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Engine & cooling

1997 Kia Sephia Engine problems

Owners have filed 41 complaints about the 1997 Kia Sephia's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 19% of all its complaints, most recently on October 2, 2006. They describe 6 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & cooling

Dt*: the contact stated while traveling various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted and the dealership was unable to determine the problem.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10169738
Engine & cooling

Intermittently while driving the vehicle looses power. Dealer indicated and performed a tune up on the vehicle. Consumer states the problem is recurring. Please provide further information. *Ph

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10050045
Engine & cooling

When the consumer pulled off from a stop, the vehicle stalled. This incident occurred in traffic which made it a dangerous situation. *Nlm ph *jb

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10018044
Engine & coolingElectrical systemBody, doors & structure

Is leaking causing electrical lights damage, the hazards or signals aren't working and the truck smells like mildew. Ts

Filed Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · StructureNHTSA 9006758
SteeringEngine & cooling

At random the vehicle refused to start, also the steering wheel did not lock with the key removed.*Jb

Filed Incident Steering · Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 8023622
Engine & cooling

While driving at any speed vehicle completely shutsdown without warning, dealer has yet to be contacted. Please provide further details.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 8003112
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

While driving at any speed, vehicle completely shutsdown without warning, dealer has yet to be contatced. *Ak consumer said when he purchased the vehicle engine light was on and engine shuts off whenever stopping, took back to dealer many times for repair, vehicle is experiencing the same problem. Consumer also stated the speedometer is acting erractically, the overdrive light has illuminated. *Yd

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Power trainNHTSA 8000812
Engine & cooling

While traveling at any speed vehicle completely shutsdown without warning. Dealer has been contacted, but is unable to locate source of problem. Please provide further details.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 899476
Engine & coolingFire

Persistant oil leak from around oil filter. Mechanics unable to find any other reason for leak other than manufacturer defect in place where oil filter screws into engine. Multiple mechanics have attested to this being an ongoing problem with kia vehicles. *Ak

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 748950
Engine & coolingElectrical system

Car still does not start right a way/engine lgts still on/rgt sig does not wrk/cars a lemon/fuse blows evertime I turn on rgt signal. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 746123
Engine & coolingFuel system

Engine & engine check light & power/fuel injection switch. Been in the service department for checkups and repairs 5 times for the same thing. Car is dead, timing chain broke and the block frozed up.

Filed Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline · Unknown or otherNHTSA 739629
BrakesEngine & cooling

Brakes rotors are prematurely wearing, cause unknown. *Ak engine surges when stopping and some time shut down when starting. *Yh

Filed Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 876940
BrakesEngine & coolingCrash

This vehicle is a death trap..Ford dealer not very helpful.Last incident almost caused serious accident. No safety defect mentioned in summary. *Ak

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 737571
BrakesEngine & coolingElectrical system

Since consumer owned car brakes had to be changed five times. 3 Batteries had to be put in. Engine light came on on instrument panel, anti-freeze is leaking and the engine is running rough. *Ak *slc

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 875454
BrakesEngine & coolingBody, doors & structureCrash

I have had numerous problems with this. The check engine light has come on, the rotors had to be replaced twice and they still made noise but the dealer said there was nothing else they could do, the hinge on the back door failed, the left strut had to be replaced. This time the entire bottom of the car was damaged the car skipped when in drive to reverse and the breaks would not allow the car to come to a complete stop. Kia needs to do something about this these cars have too many defects and I'm sure they have many mor people just don't report them all the time

Filed Incident Service brakes, air · Engine and engine cooling · StructureNHTSA 730809
Engine & cooling

While driving on highway or exiting a ramp vehicle would stall with any prior warning or reason. Have taken vehicle to dealership at least 8 times for the stalling problem. Problem would be adjusted, but it would always reappear. Stalling is an intermittent problem. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 867716
Engine & coolingCrash1 injury

While driving vehicle stalled and died, causing a collision which resulted in minor injuries. Manufacturer has been notified. Stalling has been a reoccurring problem, despite many repairs done by dealer. *Ak *ml

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 863629
SuspensionEngine & coolingFuel systemTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemVisibility & wipersEquipment & accessories

Ongoing problem with battery failure; dealer notified, and replaced faulty battery on two occasions, and problem reoccurred. Also, and problem engine hesitation. Dealer notified. *Ak the consumer found out right after leasing the vehicle, that the radio was inoperable. The vehicle began squeeking in the rear end when turning. The heater malfunctioned. The left rear strut assembly failed causing knocking noise at right rear. The o-ring failed causeing the distributor leak and there was loss of power while driving. *Yh

Filed Incident Suspension · Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline · Power train · Electrical system · Visibility · EquipmentNHTSA 863221
BrakesEngine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainVisibility & wipers

Transmission was replaced twice/ the engine seized at 30000 miles/ the brakes warped three times and were replaced 3 times/ the windows are hard to open and close/ the brake pedal is extremely low. *Ak

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Power train · VisibilityNHTSA 722229
Engine & cooling

While driving and slowing down or turning vehicle would stall. Consumer felt this was a safety issue, took vehicle to dealer, and they were not helping. Consumer also reports smelling ags fumes inside vehicle, and check engine light frequently flashing. *Ak *ml

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 858395
Engine & cooling

While driving vehicle stalls unexpectedly which may cause a crash. Dealer cannot determine the cause of the problem. Please provide further information. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 858365
SteeringEngine & coolingSeats & seat beltsCrash1 injury

Engine check light is on/leaking motor oil/ power steering binding, and front and rear seat belts do not retract.*Ak

Filed Incident Steering · Engine and engine cooling · Seat belts · Unknown or otherNHTSA 716365
Engine & cooling

While driving and applying the brakes engine stalls completely out. Has to be turned off and started back up. Dealer has seen vehicle, and cant find solution.

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 851801
Engine & cooling

Oxygen sensor failed causing check engine light to illuminate. Mjs

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 548983
BrakesEngine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

The brakes and rotors were excessively worn outand replaced twice. Tansmission faild causing, loud knocking noise and new transmission was replaced. Left axle failed and replaced. The battery went out. The vehicle failed to start.*Ak

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 847270

Kia Sephia engine complaints by year

Sephia engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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