Safety Score
50
Average
Recalls
5
Complaints
50
NCAP Stars
—
Recalls (5)
| Date | NHTSA ID | Component | Units | Completion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-07-29 | 02V207000 |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH | 25,000 | — | Details |
| 2000-07-17 | 00V175000 |
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 100,137 | — | Details |
| 1999-11-09 | 99V318000 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 102,944 | — | Details |
| 1999-11-09 | 99V317000 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 102,944 | — | Details |
| 1999-10-06 | 99V271000 |
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES | 90,054 | — | Details |
Owner Complaints (showing up to 50)
| Date | Component | Crash | Injuries | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-11-11 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | No | 0 | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE C… |
| 2010-07-29 | STEERING:RACK AND PINION | No | 0 | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE WHEN HE HEARD AN UNUSUAL CLICK. … |
| 2009-12-03 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | No | 0 | TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO 50 MPH O… |
| 2009-04-16 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | No | 0 | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE ACTIVATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE WIPER SCR… |
| 2009-01-05 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | No | 0 | TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD PERIODICALLY FAIL TO START. ON ONE … |
| 2007-08-21 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | No | 1 | THE AIRBAG IN MY DAUGHTERS KIA SEPHIA 1998 PASSENGER SIDE ONLY DEPLOYED WHILE SHE WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS… |
| 2007-06-01 | STRUCTURE | No | 0 | THE DASH BOARD IS CURLING UP AROUND THE FRONT WINDOW VENTS WHICH IS KICKING THE VENTS OUT. *TR |
| 2007-04-10 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | No | 0 | MY 1998 KIA SEPHIA REAR BRAKE PAD FELL OFF FELL OFF THE SHOE. APPARENTLY THEY ARE HELD ON BY GLUE. IT WAS REPLACED BU… |
| 2007-03-26 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | Yes | 0 | TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. A RELATIVE WAS DRIVING THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE AND HE SAW HIS BROTHER DRIVING IN … |
| 2006-10-25 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WITH THE 1998 KIA SOPHIA IT STALLED. WHEN THIS HAPPENE… |
| 2006-05-19 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | No | 0 | MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 KIA SEPHIA AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL. SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE CA… |
| 2006-01-06 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | No | 0 | FLASHING OVERDRIVE DASH LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY LIT DUE TO FAULTY PRESSURE SENSOR AT FUEL INJECTOR. *… |
| 2005-07-15 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | No | 0 | 1-LEAKING BRAKE FLUID INSIDE FIREWALL 2-DASHBOARD DISFIGURING 3-EXAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS NOT LASTING |
| 2005-06-04 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | DT: VEHICLE ENGINE STALLS. KIA 1998 HAD BEEN RECALLED. PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED, HOWEVER, VEHICLE CONTINUES… |
| 2004-10-15 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | No | 0 | THE CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT BRAKES ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE PART HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES HOWEVER PROBLEM S… |
| 2004-10-12 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | Yes | 1 | WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE … |
| 2004-09-07 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | No | 0 | THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHI… |
| 2004-08-27 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | No | 0 | WHILE SHIFTING TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN, AND THE SHIFT LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK T… |
| 2004-07-19 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | No | 0 | WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE HOOD OPENED AND DENT THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER INDICATED FOR THE L… |
| 2004-06-01 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, APPROXIMATELY 70,00 MILES ON MY CAR, THE AC/HEATER FAN MOTOR WILL BLOW AIR INTERMITTENTLY, REGA… |
| 2004-02-08 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | No | 0 | BATTERY WASN'T HOLDING CHARGE, NEEDED CONTINUOUS REFILL WITH DISTILLED WATER, OVERHEATING, OVERFLOWING AND SPILLING ACI… |
| 2004-01-12 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS | No | 0 | REAR BRAKE SHOES CAME APART AND LODGED IN THE DRUM, LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL. *PH THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR … |
| 2003-12-29 | STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | No | 0 | I PURCHASED A KIA IN MARCH 02' I USED THE CAR FOR LONG TRIPS THE FIRST YEAR I HAD OWNED THE CAR AND I HAD NO FAULTS IN … |
| 2003-12-01 | EQUIPMENT | No | 0 | I JUST REPLACED ALL 3 BELTS ON MY CAR AND WHEN I STARTED THE CAR EVERYDAY THE CAR MADE A REAL BAD GRINDING NOISE AS IF … |
| 2003-11-24 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | No | 0 | DEAR SIR: KIA SEPHIA 1998 HAS SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH NEVER BEEN REPORTED. MY CAR (VIN# [XXX]; 52,000 MILES) HA… |
| 2003-11-04 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | No | 0 | I BOUGHT A 1998 KIA SEPHIA IN FEB OF 2000 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 GEAR SHIFTERS AND THREE TRANSMISSIONS AND THE CAR HAS… |
| 2003-10-23 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | No | 0 | WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THEN, THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED. *AK |
| 2003-10-10 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID | No | 0 | I OWN A 1998 KIA SEPHIA AND EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT START EVEN THE BATTERY IS WORKING FINE… |
| 2003-09-09 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | No | 0 | I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS, AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD 5 RECALLS AND THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD CONSISTS O… |
| 2003-08-16 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | Yes | 0 | THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER MOTORIST AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY*AK THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BRAKES FAIL… |
| 2003-08-01 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | No | 0 | PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1999. HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS STARTING IT. REPLACED THE STARTER 3 TIMES. STILL HAVE PRBLEMS STA… |
| 2003-06-12 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | No | 0 | I PAID TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED BUT I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO. WHEN REFUELING MY 1998 KIA SEPHIA, THERE WAS A… |
| 2003-04-15 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILURE FOR KIA SEPHIA THAT CONTROL AIR INTAKE, EMISSION. *NLM |
| 2003-02-24 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | No | 0 | THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS. I FEEL THIS SHOULDNOT HAPPEN SO CLOSE TO… |
| 2003-02-15 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | No | 0 | THE VEHICLE'S REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE… |
| 2003-01-08 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | No | 0 | CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE WEARING QUICKLY, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB |
| 2002-12-26 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | Yes | 0 | THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR ARE TERRIBLE! I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP SINCE THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROU… |
| 2002-12-12 | AIR BAGS | Yes | 1 | CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THEY WAS HIT IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJU… |
| 2002-11-27 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | No | 0 | THE VEHICLE STOP WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE REMAIN RUNNING BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE REPAIR WAS MADE AT THE DEALER, BUT THE… |
| 2002-11-02 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | No | 0 | THE BATTERY HAD BLOWN UP AND SPEWED LIQUID/ACID. THE CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED TWO RECALLS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, ONE IN R… |
| 2002-10-28 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | No | 0 | THE ENGINE/THROTTLE FAILS CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR WITH EXTREME FORCE TO GET THE VEHICLE R… |
| 2002-10-24 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | No | 0 | BRAKE LINING SHATTERED AND SEPARATED FROM BRAKE SHOE, CAUSING REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP. UPON INSPECTION AND REPAIR, THE B… |
| 2002-10-24 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | No | 0 | CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FUEL TANK CRACK CAUSING FLUID TO LINK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED … |
| 2002-10-19 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES | No | 0 | CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THERE IS WATER INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENT CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONS… |
| 2002-10-16 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | No | 0 | BOTH RIGHT BRAKE SHOE LININGS CAME OFF OF THE BACKING PLATES AND BROKE APART INTO PIECES THAT JAMMED THE WHEEL. THE LEF… |
| 2002-10-01 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | No | 0 | CONSUMER STATES HAVING A PROBLEM W/ITH "CABLE" THAT GOES FROM GAS TANK TO ENGINE. CONSUMER ADVISES THAT CABLE IS ATTAC… |
| 2002-10-01 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS | No | 0 | CONSUMER STATES RECIEVED RECALL LETTER, CALLED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS FOR … |
| 2002-09-25 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | No | 0 | REAR DRUM BRAKES SQUEALED LOUDLY, AND IT DID NOT FEEL AS IF THEY WERE WORKING IN MOIST CONDITIONS. ALSO, A STEERING GE… |
| 2002-09-20 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CON… |
| 2002-09-08 | VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | No | 0 | WHILE IN MOTION, THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW CRACKED IN TO VERY SMALL PIECES. *JG *JB |