Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Electrical 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.
16
Latest Jul 12, 2016
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.
15%
of 107 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Kia Sephia submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 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 electrical
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jul 12, 2016
HAVING TROUBLE WITH DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. IT WILL WORK THEN THE MOTOR/REGULATOR GETS STUCK AND WON'T FUNCTION. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL WORK THEN NOT WORK. I JUST WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING PROBLEM. ALL WIRES TO SWITCH TESTED POSITIVE POWER IS GOING TO AND FROM MOTOR/REGULATOR TO ALL SWITCHES. MY CELL IS [XXX] I JUST WANT A NAME AND PHONE NUMBER OF SOMEONE WHO CAN FIX THIS IN 07646 AREA CODE. I,E AN EXPERT ON POWER WINDOW PROBLEMS THANK YOU. MY NAME IS [XXX] THIS IS SORT OF A COMPLAINT BECAUSE IT'S BECOME A DIFFICULT DIAGNOSIS I NEED A KIA SPECIALISTS HELP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
10884375
Incident
Jul 10, 2016
Electrical
Filed Dec 8, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SEPHIA. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE STARTER AND TWO RELAYS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE IMMEDIATELY RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,984. UPDATED 01/07/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/08/09. *JB
NHTSA ID
10251098
Incident
Dec 6, 2008
Mileage
52,984 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 15, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE RADIO AND FOUND MELTED WIRES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE WIRES AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A MECHANIC. *AK
NHTSA ID
10159959
Incident
Jun 15, 2006
Mileage
91,268 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 7, 2005
MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR THE THIRD MAJOR REPAIR IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS. FIRST, IN JAN. OF '04 THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BLOCK. THAT REQUIRED THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED ($3,800). THEN, 2 MONTHS AGO, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED ($1,567) AND NOW IT IS IN THE SHOP TO HAVE THE COMPRESSOR AND BELTS REPLACED($975). THE DEALERSHIP ALSO DOES NOT OFFER A LOANER CAR AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO RENT. *NM
NHTSA ID
10142014
Incident
Jan 10, 2004
Body & structureElectricalTires & wheels+2 more
Filed Aug 17, 2004
BEFORE 40,000 MILES, HAD FUEL PUMP CHANGED 2 TIMES, STARTER CHANGED 2 TIMES, NEW TRANSMISSION, IGNITION CONTROL MODULE ONCE, DOORS REPLACED DUE TO DEFECT, NEW PAINT JOB DUE TO TRASH UNDER ORIGINAL PAINT JOB, ALL HUB CAPS AND TRIM WERE REPLACED DUE TO FADING AT 10,000 MILES (WHICH FADED AGAIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER), AC BLOWER RESISTOR MOTOR REPLACED, ALL MIRRORS WERE REPLACED, ELECTRICAL SHORT IN DOME LIGHT, & IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCT 2001, AND WAS PUT IN SHOP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JAN. 2002 AND HAS BEEN THERE 55 DAYS SINCE. I HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. SORRY, BUT THIS CAR IS JUNK. AND I HATE TO HAVE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE BUYING MY FIRST NEW VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10088107
Incident
Jan 14, 2002
Mileage
3,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 13, 2004
CONSUMER STATED THAT HEADLIGHTS CHANGED FROM BRIGHT TO DIM CONSTANTLY. FIRST THEY WERE BRIGHT, THEN THEY GRADUALLY BECAME DIM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD BY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE HEADLIGHTS NEVER STOPPED WORKING, THEY JUST DIMMED ENOUGH THAT IT WAS HARD TO VIEW IN FRONT WHILE DRIVING. *AK THERE WAS TROUBLE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY. THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP WOULD NOT UNLOCK. WHILE DRIVING, THE PROBLEM SEEMED WORSE AT A MODERATE STEADY SPEED. *SC *JB
NHTSA ID
10050495
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Dec 29, 2003
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported
THE SEPHIA WAS HIT AT AN ANGLE ON THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER AT ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR. THE AIRBAGS DELOYED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND WIRING IMMEDEATLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CABIN FILLED WITH DUST FROM THE BAGS AND SMOKE. THE POWER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK AT THAT POINT. THE DRIVER COULD NOT SEE THE DOOR HANDLE. SOMEONE OPENED THE DOOR TO LET HER OUT. A PASSENGER HAD RECENTLY EXITED THE CAR OR THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DELPOYED AND WENT DOWN SO FAST THAT THE DRIVERS HEAD WAS JERKED BACK AND LET DROP SO THAT IT DID NOT REDUCE THE WHIPLASH SIGNIFACANTLY.*AK
NHTSA ID
10051259
Incident
Dec 16, 2001
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 6, 2003
DEALER REPLACED IN THE LAST PAST THREE MONTHS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: IGNITION COIL/FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM TWICE/WIRING HARNESS, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HOWEVER, PROBLEMS STILL RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10042366
Incident
Oct 6, 2003
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Jul 15, 2002
VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANY POWER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO HAS REPLACED WIRE HARNESS/ 2 COMPUTER CHIPS, AND TRANSMISSION TWICE. VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP 7/3/02, AND BROKE DOWN AGAIN. CONSUMER HAS TO HAVE PEDAL FLOORED FOR VEHICLE TO MOVE.*AK
NHTSA ID
8013960
Incident
Jul 3, 2002
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningElectrical+2 more
Filed Jul 13, 2002
BOUGHT NEW CAR. SEVERAL ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. INSIDE DOOR LOCKS (REPAIRED 2 TIMES). HORN MALFUNCTION (REPAIRED 2 TIMES). SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, AND COIL (REPLACED 1 TIME). REAR DEFROST MALFUNCTION (REPAIRED 1 TIME.) AIR FILTER COVER SCREWS AND HOLES STRIPPED OUT (REPLACED 1 TIME). AIR CONDITIONER FAN-SCRAPING NOISE (NEVER REPAIRED). OUTSIDE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTION (CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT). STICK SHIFT WAS "JUMPING AROUND"-REAR MOTOR MOUNT WAS BAD (REPLACED 1 TIME). KNOCK SENSOR MALFUNCTION (REPLACED 1 TIME). DASH DIALS NOT WORKING (REPLACED FUSE 1 TIME). PROBLEMS STARTED DAY AFTER I PURCHASED CAR-SHOULD HAVE HEEDED THE OBVIOUS WARNING! DO NOT BUY KIA!
NHTSA ID
764172
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jun 10, 2002
VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH STARTING, HAS TO CRANK IT FOUR OR MORE TIMES BEFORE VEHICLE WOULD START. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
8011410
Incident
Jun 6, 2002
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Jun 3, 2002
WIRES SHORTED BY SEATBELT MOUNT UNDER LEFT FRONT SEAT AREA, CAUSING TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. *AK
NHTSA ID
762608
Incident
May 30, 2002
Electrical
Filed Mar 5, 2002
VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH A COMPUTER CHIP WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE NOT TO RUN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
NHTSA ID
8004968
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
Electrical
Filed Dec 7, 2001
CAR SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PARTS AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TOLK KIA THAT I NO LONGER WANT THE CAR (LEMON LAW). KIA VERY HARD TO WORK WITH AND GET ANSWERS FROM. I HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY AND LOCAL NEWS MEDIA TO HELP SETTLE THE PROBLEM. OTHER KIA LEMON CASES IN COURT AT THIS DATE. CONTACT ME AT [email protected] IF YOU HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK
NHTSA ID
755389
Incident
Sep 20, 2001
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 30, 2001
WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT VEHICLE WOULD DIE OUT. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING. VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO BE RESTART AFTER STALLING OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC CHANGED IGNITION CABLE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
NHTSA ID
898494
Incident
Oct 19, 2001
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 30, 2001
WHEN DRIVING 25-30 MPH VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE AND HESITATE, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES, REPLACED FUEL PUMP/ CATALYTIC CONVERTER/ RESET CODES, AND CHANGED SPARK PLUGS. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
898466
Incident
Jun 21, 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