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
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.
What owners actually said
64 reportsTHE ENGINECHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES PRIOR TO TODAY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT IS CURRENTLY ON. *AK
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
UNSPECIFIED: AIR BAG FAILED.
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.
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
VEHICLE LOSS CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER TOLD OWNER THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON VEHICLE DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT. OWNER TOOK HER CAR IN FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES, AND MANUFACTURER DID NOT TELL HER THAT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REP…
Read full complaint
INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER TOLD OWNER THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON VEHICLE DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT. OWNER TOOK HER CAR IN FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES, AND MANUFACTURER DID NOT TELL HER THAT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT. *AK
DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED OF 65MPH, VEHICLE STEERED VERY HARD TO LEFT AND THEN TO RIGHT, HAD NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE, IMPACT 1:00 POSITION , HAD NO CONTROL , IMPACT AGAIN. *AK
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.
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