1999 Kia SEPHIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
364 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc is the most frequently named component, appearing in 51 of 364 complaints (14.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 120 | 33.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 50 | 13.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 42 | 11.5% |
| Engine operation | 29 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 27 | 7.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 25 | 6.9% |
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 | 51 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 45 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 41 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 31 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 27 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 26 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 20 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 15 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 51; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 45; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 41; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 31; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 27; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 26; Air Bags:Frontal: 20; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 323 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 | 156 |
| 2001 | 82 |
| 2002 | 54 |
| 2003 | 30 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 156; 2001: 82; 2002: 54; 2003: 30; 2004: 12; 2005: 9; 2006: 8; 2007: 1; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 120 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 50 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 42 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 10000860 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND ROTORS ON 199 KIA SEPHIA, HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. CAUSES WEAR ON TIRES AND PRESENTS AN UNSAFE CONDITION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009673 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE SHOE BROKE IN HALF.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009673 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006736 · 2003-02-07 (February 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION KEEPS SKIPPING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026177 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED UP HILL AND WITH NO WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL DECELERATE EVEN WHEN FOOT IS ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026177 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018880 · 2003-05-18 (May 18, 2003)
KIA SEPHIA, BOUGHT APRIL 1999 NEW. REPLACED BATTERY WITHIN FIRST YEAR, TURN RADIO UP IT GOES DOWN AND THE OTHER WAY. INTERMITTENTLY, SPEEDOMETER UNSTEADY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF FREQUENTLY. OD OFF LIGHT FLASHES OCCASIONALLY. DOME LIGHT COMES ON BY ITSELF WHEN IN DOOR MODE. DASHBOARD INDICATOR ALSO COMES ON AT THIS TIME. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024509 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS AND PROBLEMS. WHEN THE CONSUMER PUT FUEL IN THE VEHICLE IT LEAKED OUT. WHEN IT DID HIT SHE HAD TO PLAY AROUND WITH IT, UNTIL THE NOZZLE WAS IN THE TANK JUST RIGHT, THEN IT WOULD TAKE THE FUEL. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, AND ROTORS WEARING OUT TOO QUICKLY AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE REPAIR SHOP AT LEAST 10 TIMES AND NEEDED TO BE RETURNED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. *AK THE FUEL TANK PROBLEM HAD BEEN WORKED ON FOUR TI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052230 · 2003-12-31 (December 31, 2003)
THERE WAS AN ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION OR WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH OR MORE. THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT/ DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111683 · 2005-02-17 (February 17, 2005)
NHTSA CAMPAIGN 99V317000; KIA ISSUED AN ENGINE STALLING RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING EVEN AFTER REPAIR. THE FUEL PUMP WILL NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH CURRENT TO MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE ON. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111683 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024040 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN , THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND ALMOST HIT A CURVE. *AK THE CONSUMER THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE 2-3 TIMES. (IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC & BUSY INTERSECTION) THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE INCIDENT RECURRED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TO THE DEALER. THERE HAD BEEN NO ACCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT THE SUB FRAME RACK & PINION HAD BROKEN APART. ONE SIDE HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR A WHILE AND STARTED TO RUST. (LOOKED LIKE POOR WELDING/MANUFACTURER DEFECT) *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080194 · 2004-06-30 (June 30, 2004)
WHILE IN THE STREET VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND THE KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. FLOOR MANAGER INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080194 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030046 · 2003-07-04 (July 4, 2003)
CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH 1999 KIA SEPHIA. NAR 07/21/2003.*MR TRANSMISSION, REAR BLINKERS, BRAKE PADS, FUEL PUMP AND VALVE. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 594 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030046 at NHTSA ↗