1998 Kia Sephia vs 1998 Mercedes-Benz C230
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1998 Kia Sephia | 1998 Mercedes-Benz C230 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 491 | 39 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 19 | 13 |
| Investigations | 8 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 34 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 16 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–24 | 23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 58,500 mi | 122,748 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Sephia | Mercedes-Benz C230 |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 250 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 104 | 7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 108 | 2 |
| Power Train | 68 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 51 | 1 |
| Visibility | 43 | 5 |
| Structure | 26 | 6 |
| Suspension | 23 | 9 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 53 | 0 |
| Stalling | 48 | 6 |
| Check engine light | 28 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 17 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 12 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 8 | 0 |
| Overheating | 8 | 0 |
1998 Kia Sephia
1998 Mercedes-Benz C230
Compare all Kia Sephia vs Mercedes-Benz C230 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.