1999 Kia Sephia defect investigations

Investigations by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation that name the 1999 Kia Sephia. An investigation is how complaints can become a recall: complaints → investigation → (sometimes) TSB → recall.

• SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION
  Engineering Analysis EA04007 · opened Feb 27, 2004 · closed Jul 26, 2004

  The manufacturer has initiated a safety related campaign to recall the subject vehicles for correction of the seat belt buckle defect.the corrective action is to replace the seat belts/buckles.this safety recall program has been assigned nhtsa campaign no. 04v305.

• REFUELING SPIT BACK
  Engineering Analysis EA04004 · opened Feb 3, 2004 · closed Jul 29, 2004

  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 reso…

• SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION
  Recall Query RQ03007 · opened Oct 14, 2003 · closed Feb 27, 2004 · led to recall 04V305000

  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 t…

• REFUELING SPIT BACK
  Recall Query RQ03006 · opened Aug 15, 2003 · closed Feb 3, 2004

  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 vapo…

• NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
  Engineering Analysis EA02016 · opened Aug 6, 2002 · closed Oct 7, 2003

  Odi gathered fire data from various sources and inspected subject vehicles to assess the scope and frequency of non-crash engine compartment fires caused by starter cable chafing.odi's analysis found that most of the suspect fires occurred after the vehicle had received service repairs in the area of the subject cable.…

• BATTERY CABLE CHAFING
  Preliminary Evaluation PE02028 · opened Mar 6, 2002 · closed Aug 6, 2002
• TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE
  Preliminary Evaluation PE00028 · opened Jul 12, 2000 · closed Nov 7, 2000

  The oil cooler line allegedly develops leaks at it's junction to the radiator

• TURN SIGHAL
  Engineering Analysis EA00018 · opened Jun 29, 2000 · closed Jul 29, 2002 · led to recall 02V207000

  There is no summary currently available

• TURN SIGNAL, TRAFFIC SAFETY HAZARD
  Preliminary Evaluation PE00004 · opened Jan 13, 2000 · closed Jun 29, 2000

  Allege that while driving, the trun signal switch failed.this failure increases the risk of a vehicle crash due to operator distraction and due to other vehicles being uninformed of the operator's intentions.

• REFUELING SPIT BACK
  Engineering Analysis EA99034 · opened Dec 16, 1999 · closed Jun 29, 2000 · led to recall 00V175000

  The number and dates of complaints and warrant claims reported by Kia indicates that fuel spit-back has been a serieous ongoing problem with the Sephia models.Kia has made changes in both the ORVR valve and in the installation process on the fuel tank check valve, in an attempt to correct the problem.The failure of the…

• INTERMITTENT STALLING
  Investigation SQ99020 · opened Jun 30, 1999 · closed Jan 12, 2000 · led to recall 99V318000

  Kia issued a Kia Technical Times in October 1998 stating that, due to loose connections at the fuel pump ground at G300, the fuel pump may shut off intermittently.The corrective action is to solder the fuel pump ground terminals at the terminal connec

• REFUELING SPIT- BACK
  Preliminary Evaluation PE99042 · opened Jun 24, 1999 · closed Dec 16, 1999

  The subject vehicles are equipped with Onboard Refueling Vapor Recover Systems.Owners report that, during the refueling process, fuel sprays out of the refueling opening and soaks the person refueling the vehicle with liquid gasoline