Complaints by model year
Distinct federal complaints filed against each model year of the Kia Sephia, to date. Hover a bar for the count. Older years have had longer to accumulate filings; the rankings below correct for that.
1986
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Highest totals within an 8-year windowAll other years
Model years compared
Ranked from the same federal record on an equal exposure window. Click any year for its full file.
Highest complaint totals
- 1998 Kia Sephia - 480 complaints in its first 8 years (491 to date)
- 1999 Kia Sephia - 416 complaints in its first 8 years (428 to date)
- 2000 Kia Sephia - 253 complaints in its first 8 years (266 to date)
Ranked on distinct complaints filed within eight years of the model year, so old and new years get the same exposure window. Not adjusted for sales volume; a best-selling year files more complaints at the same failure rate.
Lowest totals among mature years
- 1995 Kia Sephia - 61 complaints in its first 8 years (64 to date)
- 2001 Kia Sephia - 99 complaints in its first 8 years (107 to date)
- 1996 Kia Sephia - 117 complaints in its first 8 years (118 to date)
Same eight-year window, among model years old enough to have completed it and with at least 25 complaints in it. Model years before 1990 are excluded because the federal file begins in 1995. A low total is not proof of reliability.
What owners report, all years combined
Every model year
| Model year | Complaints to date | Within 8 years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Kia Sephia | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 Kia Sephia | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2001 Kia Sephia | 107 | 99 | 0 |
| 2000 Kia Sephia | 266 | 253 | 1 |
| 1999 Kia Sephia | 428 | 416 | 5 |
| 1998 Kia Sephia | 491 | 480 | 6 |
| 1997 Kia Sephia | 205 | 199 | 1 |
| 1996 Kia Sephia | 118 | 117 | 1 |
| 1995 Kia Sephia | 64 | 61 | 1 |
| 1994 Kia Sephia | 16 | 16 | 1 |
| 1993 Kia Sephia | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 Kia Sephia | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Recall campaigns, all years
Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN.
| Campaign | Years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V305000 | 1999-2000 | Seat Belts | 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... |
| 02V216000 | 1995-1998 | Seat Belts | ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH. |
| 02V207000 | 1998 | 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... |
| 00V175000 | 1998-1999 | 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. |
| 99V318000 | 1998-1999 | Fuel System, Gasoline | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR THE FUEL PUMP IS GROUNDED AT JUNCTION CONNECTOR G300. |
| 99V317000 | 1998-1999 | Fuel System, Gasoline | 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. |
| 99V271000 | 1998-1999 | 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... |
| 94V134000 | 1994 | Power Train | THE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER SENSOR CAN SEIZE, CAUSING THE SPEEDOMETER AND CRUISE CONTROL (IF THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL) TO STOP FUNCTIONING. |