Body complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Before 40,000 miles, had fuel pump changed 2 times, starter changed 2 times, new transmission, ignition control module once, doors replaced due to defect, new paint job due to trash under original paint job, all hub caps and trim were replaced due to fading at 10,000 miles (which faded again a few thousand miles later), ac blower resistor motor replaced, all mirrors were replaced, electrical short in dome light, & ignition switch replaced. I bought my car in oct 2001, and was put in shop for the first time in jan. 2002 and has been there 55 days since. I have kept up with all required maintenance. Sorry, but this car is junk. And I hate to have had a bad experience buying my first new vehicle.
Water is leaking into the vehicle onto the passenger side floor. When this occurs in cooler temperatures and the defroster is engaged the water is evaporated. This causes moisture to develop onto the window. This reduces the driver's visibility. This is an on going problem, but the dealership is unable to locate the source of the water leak. Please provide more information. 2001 Kia Sephia experiencing a problem where water leaks into the vehicle on the passenger side floor. There is also a problem with moisture developing on the windshield which is impairing the driver's visibility. Consumer also concerned of a mold that is growing on the vehicle's carpet.
My Kia Sephia was purchased in 2000 and at approximated 32,000 miles the paint on the car is peeling and faded as well as the entire dashboard has lifted and is raised. I see the same problems with other Sephia's when I am in parking lots or on the road. I called coral springs Kia several times and I am being told that because I live in florida the problem is to be expected. This is a blatant lie. On Monday 9/25 I called Kia customer service and spoke to john at extension 4635. He told me he would contact the dealership and someone would call me. I received a call from the service department and they offered to supply the parts but not the labor to fix the problems. This is not acceptable. If they agree to supply the parts then they knew or know this make a model is having problems. I would like to know if you can advise my next course of action.
I have a 2000 Kia Sephia and the vents started to crack. Now the whole dashboard is curling up to where the vents won't even work. It is a safety issue because the defroster will not work because of the deformation of the dash. And with this car just being 6 years old when it happened I believe it should be recalled. It May cause me to wreck from not being able to clear the fog off of the window. Every Kia Sephia that I have seen has this problem now. Which is a very serious problem with a car that is not even 10 years old.
While driving on the interstate at 75 MPH the top layer of the hood (skin) separated from the hood and flew upward into the windshield and detached itself from the vehicle causing the drivers vision of roadway to be blocked. Once it detached itself causing high risk of safety for other drivers behind the Kia Sephia.
1) air conditioner hoses defective and will not hold charge 2) car rattles and makes noise coming from trunk area, taken to dealer repeatedly without any idea of how to remedy the problem 3) car would loose power without warning and at dangerous times, took to dealer 3 times before the car failed completely and they were finally able to fix the problem 4) rear drivers side window sticks and rattles, taken to dealer un-repairable 5) rear door look does not work, taken to dealer repaired but now it doesn't work yet again 6) engine light on, told by dealer the gas cap wasn't tight enough 7) power locks open and close at intervals while driving the car 8) engine light blinking, no idea what problem is this time contacted Kia and asked to speak to field representative and was told that Kia could do nothing to assist owner in fixing owner. …
Tail light had to be replaced because of leaking, this is 4th time for brakes squeaking and pulsating, cow panel baffle needed replaced because of water pouring in behind glove box.people I don't know pull me over and complain about their Kia sephias and similar problems with them. Also the engine sometimes won't start the first time. It takes two or three times once in a while. It also sounds like the engine will jump right out of the car because it jerks so hard when starting. The gas tank has yet to let me fill it all the way. It gets almost full, then spits the gas out and won't let you "squeeze " it full. It's like there is no venting going on. I have heard similiar reports from other owners.
Signal lights fail to work properly when in use during cold weather for 15 minutes or so. Sometimes this happens when it's raining. The dealer replaced the hazard switch and there have not been any failures since. Seat belts have been replaced 3 times. Brakes and rotors have been replaced 3 times. Windshield wipers failed prior to recall. Head gasket replaced at 3500 miles. Molding on the doors fell off and was replaced. Tailpipe was replaced due to excessive exhaust fumes.
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Sephia years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1998 (26), 1997 (19), 2000 (18), 1999 (17) and 1996 (12) model years. Body complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 1998.
Is there a recall for Kia Sephia body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for any Kia Sephia model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Kia Sephia body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 48,000 miles; 50% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body › door (40 mentions), followed by the body (21).
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.