2000 Kia SEPHIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
262 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 76 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 262 complaints (12.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 83 | 31.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 31 | 11.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 4.6% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 2.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 33 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 20 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 15 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 13 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 33; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 20; Air Bags:Frontal: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 15; Electrical System: 14; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 186 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 | 48 |
| 2001 | 61 |
| 2002 | 43 |
| 2003 | 42 |
| 2004 | 25 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 48; 2001: 61; 2002: 43; 2003: 42; 2004: 25; 2005: 10; 2006: 11; 2007: 5; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 83 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 31 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 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 10002023 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLES' BRAKES AND ROTORS, CAUSE THEY WEAR EXCESSIVELY WITHOUT BEING USED EXCESSIVELY. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007396 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)
THE BRAKES FAILED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001621 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER REPLACE TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006939 · 2002-08-08 (August 8, 2002)
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME TO BE REPLACED AND FIXED (TRANSMISSION). *AK *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**765382
Owner-reported narrative. 9,887 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018598 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
OUR KIA SEPHIA 2000 IS A LEMON. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES FOUR TIMES BECAUSE OF PREMATURE WARE AND SHAKING DUE TO POOR DESIGN. WE RECEIVED THE CAR WITH A DEAD BATTERY. WE ARE ON OUR THIRD BATTERY. WE WERE ON OUR THIRD SET OF TIRES BEFORE 30,000 MILES. THE GEAR SHIFT WILL STICK SO THAT YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. THE WEATHER MOLDING IS FALLING OFF. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND THEY COULD NOT KEEP IT FROM COMING ON. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 549 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022487 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRE HARNESS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE TURN SIGNALS TO BE INOPERATIVE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037075 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
CAR SUFFERS INTERMITTENTLY STARTING PROBLEM WHILE HOT OR COLD WITH LOSS OF POWER.DEALER REPORTS ADVISORY ABOUT PROBLEM, BUT STATES ONLY COVERED FOR 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A PROBLEM.DEALER REPORTS FAULTY ENGINE COMPUTER JUNCTION BOX. SERVICE ADVISOR REPORTED A" SHORT IN FUSE BOX" TO ME.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040869 · 2003-09-28 (September 28, 2003)
ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY FOR NO APPEARENT REASON IN TRAFFIC
Owner-reported narrative. 42,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071591 · 2004-04-26 (April 26, 2004)
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN A PIECE OF THE STEERING COLUMN POPPED OFF AND BECAME WEDGED IN THE BACK OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS RESULTED IN CONSUMER NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING AND THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133738 · 2005-08-22 (August 22, 2005)
PURCHASED VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT AND NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE BRAKES WERE "MUSHY" AND STOPPING DISTANCE SEEMED UNUSUAL. INDIVIDUAL SELLING VEHICLE (NOT DEALER) STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO BE CERTAIN SINCED MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR VERY TOUCHY BRAKES AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT JUST BE AN ADJUSTMENT PERIOD. HOWEVER, I AM A CAREFUL AND PATIENT DRIVER AND IN 20 YEARS OF DRIVING HAVE HAD ONLY 4 SPEEDING TICKETS AND ZERO ACCIDENTS UNTIL I DROVE THIS CAR. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 9-…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003360 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
THE SENSOR/GAS LEVEL IN THE GAS TANK WENT OUT WHEN THE CAR HAD 53000 + OR - ON IT AND IT COST US $300 TO FIX IT. THE DRIVER'S DOOR DOESN'T SEAL. AND NOW, AS WE LEFT A STORE TONIGHT, THE FLASHING (YES FLASHING) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR IS SPUTTERING AND CLANGING FROM UNDER THE BONNET. IT IS IN THE EVENING AND A FRIDAY NIGHT. I OPENED THE HOOD AND IT SMELLED FUNKY/BURNT. IT WAS SPUTTERING. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 72000 MILES ON IT. I'LL TRY TO GET IT LOOKED AT IN THE MORROW.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005599 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE I'M ABLE TO GET THE GAS TANK COMPLETELY FULL. AS SOON AS THE PUMP CLICKS OFF YOU CANNOT GET ANOTHER DROP IN AND THEN WHEN I LEAVE THE STATION AND GO ONLY A FEW MILES THE GAS GAUGE IS ALREADY MOVED OFF FULL. REFERENCED IN RQ03-006
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005599 at NHTSA ↗