1998 KIA Sephia Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about fuel system, gasoline problems on the 1998 KIA Sephia, 10% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 74,250 miles. The words owners use most often: “fuel pump” (25% of reports).
- 51fuel system, gasoline complaints
- 74,250median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 2related recalls
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Fuel pump: mentioned in 13 of 51 complaints (25%)
- Gas tank: mentioned in 5 of 51 complaints (10%)
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems happen?
Based on 4 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 51 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 1 an injury.
KIA Sephia fuel system, gasoline complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel System, Gasoline complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Sephia | 5 | 5% | 37,500 |
| 2000 Sephia | 13 | 5% | 42,800 |
| 1999 Sephia | 43 | 10% | 7,297 |
| 1998 Sephia | 51 | 10% | 74,250 |
| 1997 Sephia | 11 | 5% | — |
| 1996 Sephia | 4 | 3% | — |
| 1995 Sephia | 2 | 3% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The electrical circuit for the fuel pump is grounded at junction connector g300. If the pin tension is poor, or the bolt securing the connector to the vehicle floor is not tightened sufficiently, a poor connection is made. As the fuel pump operates, the poor connection can create heat which in turn increases resistance. Eventually the fuel pump will not receive enough current to operate.
Risk: This condition could cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: This corrective action is being performed in conjunction with recall no. 99v317.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Electrical current to the fuel pump passes through the c304 and c305 connectors. If exposed to moisture, these connectors could corrode. Over time, the fuel pump will not receive enough current to operate.
Risk: This condition could cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the existing connectors and reposition those connectors to an area where the placement is designed to prevent contact with moisture.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 kia sephia. The contact noticed that his vehicle would periodically fail to start. On one occasion, the vehicle was towed to a repair shop and the mechanic changed the fuel pump. A few weeks later, the failure recurred. The mechanic changed the fuel pump relay, but the…
Flashing overdrive dash light and check engine light continually lit due to faulty pressure sensor at fuel injector. *nm
Problems with vehicle's fuel gauge as well as vehicle holding fuel.*la *mr
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 KIA Sephias have fuel system, gasoline problems?
No. NHTSA has 51 owner complaints about fuel system, gasoline for the 1998 KIA Sephia (10% of the 491 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1998 KIA Sephia fuel system, gasoline?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list fuel system, gasoline. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems start?
The median reported mileage is 74,250 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about fuel system, gasoline problems on the 1998 KIA Sephia?
The most frequent phrase is “fuel pump”, in 13 of 51 complaints, followed by “gas tank” (5).
Other 1998 KIA Sephia problems
See all 1998 KIA Sephia problems or fuel system, gasoline problems across all Sephia years.