1997 Kia Sephia problems
NHTSA has received 375 complaints about the 1997 Kia Sephia, and 24% of them involve brakes. Next are engine (12%) and electrical system (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 375 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 49 and 5
- Injuries and deaths
- 40 and 4
- Typical mileage
- 63,000 miles 21 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 6 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 21 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 63,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 49 complaints mention a crash; 5 complaints mention a fire; 40 injuries reported; 4 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 8 model years of the Kia Sephia with enough data (240 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
My doughter rear ended another vehicle at 40-45 MPH. The dual airbags did not deploy and the seat belts did not lock up, allowing the driver's and a passengers head to hit the windshield. Driver and one passenger sustained a concussion, face lacerations, head neck and back injuries. The driver also received a hand and pelvic injury. The 2nd passenger sustained neck back and leg injuries. The damage to the front was so bad it pushed the dash back. The vehicle was totaled!
Consumer was pumping gas at an amico station---2216 plank rd. Fredricksburg, va. When a fire ball shot out of gas tank and immediately began to burn. Consumer found a fire exstingusher and managed to put the fire out. Ak
When the consumer pulled off from a stop, the vehicle stalled. This incident occurred in traffic which made it a dangerous situation. *nlm ph
I have a 1997 kia sephia rs and I have replaced the alternator belt 11 times and 4 of those have been in the last 3 months. I am unable to get any answers about why the belt keeps breaking from any repair shop, other than it must be a sizing defect by kia. This last belt was replaced 6/05 and broke off again 8/17/05. I can only seem to get about 1-3 month use from a belt. I checked with the previous owner of the car, which I knew and she indicates that she had the same problems.