1999 Kia Sephia recalls & problems

Recent owner complaints

• Feb 3, 2020 · 166,500 milesStructure › Body
  WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 75 MPH THE TOP LAYER OF THE HOOD (SKIN) SEPARATED FROM THE HOOD AND FLEW UPWARD INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE DRIVERS VISION OF ROADWAY TO BE BLOCKED. ONCE IT DETACHED ITSELF CAUSING HIGH RISK OF SAFETY FOR OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND THE KIA SEPHIA.
• Nov 1, 2016Fuel/propulsion system
  SEAT BELTS WORK IMPROPERLY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, FUEL PUMP IS WORKING INEFFICIENTLY.
• Nov 9, 2016 · 75,000 milesFuel/propulsion system
  FILLED TANK & HAD OVERFLOWING SPILLAGE DOWN SIDE OF CAR (INDICATED VERY FULL TANK) FINISHED CLEANING UP EXCESS FUEL & TURN CAR ON BUT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD ONLY READ 2/3 FULL, THEN NEEDLE ROSE TO 3/4- I JUST GOT THE CAR ON MONDAY 11/7/16 & THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW, ONCE WHEN LEAVING LA AFTER BUYING/TRANSFERRING TITLE & AGAIN TODAY. DECIDED TO GOOGLE THE 'SYMPTOM' & I'M SHOCKED THAT A 17-YEAR-OLD CAR FROM 1999 HAD RECALL RECORDS BUT WAS NEVER FIXED!!! PREVIOUS OWNER(S) WAS OLDER COUPLE THAT HAD BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALERSHIP & OWNED IT SINCE 2004. THE 17-YEAR-OLD '99 SEPHIA HAS ONLY 75K MILES ON ODOMETER AS OF NOVEMBER 2016 HOWEVER WAS NEVER REPAIRED UNDER RECALL ORDER.
• Nov 9, 2016 · 75,000 milesSeat belts
  SEAT BELT PATCH CLICKS BUT WILL COME LOOSE WITH TENSION. THIS IS THE SECOND RECALL NOTICE THAT HASN'T BEEN REPAIRED OR REPORTED BY KIA AFTER 17 YEARS.
• Nov 2, 2015Steering
  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.
• Apr 15, 2015 · 162,000 milesEngine
  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
• Sep 24, 1999 · 14,000 milesFuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V317000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). HE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY FAILURES AT THE TIME, BUT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTORS. IN 2003 (THREE YEARS LATER), THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A NO START CONDITION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED IN 2006. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO…
• Dec 20, 2008 · 70,000 milesLatches/locks/linkages
  WHEN IT GETS COLD, ABOUT 20 DEGREES, THE FRONT DOORS WILL FREEZE OPEN. FOR INSTANCE, IN THE MORNING I WILL HAVE TO PULL ON THE DOOR HARD TO GET IT TO OPEN BECAUSE IT'S FROZEN AND THEN THE DOOR WILL STAY OPEN (THE LATCH WILL FREEZE) UNTIL IT GETS ABOVE 35 DEGREES. EVEN WITH THE HEAT GOING FOR OVER AN HOUR IT WILL NOT UNFREEZE. I HAVE TO HOLD THE DOOR CLOSED AS I DRIVE. *TR

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• EA04007 · opened Feb 27, 2004 · closed Jul 26, 2004SEAT 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.
• EA04004 · opened Feb 3, 2004 · closed Jul 29, 2004REFUELING 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 FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
• RQ03007 · opened Oct 14, 2003 · closed Feb 27, 2004 · led to recall 04V305000SEAT 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 INDICATE A CONTINUING TREND OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FOLLOWING A SERIES OF DESIGN MODIFICATIONS MADE BY KIA TO IMPROVE THE A97 LATCH ASSEMBLY.MY 2001 AND 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH DIFFERENT DESIGN LATCH ASSEMBLIES (TYPE DB-6 OR AUTOLIV) AND EXHIBIT A MUCH LOWER COMPLAINT COUNT.THIS RQ HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN EA IN ORDER TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TYPE A97 LATCH ASSEMBLIES.
• RQ03006 · opened Aug 15, 2003 · closed Feb 3, 2004REFUELING 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 ONBOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) VALVE COULD CAUSE FUEL SHUT OFF BEFORE THE TANK REACHED 95% OF NOMINAL CAPACITY DURING REFUELING.KIA STATED THAT IF THE CONSUMER THEN ATTEMPTED TO ADD MORE FUEL TO THE TANK, FUEL SPILLBACK OR SPITBACK FROM THE FUEL FILLER NECK COULD OCCUR.KIA REPLACED THE ORVR VALVES IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES.ODI HAS RECEIVED 16 COMPLAINTS OF FUEL SPIT BACK ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE RECEIVED THE RECALL AND 5 COMPLAINTS ON VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL.KIA HAS IDENTIFIED 2 FUEL SPIT BACK COMPLAINTS ON VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED AND 8 COMPLAINTS ON VEHICLES NOT…
• EA02016 · opened Aug 6, 2002 · closed Oct 7, 2003NON-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 OF THE SUBJECT CABLE.CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATA INDICATE THAT THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCE HAS DECLINED SINCE A PEAK IN LATE 2001.THE MOST RECENT KNOWN EVENT OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER OF 2002. KIA WILL PERFORM A SERVICE CAMPAIGN BEGINNING IN LATE 2003 TO INSPECT SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO JANUARY 2000 FOR CABLE DAMAGE AND WILL REPLACE DAMAGED CABLES AS NECESSARY. GIVEN THE DECLINING FIRE RATE AND KIA?S SERVICE CAMPAIGN, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS UNJUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY…
• PE02028 · opened Mar 6, 2002 · closed Aug 6, 2002BATTERY CABLE CHAFING
  
• PE00028 · opened Jul 12, 2000 · closed Nov 7, 2000TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE
  THE OIL COOLER LINE ALLEGEDLY DEVELOPS LEAKS AT IT'S JUNCTION TO THE RADIATOR
• EA00018 · opened Jun 29, 2000 · closed Jul 29, 2002 · led to recall 02V207000TURN SIGHAL
  There is no summary currently available
• PE00004 · opened Jan 13, 2000 · closed Jun 29, 2000TURN 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 · led to recall 00V175000REFUELING 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 problem.The failure of the check valve, due to cracking during installation, could go undetected until problems develop with the ORVR valve.Should an ORVR valve malfunction, when the vehicle has a tank chech valve with a latent crack, significant fuel spitting out the fuel filler pipe during refueling is possible.Current owners of 1998 and 1999 models could still be driving vehicles with latent defects.
• SQ99020 · opened Jun 30, 1999 · closed Jan 12, 2000 · led to recall 99V317000INTERMITTENT 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, 1999REFUELING 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