1997 KIA SEPHIA
375 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 33 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 23 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 23 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 23 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 21 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 19 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 17 |
| STRUCTURE | 11 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 9 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 8 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 8 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 6 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 6 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 6 |
Recent Complaints
AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING A FRONT END CRASH. INJURIES INCLUDED HEAD,NECK AND BACK .THE CAR WAS TOTALED.*AK
DT: CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR ON AUGUST 15, 2005, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. WERE STILL UNSURE OF THE EXTEND OF THE INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNHELPFUL TO THE CONSUMER. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. ALTHOUGH OTHER INFORMATION THEY SENT HER SAID THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *AK
Mileage: 100,000
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
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
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
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
THE DASHBOARD LIFTED UP FROM THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS A HOLE THAT BURNED INTO THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING OR DEPLOYING PREMATURELY. *AK *SC *JB
Mileage: 22,590
THE DASHBOARD LIFTED UP FROM THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS A HOLE THAT BURNED INTO THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING OR DEPLOYING PREMATURELY. *AK *SC *JB
Mileage: 22,590
WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 3/25/02. A WOMAN HIT ME IN THE REAR END OF MY CAR AND MY SEAT RELEASED AND THE BACK OF THE SEAT WENT COMPLETELY BACK. I HAD TO STURGGLE TO SIT UP AFTER THE IMPACT AND REALIZED SHE HAD PUSHED ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A SCHOOL BUS WAS COMING HEAD ON INTO ME. I HAD TO PULL MYSELF FORWARD WITHOUT THE BACK OF MY SEAT FOR SUPPORT AND STEER BEST I COULD OUT OF THE PATH OF THE BUS. MY SEAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE RELEASED LIKE IT DID. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AND LUCKI
WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 3/25/02. A WOMAN HIT ME IN THE REAR END OF MY CAR AND MY SEAT RELEASED AND THE BACK OF THE SEAT WENT COMPLETELY BACK. I HAD TO STURGGLE TO SIT UP AFTER THE IMPACT AND REALIZED SHE HAD PUSHED ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A SCHOOL BUS WAS COMING HEAD ON INTO ME. I HAD TO PULL MYSELF FORWARD WITHOUT THE BACK OF MY SEAT FOR SUPPORT AND STEER BEST I COULD OUT OF THE PATH OF THE BUS. MY SEAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE RELEASED LIKE IT DID. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AND LUCKI
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
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
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 HAP
PERSISTANT OIL LEAK FROM AROUND OIL FILTER. MECHANICS UNABLE TO FIND ANY OTHER REASON FOR LEAK OTHER THAN MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN PLACE WHERE OIL FILTER SCREWS INTO ENGINE. MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAVE ATTESTED TO THIS BEING AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH KIA VEHICLES. *AK
ON MAR 10 2001 CONSUMER WAS READY TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC WITH FOOT ON BRAKE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE ACCELERATED ONCE BEFORE IN 1999, BUT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT.
CONSUMER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE SHE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP..FORD DEALER NOT VERY HELPFUL.LAST INCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP..FORD DEALER NOT VERY HELPFUL.LAST INCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE TOWARDS THE END AND ABOVE THE MUFFLER AND ABOVE FUEL TANK. DEALER HAS RECOGNIZED THE ACTUAL CAUSE OR REMEDY, BUT WAS READY TO HAVE CONSUMER PICK UP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO FIRE, VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. PLEASE FILLE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
FUEL TANK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *AK