Engine
1.8L 4-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 220 of 266 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 75 of 266 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Brakes
95 complaint records14 crash reports
"EVERY 12 THOUSAND MILES ABS BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS ON FOURTH SET OF BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →
Power train
52 complaint records2 crash reports
"CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Engine & cooling
52 complaint records1 fire report
"ENGINE WILL CONTINUEOUSLY OVERHEAT WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE.*AK *MJ..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA04007 opened Feb 2004 | closed Jul 2004 | Seat Belts | SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION THE MANUFACTURER HAS INITIATED A SAFETY RELATED CAMPAIGN TO RECALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES FOR CORRECTION OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DEFECT.THE CORRECTIVE ACTION IS TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS/BUCKLES.THIS SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. |
| EA04004 opened Feb 2004 | closed Jul 2004 | Fuel System, Other | REFUELING SPIT BACK BASED ON THE LOW RATE OF FUEL SPIT-BACK INCEDENTS (14.3 INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES SOLD), A LOW WARRANTY CLAIMS RATE OF 0.02 PERCENT, AND THE LACK OF ENGINEERING INFORMATION THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE PRESENCE OF AN ENGINEERING DEFECT, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT... |
| RQ03007 opened Oct 2003 | closed Feb 2004 | Seat Belts | SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION - led to recall 04V305000 INFORMATION RECEIVED AND ANALYZED DURING THIS RQ DISCLOSED THAT MY 1999 AND 2000 KIA SEPHIA AND SPORTAGE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE SAME SAFETY BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY AS THOSE RECALLED IN CAMPAIGN NO. |
| RQ03006 opened Aug 2003 | closed Feb 2004 | Fuel System, Other | REFUELING SPIT BACK IN JUNE 2000, KIA NOTIFIED ODI OF A DEFECT CONDITION IN APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MY 1998-99 SEPHIA PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 17, 1997 TO MAY 16, 1999, THAT COULD RESULT IN FUEL SPIT BACK WHILE REFUELING (EA99-034, RECALL 00V-175).ACCORDING TO... |
| EA02016 opened Aug 2002 | closed Oct 2003 | Electrical System | NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES ODI GATHERED FIRE DATA FROM VARIOUS SOURCES AND INSPECTED SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND FREQUENCY OF NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES CAUSED BY STARTER CABLE CHAFING.ODI'S ANALYSIS FOUND THAT MOST OF THE SUSPECT FIRES OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE... |
Show 2 more closed investigations
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE02028 opened Mar 2002 | closed Aug 2002 | Electrical System | BATTERY CABLE CHAFING |
| PE00026 opened Jul 2000 | closed Jul 2000 | Electrical System | INCORRECT BATTERY JUMP-START - led to recall 00V205000 ALLEGE BATTETY MAY EXPLODE IF OWNER'S ATTEMPT TO JUMP-STATE THE VEHICLE BY FOLLOWING THE OWNER'S MANUAL DIAGRAM |
Recall campaigns
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. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V305000 | 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 BUCKLE IS BEING LATCHED, WHEN IT IS NOT. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004294 2004-08-23 | Seats And Restraints | 9,601 | On certain vehicles, the front seat belt buckles may not latch properly, even though they emit a clicking sound during latching. |
| 2000095 2000-04-14 | Other | 5,466 | Certain vehicles do not comply with Regulation 6 - Statement of Compliance. The outer circle of the National Safety Mark was omitted and the vehicle type was not stated in both official languages on the compliance label. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB_BOD055_R1 Sep 2021 | Exterior Lighting | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. | |
| PS539 Mar 2018 | Engine And Engine Cooling | PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine. | |
| TSB-GEN085R1 Jan 2017 | Equipment | TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various Kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.? | |
| TSB-GEN085 Nov 2016 | Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners utilized in various Kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?. | |
| TSBTRA046 Dec 2013 | Power Train | TSB: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CORRECT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUIDS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR EACH KIA MODEL. |
Show 10 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| KT-2008082201 Aug 2008 | Parking Brake | KIA: ALL MODELS. ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE IMPROVED DURABILITY OF BULB LIFE FOR REAR COMBINATION BULB; REAR STOP LAMP/TAIL LAMP BULB UTILIZED ON MULTIPLE KIA MODELS. *PE | |
| 017 Sep 2004 | Electrical System | CHARGING SYSTEM UPGRADE. *TT | |
| 035R Jan 2004 | Electrical System | BATTERY CABLE CHAFING INSPECTION, REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT. REVISED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. *TT | |
| 035 Dec 2003 | Electrical System | BATTERY CABLE CHAFING INSPECTION, REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, LETTERS TO SERVICE MANAGERS AND DEALERS AND OWNERS. *TT | |
| 025 Sep 2002 | Electrical System | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO INSPECT POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK. *TT | |
| 008 Mar 2002 | Power Train | AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIAGNOSIS. CERTAIN MODELS INCLUDING ALL RIOS. *SLC | |
| 007 Dec 2001 | Power Train | A LOGIC CHANGE IN THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM). *TT | |
| 020 Sep 2001 | Latches/Locks/Linkages | SUBJECT ON FRONT DOOR LATCH. *ET | |
| 001 Jun 2000 | Exterior Lighting | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE TURN SIGNAL CIRCUIT IN CERTAIN VEHICLES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE CIRCUIT WHEN DIAGNOSING A TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTION. *TT | |
| 003 Oct 1999 | Power Train | THIS TECHINICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUTLINES THE NEW SEPHIA REMANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROGRAM. *TT |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 1 recall campaign on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Kia Sephia →