Vehicle recall 02V216000 · August 16, 2002
Kia Sephia and Sportage
On certain passenger vehicles, the safety belt buckle may "false latch" and expose the driver to unrestrained movement during a crash.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- 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.
- Notes
- Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 02V216000
- Reported to NHTSA
- August 16, 2002
- Filed by
- KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
- Manufacturer campaign
- SC027
- Owner notification
- December 20, 2002
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 189,706
- Initiated by
- NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation
- Components
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Kia Sephia (1995-1998): 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995
- Kia Sportage (1995-1998): 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995
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.
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.