17 of the 461 complaints about the 2000 KIA Sephia are about the seat belts — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 38,500 miles.
17
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SEAT BELTS
THE SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS IS LOCKED UP & THEY (BOTH DRIVER/PASSENGER) SEATBELTS "DO NOT" REEL BACK 2 PROVIDE SECUREMENT OF THE PASSENGER(S). ALSO, THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE IS THE HORN DOES NOT WORK EVEN WHEN THERE'S A NEW FUSE & HORN. THERE'S A DEFECT IN THE STEERING WHEEL HORN BUTTON.
NHTSA complaint #11083709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
I 🅾WN A 2000 KIA SEPHIA & THE FRONT DRIVERS SEATBELT RETRACTS SLOW& DOES NOT LOCK. THE PASSENGER SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT @ ALL. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK AS IF THE LOCK ACTUATOR HAS SEIZED UP.
NHTSA complaint #11045411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
CONSUMER RECEIVED LETTER INFORMING HIM THAT 2000 KIA SEPHIA SEAT BELT IS UNSAFE. CONSUMER CALLED DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. *TS *NM ***NAR***
NHTSA complaint #10153013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V305000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THEIR VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 3/3/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10148778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
I OWN A 3 YEAR OLD KIA SEPHIA. IT WAS PURCHASED AS A USED CAR FROM GARDEN GROVE KIA IN CA. I BRING TO KIA FOR ALL RECOMMENDED REGULAR MAITENANCE. THE LAST MAJOR CHECKUP (30K MILES) WAS LESS 6000 MILES AGO. TODAY, WHILE FASTENING MY SEATBELT, THE SCREW FIXING THE BOTTOM PART OF SEAT BELT TO THE CAR FRAME POPPED OUT OF THE FRAME. AS ONLY MINIMUM FORCE WAS NEEDED FOR THIS TO HAPPEN (FASTENING THE SEATBELT), THIS PROBLEM PROBABLY ALREADY PERSISTED FOR MONTH OR EVEN SINCE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPEND IN AN ACCIDENT SITUATION, I WOULD BE DEAD NOW. THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW CAR AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT (FOLLOWING THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE). SUCH UTTER FAILURE OF CRUCIAL SECURITY EQUIPMENT IS ABSOLUTELY INACCEPTABLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
NHTSA complaint #10096524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION. THE PADS WERE CHANGED. HOWEVER, THE BRAKES STILL CONTINUE TO SQUEAL LIKE METAL TO METAL. THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE AGAIN, AND THEY WANT CONSUMERTO PAY THE DEALER $360.00.*AK THE BRAKES SOUNDED LIKE METAL RUBBING METAL WHEN APPLIED. FRONT SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AN SINCE HAS BEEN REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10089810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS THE PASSENGER I ALSO WAS THE OWNER OF THE CAR. KIA SOPHIA 2000. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD CAUSING MY HEAD AND HAND TO BE THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD TWICE. MY HAND WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD MY HEAD BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. MY CAR WAS TOTALED OUT FROM THE ACCIDENT BUT I FEEL AS THOUGH KIA IS AT FAULT FOR THE AMOUNT OF INJURIES I RECEIVED DUE TO THE FAULT OF THEIR SEAT BELTS. I HAVE TO HAVE EPIDORALS ON MY LOWER SPINE AND SURGERY ON MY NECK. ALSO THE AIR BAGS ON NEITHER SIDE CAME OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10086662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT 37 MPH VEHICLE SLID ON A GRAVEL SURFACE AND IMPACTED A STEEL POOL. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DISCONNECTED, AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF HEAD, EYES, AND BOTH KNEES. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN OPEN INVESTIGATION EAO4-007, ON SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10073722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
I HAVE <45000 MILES ON MY CAR (2000 KIA SEPHIA) AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED 3X AND THE BACK BRAKES REPLACED 1X. ALSO, WHEN I TURN ON THE AC, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE CAR HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED. THE CAR ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO PULL SOMETHING OF GREAT WEIGHT WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH. THE BACK SEATBELTS DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE SEAT BELTS ARE ONLY TO LOCK WHEN THE BRAKES ARE SLAMMED OR THE VEHICLE IS HIT (SO HOW IS A CHILD BOOSTER SEAT SUPPOSED TO STAY PUT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION?)
NHTSA complaint #10064556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
I WAS INVOLVED IN A VERY MINOR MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT, WHERE A GIRL HIT MY CAR FROM BEHIND (THE FORCE WAS EQUAL TO THAT OF TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR). AFTER THIS ACCIDENT, MY SEATBELT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY...IT DOES NOT LATCH ALL THE TIME - THIS MEANS I HAVE TO REINSERT MY SEATBELT A COUPLE TIMES TO GET IT TO CLICK OR I CAN PULL IT OUT WITHOUT PUSHING THE BUTTON. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE LATCH RECALL DOES NOT PERTAIN TO THE 2000 MODELS OF THE SEPHIA SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. WAITING ON THAT RECALL...............
NHTSA complaint #10060864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SEAT BELT PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL WHICH PERTAINED TO THE 1997 KIA SEPHIA, WHICH THE CONSUMER ALSO OWNED, HOWEVER THE 2000 KIA SEPHIA WAS NOT RECALLED. *AK *JB*EA04007*
NHTSA complaint #10011356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THIS CAR WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A SAND AND GRAVEL ONE TON TRUCK GOING 35 MPH. IT WAS PUSHED INTO THE LARGE SUV IN FRONT OF IT. THE KIA AND SUV WERE BOTH STOPPED FOR TRAFFIC WHEN HIT. THE KIA SEATS BROKE AND RECLINED BACK AND THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE BROKE. MANY INJURIES WERE INCURRED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER.
NHTSA complaint #765287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
CONSUMER STATES LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT BECOMES UNFASTENED, SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, DEALER REPLACED SEAT BELT.
NHTSA complaint #561836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT IS INOPERATIVE. NLM*EA04007*
NHTSA complaint #785013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN OFF POSITION, AND DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CAUSE, ALSO DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS DID NOT STAY LOCKED IN HOUSING MECHANISM. IN ADDITION, HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FAULTY BRAKES. UPON STOPPING BRAKES WERE MAKING A LOUD NOISE, SOUNDED LIKE METAL TO METAL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK*EA04007*
NHTSA complaint #876742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD-ON CRASH AT 45 MPH, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK. KIA MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #863043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.