2002 KIA SEPHIA

0 recalls — 6 complaints

No recalls found for this vehicle.

Complaint Statistics

6 total complaints 2 crashes 1 injuries

Top Reported Components

ComponentComplaints
TIRES1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY Feb 22, 2005
Incident date: Dec 14, 2004
WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS HIT AT 5 MPH ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT UNLOCKED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Oct 20, 2004
Incident date: Oct 20, 2004
WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH EXCESSIVE SPEED. THE DRIVER TURNED OFF THE VEH... Read more
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL Apr 21, 2004
Incident date: Apr 2, 2004
DURING A 35 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash 1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION Feb 10, 2004
Incident date: Jan 24, 2004
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Feb 12, 2003
Incident date: Jan 24, 2003
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB
TIRES Nov 6, 2001
Incident date: Oct 8, 2001
VEHICLE ORGINALLY STARTED WITH A VERY HARD PULL TO THE RIGHT & VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, TOLD THAT SERVICE TECHS WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO HAVE BACK UNTIL REPAIRS MADE BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. AFTER CROSSMEMBER REALIGN, STILL HAD A HARD PULL & VI... Read more

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.

RQ03006 Opened: Aug 15, 2003 — Closed: Feb 3, 2004
RQ — Closed — Model Year: 1999
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
PE02028 Opened: Mar 6, 2002 — Closed: Aug 6, 2002
PE — Closed — Model Year: 2000
BATTERY CABLE CHAFING
PE00028 Opened: Jul 12, 2000 — Closed: Nov 7, 2000
PE — Closed — Model Year: 1999
TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE
THE OIL COOLER LINE ALLEGEDLY DEVELOPS LEAKS AT IT'S JUNCTION TO THE RADIATOR
PE00004 Opened: Jan 13, 2000 — Closed: Jun 29, 2000
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.
EA99034 Opened: Dec 16, 1999 — Closed: Jun 29, 2000
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
SQ99020 Opened: Jun 30, 1999 — Closed: Jan 12, 2000
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
PE99042 Opened: Jun 24, 1999 — Closed: Dec 16, 1999
PE — Closed — Model Year: 1999
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

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
7 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 (current) 0 6
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 1 25 View
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