1999 Hyundai Elantra vs 1999 Kia Sephia
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1999 Hyundai Elantra | 1999 Kia Sephia |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 128 | 428 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 61 | 15 |
| Investigations | 0 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 22 | 50 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 42 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 22–24 | 23–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 92,750 mi | 59,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Elantra | Kia Sephia |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 9 | 169 |
| Power Train | 41 | 71 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 88 |
| Electrical System | 18 | 63 |
| Air Bags | 20 | 37 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 43 |
| Visibility | 7 | 18 |
| Steering | 2 | 23 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 25 | 40 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 11 |
| Check engine light | 10 | 7 |
| Shifting problems | 8 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 5 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 38 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 15 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 9 |
1999 Hyundai Elantra
1999 Kia Sephia
Compare all Hyundai Elantra vs Kia Sephia 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.