Transmission complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
-I am the second owner of this 2001 Kia Sephia ls 4 door. Here is my complaint.the instruction simply stated "to shift from park press brake pedal". The button ,located in the top left side of the handle,that has to be pressed while applying brake pedal will not go all the way in. Since the date of purchased, everyday when putting gear from park to drive I had to wait 30 minutes or more before the knob can be pushed all the way in. I thought this was normal for an automatic transmission until today (1 June 03). The button was completely paralized. My car had to be towed to the nearest Kia service department. They are closed on sundays. Tomorrow (Monday) I will report the problem to Kia. I think all 2001 Kia Sephia with automatic transmission must be recalled for the malfunctioning that my car had.
I was driving down the road and the transmission started slipping. Then another day the car died going down the road. I managed to get off the road, and then I got it started back up ,and was going home and the car stopped running again. When I got it running again I took it home, and I am afraid to drive it again. I bought it at a used car dealer and it only had 37,000 miles on it when it bought it. It is not quite 93,000 miles on it now and I am still having to pay for something that I am afraid to drive. I have replaced the brake pads 3 times.the dya it quit running twice with me is dec. 21 merry christmas to me.I didn't have the money to take it to a mechanic. So I just parked it in my backyard.
The contact owns a 2000 Kia Sephia. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart after being jumpstarted. The contact continued to drive; however, the failure recurred 5 times while driving and depressing the brake pedal or the accelerator pedal. After each failure, the vehicle was able to be restarted when jumpstarted. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys and diagnosed; however, no fault code was retrieved. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Gear shift is my big problem right now with my car. It has been in 3 times in the past 2 years. 1st two times was due to the in-ability to get the car out of park. 1st repair could not get the car out of park. Repair was lubricate the gear shift cable. (accused driver of getting pop in the gear shifter) 2nd repair could not get the car out of park. Repair was to replace the gear shift cable. 3rd repair car stalled on the road and would not start. Repair "free-up shifter shat in transmission (would not go all the wasy in park and was hard to find any gears and would cause a no start)". This is the quote on the back of the repari ticket. When the car was pick-up. The car again refused to start. Was told that the gear shifter on the floor had to be shoved to the consolse to make the car recognize that it is in the "park" location. …
This car has been a constant repair and financial problem for the last 4 years starting two weeks after I purchased the car. It is an unsafe vehicle and can not be kept maintained for safety or reliability it was purchased with 21000 miles on the vehicle and a majority of repairs has had to be fixed. 4 starters, ignition switch, ignition switch wiring harness (ignition still doesn't work), air bag sensor, air bag wiring (air bags still does not work), alternator, front passenger side drive axel broke while I was driving the car, right passenger ball joint fell off the car while I was driving the car, master cylinder and rear brake cylinder went out at the same time while I was driving the car, heater/air conditioning motor. The car has been towed 3 times, and has left me and my children stranded too many times to count. The car is still in need of major repair. …
Sudden brake failure; leakage around windows, trunk; gas splash back (found out there was a recall on this, never fixed by previous owner); fear shift button won't go in to change from park to drive or reverse; transmission hestitates at times, then lunges; car overheats while sitting or driving at slow speed (fan works and radiator full); smell comes from air conditioning when stopped (it really stinks, worse than a skunk); when filling gas tank to full, mark never registers full. I spoke to Kia about these problems and they said I'd have to pay to have them fixed. I think there needs to be recalls on these problems as the people at Kia are not very friendly nor willing to help out people. We bought this car used and thought some of the problems stemmed from that. …
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.
NHTSA investigations
Transmission oil cooler line
The oil cooler line allegedly develops leaks at it's junction to the radiator
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Sephia years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (71), 1998 (68), 2000 (50), 1997 (30) and 2001 (18) model years. Transmission complaints make up 17% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Kia Sephia transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for any Kia Sephia model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Kia Sephia transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 31,000 miles; 72% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (169 mentions), followed by the manual transmission (38).
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.