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Problems · by component

1997 Kia Sephia engine and engine cooling problems

40 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Kia Sephia cite engine and engine cooling, 19% of all 211 complaints for this model year.

All 1997 Sephia problems
Complaints
40
19% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2006Engine and engine coolingODI 10169738
“INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER. DEALER INDICATED AND PERFORMED A TUNE UP ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2003Engine and engine coolingODI 10050045
“WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTATCED. *AK CONSUMER SAID WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHENEVER STOPPING, TOOK BACK TO DEALER MANY TIMES FOR REPAIR, VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SPEEDOMETER IS ACTING ERRACTICALLY, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. *YD”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 17, 2001Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 8000812
“WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT IS UNABLE TO LOCATE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 27, 2001Engine and engine coolingODI 899476
“PERSISTANT OIL LEAK FROM AROUND OIL FILTER. MECHANICS UNABLE TO FIND ANY OTHER REASON FOR LEAK OTHER THAN MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN PLACE WHERE OIL FILTER SCREWS INTO ENGINE. MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAVE ATTESTED TO THIS BEING AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH KIA VEHICLES. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2001Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 748950
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2001Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Unknown or otherODI 739629

Showing 6 of 40 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.