Headlight complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl contact owns a 2001 Kia Sephia. The contact stated that water was collecting inside the driver side tail light housing. The dealer stated that the warranty was not bumper-to-bumper and would not repair the vehicle under warranty. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage was 33,000 and failure mileage was 32,000.
Left rear turning light emitting white light on a Kia Sephia seen in traffic. The clear lens and a white light bulb are the culprits. This illegal white light is from white light bulbs mistakenly used vice amber bulbs. The only white light to shine behind a car is back-up lights. I don't know if the owner of that car replaced the bulbs himself with the wrong bulbs or if all Kia's are being produced that way. Strongly suggest replacing all clear turn signal lenses with amber ones. Yes, a recall. That will stop illegal white light from shining in other drivers eyes especially at nighttime. Thank you for a prompt response.
30 nov 99-blinkers intermittently inoperable (mo=2,415);28 dec 99-blinkers intermittently inoperable (mo=3,044);13 jan 00-blinkers intermittently inoperable (mo=3,423);16 mar 00-blinkers intermittently inoperable (mo=5,268);8 mar 01-gear shift lever intermittently won't shift(mo=26,471);20 nov 01-gear shift lever intermittenly won't shift(mo=33,853);30 May 02-gear shift lever intermittently won't shift(mo=33,853);5 jun 02-gear shift lever intermittenly won't shift(mo=33,933);19 jun 02-gear shift lever intermittenly won't shift(mo=34,443);20 jun 02-gear shift lever intermittenly won't shift(mo=34, 536);gear shift assy changed 4 times--company claims can't verify problem. Have two witnesses with signatures from place of employment who have signed statements that they tried to get gear shift lever out of park without success. …
Headlight housing has severe discoloration after only a little over 4.5 years of use. Purchased the vehicle new and have had no accidents. Both side markers right next of the headlight housings are as clear as glass, however, the headlight has turned very dingy, dull yellow to the point where it is very hard to see at night. Upon discussing it with Kia, they stated that the vehicle is out of warranty and that there was no other reported cases of this happening. I have spoken to the service manager where I get my vehicle serviced and had the headlights looked at stated likewise that Kia knows that there is a problem, but will not do anything about it if the vehicle is out of warranty which it is because at the time of purchase there was only a 5/50 warranty. …
The car died while driving down the road repeatedly. Battery leaked. Brakes had to be replaced for the entire car at 60,000 miles. The vents on the dashboard have popped up and broken. Now the defroster does not blow the air on the windshield. This vehicle was stored in a garage. The seams on the seat come undone. The cigarette lighter broke and flops in the dash. The switch to override the transmission lock is broken. The rear brake light broke when replacing the struts which you have to remove the back dash to get to. The board that is under the carpet in the trunk warped. The carpets came up from the sides of the car. The storage bin in the center console broke, twice. The wind shield chips and errodes when in a car wash. I have never seen a windshield in this bad shape before. The back seat does not stay down. The headlights have a bad seal and there is water now in them. …
The high beams are not aimed correctly. When you turn the high beams on they shine to the left into the oncoming lane of traffic. When you are driving and have them on the right half of the lane you are in the dark because the aim of the high beams are off. It is very hard to see if anything or anyone is on the right side of the road, and it makes it almost impossible to see the lane when you go around a right corner or curve. I have told the service department at the dealership and they said that there is no way to correct the problem due to how the headlamps were designed and installed.
I bought a 1998 Kia Sephia in feb of 2000 I have had to replace 3 gear shifters and three transmissions and the car has only been driven 2/3 of the time that I have owned this car. My signal light on one side has never really worked properly and the the headlight constantly shorts out. Of course now I'm out of warranty and still experiencing these problems and many more I dont know where else to turn because all I'm ever told is that's a Kia for you. I still have a loan of this car and dont think it's right that almost every year the gear shifter and trans need to be replaced. I would great appreciate any help you can give me because I havent been able to drive the car for the last 2 months because the gear shifter wont come out of park and when it did the trans raced when reaching 2 gear. There is no way anyone should experience this much trouble whether being a used car or not. …
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.
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting › Hazard flashing warning lights › Switch
On certain passenger vehicles with 36,000 miles or less as of July 15, 2002, an electrical contact problem May have developed in the hazard switch which could result in inoperative hazard lights and/or inoperative turn signals.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the hazard switch. Owner notification began September 6, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
NHTSA investigations
Turn signal, traffic safety hazard
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.
TURN SIGHAL
There is no summary currently available
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Sephia years have headlight problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1998 (28), 1999 (12), 2000 (9) and 1996 (7) model years. Headlight complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 1998.
Is there a recall for Kia Sephia headlight problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 02V-207 (switch, Jul 29, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Kia Sephia headlight problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 41,000 miles; 67% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the headlights (22 mentions), followed by the turn signal (11).
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.