1997 Kia Sephia Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · data through 09/08/2026

33Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints

16.1%Of all 205 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE33 · 16.1%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR23 · 11.2%

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL23 · 11.2%

Unspecified / other23 · 11.2%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC21 · 10.2%

Share of the 205 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Kia Sephia overview page.

What owners report

“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…”NHTSA complaint 851801 — filed 10/26/1999

“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…”NHTSA complaint 847270 — filed 09/09/1999

“ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED TWICE. ROTORS WARPED AND PADS GLAZING. COMPLAINED THATS BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING RIGHT, AND NOT STOPPING RIGHT. STARTED TO FILE…”NHTSA complaint 705530 — filed 04/12/1999

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Kia Sephia have engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline problems?

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline is the most-reported problem area on the 1997 Kia Sephia: 33 of 205 complaints on file (16.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1997 Kia Sephia have in total?

205 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 09/08/2026. Across all categories, 30 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 28 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 09/08/2026.