The Lemon IndexAll cars · Kia Sephia · 2000
2000 Kia Sephia. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,000 and 50,000 miles. Median 30,738, from 23 complaints with a mileage.
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Brakes | 39% |
| Electrical | 21% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 21% |
| Engine | 20% |
| Airbags | 10% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 196 | 27 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 1
04V305000 Jun 2004 Seat Belts / Front / Buckle Assembly
Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES MAY EMIT A "CLICK" SOUND DURING THE BUCKLING PROCESS THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE SOUND EMITTED WHEN A BUCKLE IS BEING LATCHED, WHEN IT IS NOT.
Risk. THE LATCH CAN THEN PULL OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN TENSION IS APPLIED.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Refueling spit back | 2004 | 2004 |
| Closed | Seat belt buckle false latch/malfunction | 2004 | 2004 |
| Closed | Refueling spit back | 2003 | 2004 |
| Closed | Seat belt buckle false latch/malfunction | 2003 | 2004 |
| Closed | Non-crash engine compartment fires | 2002 | 2003 |
| Closed | Battery cable chafing | 2002 | 2002 |
Manufacturer communications 15
Kia filed 15 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Automatic transaxle diagnosis
- A logic change in the transmission control module (tcm)
- Battery cable chafing inspection, repair and replacement
Engines and drivetrains 2
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | Auto 4-spd | FWD | 20 / 29 / 23 | Regular | $2,700 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | 20 / 26 / 22 | Regular | $2,850 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Nearby model years
| Year | Lemon Index | Complaints | Sold | Top system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 261 | 196 | 67,893 | Brakes |
| 2001 | 166 | 86 | 49,016 | Engine |
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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