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 · Aug 2, 2005
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 KIA SEPHIA. CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 35 MPH . UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.THERE WERE THREE OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR ALL WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE . THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD NOT BEEN ON IN THIS VEHICLE NOR WAS IT ON AFTE…
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DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 KIA SEPHIA. CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 35 MPH . UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.THERE WERE THREE OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR ALL WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE . THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD NOT BEEN ON IN THIS VEHICLE NOR WAS IT ON AFTER THE CRASH. ONE PERSON SUSTAINED INJURIES BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BELT. SHE BROKE TWO RIBS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10131172
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2005
Seat Belts
BOTH OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT REATRACT BACK TO NORMAL POSITION, WHICH IS PREVENTING THE REAR PASSENGERS FROM BEING SAFE IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10115860
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2004
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION HEAD ON . SEAT BELT BROKE, THROWING THE CONSUMER THREW THE DRIVER'S WINDSHIELD. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK CONSUMER IS IN A COMA. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10087858
22,590 miles · Aug 30, 2004
Air BagsStructureCrash
THE DASHBOARD LIFTED UP FROM THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS A HOLE THAT BURNED INTO THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING OR DEPLOYING PREMATURELY. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10082004
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2004
Seat BeltsStructure
PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS AND DASHBOARD. *MR *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10079704
63,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE BRAKES FELT BAD BECAUSE I HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER HAVING IT FOR 2 WEEKS OTHER THING STARTED TO GO WRONG. I HAD TO BUY A CAP AND ROTOR AND GET SPARK PLUG AND WIRES. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS MESSING UP. THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PUT ME IN SOMETHING BETTER. THEY WANT ME TO PAY O…
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WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE BRAKES FELT BAD BECAUSE I HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER HAVING IT FOR 2 WEEKS OTHER THING STARTED TO GO WRONG. I HAD TO BUY A CAP AND ROTOR AND GET SPARK PLUG AND WIRES. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS MESSING UP. THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PUT ME IN SOMETHING BETTER. THEY WANT ME TO PAY ON A JUNK CAR THAT I WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO BE FIXING DAY AFTER DAY.
NHTSA ODI #10070151
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER. DEALER INDICATED AND PERFORMED A TUNE UP ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10050045
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2003
Structure
THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD IS LIFTING UP, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS MAY CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10040743
102,000 miles · Sep 25, 2003
Air Bags
THE DASHBOARD ON THIS YEAR VEHICLE STARTS TO CURL AND IS HEADING TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHICH MAY POP AND CAUSE INJURIES OR FATALITIES. THE DASHBOARD ALSO BREAKS THE PLASTIC VENTS WHICH THEN DOES NOT DISTRIBUTE THE AIR ON THE DEFROSTER PROPERLY WHICH THEN COULD ALSO CAUSE FATALITIES OR INJURIES.
NHTSA ODI #10039524
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2003
Structure
THE DASHBOARD IS PULLING APART AND THIS IS UNSAFE AND I WORRY ABOUT THE AIR BAGS BLASTING OFF AND OTHER DAMAGE. I KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS PREVELANT TO THIS CAR ALSO THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BREAKS THEY SQUEAK HORRIBLY, BUT THE BREAK PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T NEED TO BE REPLACED, UNSURE OF THE CAUSE.*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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