1998 Kia Sephia Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 104about this part
- Share
- 21%of 491 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,734miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 104 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Kia Sephia, 21% of the 491 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,734 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved and 8 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I own a 1998 Kia Sephia and ever since I have had this car it sometimes will not start even the battery is working fine. The dealer remedy for this is just replace the starter. I have replaced the starter several times and this seems to provide a cure temporarily. Just recently I had this happen again... …”
NHTSA complaint #10043005, filed 2003-10, 57,000 miles“I purchased a Kia in march 02' I used the car for long trips the first year I had owned the car and I had no faults in jan.- feb 03' the car began to shift in to numerous gears and then stall. I was then deployed to iraq. I left the car with a good friend. When I came back he informed me that the car wouldn't start. Dealer said it was the fuel pump. Friend replaced the fuel pump.friend then replaced fuel pump again when car wouldn't start. Friend left the car alone,when it didn't start, until I had returned from iraq. …”
NHTSA complaint #10051293, filed 2003-12, 65,000 miles“I bought a 1998 Kia Sephia in feb of 2000 I have had to replace 3 gear shifters and three transmissions and the car has only been driven 2/3 of the time that I have owned this car. My signal light on one side has never really worked properly and the the headlight constantly shorts out. Of course now I'm out of warranty and still experiencing these problems and many more I dont know where else to turn because all I'm ever told is that's a Kia for you. I still have a loan of this car and dont think it's right that almost every year the gear shifter and trans need to be replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #10045388, filed 2003-11, 42,000 miles“I brought a new Kia Sephia in 1998, and had nothing but trouble with it! Transmission was replaced 2 times by the mechanic for Kia motors, and needed to be replaced again on 7/2007. Also , the brakes have been replaced 4 times and need to be replaced again. Now the headlights keep turning off while driving at night, but no mechanic can locate the electrical short problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10196733, filed 2007-07, 80 miles“While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The consumer tried to restart the vehicle but was unable to do so. The consumer noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. It caught on fire. The fire department was called to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries to report. However, vehicle was totaled. The consumer stated that there was a hard start that would not hold fuel pressure.”
NHTSA complaint #10067413, filed 2004-05, 60,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10016840Sep 1, 2004Charging system upgrade.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 | 17% |
| 2001 | 15 | 14% |
| 2000 | 45 | 17% |
| 1999 | 63 | 15% |
| 1998 | 104 | 21% |
| 1997 | 31 | 15% |
| 1996 | 19 | 16% |
| 1995 | 4 | 6% |
| 1994 | 1 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1998 Kia Sephia
256 complaintsEngine cooling
108 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
68 complaintsFuel system
62 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
44 complaintsAir bags
31 complaintsOther or unknown
29 complaintsExterior lighting
27 complaintsEquipment
26 complaintsBody and structure
26 complaintsSteering
24 complaintsSuspension
23 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Kia Sephia
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology