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: 15 of 205 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 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
30 crash reports5 fire reports20 injury reports
What owners actually said
205 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 1999
Service Brakes, Air
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE NEW AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES WEARING OUT. FIRST THEY RESURFACED MY ORIGINAL ROTORS AND PUT THEM BACK ON. THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR BRAKES THEY "DEGLAZED BRAKE LINING". EACH SUBSEQUENT VISIT AFTER THESE THE ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY KEEP TELLING ME TH…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE NEW AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES WEARING OUT. FIRST THEY RESURFACED MY ORIGINAL ROTORS AND PUT THEM BACK ON. THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR BRAKES THEY "DEGLAZED BRAKE LINING". EACH SUBSEQUENT VISIT AFTER THESE THE ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT KIA IS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM BUT I'M NOT SEEING ANY RESULTS. MY 36000 MI BUMPER TO BOMPER WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE AND I'M AFRAID THEY'LL TRY TO START CHARGING ME FOR THESE REPAIRS. IN ACTUALITY, THE ROTORS COULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL MORE TIMES THAN THEY WERE, BUT I CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE GARAGE EVERYTIME THE BRAKES ARE BAD. I HAVE TO MISS WORK AND WAIT FOR VEHICLE TO BE WORKED ON, SO I BASICALLY DRIVE THIS CAR AROUND KNOWING THAT MY BRAKES COULD GO AT ANY TIME. I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE--NEED TO WORK. THE WAITING ROOM AT THE GARAGE HAS BEEN FULL OF PEOPLE WITH 97 SEPHIA'S WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES(AND OTHER NON-SAFETY RELATED ISSUES) AS I HAVE. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEONE COULD TAKE THIS PROBLEM SERIOUSLY. THE USUAL MILEAGE I GET FROM NEW ROTORS BEFORE THE PEDAL "GETS SOFT" IS ABOUT 500-1000, SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM TO GET TO THE GARAGE ALL OF THE TIME. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME...MELISSA
NHTSA ODI #710364
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 1999
Suspension
ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH SERVERE VIBRATION WITHIN EVERY 4-5 MONTHS AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE BY DEALER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURS. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #844960
Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPEIENCING ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM; BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS BEFORE CORRECTION WAS MADE. AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON UNTIL CORRECTION WAS MADE CONCERNING THE CLUTCH.. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL IN THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #844363
Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES, BRAKES ARE SOFT AND GO HALF WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #842643
Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE PADS FAILED RESULTING IN UNCONTROLABLE SHAKING OF VEHICLE, REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS. MJS
NHTSA ODI #547182
Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WARPED AND WORE OUT. THIS CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND COULD RESULTIN A CRASH. FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. DELAER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #841181
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineFireInjury
CONSUMER WAS PUMPING GAS AT AN AMICO STATION---2216 PLANK RD. FREDRICKSBURG, VA. WHEN A FIRE BALL SHOT OUT OF GAS TANK AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO BURN. CONSUMER FOUND A FIRE EXSTINGUSHER AND MANAGED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. AK
NHTSA ODI #835219
Mileage unknown · May 27, 1999
Air Bags
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON. INDICATING AIRBAGS ARE INOPERATIVE.THEY WERE FIXED ONE AT THE TIME, BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #838504
Mileage unknown · May 12, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE FRONT END SHIMMIES. DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
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.
1997 Kia Sephia Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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