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KIA · vehicle model

KIA SEPHIA

3,080 NHTSA complaints and 1 safety recall across model years 1986–2003.

Complaints
3,080
Recalls
1
Model years
11

The KIASEPHIA appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 3,080 consumer safety complaints and 1 recall campaign across 11 model years (1986–2003). That averages roughly 280 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 2 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20032
20026
2001158
2000461
1999749
1998994
1997375
1996203
1995104
199425
19863

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

11
’95
55
’96
100
’97
151
’98
646
’99
798
’00
493
’01
328
’02
201
’03
126
’04
52
’05
36
’06
23
’07
14
’08
9
’09
7
’10
6
’11
1
’12
1
’13
2
’14
4
’15
7
’16
3
’17
2
’18
1
’19
1
’20
2
’22

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare KIASEPHIA to Similar Vehicles

KIASEPHIA vs FORDTHUNDERBIRD → KIASEPHIA vs CADILLACCTS → KIASEPHIA vs CHEVROLETVENTURE → KIASEPHIA vs VOLKSWAGENTIGUAN →

NHTSA Investigations

RQ03006Recall QueryClosed2003-08-15

REFUELING SPIT BACK

EA99034Engineering AnalysisClosed1999-12-16

REFUELING SPIT BACK

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the KIA SEPHIA?▼
The KIA SEPHIA has received 3,080 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1986 to 2003, with 1 recalls. That averages about 280 complaints per model year.
What years of KIA SEPHIA are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the KIA SEPHIA from 1986 to 2003 (11 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the KIA SEPHIA have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many KIA SEPHIA model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common KIA SEPHIA complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the KIA SEPHIA are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my KIA SEPHIA has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. KIA SEPHIA totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.