*JB

I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A POWER STEERING, RACK AND PINION, 4 SETS OF BRAKES GOING ON 5. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY TIRES ROTATED MORE TIMES THAN NECESSARY. THE BRAKES MAKES A GRINDING, RATTLING NOISE WHEN I TRY TO STOP. WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKES IT DOESN'T STOP QUICKLY. THE GASKETS AROUND THE DOOR IFS FALLING OFF. THE RADIO WILL SHUT OFF FOR NO REASON. THE HEATER WORKS WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING. IT HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. SOMETIMES THE CAR WONT CRANK AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE IT WILL CRANK. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE GLOVE BOX FELL APART. I HAVE COMPUTER PROBLEMS AND WIRING PROBLEMS. THE GEARS ARE HARD TO PUT IN REVERSE AND THEN WHEN IT FINALLY POPS INTO GEAR IT MAKES A LOUD POPPING SOUND. IT SLOW TO PUT IN DRIVE AND THEN IT WILL TAKE OFF REAL FAST...

FUEL GUAGE FAULTY, HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES, BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED LESS THAN 5000 MILES. TRANSMISSION SLIPS

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH OVERDRIVE AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE THEN DROPPED DOWN TO 20 MPH. TOWED TO DEALER, AND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, AND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AGAIN. CONSUMER DOUBTED THAT IT WAS REPLACED THE SECOND TIME. SHE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING IN WRITING. ON 4 JUNE, 2001 THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, SHE WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED. CONSUMER BELIEVED TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

CONSUMER HAS HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

CAR HAS BEEN TOWED FOR REPAIR 8 TIMES IN LESS THAN 18 MONTHS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE, WIRING TO SENSOR OF TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AND GROUNDING WIRING TO TRANSMISSION UPGRADED, HOWEVER, TRANSMISSION STILL SLIPS, IT DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND HESITATES WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A STOP. CJ

TRANSMISSION SLIPS ( MIGHT HAPPEN AT ANY TIME), AND SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. BOTH HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE KIA DEALER, BUT BOTH CONTINUE TO EXPERIANCE THE SAME PROBLEMS. DEALER JUST SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND ANY CAUSE. *AK

BRAKES SQUEAKING WHEN APPLIED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND RPLACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. *AK TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS. THE BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES BUT DEALER CHECKED AND STATED OKAY. *YH

NO SUMMARY

NO SUMMARY

UPON TEST DRIVING A DIFFERENT KIA SEPHIA ON THE EVENING OF OUR PURCHASE,I NOTICED THE ROUGH SHIFT OF THE VEHICLE.I WAS TOLD BY THE SALES PERSON THAT IT WAS A VERY NEW CAR AND THAT IT SHIFTED HARD BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN.I ACCEPTED THAT EXPLAINATION AND WE PROCEEDED TO PURCHASE A DIFFERENT KIA SEPHIA THAT EVENING. MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR TO WORK AND NOTICED THAT THIS VEHICLE SHIFTED VERY HARD ALSO,ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND MENTIONED THIS TO THE SALESPRESON GREG,AND HE SAID THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD CHECK IT OUT LATER THAT WEEK WHEN THEY REPAIRED A SCRATCH WE SAW ON THE SPOILER AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THEY SAID A 200 MILE TRIP WE WERE PLANNING WOULD HELP SMOOTH EVERYTHING OUT. IT DIDN'T. AFTER ANOTHER WEEK WE COMPLAINED AGAIN AND WERE TOLD THE CAR NEEDED 10,000 MILES ON IT BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION...

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HAD THE CAR ONE MOTH HAD BAD TRANSMISSION,1 MONTH LATER HORN SOUNDS OFF AND ON. *AK

I HAVE REPORTED THIS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT UPON FAILURE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY, IT CAUSED A NEAR MISS AT APPROX 30 MILES PER HOUR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FAST ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF AN APPROACHING SEMI-TRUCK. *AK

BRAKES OVERHEATED BADLY, AND CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SMELL THEM. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. EVEN WHEN PUMPING IT HARD, BRAKE PEDAL STILL REMAINED AT THE FLOOR. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, IT CAUSED VEHICLE TO JERK VIOLENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS. *AK

WHEN COMING OUT OF FIRST GEAR VEHICLE WILL STALL. IT MAY STALL ANYTIME OF THE DAY. *AK

HORN FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG BEFORE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WOULD ARRIVE. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK