Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
64
Latest Apr 24, 2008
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
13
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Mar 23, 1995
What this page shows
Our database holds 64 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Kia Sephia. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 64 · page 1 of 3
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2008
Fire reported
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 KIA SEPHIA. AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT THE HEAT SOURCE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,479. UPDATED 05/19/08 *BF UPDATED 05/19/08
NHTSA ID
10225635
Incident
Feb 29, 2008
Mileage
125,479 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 18, 2004
DASHBOARD IS ROLLING BACK FROM THE WINDSHIELD ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SID EOF THE CAR. UNABLE TO SECURE THE DASHBOARD.*AK
NHTSA ID
10062505
Incident
Mar 18, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Nov 29, 2003
THE DASH HAS SEVERAL DISCOLORED BROWN.. LOOKING LIKE BURNT SPOTS ON IT AND HAS COMPLETELEY COME UNGLUED NEAREAST THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEFROSTERS ARE RENDERED USELESS BY THIS. I COMPLAINED TO A KIA DEALER AND HE SAID I COULD HAVE A NEW ONE PUT ON. BUT ONLY COMPLETELY AT MY EXPENSE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10048799
Incident
Jun 9, 2002
Mileage
48,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 8, 2003
RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *TS REQUESTING INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL CAMPAIGN #(02V-216) OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES 1995-98 KIA SEPHIS AND SPORTAGE VEHICLES.
NHTSA ID
10040057
Incident
Jan 7, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Mar 27, 2003
TECHNICAL DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING. MR THE CONSUMER STATED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MADE ALL KINDS OF NOISES. *JB
NHTSA ID
10015190
Incident
Mar 3, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Mar 27, 2003
THE DASHBOARD CURLED AND LIFTED FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AS A RESULT OF EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT. *NLM *NLM
NHTSA ID
10011249
Body & structure
Filed Oct 1, 2002
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART, THE GLUE, BOLTS AND PLASTIC COVER ARE ALL COMING APART. NLM *YH
NHTSA ID
8019975
Incident
Feb 15, 2002
Seat belts
Filed Mar 19, 2002
Crash reported
DRIVER WAS NOT WEARING LAP PORTION OF SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FORCES THROUGH ROLL OVER COLLISION SEQUENCE CAUSED MOUNTING BRACKET FOR PASSIVE RESTRAINT LATCH TO FAIL. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT OFFICER SEDAM, CHP MAIT, 559-444-2538, REPORT CL-026-02. *AK
NHTSA ID
759546
Incident
Mar 15, 2002
Filed Oct 18, 2000
DASHBOARD IS STARTING TO ROLL BACK AWAY FROM WINDSHIELD TOWARDS THE DRIVER. IF STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS VEHICLE ONE CAN SEE INTO THE CONTROL PANEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
873267
Transmission
Filed Oct 17, 2000
GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAME OFF IN CONSUMERS HAND AS SHE WAS SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR, UPON EXAMINATION OF THE LEVER, IT LITERALLY SNAPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE METAL, CONSUMER BELIEVES THE METAL USED WAS FAULTY, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
NHTSA ID
556170
Incident
Sep 8, 2000
Visibility
Filed Sep 21, 2000
THERE ARE BROWN SPOTS, IN AN OTHERWISE NAVY BLUE COLORED DASH, THAT APPEAR TO BE BURNED AREAS. ALSO, THE PART OF THE DASH CONNECTED CLOSEST TO THE WIND SHIELD HAS BECOME COMPLETELY UNGLUED. UPON CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE DASH ITSELF BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR. SINCE OUR WARRANTEE HAD EXPIRED, WE THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY FAIR UNTIL WE WERE INFORMED WE COULD ONLY HAVE IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP (WHO CHARGES $80/HOUR). OUR REGULAR AUTO BODY SPECIALIST WOULD CHARGE US HALF OF THAT AMOUNT, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE ACTUALLY PAYING FOR THE DASH. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO LET US TAKE THE FREE DASH OUTSIDE THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THEN WHEN WE ASKED FOR THAT AGREEMENT IN WRITING, THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD NEVER AGREED TO ALLOW THAT. WE ASKED THEM TO REVIEW THEIR "QUALITY ASSURANCE" TAPES. WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT EVEN IF THE TAPES PROVED THE CONVERSATION OCCURED AS WE SAID, WE STILL COULD NOT TAKE THE DASH ANYWHERE OTHER THAN THE DEALERSHIP. WE DID NOT EVEN BUY THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP. BY OFFERING TO GIVE US A REPLACEMENT DASH FREE OF CHARGE, THEY WERE ADMITTING THAT IT WAS A DEFECT. OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE SHOWED THE DASH TO, NOT ONE PERSON HAD EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT IN THEIR LIVES. WE FEEL THAT WE WERE DECEIVED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA ID
732180
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Sep 12, 2000
RADIATOR HAS OVERHEATED AND CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DAMAGING THE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ID
870269
Electrical
Filed Aug 2, 2000
CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW THAT HORN NEVER WORKED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AFTER REALIZING IT DIDN'T WORK. DEALER REPLACED IT ONCE BEFORE. HORN STILL HAS A PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
866628
Incident
Apr 1, 1999
AirbagsSteering
Filed Jul 25, 2000
Crash reported3 injuries reported
VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, AND THEN ROLLED OVER A COUPLE TIMES, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA ID
865977
Incident
Jun 4, 2000
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 8, 1999
SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH DOOR LATCH, DASH, INTERIOR LIGHTING AND DRIVER SEAT. *AK
NHTSA ID
715780
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
Brakes
Filed Dec 2, 1999
Crash reported
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. *AK
NHTSA ID
853596
Incident
Nov 24, 1999
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Sep 8, 1999
Crash reported2 injuries reported
DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN 4 CAR COLLISION WHERE THERE WAS FRONTAL AND REAR IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND SEATBELTS UNLATCHED BY THEMSELVES, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
NHTSA ID
847226
Transmission
Filed Sep 2, 1999
THE ORIGINAL CLUTCH WAS REPLACED AT 20000 MILES, THEN THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 60000 MILES. NOW AT 72500 MILES BOTH THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION ARE BEING REPLACED AGAIN, AFTER A TOTAL FAILURE.
NHTSA ID
710841
Incident
Apr 1, 1999
Body & structureBrakesTransmission
Filed Jul 23, 1999
BRAKES WOULD SQUEAL. HAD TROUBLE STOPPING/EAR WINDSHIELD KEEPS POPPING OUT BENT FRAME, AND TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE SHAFT IS CROOKED.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ID
843140
Incident
Nov 15, 1996
Transmission
Filed Jun 3, 1999
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR WHICH IS SITTING ON THE TAIL PIPE KEEPS LOOSENING. *AK
NHTSA ID
838798
Incident
Jul 12, 1998
Engine
Filed Nov 13, 1998
WHEN DRIVING AT AN HIGH SPEED AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. WHILE AT HIGH SPEEDS IT STARTS TO STALL AND WILL ALSO SHUT OFF AT AN HIGH SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
830772
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 15, 1998
THE CV JOINTS REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER AND NOW THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, FRONT AXLE FAILED.* ET
NHTSA ID
781264
Seat belts
Filed Aug 28, 1998
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED CAUSING IT TO BE EITHER TOO TIGHT OR NOT TO RETRACT PROPERLY.
NHTSA ID
539545
Filed Aug 3, 1998
THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
826176
Filed Jul 21, 1998
DASHBOARD SEPARATING ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DRIVER'S VIEW IS OBSCURED. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED TO CALL "800" NUMBER IN OWNER'S MANUAL. *AK
NHTSA ID
825688
Incident
Jun 10, 1998
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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