Does the 1996 Kia Sephia have any recalls?

1 recall found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026, covering: seat belts. Recalls apply to the model and year; whether a particular vehicle is included, and whether it has been repaired, depends on its VIN.

How do I check if my 1996 Kia Sephia recall has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask a Kia dealer. Recall repairs are free. NHTSA's VIN search doesn't list recalls that were already repaired.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 1996 Kia Sephia?

118 complaints filed with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public that NHTSA uses to decide what to investigate.

1996 Kia Sephia recalls

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

1 recall found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026

For the 1996 Kia Sephia. These apply to the model and year, not to one particular vehicle: check your VIN to see whether yours is included and whether it has been repaired.

Has your Kia been repaired?

Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.

Check your VIN with NHTSA

NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Kia dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.

1996 Kia Sephia recalls, newest first

August 16, 2002NHTSA 02V216000189,706 vehicles potentially affected

Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly

Summary: On certain passenger vehicles, the safety belt buckle may "false latch" and expose the driver to unrestrained movement during a crash.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: 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.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

Owner complaints

Owners have filed 118 complaints about the 1996 Kia Sephia with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public; NHTSA uses them to decide what to investigate.

Crashes reported: 9
Fires reported: 4
Injuries reported: 17
Deaths reported: 1

Most complained-about components

Service brakes48
Unknown or other18
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline12
Hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip12
Air bags › Frontal9

Other Kia Sephia years

Other 1996 Kia models

Most recalled 1996 vehicles

1996 Dodge Caravan (16 recalls)
1996 Honda Civic (16 recalls)
1996 Dodge Ram (14 recalls)
1996 Plymouth Voyager (13 recalls)
1996 Chevrolet Cavalier (13 recalls)

All of 1996’s most recalled vehicles

Questions

Does the 1996 Kia Sephia have any recalls?: 1 recall found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026, covering: seat belts. Recalls apply to the model and year; whether a particular vehicle is included, and whether it has been repaired, depends on its VIN.
How do I check if my 1996 Kia Sephia recall has been fixed?: Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask a Kia dealer. Recall repairs are free. NHTSA's VIN search doesn't list recalls that were already repaired.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 1996 Kia Sephia?: 118 complaints filed with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public that NHTSA uses to decide what to investigate.