1997 Kia Sephia Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1997 Kia Sephia, and owners have filed 205 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1997 Kia Sephia
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Buckle assembly (seat belts)
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…
205 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Kia Sephia have filed 205 complaints with NHTSA; 30 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 28 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 65,586 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 50 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The dashboard is warped/coming up and has bent/ruined the defrost/defogger system. It happened all on it's own, we did nothing to provoke this. I am the original owner and the car has never been in a”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 16, 2007 · Structure
“Dashboard warped and coming up and touching windshield. It is breaking or blocking the vent/defroster/defogger system. Therefore the windows barely defrost and this is a safety hazard. I know of two o”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 13, 2007 · Visibility
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Kia Sephia. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–27 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–24 / 27–31 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6/1.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Kia Sephia model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Sephia model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 Kia Sephia | 0 | 2 |
| 1994 Kia Sephia | 1 | 16 |
| 1995 Kia Sephia | 1 | 64 |
| 1996 Kia Sephia | 1 | 118 |
| 1997 Kia Sephia | 1 | 205 |
| 1998 Kia Sephia | 6 | 491 |
| 1999 Kia Sephia | 5 | 428 |
| 2000 Kia Sephia | 1 | 266 |
| 2001 Kia Sephia | 0 | 107 |
| 2002 Kia Sephia | 0 | 6 |
| 2003 Kia Sephia | 0 | 2 |
Checking a specific 1997 Kia Sephia
How do I know if my 1997 Kia Sephia has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1997 Kia Sephia; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V216000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Rio1,291 complaints
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.