RecallMyCar

Kia Sephia Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls and 1,705 owner complaints across 11 model years of the Kia Sephia (1986–2003). The most-complained-about year is 1998.

8
safety recalls, all years
1,705
owner complaints, all years
1998
year with most recalls
1998
year with most complaints

Pick your Kia Sephia model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2003 Kia Sephia02
2002 Kia Sephia06
2001 Kia Sephia0107
2000 Kia Sephia1266
1999 Kia Sephia5428
1998 Kia Sephia6491
1997 Kia Sephia1205
1996 Kia Sephia1118
1995 Kia Sephia164
1994 Kia Sephia116
1986 Kia Sephia02

What Kia Sephia owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 1,705 complaints with NHTSA. The 1998 model year has the most, with 491.

All Kia Sephia recalls (8)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Kia Sephia, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Buckle assembly (seat belts)

    NHTSA 04V305000 Reported 251,594 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the front safety belt buckles may emit a "click" sound during the buckling process that is similar to the sound emitted when a buckle is being latched, when it is not.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace both front seat belt buckles. The recall began august 16, 2004. Owners should contact KIA at 1-800-333-4542.

    Model years: 1999, 2000

  2. Buckle assembly (seat belts)

    NHTSA 02V216000 Reported 189,706 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    On certain passenger vehicles, the safety belt buckle may "false latch" and expose the driver to unrestrained movement during a crash.

    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…

    Model years: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

  3. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 02V207000 Reported 25,000 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    On certain passenger vehicles with 36,000 miles or less as of july 15, 2002, an electrical contact problem may have developed in the hazard switch which could result in inoperative hazard lights and/or inoperative turn signals.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the hazard switch. Owner notification began september 6, 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…

    Model years: 1998

  4. Emission control (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 00V175000 Reported 100,137 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Manufacturing changes were made to the orvr spring force and float wire length reducing the valve angle. Certain valves caused fuel shut off before the tank reached 95% of nominal capacity.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the orvr valve. Owner notification began november 13, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…

    Model years: 1998, 1999

  5. Fuel pump (fuel system)

    NHTSA 99V317000 Reported 102,944 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Electrical current to the fuel pump passes through the c304 and c305 connectors. If exposed to moisture, these connectors could corrode. Over time, the fuel pump will not receive enough current to operate.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the existing connectors and reposition those connectors to an area where the placement is designed to prevent contact with moisture.

    Model years: 1998, 1999

  6. Fuel pump (fuel system)

    NHTSA 99V318000 Reported 102,944 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The electrical circuit for the fuel pump is grounded at junction connector g300. If the pin tension is poor, or the bolt securing the connector to the vehicle floor is not tightened sufficiently, a poor connection is made. As the fuel pump operates, the poor connection can create heat which in…

    Remedy: This corrective action is being performed in conjunction with recall no. 99v317.

    Model years: 1998, 1999

  7. Linkages (visibility)

    NHTSA 99V271000 Reported 90,054 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The ball socket on the windshield wiper link may be out of tolerance resulting in the link disengaging from the wiper motor drive under load, such as pushing against ice, snow or other resistance. Also the wiper arm retaining nut could be inadequately tightened allowing the wiper arm to slip…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the windshield wiper link and also properly tighten the wiper arm retaining nuts.

    Model years: 1998, 1999

  8. Power train

    NHTSA 94V134000 Reported 6,945 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    The electronic speedometer sensor can seize, causing the speedometer and cruise control (if the car is equipped with cruise control) to stop functioning.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new speedometer drive gear, electronic sensor, and flexible shaft assembly.

    Model years: 1994

Other Kia models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.