10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
15,525 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2000 Kia Sephia:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #8

Nov 242005

Sephia 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,000 miles
: the contact stated while driving a clanking noise was heard in the engine. Then, with no warning lights, the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, who determined there was sludge in the oil and the engine needed to be replaced. Updated 03/03/06.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

Add Complaint
problem #7

Oct 012000

Sephia 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles
I have <45000 miles on my car (2000 Kia Sephia) and have had to have the front brakes replaced 3X and the back brakes replaced 1X. Also, when I turn on the ac, there is a loud noise from the front of the car. The car hesitates when trying to get up to speed. The car also feels like it is trying to pull something of great weight when driving at 55 mph. The back seatbelts do not always lock. The dealer informed me that the seat belts are only to lock when the brakes are slammed or the vehicle is hit (so how is a child booster seat supposed to stay put when the vehicle is in motion?)

- Cockeysville, MD, USA

Add Complaint
problem #6

Jul 182003

(reported on)

Sephia 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The vehicle caught on fire.

- Troy, AL, USA

Add Complaint
problem #5

Mar 052000

Sephia 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 549 miles
Our Kia Sephia 2000 is a lemon. We have had to replace the brakes four times because of premature ware and shaking due to poor design. We received the car with a dead battery. We are on our third battery. We were on our third set of tires before 30,000 miles. The gear shift will stick so that you can not take it out of park. The weather molding is falling off. Check engine light goes on and they could not keep it from coming on.

- Ladera Ranch, CA, USA

Add Complaint
problem #4

May 092003

Sephia

  • miles
The engine light illuminated on the dashboard, and then the vehicle lost power.

- Chicago, IL, USA

Add Complaint
problem #3

May 022003

Sephia 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 24,650 miles
While driving, the vehicle shut down and to restarted ten to twenty minutes later. By the time the vehicle was pulled over to the slow lane, the acceleration started again. (after a minute or two with no power) it sputtered before, while cruising. A carb cleanser was placed in. As the vehicle approached 35 mph or 45 mph, the acceleration restarted and the consumer was able to pull back onto the road.

- Fontana, CA, USA

Add Complaint
problem #2

Oct 082002

Sephia 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
The engine light illuminated on several occasions, the dealer was unable to fix the problem.

- Cullman, AL, USA

Add Complaint
problem #1

Mar 012000

Sephia

  • miles
Oil pan leaked. Nlm

- Bryan, TX, USA

Add Complaint