KnownCarProblems2000 Kia Sephia Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 266 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Kia Sephia, most often about the brakes (32% of complaints, typically around 51,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Sephia model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.
Most common 2000 Kia Sephia problems
Brakes
85 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, conventional, disc.
Friction material on rear drum brakes separated from brake shoe, causing right rear brake assembly to lock up without brake pedal application. Reapired problem with replacement of brake shoes, returned old shoes to pep boys in east providence, ri for core before I thought about filing complaint. Car only has 44,950…
Consumer complained that instrument panel gauges worked intermittently. Abs light, air bag light and the engine check light illuminated while driving at any speed. Consumer stated, this problem started after a "service campaign " was done to the battery cable.
Transmission
50 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, axle assembly, clutch assembly.
While driving engine light came on and overdrive light flickered. Then ,vehicle hesitated to accelerate. Per dealership this was due to transmission failure.
Consumer complained about a transmission problem. Transmission has been replaced 7 times. Consumer contacted the better business bureau.
Electrical
45 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, horn, 12v/24v/48v battery, ignition.
The vehicle cut off. The dealer stated that the fuel pump was defective. Also, the alarm system was defective. The dash board light was intermittent.
The seatbelt pretensioners is locked up & they (both driver/passenger) seatbelts "do not" reel back 2 provide securement of the passenger(s). Also, the electrical issue is the horn does not work even when there's a new fuse & horn. There's a defect in the steering wheel horn button.
Engine
44 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 60,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
Consumer complained that instrument panel gauges worked intermittently. Abs light, air bag light and the engine check light illuminated while driving at any speed. Consumer stated, this problem started after a "service campaign " was done to the battery cable.
Dt: while driving, the battery light came on and the engine began to run hot. The cooling system rocketed to high after the battery light illuminated. The engine went dead in the middle of the freeway. The car was towed to a dealership. The dealer informed the consumer they would not be able to check the vehicle until…
Air bags
32 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
Consumer complained that instrument panel gauges worked intermittently. Abs light, air bag light and the engine check light illuminated while driving at any speed. Consumer stated, this problem started after a "service campaign " was done to the battery cable.
My husband was driving on the highway, when a deer crossed and was hit by our vehicle. The car hit the deer broadside with the front end, then the car was knocked down into the ditch and hit an embankment with the front end. Both impacts were across the whole front of the car. The airbag did not deploy with either…
Visibility and wipers
19 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: windshield, windshield wiper/washer, defroster/defogger/hvac system, glass, side/rear.
Front power windows have failed. The left side power window motor failed within one year of purchase and the right power window motor failed within three years.
1. Rear window tint damaged by defoster wires causing the tint to bubble and obstruct rear view. 2. Heat damage to front dash results in an adjustment or movement to the fromt windsheild creating cracks in windshiled to large to repair. Occurs with both factory and commercially installed glass. 3. A sub result occurs…
Body and structure
18 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 30,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Kia Sephia. When the temperature dropped below 25 degrees none of the doors latches function properly and its difficult to close the door. The failure mileage was 25000 and the current mileage was 41000. Updated 03/01/10 the consumer stated when temperature dropped, the door locks did not latch.…
My Kia Sephia was purchased in 2000 and at approximated 32,000 miles the paint on the car is peeling and faded as well as the entire dashboard has lifted and is raised. I see the same problems with other Sephia's when I am in parking lots or on the road. I called coral springs Kia several times and I am being told…
Seat belts
17 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 38,500 miles. Parts named most often: front.
Was involved in an accident where I was the passenger I also was the owner of the car. Kia sophia 2000. The seat belt did not hold causing my head and hand to be thrown into the windshield twice. My hand went through the windshield my head broke the windshield. My car was totaled out from the accident but I feel as…
I own a 3 year old Kia Sephia. It was purchased as a used car from garden grove Kia in ca. I bring to Kia for all recommended regular maitenance. The last major checkup (30k miles) was less 6000 miles ago. Today, while fastening my seatbelt, the screw fixing the bottom part of seat belt to the car frame popped out of…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2000 Kia Sephia recalls
Seat belts: buckle assembly
Risk: The latch can then pull out of the buckle when tension is applied.
Fix: Dealers will replace both front seat belt buckles. The recall began august 16, 2004. Owners should contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the front safety belt buckles may emit a "click" sound during the buckling process that is similar to the sound emitted when a buckle is being latched, when it is not.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Seat belt buckle false latch/malfunction
Summary
The manufacturer has initiated a safety related campaign to recall the subject vehicles for correction of the seat belt buckle defect.the corrective action is to replace the seat belts/buckles.this safety recall program has been assigned NHTSA campaign no. 04v305.
Refueling spit back
Summary
Based on the low rate of fuel spit-back incedents (14.3 incidents per 100,000 vehicles sold), a low warranty claims rate of 0.02 percent, and the lack of engineering information that would support the presence of an engineering defect, a safety-related defect trend has not been identified and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.for additional information, see the attached closing report.
Seat belt buckle false latch/malfunction
Summary
Information received and analyzed during this rq disclosed that my 1999 and 2000 kia sephia and sportage vehicles were equipped with modified versions of the same safety belt latch assembly as those recalled in campaign no. 02v-216.these latch assemblies were identified as type a97. Odi analyses indicate a continuing trend of consumer complaints following a series of design modifications made by kia to improve the a97 latch assembly.my 2001 and 2002 subject vehicles were equipped with different design latch assemblies (type db-6 or autoliv) and exhibit a much lower complaint count.this rq has been upgraded to an ea in order to further investigate this matter for the subject vehicles equipped
Refueling spit back
Summary
In june 2000, kia notified odi of a defect condition in approximately 100,000 my 1998-99 sephia passenger vehicles manufactured from october 17, 1997 to may 16, 1999, that could result in fuel spit back while refueling (ea99-034, recall 00v-175).according to kia, manufacturing changes made to the onboard refueling vapor recovery (orvr) valve could cause fuel shut off before the tank reached 95% of nominal capacity during refueling.kia stated that if the consumer then attempted to add more fuel to the tank, fuel spillback or spitback from the fuel filler neck could occur.kia replaced the orvr valves in the recalled vehicles.odi has received 16 complaints of fuel spit back on vehicles that hav
Non-crash engine compartment fires
Summary
Odi gathered fire data from various sources and inspected subject vehicles to assess the scope and frequency of non-crash engine compartment fires caused by starter cable chafing.odi's analysis found that most of the suspect fires occurred after the vehicle had received service repairs in the area of the subject cable.consumer complaint data indicate that the problem experience has declined since a peak in late 2001.the most recent known event occurred in november of 2002. Kia will perform a service campaign beginning in late 2003 to inspect subject vehicles built prior to january 2000 for cable damage and will replace damaged cables as necessary. Given the declining fire rate and kia?s serv
Battery cable chafing
Incorrect battery jump-start
Summary
Allege battety may explode if owner's attempt to jump-state the vehicle by following the owner's manual diagram
Questions about the 2000 Kia Sephia
- What are the most common problems with the 2000 Kia Sephia?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (85 complaints, typically around 51,500 miles); transmission (50 complaints, typically around 30,000 miles); electrical (45 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2000 Kia Sephia have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 24, 2004 (seat belts). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2000 a bad year for the Kia Sephia?
- It is the most complained-about Sephia model year since 2000, with 266 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other Kia Sephia years
- 2000
- 2001