VehicleVerdict

1997 Kia Sephia transmission problems

The 1997 Kia Sephia has 36 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

36

Transmission complaints

10%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Sephia transmission complaints by model year78 complaints1986: 1 complaints1994: 5 complaints1995: 17 complaints1996: 15 complaints1997: 36 complaints1998: 69 complaints1999: 78 complaints2000: 52 complaints2001: 19 complaints2002: 1 complaints
Sephia transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING.CONSUMER WILL STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP ACCELERATION, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP, AND CONCERNED ABOUT FACT OF AN ACCIDENT.*AK TRANSMISSION FAILED. BRAKES MAKE NOISE DUE TO ROTOR FAILURE. WIPER BLADES FAILED.…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · January 25, 2001

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1997 Kia Sephia have?

NHTSA has 36 complaints about the 1997 Kia Sephia transmission — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.