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Kia SephiaYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 1,703 NHTSA owner complaints across 10 model years, no Kia Sephia year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2001. The Sephia has 8 safety recalls on record.

Kia Sephia
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1998, 1999Best years'95 '96 '97 '01Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints1,703Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls81994–2003 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Best & worst years

Kia Sephia years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sephia median. Tap a year for its full report.

'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2003Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls2002Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls2001Solid64/100107 complaints · 0 recalls2000Solid43/100266 complaints · 1 recall1999Caution32/100428 complaints · 5 recalls1998Caution34/100491 complaints · 6 recalls1997Solid50/100205 complaints · 1 recall1996Solid66/100118 complaints · 1 recall1995Best75/10064 complaints · 1 recall1994Not rated–/10016 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Kia Sephia problems

All model years combined: 1,703 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic63855
Engine and engine cooling33549
Electrical system28338
Power train26917
Air bags167125
Fuel system, gasoline12914
Structure1095
Visibility1094
Seat belts9524
18 other systems45845
8 recalls

Kia Sephia recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Front: buckle assembly04V-305 · 1999–2000 · Jun 24, 2004 · 251,594 vehicles–Front: buckle assembly02V-216 · 1995–1998 · Aug 16, 2002 · 189,706 vehicles–Hazard flashing warning lights: switch02V-207 · 1998 · Jul 29, 2002 · 25,000 vehicles–Exhaust system: emission control00V-175 · 1998–1999 · Jul 17, 2000 · 100,137 vehicles–Delivery: fuel pump99V-318 · 1998–1999 · Nov 9, 1999 · 102,944 vehicles–Delivery: fuel pump99V-317 · 1998–1999 · Nov 9, 1999 · 102,944 vehicles–Windshield wiper/washer: linkages99V-271 · 1998–1999 · Oct 6, 1999 · 90,054 vehicles–Power train94V-134 · 1994 · Jul 25, 1994 · 6,945 vehicles
15 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Sephia

  1. SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTIONEA04007 · 1999–2000 · closed Jul 26, 2004
    No recall
  2. REFUELING SPIT BACKEA04004 · 1998–2001 · closed Jul 29, 2004
    No recall
  3. SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTIONRQ03007 · 1999–2001 · closed Feb 27, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-305
  4. REFUELING SPIT BACKRQ03006 · 1998–2001 · closed Feb 3, 2004
    No recall
  5. NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02016 · 1998–2000 · closed Oct 7, 2003
    No recall
  6. SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTIONPE02051 · 1995–1998 · closed Sep 20, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-216
  7. BATTERY CABLE CHAFINGPE02028 · 1998–2000 · closed Aug 6, 2002
    No recall
  8. TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINEPE00028 · 1998–1999 · closed Nov 7, 2000
    No recall
  9. INCORRECT BATTERY JUMP-STARTPE00026 · 2000 · closed Jul 31, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-205
  10. TURN SIGHALEA00018 · 1998–1999 · closed Jul 29, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-207