Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Kia Sephia owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 lemon law, and went to informal arbitration. Kia motors refused to do anything. Was going to file with the state when the brakes failed and resulted in an accident. I have noticed many of the same complaints about the brakes with Kia motors, on NHTSA web site. Does someone have to get hurt or die in a car crash before Kia will address the problem with their brake systems being placed on these cars, which has a major defect in them, causing accidents. Thank god my daughter was wearing her seat belt when the accident occured. The insurance company has totaled the car!!!!!! I will procide to sue Kia motors for their failure to address such a serious problem
I have had numerous problems with this. The check engine light has come on, the rotors had to be replaced twice and they still made noise but the dealer said there was nothing else they could do, the hinge on the back door failed, the left strut had to be replaced. This time the entire bottom of the car was damaged the car skipped when in drive to reverse and the breaks would not allow the car to come to a complete stop. Kia needs to do something about this these cars have too many defects and I'm sure they have many mor people just don't report them all the time
When I bought the car the brakes felt bad because I had to push the brake all the way to the floor. After having it for 2 weeks other thing started to go wrong. I had to buy a cap and rotor and get spark plug and wires. Now the transmission is messing up. They are not willing to put me in something better. They want me to pay on a junk car that I will always have to be fixing day after day.
While driving car on to a highway applied brakes and had lt front wheel lock up and lost controll of steering and hit curb doing damage to lt control arm and rim had to have vehicle towed home car was diabled for 2wks
I purchased my vehicle new and almost immediately started having problems with my brakes wearing out. First they resurfaced my original rotors and put them back on. The next time I took it in for brakes they "deglazed brake lining". Each subsequent visit after these the rotors have had to be replaced. They keep telling me that Kia is working on the problem but I'm not seeing any results. My 36000 mi bumper to bomper warranty is about to expire and I'm afraid they'll try to start charging me for these repairs. In actuality, the rotors could probably have been replaced several more times than they were, but I cannot afford to take my car to the garage everytime the brakes are bad. I have to miss work and wait for vehicle to be worked on, so I basically drive this car around knowing that my brakes could go at any time. I have no other choice--need to work. …
I contact Kia rep. Several times they even told me they was sending someone to look at my car. I promised this five to six times. Before purchasing this Kia I the salesman if this car was very safe he said, yes. But, when I started all of the brakes and belts squeeling noise. No one would talk to me about taking this car back. Kia even told me no. Palmetto told me I need at least $3 to $4 thousand more to put down towards another car. I am very stress out over this car. I am going in for another brakes replacement soon its hard for me to not to be safe in this car. We have had very close calls. Please help. I even the consumer board and a lawyer got no responses. They replace my dash , but my deforst doesn't work. Last promised that someone from Kia will be in to talk to me in June,1999 but it never happen. I met several customer there with the same prolems. …
Seems like every 3-4 months brakes start to pulsate, 3 times so far, each time replaced, being told that wrong style being used, engine check light just started acting up for the 6th time, each time being told it is sensors or ground connections. Just noticed the clutch problem of going too low to floor for the 6th time, each time being told something different. This is getting old. Went to open drivers door one day an handle would not work. Was leaking fluid from right front side of vehicle another time to find it was the axle seal, which was replaced 2 times. Getting ready to tell dealer they can have this car. For only having less than 14,000 miles, too much is happening too often.
While driving differential went out/ digital laser failed to work on cd panel/ power window electrical switch stopped working, and engine check light came on & did not go off. Dashboard covering was separating from window. There was water in the headlights, and battery would go dead. Took vehicle to dealer. Vehicle needed alignment due to problem with transmission & the brake assembly needed replacing due to excessive wear.
Brakes failed causing major pulsating and extended stopping distances. Front brake pads replaced twice before. On October '98 replaced with new design shoe pad. Front rotors also replaced on October '98. Now once again experiencing extended stopping distances - major pulsating of brakes has returned for a third time. Previous repairs have shown there is a problem which causes the front disc pads to warp and wear out rotor.
Took car into dealer because brakes were pulsing. Service consultant showed me a service bulletin indicating that there was a problem with the original rotors and that they needed to replace them with a newer design that was not subject to heat warping. The extra cost to me for replacement rotors $110 above the cost of replacing the pads and caliphers, which increased the total cost of the brake job to $307.
Brake complaints in other Sephia years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1997 Kia Sephia?
NHTSA has 75 complaints about the brakes of the 1997 Kia Sephia, 37% of the model year's 205 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › disc › rotor (23 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Kia Sephia brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 1997 Kia Sephia, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Kia Sephia brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.