FaultScore

1997 KIA Sephia fuel system problems

13 of the 375 complaints about the 1997 KIA Sephia are about the fuel system — 3% of everything reported for this model year.

F

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

3

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Delivery 3 23.1%
Tank Assembly 2 15.4%
Fuel Pump 2 15.4%
Fuel System, Gasoline 2 15.4%
Fuel Injection System 2 15.4%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 1 7.7%
Storage 1 7.7%

Fuel & Propulsion across every KIA Sephia year

1997 13 8.7%
1998 65 43.6%
1999 54 36.2%
2000 17 11.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Amelia, VA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

THE CAR WAS ACTING UP, WE THOUGHT IT WAS OVERHEATING,BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR COOLED OFF IT WOULD START. ON 7/04/2001 WE WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH WHEN IT SHUT OFF. IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC .HE SAID THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD. REPLACED IT. TOOK A TRIP TO MASS. CAR DIED AGAIN. TOLD FUEL RELAY WAS BAD,REPLACED,08/10/2001. COMING HOME FIRST TIME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.TOOK IT TO DEALER.EGR VALVE REPLACED ABOUT 08/21/2001. 09/25/2001 CAR DIES TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC,CHECKS,FUEL PUMP BAD AGAIN. VERY DISTURBING, I DON'T WANT DEALERS TO WORK ON IT. SAY I NEED AN INVOICE# FOR WORK ORDER BEFORE I CAN GET FUEL PUMP. MECHANIC IS FRIEND KIA CERTIFIED I TRUST HIM TO FIX THE PROBLEM LONG TERM, NOT THE DEALER. IF YOU WEREN'T AWARE I MOVED TO VA.5 MNTHS AGO.

NHTSA complaint #752704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Amelia, VA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

THE CAR WAS ACTING UP, WE THOUGHT IT WAS OVERHEATING,BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR COOLED OFF IT WOULD START. ON 7/04/2001 WE WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH WHEN IT SHUT OFF. IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC .HE SAID THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD. REPLACED IT. TOOK A TRIP TO MASS. CAR DIED AGAIN. TOLD FUEL RELAY WAS BAD,REPLACED,08/10/2001. COMING HOME FIRST TIME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.TOOK IT TO DEALER.EGR VALVE REPLACED ABOUT 08/21/2001. 09/25/2001 CAR DIES TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC,CHECKS,FUEL PUMP BAD AGAIN. VERY DISTURBING, I DON'T WANT DEALERS TO WORK ON IT. SAY I NEED AN INVOICE# FOR WORK ORDER BEFORE I CAN GET FUEL PUMP. MECHANIC IS FRIEND KIA CERTIFIED I TRUST HIM TO FIX THE PROBLEM LONG TERM, NOT THE DEALER. IF YOU WEREN'T AWARE I MOVED TO VA.5 MNTHS AGO.

NHTSA complaint #752704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Scranton, PA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

ENGINE & ENGINE CHECK LIGHT & POWER/FUEL INJECTION SWITCH. BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR CHECKUPS AND REPAIRS 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME THING. CAR IS DEAD, TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE BLOCK FROZED UP.

NHTSA complaint #739629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE TOWARDS THE END AND ABOVE THE MUFFLER AND ABOVE FUEL TANK. DEALER HAS RECOGNIZED THE ACTUAL CAUSE OR REMEDY, BUT WAS READY TO HAVE CONSUMER PICK UP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO FIRE, VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. PLEASE FILLE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #871556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

RED Rock, TX Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #870947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BATTERY FAILURE; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED FAULTY BATTERY ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED. ALSO, AND PROBLEM ENGINE HESITATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT RIGHT AFTER LEASING THE VEHICLE, THAT THE RADIO WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SQUEEKING IN THE REAR END WHEN TURNING. THE HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. THE LEFT REAR STRUT ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING KNOCKING NOISE AT RIGHT REAR. THE O-RING FAILED CAUSEING THE DISTRIBUTOR LEAK AND THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #863221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Laude, FL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

GAS CAP BROKEN. MJS

NHTSA complaint #548983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fredricksburg, VA Fire 1 injured

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER WAS PUMPING GAS AT AN AMICO STATION---2216 PLANK RD. FREDRICKSBURG, VA. WHEN A FIRE BALL SHOT OUT OF GAS TANK AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO BURN. CONSUMER FOUND A FIRE EXSTINGUSHER AND MANAGED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. AK

NHTSA complaint #835219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greensboro, NC

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

VERY DISAPPOINTED IN VEHICLE... PROBLEMS ARE LOCALIZED IN FUEL SYSTEM AREA FUEL INJECTOR #3 JUST RECENTLY REPLACED. HAVE PAPERWORK FOR EVERY VISIT TO DEALER. WROTE LETTERS TO KIA ASSISTANCE CENTER AND BBB AUTOLING VIA CERTIFIED LTR WHICH I HAVE COPY OF. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

NHTSA complaint #537621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver Spring, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR AN EMMISSIONS PROBLEM (SEE DEFECT INFO. #1)...7 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS BASICALLY THE SAME PROBLEM, EXCEPT I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE GAS TANK BEING OVERFILLED. I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE SINCE I'VE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ONLY A YEAR AND THE PROBLEM HAS JUST STARTED. THE PROBLEM CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF FUMES ARE BUILDING UP WHICH MAY CAUSE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #702326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bealeton, VA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FUEL PUMP/GAS TANK MALFUNCTIONL.

NHTSA complaint #540364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hatfield, PA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS, IDLE SET TOO LOW, COULD NO FIX IT THE LAST TIME, ENGINE STALLS

NHTSA complaint #538715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakeland, FL

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FUEL PIPE ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING VAPOR LOCK.

NHTSA complaint #534846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 KIA Sephia problems

← Full 1997 KIA Sephia report