1999 KIA Sephia
No clear pattern 22% of complaints about the 1999 KIA Sephia arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 1999 vehicle, but with only 550 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is service brakes, hydraulic (142 complaints), typically at 1.3 yr or about 21,200 miles.
- Complaints
- 550
- Median age at failure
- 1.8 yr
- Median mileage
- 30,000 n=67
- Crash / fire / tow
- 23.6% of reports
- Safety recalls
- 5
04V305000 2004-06-24
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES MAY EMIT A "CLICK" SOUND DURING THE BUCKLING PROCESS THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE SOUND EMITTED WHEN A BUCKLE IS BEING LATCHED, WHEN IT IS NOT.
THE LATCH CAN THEN PULL OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN TENSION IS APPLIED.
00V175000 2000-07-17
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. MANUFACTURING CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE ORVR SPRING FORCE AND FLOAT WIRE LENGTH REDUCING THE VALVE ANGLE. CERTAIN VALVES CAUSED FUEL SHUT OFF BEFORE THE TANK REACHED 95% OF NOMINAL CAPACITY.
THIS WOULD CAUSE CUSTOMERS TO ADD MORE FUEL TO THE TANK CAUSING FUEL SPILLBACK OR SPITBACK FROM THE FUEL FILLER NECK.
99V318000 1999-11-09
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR THE FUEL PUMP IS GROUNDED AT JUNCTION CONNECTOR G300. IF THE PIN TENSION IS POOR, OR THE BOLT SECURING THE CONNECTOR TO THE VEHICLE FLOOR IS NOT TIGHTENED SUFFICIENTLY, A POOR CONNECTION IS MADE. AS THE FUEL PUMP OPERATES, THE POOR CONNECTION CAN CREATE HEAT WHICH IN TURN INCREASES RESISTANCE. EVENTUALLY THE FUEL PUMP WILL NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH CURRENT TO OPERATE.
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
99V317000 1999-11-09
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO THE FUEL PUMP PASSES THROUGH THE C304 AND C305 CONNECTORS. IF EXPOSED TO MOISTURE, THESE CONNECTORS COULD CORRODE. OVER TIME, THE FUEL PUMP WILL NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH CURRENT TO OPERATE.
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
99V271000 1999-10-06
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BALL SOCKET ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINK MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE RESULTING IN THE LINK DISENGAGING FROM THE WIPER MOTOR DRIVE UNDER LOAD, SUCH AS PUSHING AGAINST ICE, SNOW OR OTHER RESISTANCE. ALSO THE WIPER ARM RETAINING NUT COULD BE INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED ALLOWING THE WIPER ARM TO SLIP AND/OR STOP FUNCTIONING.
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE IMPAIRMENT OF VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Air bags mileage not reported 4 mo in service crash / fire / tow
CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER HAD A COLLISION IN WHICH SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONE INJURY. *AK
Air bags mileage not reported 4 mo in service crash / fire / tow
DAUGHTER HAD A REAR END COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONLY ONE INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. *AK
Air bags mileage not reported 10 mo in service crash / fire / tow
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A REAR ENDED COLLISION, BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *YC
Electrical system mileage not reported 7 mo in service
STARTER WON'T WORK, AND CONSUMER CAN'T START VEHICLE UP UNTIL THE THIRD TIME. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPER'S ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK