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2000 Kia SephiaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 266 owner complaints about the 2000 Kia Sephia, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

2000 Kia Sephia
43
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.3× the Sephia median · #3 of 8 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints26674 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage22kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 1, 2022. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2000 Kia Sephia has problems

266 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, hydraulic7911
Power train502
Electrical system454
Engine and engine cooling433
Air bags3226
Visibility190
Structure181
Seat belts175
Latches/locks/linkages160
15 other systems8211

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2000 Kia Sephia recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.

Best & worst years

2000 vs. every other Sephia year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sephia median. How we score

'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
7 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2000 Kia Sephia, and the recalls they led to.

  1. NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02016 · closed Oct 7, 2003
    No recall
  2. REFUELING SPIT BACKEA04004 · closed Jul 29, 2004
    No recall
  3. SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTIONEA04007 · closed Jul 26, 2004
    No recall
  4. INCORRECT BATTERY JUMP-STARTPE00026 · closed Jul 31, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-205
  5. BATTERY CABLE CHAFINGPE02028 · closed Aug 6, 2002
    No recall
  6. REFUELING SPIT BACKRQ03006 · closed Feb 3, 2004
    No recall
  7. SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTIONRQ03007 · closed Feb 27, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-305
In owners' words

What Sephia owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE SHOES,BECAUSE OF A NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. WHEN THE BRAKE DRUM WAS REMOVED THE ON THE RIGHT SIDE THE BRAKE LINING FELL ON THE FLOOR. IT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE BRAKE SHOE. THE BRAKE DRUM SHOWED NO SIGN OF OVER HEATING SUCH AS IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS LEFT…
Complaint 10243942 · Sep 29, 2008 · 63,890 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SEPHIA. THE BRAKES MAKE A BANGING AND KNOCKING NOISE WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKES WERE CHANGED, BUT THE NOISE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED…
Complaint 10214017 · Jan 7, 2008 · 100,000 miles
REGULAR DRIVING CAUSING BRAKES ON 2000 KIA SEPHIA TO REQUIRE CONSTANT MAINTENANCE ON THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. AT VARIED INTERVALS, THE BRAKES WOULD BEGIN TO START VIBRATING WHEN APPLIED, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS (60 MPH) AND GOING DOWN HILLS. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS BUT MANY…
Complaint 10159417 · Jun 9, 2006

Own a 2000 Sephia?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.