IllustrationCONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES DON'T FUNCTION PROPERLY.OWNER STATES THAT SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 50-55 MPH TRYING TO COME TO A STOP SHE PUMPED THE BRAKES AND ALSO PUT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND TURNED THE RIGHT ROTOR, AND BRAKES ARE STILL IMPORABLE.
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
118 reportsWHEN DRIVING VEHICLE THE ENGINE JUST STOPS WITHOUT WARNING. THE WIRING HARNESS AND ENGINE WERE REPLACED IN APRIL OF 97. WIRING HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACED (2) OTHER TIMES, 6/20/97 & 8/15/ 97. THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS REPLACING FOR A FOURTH TIME. *AK
NUMEROUS ENGINE REPAIRS DONE WHEN BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP AFTER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.
UPON DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH, THE RPMS DROP AND VEHICLE STALLS. ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TWICE. *AK
WHILE BACKING VEHICLE UP, HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND W/FOOT ON BRAKES; ALSO OCCURS WHEN GOING FORWARD; TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED WAS FRONT CALIPERS & VEHICLE NOT DRIVABLE. WAITING FOR PARTS. OLD CALIPERS & BRAKE PADS REPLACED WHICH CAUSED BRAKES TO LOCK UP. *AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE STALLED. CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. CLUTCH BURNED OUT IN LESS THAN A YEAR. *AK
ENGINE: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE STALLS RIGHT IN THE STREET WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. HAS BEEN IN SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS, AND THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
BRAKES WEAR DOWN VERY FAST. OWNER IS ALWAYS TAKING THE CAR IN FOR BRAKE SERVICE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR'S FRONT END AND STEERING HAVE A VIBRATION. *AK
SEAL AND BOLT IN TRANSMISSION FAILED.
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.