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1996 Kia Sephia

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Kia Sephia do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 107.

About this comparison →
118Owner complaints

Model-year median: 107

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
16
199464
1995118
1996205
1997491
1998428
1999
Compare all Sephia years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
38Electrical System
19Engine And Engine Cooling
17Unknown Or Other
17Seat Belts
15
All reported categories
Power Train
13Structure
12Air Bags
11Visibility
7Vehicle Speed Control
5Exterior Lighting
4Fuel System, Gasoline
4Suspension
4Interior Lighting
3Steering
3Equipment
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Parking Brake
2Service Brakes, Air
1Tires
1

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: 8 of 118 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 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

Suspension complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 1998
Suspension

PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITH CV JOINT ASSEMBLY DAMAGED. CAR HAS RECURRENT HISTORY OF PROBLEM. I FEEL MY LIFE IS IN DANGER AND LEMON LAW DOES NOT PROTECT ME. OTHER LIVES COULD BE IN DANGER AS WELL. DEALER CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. HAVE COMPLETE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE AND I PURCHASED IN FROM THIS DEALER USED ONLY 2 MONTHS AGO W…

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PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITH CV JOINT ASSEMBLY DAMAGED. CAR HAS RECURRENT HISTORY OF PROBLEM. I FEEL MY LIFE IS IN DANGER AND LEMON LAW DOES NOT PROTECT ME. OTHER LIVES COULD BE IN DANGER AS WELL. DEALER CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. HAVE COMPLETE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE AND I PURCHASED IN FROM THIS DEALER USED ONLY 2 MONTHS AGO WITH A DEFECT THAT COULD TAKE MY LIFE AND SOMEONE ELSE'S AS WELL. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI #701039

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1997
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR'S FRONT END AND STEERING HAVE A VIBRATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #813386

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 1997
Suspension

VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN DRIVEN 45-70 MPH.

NHTSA ODI #516582

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineInterior Lighting

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603332

Official recalls

1

02V216000 · 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

1

PE02051 · 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.