1998 KIA SEPHIA — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 484 complaints · 6 recalls
Most-reported system: SERVICE BRAKES (166 complaints · 34.3%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 30
  • Fires 15
  • Injuries 16
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1997 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution SERVICE BRAKES appears in 166 of 484 owner complaints (34.3%) in this vehicle snapshot. SERVICE BRAKES: 166 complaints, 34.3% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 166 · 34.3% · 4 crash reports 2 fire reports ENGINE: 62 complaints, 12.8% of reports ENGINE 62 · 12.8% · 2 crash reports 3 fire reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 55 complaints, 11.4% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 55 · 11.4% · 2 crash reports 7 fire reports FUEL SYSTEM: 31 complaints, 6.4% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 31 · 6.4% · 3 crash reports 1 fire reports POWER TRAIN: 30 complaints, 6.2% of reports POWER TRAIN 30 · 6.2% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports AIR BAGS: 22 complaints, 4.6% of reports AIR BAGS 22 · 4.6% · 15 crash reports VISIBILITY: 22 complaints, 4.6% of reports VISIBILITY 22 · 4.6% · 1 crash reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 17 complaints, 3.5% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 17 · 3.5% SUSPENSION: 13 complaints, 2.7% of reports SUSPENSION 13 · 2.7% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 419 complaints, 86.6% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 419 · 86.6% · 26 crash reports 13 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
SERVICE BRAKES 166 34.3% 4 crashes · 2 fires
ENGINE 62 12.8% 2 crashes · 3 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 55 11.4% 2 crashes · 7 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 31 6.4% 3 crashes · 1 fires
POWER TRAIN 30 6.2% 1 crashes · 1 fires
AIR BAGS 22 4.6% 15 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 22 4.6% 1 crashes · 0 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 17 3.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 13 2.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 419 86.6% 26 crashes · 13 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Apr 1998; the first recall shown was reported in Oct 1999. 1998-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 1998-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 1998-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 1999-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 1999-Q2: 22 owner reports 22 1999-Q3: 58 owner reports 58 1999-Q4: 81 owner reports 81 2000-Q1: 63 owner reports 63 2000-Q2: 30 owner reports 30 2000-Q3: 25 owner reports 25 2000-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2001-Q1: 29 owner reports 29 2001-Q2: 18 owner reports 18 2001-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2001-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2002-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2002-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2002-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2003-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2003-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2003-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2003-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2004-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2004-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2004-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2008-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Apr 1998 Oct 2019 Recall campaign 99V271000 ◆ Recall campaign 99V271000 Recall campaign 99V317000 ◆ Recall campaign 99V317000 Recall campaign 99V318000 ◆ Recall campaign 99V318000 Recall campaign 00V175000 ◆ Recall campaign 00V175000 Recall campaign 02V207000 ◆ Recall campaign 02V207000 Recall campaign 02V216000 ◆ Recall campaign 02V216000 Investigation PE99033 ● Investigation PE99033 Investigation PE99042 ● Investigation PE99042 Investigation SQ99020 ● Investigation SQ99020 Investigation EA99034 ● Investigation EA99034 Investigation PE00004 ● Investigation PE00004 Investigation EA00018 ● Investigation EA00018 Investigation PE00028 ● Investigation PE00028 Investigation PE02028 ● Investigation PE02028 Investigation PE02051 ● Investigation PE02051 Investigation EA02016 ● Investigation EA02016 Investigation RQ03006 ● Investigation RQ03006 Investigation EA04004 ● Investigation EA04004
  • Campaign 99V271000 was reported 322 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 99V317000 was reported 391 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 99V318000 was reported 391 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 00V175000 was reported 761 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 02V207000 was reported 1,493 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 02V216000 was reported 746 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1998-Q2 Owner reports 4
1998-Q3 Owner reports 5
1998-Q4 Owner reports 16
1999-Q1 Owner reports 17
1999-Q2 Owner reports 22
1999-Q3 Owner reports 58
1999-Q4 Owner reports 81
2000-Q1 Owner reports 63
2000-Q2 Owner reports 30
2000-Q3 Owner reports 25
2000-Q4 Owner reports 14
2001-Q1 Owner reports 29
2001-Q2 Owner reports 18
2001-Q3 Owner reports 14
2001-Q4 Owner reports 6
2002-Q1 Owner reports 7
2002-Q2 Owner reports 2
2002-Q3 Owner reports 6
2002-Q4 Owner reports 12
2003-Q1 Owner reports 10
2003-Q2 Owner reports 3
2003-Q3 Owner reports 4
2003-Q4 Owner reports 9
2004-Q1 Owner reports 6
2004-Q2 Owner reports 2
2004-Q3 Owner reports 3
2004-Q4 Owner reports 2
2005-Q2 Owner reports 1
2005-Q3 Owner reports 2
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q2 Owner reports 1
2007-Q1 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 3
2008-Q3 Owner reports 2
2009-Q1 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q2 Owner reports 1
2019-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 99V271000
Recall campaign 1 99V317000
Recall campaign 1 99V318000
Recall campaign 1 00V175000
Recall campaign 1 02V207000
Recall campaign 1 02V216000
Defect investigation 1 PE99033
Defect investigation 1 PE99042
Defect investigation 1 SQ99020
Defect investigation 1 EA99034
Defect investigation 1 PE00004
Defect investigation 1 EA00018
Defect investigation 1 PE00028
Defect investigation 1 PE02028
Defect investigation 1 PE02051
Defect investigation 1 EA02016
Defect investigation 1 RQ03006
Defect investigation 1 EA04004
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (6)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 00V175000

    Report date
    Component:
    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 02V207000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 02V216000

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 99V271000

    Report date
    Component:
    VISIBILITY
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 99V317000

    Report date
    Component:
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 99V318000

    Report date
    Component:
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 484 complaints · page 1 of 20

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources