Kia SEPHIA fuel problems
62 complaint narratives mention fuel terms.
Key facts
1,222 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
52,984 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 211 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Fuel system concerns evidence
62 of 1,222 complaints match this topic (5.1%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 752704 · 2001-09-28 (September 28, 2001)
THE CAR WAS ACTING UP, WE THOUGHT IT WAS OVERHEATING,BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR COOLED OFF IT WOULD START. ON 7/04/2001 WE WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH WHEN IT SHUT OFF. IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC .HE SAID THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD. REPLACED IT. TOOK A TRIP TO MASS. CAR DIED AGAIN. TOLD FUEL RELAY WAS BAD,REPLACED,08/10/2001. COMING HOME FIRST TIME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.TOOK IT TO DEALER.EGR VALVE REPLACED ABOUT 08/21/2001. 09/25/2001 CAR DIES TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC,CHECKS,FUEL PUMP BAD AGAIN. VERY DISTURBING, I DON'T WAN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 752704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 870947 · 2000-09-19 (September 19, 2000)
FUEL TANK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 870947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 871556 · 2000-09-26 (September 26, 2000)
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE TOWARDS THE END AND ABOVE THE MUFFLER AND ABOVE FUEL TANK. DEALER HAS RECOGNIZED THE ACTUAL CAUSE OR REMEDY, BUT WAS READY TO HAVE CONSUMER PICK UP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO FIRE, VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. PLEASE FILLE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 871556 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 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 ↗