1998 Kia Sephia: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 994 complaints
994
Total Complaints
54,234mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
Top Issue
61
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

41,899 25th Percentile
54,234 Median Mileage
80,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
76
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
68
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
67
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
57
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
46
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
37
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
29
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
25
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
23
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
21

Severity Assessment

61
Crashes
24
Fires
57
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE DEALER HAS REPALCED THE FUSE . *AK"
"ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE TURN SIGNAL FAILS TO WORK. DEALER REPLACED THE FUSE, BUT IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM."
"WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO CHANGE LANES THE VEHICLE WENT IN REVERSE AND THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN DRIVE. CONSUMER ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH POOR BRAKING, POOR BRAKING RESPONDS WHEN MAKING A NORMAL STOP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28