1998 Kia Sephia Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 1998 Kia Sephia, and owners have filed 491 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
6 safety recalls for the 1998 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…
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Switch (exterior lighting)
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…
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Emission control (engine and engine cooling)
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…
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Fuel pump (fuel system)
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.
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Fuel pump (fuel system)
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.
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Linkages (visibility)
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.
491 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Kia Sephia have filed 491 complaints with NHTSA; 33 describe a crash and 16 describe a fire. Reports cite 19 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 65,549 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 180 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 KIA sephia. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would shut off without warning. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 99v317000 (fuel system,”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 19, 2019 · Fuel/propulsion system
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 KIA sephia. The contact stated that when she activated the windshield wipers, the wiper scratched the windshield and did not clear the rain. The contact took the vehicle to”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 18, 2013 · Visibility/wiper
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 Kia Sephia. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20–21 / 28–29 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 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 1998 Kia Sephia
How do I know if my 1998 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. 6 campaigns currently list the 1998 Kia Sephia; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
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 00V175000).
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.