Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Seat belts reportsComplaints 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.
20
Latest Aug 2, 2005
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 205 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
12
What this page shows
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Kia Sephia submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming seat belt
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 2, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 KIA SEPHIA. CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 35 MPH . UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.THERE WERE THREE OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR ALL WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE . THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD NOT BEEN ON IN THIS VEHICLE NOR WAS IT ON AFTER THE CRASH. ONE PERSON SUSTAINED INJURIES BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BELT. SHE BROKE TWO RIBS. *AK
NHTSA ID
10131172
Incident
Jul 30, 2005
Seat belts
Filed Mar 25, 2005
BOTH OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT REATRACT BACK TO NORMAL POSITION, WHICH IS PREVENTING THE REAR PASSENGERS FROM BEING SAFE IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK
NHTSA ID
10115860
Incident
Mar 4, 2005
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Sep 28, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION HEAD ON . SEAT BELT BROKE, THROWING THE CONSUMER THREW THE DRIVER'S WINDSHIELD. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK CONSUMER IS IN A COMA. *NM
NHTSA ID
10087858
Incident
Aug 5, 2004
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Jun 22, 2004
PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS AND DASHBOARD. *MR *SC *JB
NHTSA ID
10079704
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Seat belts
Filed Jul 8, 2002
DRIVER'S SAFETY BELT DOES NOT STAY BUCKLED. BELT WILL RELEASE FROM BUCKLE WITHOUT PULLING. CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING PROPERLY RESTRAINED WHILE DRIVING. *AK
NHTSA ID
8013461
Incident
Jun 22, 2002
Seat belts
Filed Jan 17, 2002
SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE WILL COME UNBUCKLED WHILE DRIVING. SEAT BELT WILL NOT LOCK INTO ANCHOR. *AK
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!*AK
NHTSA ID
754210
Incident
Sep 20, 2001
AirbagsBrakesSeat belts
Filed Oct 1, 2001
CONSUMER STATES BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORKED ON 5 OR 6 TIMES IN LESS THAN THE FIRST 18 MONTHS, DEALER STATES THIS WAS NORMAL BECAUSE BRAKES WERE NEW. *SLC
NHTSA ID
563540
Incident
Feb 16, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Aug 16, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
A PASSENGER'S SIDE IMPACT, THE SEATBELT LOCK BROKE APART ON WHILE I WAS WEARING IT. IT WASN'T SMASHED APART, IT JUST BROKE THE ENTIRE LOCK IN ABOUT 4 PIECES. PREVIOUSLY I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT STAYING LOCKED AND THE ONE BACKSEAT LOCK WOULDN'T WORK, SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THOSE, THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. I RECIEVED MULTIPLE CUTS AND BRUISES, A FEW STITCHES AND A BROKEN KNECK IN TWO PLACES IN MY CERVICAL SPINE. YOU ALWAYS WANT TO WEAR YOUR SEATBELT IN CASE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS. MINE HAPPENED ON MY WAY TO WORK, BUT WHAT GOOD DID IT DO WEARING IT, SINCE THE SEATBELT LOCK CAME APART?*AK
NHTSA ID
750603
Incident
Jul 25, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Jul 12, 2000
REAR SHOULDER RESTRAINT BEGAN TO TIGHTEN UP ON A 5-YEAR OLD CHILD, TO THE POINT THE CHILD WAS BEING CHOKED. BELT HAD TO BE CUT TO REMOVE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
NHTSA ID
865276
Seat belts
Filed Jan 27, 2000
DRIVER'S SID E SEAT BELT INTERMITTENTLY WOULD LOOSEN BY ITSELF, LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT PROPER RESTRAINT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK
NHTSA ID
855665
Incident
Dec 15, 1999
EngineSeat beltsSteering
Filed Dec 23, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON/LEAKING MOTOR OIL/ POWER STEERING BINDING, AND FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT.*AK
NHTSA ID
716365
Incident
Nov 22, 1999
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+4 more
Filed Nov 1, 1999
DOOR SEAL FAILED.*ET
NHTSA ID
784251
Seat belts
Filed Sep 21, 1999
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND DRIVER MOVED JUST LITTLE, THE SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED ON BOTH SEAT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ID
848280
Incident
Sep 21, 1999
Seat belts
Filed May 5, 1999
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH ON PROPERLY,AND UNBUCKLES UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN MOVING AROUND, WHICH WONT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
NHTSA ID
837509
Incident
Dec 1, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Apr 8, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported
THE ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE SEAT BELT FAILED DID NOT RESULT IN ANY DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER. HOWEVER, EVEN AT THIS LOW SPEED THE BELT LATCH FAILED TO HOLD MY WIFE IN PLACE, RESULTING IN HER WHIPLASH. AT MANY TIMES THE LATCH SEEMS TO BE PROPERLY LATCHED, BUT WITH ONLY SLIGHT PRESSURE SUCH AS ADJUSTING YOUR SEATING POSITION THE BELT WILL UNEXPECTEDLY COME UNDONE. *AK
NHTSA ID
705400
Incident
Apr 5, 1999
BrakesHeating & air conditioningSeat belts+2 more
Filed Dec 16, 1998
ROTORS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
NHTSA ID
543054
Seat belts
Filed Jun 9, 1998
THE SHOULDER BELT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE IS SO TIGHT THAT IT CAUSES PAIN AND DISCOMFORT TO THE PASSENGER. THE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ID
824086
Incident
Nov 15, 1997
EngineInterior & seatsSeat belts+1 more
Filed Nov 5, 1997
NOISE IN THE ENGINE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LIFTERS.
NHTSA ID
524291
Incident
Apr 1, 1997
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jun 30, 1997
Crash reported2 injuries reported
DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND FRONT AND REAR PASSNGER'S SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY DID NOT RESTRAIN, ALLOWING DRIVER'S CHEST TO IMPACT STEERING AND CSS TO BE THROWN FORWARD. INJURIES: BACK, NECK.HEAD AND CONCUSSIONS FROM CSS STRAPS.
NHTSA ID
813636
Incident
Jun 27, 1997
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own