IllustrationDASHBOARD, DOOR LOCKS, GAS DOOR LATCH, INTERIOR CLOTH FABRIC
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
What owners actually said
205 reportsENGINE STALLS AT RANDOM WHILE GEARS ARE INGAUGED AND WHILE IN IDLE
BRAKES, VIBRATE AND CAUSE THE CAR TO SWERVE. TAKEN IN TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS STILL THEIR. OTHER NOTE, MY SISTER HAS THE SAME TYPE CAR AND THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH HER CAR ASLO.
NO SUMMARY
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON; INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS TO WORK. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. HEATER MAKES NOISES WHEN TURNED ON. ALSO, AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. NEW TIRES WORE UNEVEN & WORE OUT BEFORE 12,000 MILES. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, VEHICLE WOULD STALL OR DIE OUT FOR NO REASON. HAS NO STEERING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, VEHICLE JUST SHUTS DOWN. TOOK TO DEALER & TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN PROCEEDING TO MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT W *AK
THE BRAKING SYSTEMS MALFUCNTIONED, CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS TO BE WARPED AND PADS TO WEAR OUT, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND ALMOST AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DLR 2 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. PLEASE PORVIDE DETAILS. *AK
FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS, IDLE SET TOO LOW, COULD NO FIX IT THE LAST TIME, ENGINE STALLS
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.