1997 Kia SEPHIA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
108 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
69,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 108 complaints (14.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 25.0% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 16 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 10 |
| Structure | 10 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 5 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 16; Air Bags:Frontal: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 12; Unknown Or Other: 12; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 10; Structure: 10; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 93 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 39 |
| 2001 | 25 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
1996: 1; 2000: 39; 2001: 25; 2002: 11; 2003: 16; 2004: 4; 2005: 6; 2006: 2; 2007: 4
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000854 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:AIR BAG:SIDE DOOR:PASSENGER SUMMARY: DASHBOARD HAS COME APART. ALSO, SEALS AROUND AIRBAG ON PASSENGER'S SIDE HAS LIFTED UP, EXPOSING PARTS UNDERNEATH. HEATER VENT ON DASH HAS CRACKED
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000854 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003651 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
THE VEHICLES DASHBOARD IS BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE FRAME ITS MOUNTED ON. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDERNEATH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003911 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004464 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
THE VEHICLES DASHBOARD SEEMS TO BE BREAKING AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THE AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.TS
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005638 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
DASH HAS LARGE BROWN BURN SPOT ON DRIVERS SIDE. THIS SPOT STARTED AS JUST A SMALL SPOT AND HAS OVER 6 MONTHS TIME CONTINUED TO GROW LARGER AND LARGER. NOW THE ENTIRE DASH IS STARTING TO LIFT UP AND CURL UP AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011893 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015761 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMERS' VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR END AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. NEITHER THE DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015823 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
THE DASH BOARD STARTED TO LIFT/ EXPAND, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015823 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V216000 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 2002-08-16 (August 16, 2002)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗