1994 KIA SEPHIA

1 recalls, 25 complaints - 9 TSBs

POWER TRAIN

Defect Description

THE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER SENSOR CAN SEIZE, CAUSING THE SPEEDOMETER AND CRUISE CONTROL (IF THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL) TO STOP FUNCTIONING.

Consequence

THE LOSS OF CRUISE CONTROL WILL CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED. LOSS OF THE SPEEDOMETER WILL RESULT IN THE OPERATOR NOT KNOWING THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SPEEDOMETER DRIVE GEAR, ELECTRONIC SENSOR, AND FLEXIBLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY.

6,945 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Complaint Statistics

25 total complaints 3 crashes

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
POWER TRAIN	3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR	3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR	2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)	1
SEATS	1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE	1

VEHICLE WAS IN A N HEAD-ON ACCIDENT AT 45 MPH, AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Apr 1, 1995

THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED SINCE A THERMOMETER DIDN'T TELL THE ENGINE IT WAS HOT. WHICH BLEW THE HEAD GASKETS, MELTED THE SPARK PLUGS, TOOK OUT THE WATER PUMP, AND SO OVER HEATED THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE FRONT ROTORS WENT OUT TWICE. SOUNDS LIKE A WIND TUNNEL, SINCE THE SEALS AREN'T GOOD. THE CAR ... Read more

Incident date: Apr 1, 1995

Incident date: Jan 2, 1999

THE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER SENSOR WAS REPLACED UNDER THE 1994 RECALL. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE EXACT SAME PART HAS GONE BAD AGAIN IN EARLY JAN. 1999. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. 94V-134. *AK

Incident date: Feb 1, 1999

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WORE OUT.

Incident date: Feb 1, 1999

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WORE OUT.

POOR STEERING FUNCTION AND UNABLE TO MONITOR SPEED, MILAGE OR USE CRUISE CONTROL.

Incident date: Feb 1, 1997

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

Incident date: Sep 21, 1994

ENGINE: WHEN DRIVING AND DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT ONE IS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN, WHEN DOWNSHIFTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE JUST COMPLETELY DIES, THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY. *AK CONSUMER STATED SEATBELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, ALSO THE BRAKES WERE REPLA... Read more

Incident date: Sep 21, 1994

VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO FAILED IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE.

Incident date: Apr 18, 1997

DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED AT 6:00 POSITION, DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK AND ANCHORS BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Jun 12, 1994

FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT WHEN PUT ON DURING A SUDDEN STOP, CAN GO RIGHT IN THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO THE SHIFT GEAR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN READY TO SHIFT THE GEAR. *AK

Incident date: Jun 12, 1994

FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT WHEN PUT ON DURING A SUDDEN STOP, CAN GO RIGHT IN THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO THE SHIFT GEAR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN READY TO SHIFT THE GEAR. *AK

Incident date: Jun 1, 1996

SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. *AK

Incident date: Feb 15, 1996

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT GETS STUCK IN THE HOLDER AND WILL NOT RELEASE AND THE BELT CANNOT BE USED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

WHEN SEAT IS MOVED FORWARD SOME, SEAT BELT PERFORMS ERRATIC. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Incident date: Jun 22, 1995

THE SQUEAKING NOISE WAS PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE MOVED. THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS BROKEN. TT

Incident date: May 1, 1995

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. VEHICLE SEIZE. TT

Incident date: May 1, 1995

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. VEHICLE SEIZE. TT

Incident date: Dec 30, 1994

SHIFTED INTO REVERSE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT. TT

Crash

EPA Fuel Economy, 1994 KIA SEPHIA

Trim / Engine	City MPG	Highway MPG	Combined MPG	Fuel Type	Annual Fuel Cost
1.6L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	22.0	27.0	24.0	Regular	$2,600
1.6L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	23.0	30.0	26.0	Regular	$2,400

CO2 Emissions: -1.0 g/mile (Compact Cars)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

Technical Service Bulletins, 1994 KIA SEPHIA

9 manufacturer communications from 5 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY	2
053000 PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT	1
123000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS	1
125000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS	1
100000 POWER TRAIN	1
170000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	1
354000 EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL	1
060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	1

060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine.

354000 EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL

TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various Kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.? Some example

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

170000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners utilized in various Kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?. Though not limited to the following, some examples are: axle shaft nuts with sta

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

100000 POWER TRAIN

TSB: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CORRECT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUIDS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR EACH KIA MODEL. REFER TO THE SHOP MANUAL ON KGIS FOR THE SPECIFIC KIA MODEL

053000 PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT

KIA: ALL MODELS. ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE IMPROVED DURABILITY OF BULB LIFE FOR REAR COMBINATION BULB; REAR STOP LAMP/TAIL LAMP BULB UTILIZED ON MULTIPLE KIA MODELS. *PE

123000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

KIA: ALL MODELS. ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE IMPROVED DURABILITY OF BULB LIFE FOR REAR COMBINATION BULB; REAR STOP LAMP/TAIL LAMP BULB UTILIZED ON MULTIPLE KIA MODELS. *PE

125000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

KIA: ALL MODELS. ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE IMPROVED DURABILITY OF BULB LIFE FOR REAR COMBINATION BULB; REAR STOP LAMP/TAIL LAMP BULB UTILIZED ON MULTIPLE KIA MODELS. *PE

NHTSA Safety Investigations, KIA SEPHIA

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1999

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION

THE MANUFACTURER HAS INITIATED A SAFETY RELATED CAMPAIGN TO RECALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES FOR CORRECTION OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DEFECT.THE CORRECTIVE ACTION IS TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS/BUCKLES.THIS SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 04V305.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1998

REFUELING SPIT BACK

BASED ON THE LOW RATE OF FUEL SPIT-BACK INCEDENTS (14.3 INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES SOLD), A LOW WARRANTY CLAIMS RATE OF 0.02 PERCENT, AND THE LACK OF ENGINEERING INFORMATION THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE PRESENCE OF AN ENGINEERING DEFECT, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AND FURTHE... Read more

RQ, Closed , Model Year: 1999

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION

INFORMATION RECEIVED AND ANALYZED DURING THIS RQ DISCLOSED THAT MY 1999 AND 2000 KIA SEPHIA AND SPORTAGE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE SAME SAFETY BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY AS THOSE RECALLED IN CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.THESE LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE IDENTIFIED AS TYPE A97. ODI ANALYSES IND... Read more

RQ, Closed , Model Year: 1998

REFUELING SPIT BACK

IN JUNE 2000, KIA NOTIFIED ODI OF A DEFECT CONDITION IN APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MY 1998-99 SEPHIA PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 17, 1997 TO MAY 16, 1999, THAT COULD RESULT IN FUEL SPIT BACK WHILE REFUELING (EA99-034, RECALL 00V-175).ACCORDING TO KIA, MANUFACTURING CHANGES MADE TO THE ON... Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1998

NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ODI GATHERED FIRE DATA FROM VARIOUS SOURCES AND INSPECTED SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND FREQUENCY OF NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES CAUSED BY STARTER CABLE CHAFING.ODI'S ANALYSIS FOUND THAT MOST OF THE SUSPECT FIRES OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD RECEIVED SERVICE REPAIRS IN THE AREA O... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1995

SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION

BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 25, 2002, KIA ADVISED NHTSA THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED.SPECIFIC CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY KIA HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA AT THIS TIME.THE SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1998

BATTERY CABLE CHAFING

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1998

TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE

THE OIL COOLER LINE ALLEGEDLY DEVELOPS LEAKS AT IT'S JUNCTION TO THE RADIATOR

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2000

INCORRECT BATTERY JUMP-START

ALLEGE BATTETY MAY EXPLODE IF OWNER'S ATTEMPT TO JUMP-STATE THE VEHICLE BY FOLLOWING THE OWNER'S MANUAL DIAGRAM

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1998

TURN SIGHAL

There is no summary currently available

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1998

TURN SIGNAL, TRAFFIC SAFETY HAZARD

ALLEGE THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE TRUN SIGNAL SWITCH FAILED.THIS FAILURE INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH DUE TO OPERATOR DISTRACTION AND DUE TO OTHER VEHICLES BEING UNINFORMED OF THE OPERATOR'S INTENTIONS.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1998

REFUELING SPIT BACK

The number and dates of complaints and warrant claims reported by Kia indicates that fuel spit-back has been a serieous ongoing problem with the Sephia models.Kia has made changes in both the ORVR valve and in the installation process on the fuel tank check valve, in an attempt to correct the proble... Read more

SQ, Closed , Model Year: 1998

INTERMITTENT STALLING

Kia issued a Kia Technical Times in October 1998 stating that, due to loose connections at the fuel pump ground at G300, the fuel pump may shut off intermittently.The corrective action is to solder the fuel pump ground terminals at the terminal connec

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1998

REFUELING SPIT- BACK

The subject vehicles are equipped with Onboard Refueling Vapor Recover Systems.Owners report that, during the refueling process, fuel sprays out of the refueling opening and soaks the person refueling the vehicle with liquid gasoline

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1998

WINDSHIELD WIPER

ALLEGED WINDSHIELD WIPER BECOMES INOPERATIVE WHEN THE WIPER ARM AND PIVOT SEPARATE

KIA SEPHIA - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the KIA SEPHIA across all model years (1994, 2000).

16 Total Recalls

3,091 Total Complaints

15 Investigations

299 Reported Crashes

118 Reported Fires

8 Reported Deaths

KIA SEPHIA - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2003	0	2	View
2002	0	6	View
2001	0	158	View
2000	1	461	View
1999	5	749	View
1998	6	994	View
1997	1	375	View
1996	1	203	View
1995	1	104	View
1994 (current)	1	25
1986	0	3	View

Other KIA Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
SORENTO	188	13,593	View
SPORTAGE	165	6,601	View
SEDONA	118	3,350	View
OPTIMA	100	10,128	View
TELLURIDE	70	2,186	View
SOUL	66	7,233	View
SORENTO HYBRID	62	159	View
SOUL EV	62	50	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

1994 KIA SEPHIA

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

EPA Fuel Economy, 1994 KIA SEPHIA

Technical Service Bulletins, 1994 KIA SEPHIA

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, KIA SEPHIA

KIA SEPHIA - All Years Overview

KIA SEPHIA - Year by Year

Other KIA Models