Model year guide

1997 Kia Sephia

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1997 Kia Sephia is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 75 on record.

1997 Kia Sephia — representative photo
Representative photo

1997 Kia Sephia at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints266
Combined23–27 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1997 Kia Sephia recalls 1

Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly NHTSA Campaign #02V216000 · manufacturer #SC027 · 16/08/2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.

Fix: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 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 REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1997 Kia Sephia common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 266 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

1997 Kia Sephia safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★
Frontal crash test — 1997 Kia Sephia 4-DR.Frontal crash test

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1997 Kia Sephia 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

1997 Kia Sephia MPG & running costs

Combined23–27 mpg
City22 mpg
Highway29 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,750
EPA size classCompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd
Passenger volume93 cu ft
Cargo volume11 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$1,750 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1997 Kia Sephia costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,750
Fuel only$13,750
Per mile$0.18

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION Closed

BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 25, 2002, KIA ADVISED NHTSA THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED. SPECIFIC CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY KIA HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA AT THIS TIME. THE SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.

NHTSA #PE02051 · Seat Belts · opened Jun 2002 · closed Sep 2002

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 12

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 12.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides inf…

Bulletin TSB_BOD055_R1 · Structure, Exterior Lighting · Sep 2021

PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine.

Bulletin PS539 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Mar 2018

TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various Kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.? Some examples are: axle shaft nu…

Bulletin TSB-GEN085R1 · Equipment, Equipment Adaptive/mobility · Jan 2017

TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners utilized in various Kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?. Though not limited to the following, some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pi…

Bulletin TSB-GEN085 · Latches/locks/linkages, Equipment Adaptive/mobility · Nov 2016

TSB: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CORRECT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUIDS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR EACH KIA MODEL. REFER TO THE SHOP MANUAL ON KGIS FOR THE SPECIFIC KIA MODEL, THEN REFERENCE THE…

Bulletin TSBTRA046 · Power Train · Dec 2013

KIA: ALL MODELS. ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE IMPROVED DURABILITY OF BULB LIFE FOR REAR COMBINATION BULB; REAR STOP LAMP/TAIL LAMP BULB UTILIZED ON MULTIPLE KIA MODELS. *PE

Bulletin KT-2008082201 · Parking Brake, Exterior Lighting · Aug 2008

RECALL CAMPAIGN 027 TO REPLACE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. NOTIFICATION LETTER TO DEALERS. *TT

Bulletin 027 · Seat Belts · Dec 2002

THIS BULLETIN PROVIDED INFORMATION RELATED TO RECALL CAMPAIGN 027 TO REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. *TT

Bulletin 027 · Seat Belts · Dec 2002

THIS TECHINICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUTLINES THE NEW SEPHIA REMANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROGRAM. *TT

Bulletin 003 · Power Train · Oct 1999

RECALL CAMPAGIN ON EVAPORATIVE FUEL VAPOR HOSE REPLACEMENT FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.8 LITER BPD ENGINES. *TT

Bulletin 008 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jul 1999

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the SEPHIA. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Kia Sephia

The Kia Sephia is a compact car that was manufactured by the South Korean automaker Kia Motors from September 1992 to 2003.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1997 Kia Sephia vehicles on record

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Other Kia Sephia model years

2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1996 1995 1994 1993

1997 Kia Sephia — frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Kia Sephia have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1997 Kia Sephia. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Kia Sephia?

Across all 266 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are service brakes, hydraulic, engine and engine cooling.

What is the 1997 Kia Sephia safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1997 Kia Sephia crash-test ratings of frontal 4★, side 2★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 1997 Kia Sephia get?

The 1997 Kia Sephia has U.S. EPA estimates of 23–27 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.