IllustrationIS LEAKING CAUSING ELECTRICAL LIGHTS DAMAGE, THE HAZARDS OR SIGNALS AREN'T WORKING AND THE TRUCK SMELLS LIKE MILDEW. TS
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
Structure complaints
19 reportsI HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON, THE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE AND THEY STILL MADE NOISE BUT THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO, THE HINGE ON THE BACK DOOR FAILED, THE LEFT STRUT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS TIME THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED THE CAR SKI…
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I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON, THE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE AND THEY STILL MADE NOISE BUT THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO, THE HINGE ON THE BACK DOOR FAILED, THE LEFT STRUT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS TIME THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED THE CAR SKIPPED WHEN IN DRIVE TO REVERSE AND THE BREAKS WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. KIA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS THESE CARS HAVE TOO MANY DEFECTS AND I'M SURE THEY HAVE MANY MOR PEOPLE JUST DON'T REPORT THEM ALL THE TIME
DOOR SEAL FAILED.*ET
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. MJS
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCES BRAKE ROTOR AND PAD REPLACEMENT DUE TO VIBRATION/PULSATION. MJS
DASHBOARD REPLACED TWO TIMES DUE TO SEPARATING PROBLEMS.
EXTREMELY LOUD WIND NOISE CAUSED BY DRIVER SIDE MIRROR WHEN DRIVING 55 MPH OR OVER.
WHILE DRVING THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE , AND OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
BRAKES FAILED CAUSING PULSATING AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES, BRAKES REPLACED HOWEVER STILL EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.
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.