IllustrationGEAR SHIFT LEVER CAME OFF IN CONSUMERS HAND AS SHE WAS SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR, UPON EXAMINATION OF THE LEVER, IT LITERALLY SNAPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE METAL, CONSUMER BELIEVES THE METAL USED WAS FAULTY, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
1995 Kia Sephia
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Kia Sephia do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 107.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sephia years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 64 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports
Power Train complaints
12 reportsTHE ORIGINAL CLUTCH WAS REPLACED AT 20000 MILES, THEN THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 60000 MILES. NOW AT 72500 MILES BOTH THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION ARE BEING REPLACED AGAIN, AFTER A TOTAL FAILURE.
BRAKES WOULD SQUEAL. HAD TROUBLE STOPPING/EAR WINDSHIELD KEEPS POPPING OUT BENT FRAME, AND TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE SHAFT IS CROOKED.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR WHICH IS SITTING ON THE TAIL PIPE KEEPS LOOSENING. *AK
THE CV JOINTS REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER AND NOW THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, FRONT AXLE FAILED.* ET
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION.
ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED WIRING HARNESS TO MELT /OVERHEAT. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES. ALSO, INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL WHEN IN INTERMITTENT MODE WILL NOT VARY SPEED.
TRANSMISSION FAILED. TT
THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE WAS LOOSE AND DEALER TIGHTENED . TT
Official recalls
102V216000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Aug 16, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE02051 · Safety Belt Buckle Malfunction
Opened Jun 17, 2002 · Closed Sep 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 25, 2002, KIA ADVISED NHTSA THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED.SPECIFIC CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY KIA HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA AT THIS TIME.THE SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.