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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 →
64Owner complaints

Model-year median: 107

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
16
199464
1995118
1996205
1997491
1998
Compare all Sephia years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
14Power Train
12Engine And Engine Cooling
10Seat Belts
9Structure
8
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
7Air Bags
5Electrical System
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Steering
3Visibility
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Interior Lighting
2Seats
2Suspension
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Child Seat
1Equipment
1Fuel System, Other
1Parking Brake
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: 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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

10 reports
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125,479 miles · Apr 24, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 KIA SEPHIA. AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 KIA SEPHIA. AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT THE HEAT SOURCE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,479. UPDATED 05/19/08 *BF UPDATED 05/19/08

NHTSA ODI #10225635

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR HAS OVERHEATED AND CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DAMAGING THE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #870269

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN DRIVING AT AN HIGH SPEED AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. WHILE AT HIGH SPEEDS IT STARTS TO STALL AND WILL ALSO SHUT OFF AT AN HIGH SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830772

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower TrainCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #523072

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS AND CUTS OFF.THE DRIVER RECEIVES NO INDICATION THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO STALL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #817818

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentLatches/locks/linkages

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #523635

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES PERIODICALLY. ONCE THIS HAPPENS VEHICLE STARTS TO USE FUEL EXCESSIVELY WITH FUMES OR POSSIBLE BURNING SMELL FOR WHICH THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. VEHICLE SERVICED TWICE WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #814180

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #813337

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainStructure

WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL WHEN IN INTERMITTENT MODE WILL NOT VARY SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #505291

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS: EXPERIENCED 3 TIMES WITHIN 8 MONTH PERIOD, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELING TO FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING EFFECT; ALSO, O2 SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING CAR TO STALL ON RAILROAD. AIR FLOW SENSOR CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL ON FREEWAY RAMP FOUR WEEKS LATER O2 SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED, FOUR WEEKS AFTER BRAKE INSPECTION, NEW ROTORS AND PADS WERE INSTAL…

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ABS: EXPERIENCED 3 TIMES WITHIN 8 MONTH PERIOD, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELING TO FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING EFFECT; ALSO, O2 SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING CAR TO STALL ON RAILROAD. AIR FLOW SENSOR CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL ON FREEWAY RAMP FOUR WEEKS LATER O2 SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED, FOUR WEEKS AFTER BRAKE INSPECTION, NEW ROTORS AND PADS WERE INSTALLED AFTER THE DEALER STATED NO BRAKE MALFUNCTION OR SAFETY DEFECTS COULD BE DETECTED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #985977

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.