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
What owners actually said
205 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I CONTACT KIA REP. SEVERAL TIMES THEY EVEN TOLD ME THEY WAS SENDING SOMEONE TO LOOK AT MY CAR. I PROMISED THIS FIVE TO SIX TIMES. BEFORE PURCHASING THIS KIA I THE SALESMAN IF THIS CAR WAS VERY SAFE HE SAID, YES. BUT, WHEN I STARTED ALL OF THE BRAKES AND BELTS SQUEELING NOISE. NO ONE WOULD TALK TO ME ABOUT TAKING THIS CAR BACK. …
Read full complaint
I CONTACT KIA REP. SEVERAL TIMES THEY EVEN TOLD ME THEY WAS SENDING SOMEONE TO LOOK AT MY CAR. I PROMISED THIS FIVE TO SIX TIMES. BEFORE PURCHASING THIS KIA I THE SALESMAN IF THIS CAR WAS VERY SAFE HE SAID, YES. BUT, WHEN I STARTED ALL OF THE BRAKES AND BELTS SQUEELING NOISE. NO ONE WOULD TALK TO ME ABOUT TAKING THIS CAR BACK. KIA EVEN TOLD ME NO. PALMETTO TOLD ME I NEED AT LEAST $3 TO $4 THOUSAND MORE TO PUT DOWN TOWARDS ANOTHER CAR. I AM VERY STRESS OUT OVER THIS CAR. I AM GOING IN FOR ANOTHER BRAKES REPLACEMENT SOON ITS HARD FOR ME TO NOT TO BE SAFE IN THIS CAR. WE HAVE HAD VERY CLOSE CALLS. PLEASE HELP. I EVEN THE CONSUMER BOARD AND A LAWYER GOT NO RESPONSES. THEY REPLACE MY DASH , BUT MY DEFORST DOESN'T WORK. LAST PROMISED THAT SOMEONE FROM KIA WILL BE IN TO TALK TO ME IN JUNE,1999 BUT IT NEVER HAPPEN. I MET SEVERAL CUSTOMER THERE WITH THE SAME PROLEMS. IF YOU CAN, JUST ASKED TO SEE ALL REPAIR THAT WERE DONE ON KIA'S FROM THEM YOU WOULD SEE A LOT OF BRAKES, ROTOR'S AND EVEN SOME DASHIES REPAIR DONE. SOME PEOPLE WHOM WORK THERE TOLD ME THAT THEY CHANGE BRAKES AND ROTORS EVERY DAY ON KIA'S SOME MORE TIMES YOU CAN'T BELEIVE. I CAN GIVE YOU THESE PERSON NAME IF WANTED. I WANT THEM TO TAKE THIS CAR BACK OR GIVE ME SOME MONEY OFF ON THIS CAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DIDN'T HAVE ACESS TO THE INTERNET BEFORE NOW.
NHTSA ODI #715383
Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE BRAKES ARE AGAIN SHAKING AND THE DEALER HAS ODVIOUSLY NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM .*ET
NHTSA ODI #783829
Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1999
Unknown Or Other
DASHBOARD IS TURNIN SLIVER TO DARK BROWN. MANUFACTURERHAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
NHTSA ODI #853162
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train
DOOR SEAL FAILED.*ET
NHTSA ODI #784251
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE SYSTEM CONTINUALLY MAKES NOISE, SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE NOISE, UNABLE TO RECTIFY. MJS
NHTSA ODI #549554
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
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.
NHTSA ODI #851801
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Electrical SystemPower Train
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TRANSAXLE PROBLEMS GETTING THE CAR IN GEAR . I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS GETTING KEYS FROM IGNITION SWITCH PART TOOK TWO WEEKS AND WAS RELACED AT DEALERSHIP
NHTSA ODI #713906
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHILE DRIVING CAR ON TO A HIGHWAY APPLIED BRAKES AND HAD LT FRONT WHEEL LOCK UP AND LOST CONTROLL OF STEERING AND HIT CURB DOING DAMAGE TO LT CONTROL ARM AND RIM HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED HOME CAR WAS DIABLED FOR 2WKS
NHTSA ODI #713905
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. MJS
NHTSA ODI #548983
Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1999
Tires
TIRE DEVELOPED A BLISTER, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP AND VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
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.
1997 Kia Sephia Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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