IllustrationWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
1997 Kia Sephia
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
44 reportsENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON/LEAKING MOTOR OIL/ POWER STEERING BINDING, AND FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT.*AK
DOOR SEAL FAILED.*ET
WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES ENGINE STALLS COMPLETELY OUT. HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND STARTED BACK UP. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND CANT FIND SOLUTION.
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. MJS
THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN OUTAND REPLACED TWICE. TANSMISSION FAILD CAUSING, LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND NEW TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. LEFT AXLE FAILED AND REPLACED. THE BATTERY WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START.*AK
ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED TWICE. ROTORS WARPED AND PADS GLAZING. COMPLAINED THATS BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING RIGHT, AND NOT STOPPING RIGHT. STARTED TO FILE LEMON LAW, AND WENT TO INFORMAL ARBITRATION. KIA MOTORS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. WAS GOING TO FILE WITH THE STATE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AND RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE …
Read full complaint
ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED TWICE. ROTORS WARPED AND PADS GLAZING. COMPLAINED THATS BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING RIGHT, AND NOT STOPPING RIGHT. STARTED TO FILE LEMON LAW, AND WENT TO INFORMAL ARBITRATION. KIA MOTORS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. WAS GOING TO FILE WITH THE STATE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AND RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKES WITH KIA MOTORS, ON NHTSA WEB SITE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET HURT OR DIE IN A CAR CRASH BEFORE KIA WILL ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR BRAKE SYSTEMS BEING PLACED ON THESE CARS, WHICH HAS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THEM, CAUSING ACCIDENTS. THANK GOD MY DAUGHTER WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED THE CAR!!!!!! I WILL PROCIDE TO SUE KIA MOTORS FOR THEIR FAILURE TO ADDRESS SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM
I AM NO LONGER GOING TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS LEMON! *AK
NO SUMMARY INCLUDED.
WARPED FRONT AND REAR ROTORS/ INTERMITTENT STALLING. REPLACED STARTER/BATTERY/THROTTLE BODY/STARTER MOTOR AND ADJUSTED TIMING GEAR AND CHAIN. *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.