NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–2003

Kia Sephia recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 1,687 owner complaints for the Kia Sephia, covering model years 1995 to 2003. The 1998 model year drew the most complaints (491), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Kia Sephia VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

7 recall campaigns on file
1,687 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
9 model years with data (1995–2003)

most complaints: 1998 (491 for that model year)
top component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic (634 complaints)
latest recall 04V305000 (reported Jun 24, 2004)

200 complaints reporting a crash (11.9%)
73 complaints reporting a fire (4.3%)
120 complaints reporting an injury (7.1%)
3 complaints reporting a death (0.2%)

Kia Sephia complaints by model year

9 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1998 model year has the most complaints: 491 of 1,687, or 29.1%. Next come 1999 (428) and 2000 (266). The fewest are for 2003, with 2 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Kia Sephia complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Kia Sephia complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury	Reporting a death
1995	64	12	1	8	0
1996	118	9	4	8	1
1997	205	30	5	21	1
1998	491	34	16	12	0
1999	428	50	42	27	0
2000	266	42	3	29	0
2001	107	21	2	14	1
2002	6	2	0	1	0
2003	2	0	0	0	0
All model years	1,687	200	73	120	3

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Kia Sephia components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component named most often, in 634 complaints (37.6% of all 1,687), followed by Engine and Engine Cooling (332) and Electrical System (282).

Components named most often in Kia Sephia complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Kia Sephia complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	634	37.6%
Engine and Engine Cooling	332	19.7%
Electrical System	282	16.7%
Power Train	263	15.6%
Air Bags	166	9.8%
Fuel System, Gasoline	129	7.6%
Structure	109	6.5%
Visibility	109	6.5%
Unknown or Other	104	6.2%
Seat Belts	90	5.3%
Steering	69	4.1%
Equipment	63	3.7%
Suspension	62	3.7%
Exterior Lighting	54	3.2%
Latches/Locks/Linkages	39	2.3%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Kia Sephia recalls

7 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Sephia, newest first. The 7 campaigns cover model years 1995 to 2000. The 1998 model year appears in the most campaigns (6).

7 recall campaigns

Kia Sephia recall campaigns covering each model year
1995: 1 campaign	1996: 1 campaign	1997: 1 campaign	1998: 6 campaigns	1999: 5 campaigns	2000: 1 campaign

Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 04V305000
Reported Jun 24, 2004
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Model years 1999–2000
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.
Consequence:
The latch can then pull out of the buckle when tension is applied.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace both front seat belt buckles. The recall began August 16, 2004. Owners should contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Filed by Kia America, Inc.
NHTSA campaign 02V216000
Reported Aug 16, 2002
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Model years 1995–1998
On certain passenger vehicles, the safety belt buckle may "false latch" and expose the driver to unrestrained movement during a crash.
Consequence:
In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy:
Owner notification began December 20, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Filed by Kia America, Inc.
NHTSA campaign 02V207000
Reported Jul 29, 2002
Exterior Lighting › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights › Switch
Model year 1998
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.
Consequence:
The loss of turn signals or rear hazard lamps could fail to warn a following driver that the vehicle is turning and/or is stopped and could result in a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the hazard switch. Owner notification began September 6, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Filed by Kia America, Inc.
NHTSA campaign 00V175000
Reported Jul 17, 2000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control
Model years 1998–1999
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.
Consequence:
This would cause customers to add more fuel to the tank causing fuel spillback or spitback from the fuel filler neck.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the orvr valve. Owner notification began November 13, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Filed by Kia America, Inc.
NHTSA campaign 99V318000
Reported Nov 9, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Model years 1998–1999
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 poor connection can create heat which in turn increases resistance. Eventually the fuel pump will not receive enough current to operate.
Consequence:
This condition could cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
This corrective action is being performed in conjunction with recall No. 99V317.
Filed by Kia America, Inc.
NHTSA campaign 99V317000
Reported Nov 9, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Model years 1998–1999
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.
Consequence:
This condition could cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the existing connectors and reposition those connectors to an area where the placement is designed to prevent contact with moisture.
Filed by Kia America, Inc.
NHTSA campaign 99V271000
Reported Oct 6, 1999
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages
Model years 1998–1999
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 tightened allowing the wiper arm to slip and/or stop functioning.
Consequence:
This condition could cause impairment of visibility in inclement weather increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the windshield wiper link and also properly tighten the wiper arm retaining nuts.
Filed by Kia America, Inc.

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Kia Sephia questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Kia Sephia have?

NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recall campaigns for the Kia Sephia, covering model years 1995 to 2003. The most recent, 04V305000, was reported on June 24, 2004 and is filed under “Seat belts”. The 1998 model year is covered by the most campaigns (6).

Which Kia Sephia model year has the most complaints?

The 1998 model year, with 491 of the 1,687 complaints in NHTSA’s file (29.1%). The next are 1999 (428) and 2000 (266). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Kia Sephia complaint?

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component named most often: 634 complaints, or 37.6% of all 1,687. Engine and Engine Cooling (332) and Electrical System (282) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Kia Sephia?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Kia dealer.

How many Kia Sephia complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 1,687 complaints, 200 report a crash, 73 a fire, 120 at least one injury and 3 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Kia models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Kia VIN decoder with every Kia model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Kia Sorento 2003–2026 · 40 recalls · 10,159 complaints
Kia Optima 2001–2020 · 22 recalls · 7,499 complaints
Kia Soul 2010–2025 · 15 recalls · 5,532 complaints
Kia Sportage 1995–2026 · 36 recalls · 4,687 complaints
Kia Forte 2009–2024 · 18 recalls · 2,539 complaints
Kia Sedona 2002–2021 · 23 recalls · 2,406 complaints
Kia Telluride 2020–2027 · 19 recalls · 2,009 complaints
Kia Rio 2000–2023 · 11 recalls · 1,290 complaints

All Kia models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.