Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Kia Sephia. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
AI Assistant
Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
NHTSA.gov
for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Kia Sephia,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 1986–2003 with 16 recall campaigns and 3080 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 1998 (6), 1999 (5), and 2000 (1).
Years with the most complaint volume: 1998 (994), 1999 (749), and 2000 (461).
Top recall themes: Fuel and emissions, Seats and restraints, and Visibility and lighting.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc, Power train:automatic transmission.
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Fuel and emissions
3 campaigns · Years: 1998–1999
These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.
Official notices (evidence):
00V175000
· Engine and engine cooling: Emission control
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Kia Sephia in NHTSA complaint data are
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc, Power train:automatic transmission.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
2003
0
2
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine, Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module.
2002
0
6
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic, Tires, Air bags:frontal.
2001
0
158
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Air bags:frontal, Power train:automatic transmission, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
2000
1
461
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components, Air bags:frontal.
1999
5
749
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc, Power train:automatic transmission.
1998
6
994
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1997
1
375
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Air bags:frontal, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor.
1996
1
203
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Air bags:frontal.
1995
1
104
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Structure.
1994
1
25
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train, Seat belts:front:retractor, Vehicle speed control.
1986
0
3
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Power train:automatic transmission.
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Seat belts
, Fuel system
and Engine and engine cooling
Show recall evidence by year
2000
Seat belts: Buckle assembly:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
1999
Engine and engine cooling: Emission control:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Manufacturing changes were made to the orvr spring force and float wire length reducing the valve angle. Certain valves caused fuel shut off before the tank reached 95% of nominal capacity.
Seat belts: Buckle assembly:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Visibility: Linkages:
Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 load, such as pushing against ice, snow or other resistance. Also the wiper arm retaining nut could be inadequately tigh
Fuel system, gasoline: Fuel pump:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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. Over time, the fuel pump will not receive enough current to operate.
Fuel system, gasoline: Fuel pump:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The electrical circuit for the fuel pump is grounded at junction connector g300. If the pin tension is poor, or the bolt securing the connector to the vehicle floor is not tightened sufficiently, a poor connection is made. As the fuel pump operates, the po
1998
Engine and engine cooling: Emission control:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Manufacturing changes were made to the orvr spring force and float wire length reducing the valve angle. Certain valves caused fuel shut off before the tank reached 95% of nominal capacity.
Exterior lighting: Switch:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 inoperative hazard lights and/or inoperative turn signals.
Seat belts: Buckle assembly:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 load, such as pushing against ice, snow or other resistance. Also the wiper arm retaining nut could be inadequately tigh
Fuel system, gasoline: Fuel pump:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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. Over time, the fuel pump will not receive enough current to operate.
Fuel system, gasoline: Fuel pump:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The electrical circuit for the fuel pump is grounded at junction connector g300. If the pin tension is poor, or the bolt securing the connector to the vehicle floor is not tightened sufficiently, a poor connection is made. As the fuel pump operates, the po
1997
Seat belts: Buckle assembly:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The electronic speedometer sensor can seize, causing the speedometer and cruise control (if the car is equipped with cruise control) to stop functioning.
Other Kia Models
Explore recall and complaint data for other Kia models.
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data.
This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
