1998 Kia SEPHIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
286 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
57,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc is the most frequently named component, appearing in 38 of 286 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 112 | 39.2% |
| Engine operation | 32 | 11.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 24 | 8.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 23 | 8.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 22 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 5.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 38 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 27 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 25 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 24 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 23 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 23 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 18 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 17 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 38; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 27; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 25; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 24; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 23; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 23; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 18; Air Bags:Frontal: 17
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 251 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 135 |
| 2001 | 67 |
| 2002 | 29 |
| 2003 | 26 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 135; 2001: 67; 2002: 29; 2003: 26; 2004: 13; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2013: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 112 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 32 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 24 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000371 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR ARE TERRIBLE! I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP SINCE THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PAD AND ROTOR REPLACEMENTS. I EVEN GOT INTO A REAR-END ACCIDENT 1 1/2 YEARS AGO THAT I COULD HAVE AVOIDED WITH COMPETENT BRAKES. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE DRUMS AND REAR SHOES BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING OVERTIME TO COMPENSATE FOR THE POOR FRONT BRAKES. THANKS A BUNCH KIA! WORST CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003637 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE WEARING QUICKLY, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051293 · 2003-12-30 (December 30, 2003)
I PURCHASED A KIA IN MARCH 02' I USED THE CAR FOR LONG TRIPS THE FIRST YEAR I HAD OWNED THE CAR AND I HAD NO FAULTS IN JAN.- FEB 03' THE CAR BEGAN TO SHIFT IN TO NUMEROUS GEARS AND THEN STALL. I WAS THEN DEPLOYED TO IRAQ. I LEFT THE CAR WITH A GOOD FRIEND. WHEN I CAME BACK HE INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. FRIEND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP.FRIEND THEN REPLACED FUEL PUMP AGAIN WHEN CAR WOULDN'T START. FRIEND LEFT THE CAR ALONE,WHEN IT DIDN'T START, UNTIL I HAD RETURNED FROM IRAQ. I CAME BACK AND TOOK THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067413 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO REPORT. HOWEVER, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A HARD START THAT WOULD NOT HOLD FUEL PRESSURE. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003926 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
THE BATTERY HAD BLOWN UP AND SPEWED LIQUID/ACID. THE CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED TWO RECALLS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, ONE IN RE: GAS VALVE AND THE OTHER WAS ELECTRICAL. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO POSTPONE THE DATES FOR REPAIR. (RECALL# 102944) SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004298 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
THERE WAS A SHORT PRESENT IN THE WIRING TO THE DOME LIGHT, RADIO AND CLOCK. THE DOOR SWITCHS ALSO BURNED OUT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043394 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
I PAID TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED BUT I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO. WHEN REFUELING MY 1998 KIA SEPHIA, THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF GASOLINE THAT WOULD SPILL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE FUEL TANK--WHETHER I COMPLETELY FILL THE VEHICLE OR SIMPLY PUT A GALLON OR TWO IN THE TANK. I COULD NOT PUT MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THAT THE GAS WATER HEATER WOULD CAUSE AN EXPLOSION--THE LINGERING FUMES WOULD EXIST FOR A DAY OR TWO AFTER EACH VISIT TO THE GAS PUMP. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002299 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION WAS VERY BAD AND DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE WOULD STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033809 · 2003-08-13 (August 13, 2003)
VEHICLE WOULDN'T START INTERMITTENTLY. ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT STARTED TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE WOULD ALSO ROLL WHILE IN PARK. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057167 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)
REAR BRAKE SHOES CAME APART AND LODGED IN THE DRUM, LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL. *PH THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND LEFT REAR BRAKE DRUM. THEY ALSO RESURFACED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE DRUM. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE HE FEELS THIS FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR. *NM (NAR)
Owner-reported narrative. 32,370 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057167 at NHTSA ↗