Kia Sephia Recalls

The Kia Sephia has 8 recalls covering the 1994–2000 production run, with the most serious being a front seatbelt buckle defect on 2000 model year vehicles where the buckle can appear to latch with an audible click but fail to engage, leaving the occupant unrestrained in a crash.

The 1995 model year has a related seatbelt concern where the front buckle can false-latch without the driver realizing it, also leaving the occupant unprotected in a crash.

The 1998 model year carries the heaviest recall load. Two separate fuel pump issues affect these vehicles: a poorly grounded junction connector can generate heat and resistance as the pump runs, and a separate set of electrical connectors can corrode when exposed to moisture. Both conditions can starve the pump of adequate power and cause the engine to stall while driving. There is also a fuel filler issue on 1998 models where a valve inside the evaporative emissions system cuts off the fuel nozzle too early, causing fuel to spill back out of the filler neck when trying to top off the tank. The windshield wiper linkage on 1998 models can separate from the wiper motor when the wipers push against ice or snow, and a poorly tightened wiper arm nut can cause the arm to slip or stop moving altogether, both leaving the driver with no visibility in wet conditions. A hazard and turn signal switch on 1998 vehicles with lower mileage can develop an internal electrical contact fault, disabling the hazard lights and turn signals and removing the ability to warn other drivers of a turn or a stop.

Going back to the earliest production, 1994 models have a vehicle speed sensor that can seize, causing the speedometer to stop working and, on equipped vehicles, disabling cruise control as well.