Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Kia Sephia owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. I still have a loan of this car and dont think it's right that almost every year the gear shifter and trans need to be replaced. I would great appreciate any help you can give me because I havent been able to drive the car for the last 2 months because the gear shifter wont come out of park and when it did the trans raced when reaching 2 gear. There is no way anyone should experience this much trouble whether being a used car or not. …
I brought a new Kia Sephia in 1998, and had nothing but trouble with it! Transmission was replaced 2 times by the mechanic for Kia motors, and needed to be replaced again on 7/2007. Also , the brakes have been replaced 4 times and need to be replaced again. Now the headlights keep turning off while driving at night, but no mechanic can locate the electrical short problem.
Brakes failed causing accident, they have been replaced 4 times also rotors fuel pump, transmission, glovebox,wiring harness, many other things too... Could have lost my 2 of my grandsons in the accident... Are we going to put up with this??? I can be reached at [email]
In 2 years I had to get a new transmission, replace my brakes 6 times, service engine problems 7 times, fuel pump, 8 recalls, wipers, new tires, and many other problems... Copies of repairs are available upon request. I have also been discriminated against by the dealer many times.
Vehicle wouldn't start intermittently. About a month ago it started to happen more frequently. Shifter assembly was replaced. Vehicle would also roll while in park. Dealer told consumer that transmission would have to be replaced to solve the problem.
Since the time that I have purchased this car it has been falling apart. The car is constantly shutting down or it just won't start. At this present time my car is sittting at stonemountain Kia whereas it is in need a third battery all within less than a years time. Eventhough they know the dangerous history of this car that I purchased new, they continually return the car to me without doing a safety check. I have had my car towed to their location several times in the same week because they have felled to fix the problem. Once again my car is continually suffering from the same problems that are continuing to grow worst. The air conditioning system fails to work properly. The driveshaft is always sticking in the gears. The air bag light continually blink and stay on for periods at a time. The exhaust still making loud noise that I have complained about since I brought the car. …
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. It was in his shop four times. The last time the Kia Sephia was in the shop, it was there for three weeks. Toyota carlsbad told me they couldn't help me because the warranty had expired, but they would gladly sell me another car. …
I bought the car with 7000 miles on it, it has needed 4 brake jobs (every 7K -front then rear then front then rear) in the 28K that I've owned it. The rear brakes do not engage so the front brakes wear out. I had it put on a rack and someone step on the brake pedal, the rear tires could be turned easily. With strong pressure on the pedal, the rear tires were hard to move, but still could be moved by hand. The 2x the rear brakes were serviced, the cylinders had cracked and leaked. A friend has suggested this means the hydraulic pressure is going into the cylinders but they were a 'bad casting' and the pressure isn't pushing the pistons out, but eventually causes them to crack. 09/18/00 a flexplate in the transmission needed to be replaced. Less than 6 weeks later, the car went out of gear as I pulled into an intersection. It could not be driven. …
I bought my Kia Sephia in 1998. Since then I have had the brakes fixed 2 times and tay replaced once. I have had the transmission replaced also. Recently my car has been riding very sluggish. When I press on the gas it makes a very loud sound. When I tr to accelerate the car does not seem to want to change into gears. It also constantly makes a loud humming sound when I am at about 40-50mph. This car has given me nothing but trouble and $$$. I am tryin to figure out if there has been a whole bunch of recalls I did not know about or if there is something that I May be able to do here to save money. I still owe 9,000 and feel like I am constantly inconvininced bringing the car in for constant repair. Help!
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. I waited two weeks for parts. Now car is at dealership again because it will not start. Lights, horn, radio, etc. Still operate
NHTSA investigations
Transmission oil cooler line
The oil cooler line allegedly develops leaks at it's junction to the radiator
Transmission complaints in other Sephia years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1998 Kia Sephia?
NHTSA has 68 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1998 Kia Sephia, 14% of the model year's 491 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (37 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Kia Sephia transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 1998 Kia Sephia, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Kia Sephia transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 40% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 7 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.