KnownCarProblems2001 Kia Sephia Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 107 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Kia Sephia, most often about the engine (20% of complaints). It is the 2nd most complained-about Sephia model year since 2000.
Most common 2001 Kia Sephia problems
Engine
21 complaints · 20%Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
Vehicle repeatedly stalls. Taken to the dealtership several times ,and told that the problem did not occur when they had the vehicle; therefore, they are unable to fix. Dealership acted as if they never heard of this problem when I see now that this is a common problem. Vehicle is only used to drive in area - mostly…
Transmission
18 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 17,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, clutch assembly.
Vehicle had automatic transmission and the gear shift will not stay in park. When parking the vehicle and turning it off vehicle rolled into reverse. Consumer had to use the emergency brake to keep the car from rolling back. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer on 3 separate occasions. Dealer maintained that the…
Transmission failed while driving. Consumer stated transmission was replaced five times. Consumer just had a sixth replacement of transmission.
Air bags
18 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 90,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
I was driving my 2001 Kia Sephia approximately 45 MPH in decatur county, georgia on august 1, 2006 when a pontiac bonneville pulled into my lane of travel. My Sephia collided with the bonneville at a 20 degree angle. Neither of the front airbags deployed and my son (front seat passenger) was thrown into the front…
I was on my way to college when I hit a patch of wet road, when I tried to correct the slide, the right side grabbed and put me into a spin over both lanes and I hit the left side guard rail head on at approx. 45mph. Air bags didn't deploy for either side. Car is almost worth fixing but I will never drive that metal…
Electrical
15 complaints · 14%Parts named most often: ignition, wiring.
Before 40,000 miles, had fuel pump changed 2 times, starter changed 2 times, new transmission, ignition control module once, doors replaced due to defect, new paint job due to trash under original paint job, all hub caps and trim were replaced due to fading at 10,000 miles (which faded again a few thousand miles…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Kia Sephia. The vehicle failed to start after several attempts. The starter and two relays were replaced; however, the failure immediately recurred. The contact has not had the vehicle diagnosed by an authorized dealer to determine the cause of the failure. She is in the process of notifying the…
Brakes
12 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, supply.
The flexline supplying the brake fluid to the left rear wheel had been rubbing against a retainer ring and caused all the fluid to leak, resulting in an inoperative brake pedal. Ts scc
Master cylinder, went out the second time. I had my car in the dealers shop on december 31, 2002. My master cylinder went out at 13157 miles, and the master cylinder went out again at 14252 miles (3/1/03). The car will be 2 years old in april. I am very scared to get back in the car this time, I am looking into…
Seat belts
9 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: front, rear/other.
Body and structure
9 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: body.
Water is leaking into the vehicle onto the passenger side floor. When this occurs in cooler temperatures and the defroster is engaged the water is evaporated. This causes moisture to develop onto the window. This reduces the driver's visibility. This is an on going problem, but the dealership is unable to locate the…
Before 40,000 miles, had fuel pump changed 2 times, starter changed 2 times, new transmission, ignition control module once, doors replaced due to defect, new paint job due to trash under original paint job, all hub caps and trim were replaced due to fading at 10,000 miles (which faded again a few thousand miles…
Fuel system
7 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: fuel injection system, storage, delivery.
I am just a little disgusted by the fact that I bought a brand new vehicle so that I wouldn't have to worry about repairs for awhile. I bought a 2001 Kia Sephia in august of 2001 and it is now july 2004 and my fuel pump has failed twice now. I have had vehicles in the past that have had well over 100,000 miles before…
The contact owns a 2001 Kia Sephia. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited an unusually overpowering gasoline odor from the blower vents when first starting the vehicle. The failure would occur intermittently and became progressively worse over time. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered a leak in…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Kia Sephia recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
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
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
Questions about the 2001 Kia Sephia
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Kia Sephia?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (21 complaints); transmission (18 complaints, typically around 17,000 miles); air bags (18 complaints, typically around 90,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Kia Sephia have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 Kia Sephia. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Kia Sephia?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Sephia model year since 2000, with 107 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