Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Airbags 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.
32
Latest Jun 1, 2015
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.
12%
of 266 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.
25
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
26
What this page shows
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Kia Sephia submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 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 airbag
The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, HEAD, AND JAW BONE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, HEAD, AND NECK INJURIES. THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER SUFFERED A NECK INJURY. ALL THE OCCUPANTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
NHTSA ID
10722692
Incident
Mar 12, 2011
Mileage
86,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Oct 9, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported
NEARLY FATAL CAR ACCIDENT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE BREAKS DID NOT LOCK UP. *TR
NHTSA ID
10643737
Incident
Oct 9, 2014
Mileage
190,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 28, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported
MY WIFE OWNS A 2000 KIA SEPHIA,WE WERE IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 40MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS ASKED TO MAIL PICTURES OF THIS ACCIDENT TO KIA AND JUST RECEIVED A PHONE CALL BACK SAYING THE IMPACT WAS TOO HIGH FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT,ARE YOU KIDDING ME,THE WHOLE FRONTEND OF THE CAR IS TOTALED AND THAT'S THE BEST ANSWER YOU CAN GIVE ME,OH YEAH HE SAID HE WAS SORRY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10260293
Incident
Feb 7, 2009
Mileage
113,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 25, 2008
Crash reported3 injuries reported
HIT A LIGHT POLE/AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10239673
Incident
Aug 16, 2008
Mileage
148,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 26, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SEPHIA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 20 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE LEFT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER CHEST. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.
NHTSA ID
10207015
Incident
Oct 15, 2007
Mileage
40,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 30, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported
DT: 2000 KIA SEPHIA. CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON JULY 26, 2005 WHEN A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, SHE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND SWERVED TO MISS THE DEER. SHE HIT THE METAL GUARD RAIL AND A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. THIS TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED. CONSUMER HAS A GASH ON RIGHT EYE AND HER LIP WAS SWOLLEN. SHE WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK *JB
NHTSA ID
10131694
Incident
Jul 26, 2005
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Aug 22, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported
PURCHASED VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT AND NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE BRAKES WERE "MUSHY" AND STOPPING DISTANCE SEEMED UNUSUAL. INDIVIDUAL SELLING VEHICLE (NOT DEALER) STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO BE CERTAIN SINCED MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR VERY TOUCHY BRAKES AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT JUST BE AN ADJUSTMENT PERIOD. HOWEVER, I AM A CAREFUL AND PATIENT DRIVER AND IN 20 YEARS OF DRIVING HAVE HAD ONLY 4 SPEEDING TICKETS AND ZERO ACCIDENTS UNTIL I DROVE THIS CAR. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 9-10 DAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 15 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH ABOUT ONE CAR LENGTH BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE PICKUP IN FRONT OF ME. THE PICKUP DRIVER SLAMMED HER BRAKES AND I SLAMMED MINE ONLY TO HAVE THEM GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND PROVIDE NO RESISTANCE. I HIT THE PICKUP HARD ENOUGH TO SEVERELY BRUISE MY ARM ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAUSE SEVERAL DAYS OF BACK AND NECK PAIN. SOME OF THIS MIGHT HAVE ALSO BEEN AVOIDED IF THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED, BUT EVEN THOUGH THIS CRASH WAS A FULL FRONTAL ACCIDENT THEY DID NOT. AFTER I LEFT THE VEHICLE, ANOTHER SMALL CAR HIT THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND THE FRONT OF HERS. HER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IMMEDIATELY AND SHE SUSTAINED ZERO INJURIES. MY CAR HAD ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIRES WERE NEARLY NEW, SO IT APPEARS TO ME THAT I HAD BOTH BRAKE AND AIRBAG FAILURE RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF MY VEHICLE AND PERSONAL INJURY AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES OF THE OTHER TWO DRIVERS. SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT FINANCED, IT HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE ONLY. I HAVE NOTICED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE REGARDING BOTH BRAKE AND AIRBAG FAILURES IN THE KIA SEPHIA, YET I FOUND NO RECALLS FOR THESE ITEMS BY KIA.
NHTSA ID
10133738
Incident
Aug 16, 2005
Mileage
58,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 1, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN A DEER CROSSED AND WAS HIT BY OUR VEHICLE. THE CAR HIT THE DEER BROADSIDE WITH THE FRONT END, THEN THE CAR WAS KNOCKED DOWN INTO THE DITCH AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT WITH THE FRONT END. BOTH IMPACTS WERE ACROSS THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WITH EITHER IMPACT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL BE TOTALING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE AMONT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE HAD A CRASH IN THIS VEHICLE SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE NOTICED THIS DEFECT.
NHTSA ID
10127273
Incident
Jun 29, 2005
Mileage
63,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesEngine
Filed Dec 8, 2004
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. ABS LIGHT, AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER STATED, THIS PROBLEM STARTED AFTER A "SERVICE CAMPAIGN " WAS DONE TO THE BATTERY CABLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
10103336
Incident
Sep 15, 2004
Mileage
59,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 11, 2004
Crash reported2 injuries reported
WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS THE PASSENGER I ALSO WAS THE OWNER OF THE CAR. KIA SOPHIA 2000. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD CAUSING MY HEAD AND HAND TO BE THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD TWICE. MY HAND WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD MY HEAD BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. MY CAR WAS TOTALED OUT FROM THE ACCIDENT BUT I FEEL AS THOUGH KIA IS AT FAULT FOR THE AMOUNT OF INJURIES I RECEIVED DUE TO THE FAULT OF THEIR SEAT BELTS. I HAVE TO HAVE EPIDORALS ON MY LOWER SPINE AND SURGERY ON MY NECK. ALSO THE AIR BAGS ON NEITHER SIDE CAME OUT. *JB
NHTSA ID
10086662
Incident
Apr 22, 2004
Mileage
41,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 26, 2004
Crash reported3 injuries reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ID
10080146
Incident
Jun 25, 2004
Airbags
Filed Jan 15, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported
I WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH MY LITTLE GIRL (4 YRS OLD) SITTING IN HER CAR SEAT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WERE REAR ENDED BY A GUY DRIVING AN OLDER SUBURBAN WHILE HE WAS TALKING ON HIS CELL PHONE! WE WERE PUSHED INTO THE JEEP CHEROKEE IN FRONT OF US....IT WAS ESTIMATED THE GUY IN THE SUBURBAN WAS TRAVELING AROUND 40 MPH OR A LITTLE MORE....MY CAR WAS CRUSHED BADLY IN THE FRONT...IT WAS ALL PUSHED IN...MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY....WHY? *CB
NHTSA ID
10053290
Incident
Aug 30, 2003
Airbags
Filed Sep 24, 2003
1 injury reported
WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WITHOUT PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. *AK
NHTSA ID
10040559
Incident
Sep 24, 2003
AirbagsBrakesHeating & air conditioning+1 more
Filed Sep 3, 2003
Crash reported
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BRAKE FAILURE. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE A/C HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER THE FIRST USE, AND THE GAS LIGHT STAYED ON. (TURI MILLER CAN BE REACH AS WELL AT: D-715 726 8887 OR H-715 833 6309 AND VIA [email protected]) *SCC *JB
NHTSA ID
10038593
Incident
Jul 8, 2002
Airbags
Filed Sep 1, 2003
AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. *AK
NHTSA ID
10037013
Incident
Aug 18, 2003
Mileage
5,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 25, 2003
Crash reported
CONSUMER STATES THAT AIRBAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10024902
Mileage
49,300 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 16, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED IN THE REAR WHILE STOPPED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10015950
Incident
Dec 13, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jan 7, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A FRONT END COLLISION AND DRIVERS NOR PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES. TS CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AREA, ARM AND A BROKEN NOSE. *JG
NHTSA ID
10002176
Incident
Dec 19, 2002
Airbags
Filed Oct 30, 2002
Crash reported
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
NHTSA ID
8021913
Incident
Oct 26, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jun 10, 2002
Crash reported
VEHICLE WENT OFF THE SIDE ON THE ROAD, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT.*AK
NHTSA ID
8011402
AirbagsBrakes
Filed May 22, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported
THE CONSUMER STATES DURING THREE ACCIDENTS, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ON ONE OCCASION A CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *YH
NHTSA ID
786011
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Airbags
Filed Feb 28, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE TRAVELING AT 15 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 35 TO 40 MPH RAN A RED LIGHT, AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER STATED THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.*AK
NHTSA ID
8004724
Incident
Feb 24, 2002
AirbagsBrakesElectrical+3 more
Filed Sep 4, 2001
CONSUMER STATES THE TRACK SEATS ARE DEFECTIVE. *YH
NHTSA ID
562904
Airbags
Filed Jul 6, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. HAD EMERGENCY TREATMENT FOR SHOULDER BELT ABRASION. *AK
NHTSA ID
892126
Incident
Jun 26, 2001
Airbags
Filed Mar 23, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 45MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT. AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, HITTING VEHICLE HEAD ON INTO OTHER VEHICLE DRIVER'S SIDE. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED NECK & HEAD INJURIES. A SERVICE OPERATOR THROUGH MANUFACTURER'S HOTLINE CONFIRMED THAT GOING AT 35MPH IMPACT AND HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY. CONSUMER WILL BE CONTACTING DEALER.*AK
NHTSA ID
883926
Incident
Mar 18, 2001
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