NHTSA lists 107 complaints for the 2001 Kia Sephia, 21 of them mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. 14 complaints mention an injury, with 21 injuries and 1 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-08.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as KIA SEPHIA.
At a glance
Complaints
107
With crash
21
With fire
2
With injury (complaints)
14
Injuries
21
Deaths
1
Recalls
0
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
Unavailable
Investigations
3
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
11
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
21
19.6%
AIR BAGS
18
16.8%
POWER TRAIN
18
16.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
15
14.0%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
11
10.3%
SEAT BELTS
9
8.4%
STRUCTURE
9
8.4%
EQUIPMENT
5
4.7%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
5
4.7%
VISIBILITY
5
4.7%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
AIR BAGS
FRONTAL
15
POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE
13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION
8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EXHAUST SYSTEM
7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
6
STRUCTURE
BODY
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WIRING
5
SEAT BELTS
FRONT
5
SEAT BELTS
REAR/OTHER
3
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
BASED ON THE LOW RATE OF FUEL SPIT-BACK INCEDENTS (14.3 INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES SOLD), A LOW WARRANTY CLAIMS RATE OF 0.02 PERCENT, AND THE LACK OF ENGINEERING INFORMATION THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE PRESENCE OF AN ENGINEERING DEFECT, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
INFORMATION RECEIVED AND ANALYZED DURING THIS RQ DISCLOSED THAT MY 1999 AND 2000 KIA SEPHIA AND SPORTAGE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE SAME SAFETY BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY AS THOSE RECALLED IN CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.THESE LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE IDENTIFIED AS TYPE A97. ODI ANALYSES INDICATE A CONTINUING TREND OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FOLLOWING A SERIES OF DESIGN MODIFICATIONS MADE BY K
IN JUNE 2000, KIA NOTIFIED ODI OF A DEFECT CONDITION IN APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MY 1998-99 SEPHIA PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 17, 1997 TO MAY 16, 1999, THAT COULD RESULT IN FUEL SPIT BACK WHILE REFUELING (EA99-034, RECALL 00V-175).ACCORDING TO KIA, MANUFACTURING CHANGES MADE TO THE ONBOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) VALVE COULD CAUSE FUEL SHUT OFF BEFORE THE TANK REACHED 95% OF
Date: 2021-09-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STRUCTURE.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models tha
10133170
Date: 2018-03-02. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine.
10109812
Date: 2017-01-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY.
TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various Kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.? Some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washe
10109777
Date: 2016-11-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.
TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners utilized in various Kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?. Though not limited to the following, some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washers with locking tabs and other
10091489
Date: 2013-12-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
TSB: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CORRECT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUIDS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR EACH KIA MODEL. REFER TO THE SHOP MANUAL ON KGIS FOR THE SPECIFIC KIA MODEL, THEN REFERENCE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SYSTEM/ REPAIR PROC
KIA: ALL MODELS. ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE IMPROVED DURABILITY OF BULB LIFE FOR REAR COMBINATION BULB; REAR STOP LAMP/TAIL LAMP BULB UTILIZED ON MULTIPLE KIA MODELS. *PE
10016840
Date: 2004-09-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
CHARGING SYSTEM UPGRADE. *TT
629469
Date: 2002-03-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIAGNOSIS. CERTAIN MODELS INCLUDING ALL RIOS. *SLC
632302
Date: 2001-12-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
A LOGIC CHANGE IN THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM). *TT
625894
Date: 2001-09-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.
SUBJECT ON FRONT DOOR LATCH. *ET
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.