1st Jun 2003, 02:16
Yeah I was also wondering am I the only one with a lifting dash I've got a 97 Sephia 1.6 manual trans. it's a great reliable car with just about 50.000 miles on it I don't know exactly how many it is cause in Europe we have kilometers and that is at 83.000 but handling is great and I don't wanna lose that car ;) but the dash should have been thought over that's the only thing that looks a little crappy :o (
1st Jun 2003, 21:01
I own a 97 Sephia RS 1.8 DOHC and it runs great. Also have the dash problem. I would like to know if there is a web page for me to find a new dash to buy it.
29th Jun 2003, 17:59
I've had my 97 Sephia for a couple years now and I also had the dashboard problem. It left a nasty brown spot. I treated it often with protectant too. I think the windshield angle and spacing from the dashboard is what causes it. The way I worked around it was to slip off the vinyl dashboard (which was surprisingly easy), clean it with wheel cleaner (or something strong enough to strip off all protectant), and paint it with vinyl spray paint, which worked absolute wonders. It almost looks like new. The only problem I have now is the plastic venting for the defrost - it split & busted, I had to super glue it together and can't find another vent for it. Anyone know where to look?
P.S. - I doubt I will ever buy a Kia again. This is a severe engineering flaw. How could they miss this?!? The fact that Kia won't do anything about it is absolutely ridiculous. Way to stand by your cars, Kia.
29th Jun 2003, 18:03
Another thing you might try on top of the vinyl spray paint - when you go to put the dashboard back on, spread some clear adhesive silicone on the black plastic dashboard. You're gonna have to find some stuff to wedge in there to hold it down since the dashboard's gonna have a nasty lip. I found that a couple old baseball mits work well. :) It takes about an hour to dry, but I think 24 hours or so to completely cure. My dashboard looks like there wasn't any damage really. Even with cars from the 70's I've NEVER seen a problem like this, so when they say it's from the car's age and heat, it's crap. It was a BIG mistake by Kia. They've made a bigger mistake by not doing anything about it... I know they've at least lost me as a Kia customer.
22nd Aug 2004, 08:16
I have a KIA sephia LS 97. While I had the car I can say I was satisfied. It is amazing that I have the exact same problem with the dash as all the previous owners. A huge brown spot has developed right above the steering wheel, and the entire dash is peeling from the car. The plastic vent guards have come loose, and there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. I think i might get a dash mat to cover the ugly thing. There are also many major electrical and mechanical flaws with the car that cost me over 3 grand to fix. This is close to what I paid for it.
I will never buy another KIA again.
29th Aug 2004, 10:09
We have a '97 KIA Sephia and the dash is lifting.
I went to www.google.com and searched to see if anyone else had this problem, and was absolutely amazed at what I have found. Everything that has happened to my car has happened to others as well - i.e. browning of the dash, lifting of the dash, splitting of the vent, and as with the others on this site, KIA refuses to do anything about it.
We have been informed that the airbag will eventually deploy from this, which causes me to become very worried, but I can only say this; I have taped calls from KIA and written correspondence from them indicating this will not cause anything to happen. With that said, I am willing to get everyone involved and have a Class Action against KIA. If anyone is interested in this, or they have already had their airbags deploy while they were driving, they need to contact me at the following:
C. Cothren
2219 E. 13th Street
Tulsa, OK 74104.
14th Apr 2005, 20:58
I have a 2000 with the dash lifting right behind the driver side vent too. How hard is it to take the dash off? and if not hard, how do I do it?
I have tried getting to it to glue it back down, but can't seem to do it from the steep windshield angle.
Anyone have any suggestions?
It sucks that kia won't do anything since it appears it has been a problem at least since 97.
13th May 2005, 16:33
Hello, I have a 2000 KIA sephia LS. Currently my KIA is doing the same things that the past individuals have stated. I called the Kia corporation, and asked to have this problem fixed, they say they are contacting someone about it, but we shall see.
6th Sep 2005, 00:21
Hi.
I have had the same problem as everyone else with my 1997 Kia Sephia GS. My car dashboard is all warped and when I called kia, they said that it was not a manufacture defect and they can't do anything about it since my warranty had expired. I would like to know is that is there a class action law suit filed against them? If there is then I would like to be part of it. Thanks.
Mike
New Jersey.
13th Sep 2005, 19:41
Same problem, my mom has a 2000 kia sephia with the defective dash. She contacted kia. They responded back by saying that the warranty ran out, so there was nothing they could do about it. One of their people blamed it on the sun. Amazing!!
16th Sep 2005, 21:38
I have a 1997 Kia Sephia, my car has been very reliable and the dash is the my complaint with my car. Everything that has been posted happened to my car. I noticed a brown spot on the dash on the driver's side a few years ago. That has gotten bigger, but the dash has lifted and is starting to curl back. Truthfully, I thought it was from the heat and sun. Searching on Google it seems to be engineering problem. Too bad Kia won't do anything.
2nd Jun 2006, 17:15
I have had the same problem with my 1997 Kia Sephia. Just wondering has anyone had the airbag on the passenger side deploy because of the dash peeling back? Has anyone checked on the cost to fix it?
7th Jul 2006, 12:24
I too have a 2000 Kia Sephia, and the dash has lifted by the heating vents on both sides of the dash near the windshield. How can I fix this? I really love the car, but it is hard to defrost the windshield.
7th Aug 2006, 20:07
I have a 99 kia sephia and the dash is warped. It has been for about 2 years now. Any ideas on how to fix this?
15th Sep 2002, 20:48
The reason the dash lifts is because the angle they put the windshield in makes the sun magnify on the dash..