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 24, 2000
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting
WHILE DRIVING DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT/ DIGITAL LASER FAILED TO WORK ON CD PANEL/ POWER WINDOW ELECTRICAL SWITCH STOPPED WORKING, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON & DID NOT GO OFF. DASHBOARD COVERING WAS SEPARATING FROM WINDOW. THERE WAS WATER IN THE HEADLIGHTS, AND BATTERY WOULD GO DEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. VEHICLE NEEDED ALI…
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WHILE DRIVING DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT/ DIGITAL LASER FAILED TO WORK ON CD PANEL/ POWER WINDOW ELECTRICAL SWITCH STOPPED WORKING, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON & DID NOT GO OFF. DASHBOARD COVERING WAS SEPARATING FROM WINDOW. THERE WAS WATER IN THE HEADLIGHTS, AND BATTERY WOULD GO DEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. VEHICLE NEEDED ALIGNMENT DUE TO PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION & THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #868570
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OR EXITING A RAMP VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITH ANY PRIOR WARNING OR REASON. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 8 TIMES FOR THE STALLING PROBLEM. PROBLEM WOULD BE ADJUSTED, BUT IT WOULD ALWAYS REAPPEAR. STALLING IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #867716
Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2000
Electrical System
DASHBOARD STARTED TO FOLD AND BEND OUT OF SHAPE. DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING FROM AROUND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO TURNED THE COLOR BROWN ON TOP OF THE DASHBOARD *AK
NHTSA ODI #726260
Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2000
Seat Belts
REAR SHOULDER RESTRAINT BEGAN TO TIGHTEN UP ON A 5-YEAR OLD CHILD, TO THE POINT THE CHILD WAS BEING CHOKED. BELT HAD TO BE CUT TO REMOVE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #865276
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN ONE YEAR PERIOD THAT I HAVE TO HAVE THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED. THIS IS A DEFINITE DEFECT IN KIA SEPHIA'S FROM THE FACTORY, AND THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE JUST AS BAD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #724319
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED, CAUSING A COLLISION WHICH RESULTED IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. STALLING HAS BEEN A REOCCURRING PROBLEM, DESPITE MANY REPAIRS DONE BY DEALER. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #863629
Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723866
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BATTERY FAILURE; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED FAULTY BATTERY ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED. ALSO, AND PROBLEM ENGINE HESITATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT RIGHT AFTER LEASING THE VEHICLE, THAT THE RADIO WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SQUEEKING IN THE REAR END WHEN TURNIN…
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ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BATTERY FAILURE; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED FAULTY BATTERY ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED. ALSO, AND PROBLEM ENGINE HESITATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT RIGHT AFTER LEASING THE VEHICLE, THAT THE RADIO WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SQUEEKING IN THE REAR END WHEN TURNING. THE HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. THE LEFT REAR STRUT ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING KNOCKING NOISE AT RIGHT REAR. THE O-RING FAILED CAUSEING THE DISTRIBUTOR LEAK AND THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. *YH
NHTSA ODI #863221
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS, INJURIES DUE TO DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #552369
Mileage unknown · May 12, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE VIBRATION, REPLACE BOTH FRONT BRAKE DISK AND ROTORS, DUE TO BRAKE DISK OUT OF ROUND
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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