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2001 Kia SephiaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 107 owner complaints about the 2001 Kia Sephia, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

2001 Kia Sephia
64
CarFlaw IndexSolid year43% below the Sephia median · #5 of 8 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints10737 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage16kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 12, 2016. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2001 Kia Sephia has problems

107 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
Engine and engine cooling212
Air bags1817
Power train181
Electrical system151
Service brakes, hydraulic111
Structure91
Seat belts94
Fuel system, gasoline50
Equipment50
10 other systems263

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

0 recalls

2001 Kia Sephia recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

2001 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
NHTSA crash tests

2001 Kia Sephia safety ratings

2001 Kia Sephia 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2001 Kia Sephia frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2001 Kia Sephia side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2001 Kia Sephia, and the recalls they led to.

  1. REFUELING SPIT BACKEA04004 · closed Jul 29, 2004
    No recall
  2. REFUELING SPIT BACKRQ03006 · closed Feb 3, 2004
    No recall
  3. SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTIONRQ03007 · closed Feb 27, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-305
In owners' words

What Sephia owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR THE THIRD MAJOR REPAIR IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS. FIRST, IN JAN. OF '04 THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BLOCK. THAT REQUIRED THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED ($3,800). THEN, 2 MONTHS AGO, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED ($1,567) AND NOW IT IS IN THE SHOP TO HAVE THE…
Complaint 10142014 · Nov 7, 2005
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *PH
Complaint 10050093 · Dec 4, 2003
DEALER REPLACED IN THE LAST PAST THREE MONTHS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: IGNITION COIL/FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM TWICE/WIRING HARNESS, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HOWEVER, PROBLEMS STILL RECURRED. *AK
Complaint 10042366 · Oct 6, 2003

Own a 2001 Sephia?

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