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2001 Kia Sephia

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 Sephia.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2001 Kia Sephia is a passenger car equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission, requiring 4.2 quarts of engine oil within the 10W-40, 10W-50, or 5W-20 API viscosity range for maintenance. EPA fuel economy ratings of 19 city, 28 highway, and 23 combined mpg position this model within typical parameters for its class and era. The model year logged 115 total owner complaints, with air bags representing the primary concern area, though notably there were zero recalls recorded for this vehicle. Within the broader Sephia complaint history spanning 1994-2003, the 2001 model year falls well below the peak of 713 complaints recorded in 1998 and approaches the lowest point of just 2 complaints recorded in 2003, suggesting an improving trajectory in owner satisfaction through this period.

Model year2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-40 / 10W-50 / 5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque65-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy19/28/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 90 · 450 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 90 · 450 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	174.4 in
Overall width	66.9 in
Overall height	55.5 in
Wheelbase	100.8 in
Curb weight	2478 lb
Track (front / rear)	57.1 / 56.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	19 / 28 / 23 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	93 cu ft
Cargo volume	10 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sephia of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.7–10.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.70 sec — 1997 LS Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2000	LS Sedan 1.8L I-4	10.20 sec	17.60 sec	122 hp	FWD
1997	LS Sedan 1.8L I-4	8.70 sec	16.60 sec	122 hp	FWD
1995	LS Sedan 1.8L I-4	9.90 sec	17.50 sec	122 hp	FWD
1995	LS Sedan 1.8L I-4	10.70 sec	18.00 sec	122 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 10W-40 / 10W-50 / 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-87 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-40 · 10W-50 · API · 5W-20 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	Tighten in 5 or 6 steps to 8-10 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	35-37 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	71-76 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	14-19 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	28-34 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	14-19 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	65-87 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	154-205 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	180 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Spark Plug Gap	0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing	8, Not adjutstable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance	5 degrees

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.54 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	6.08 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	90
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	450 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	177-182 °F
Injector Primary Resistance	14.5 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	142-186 PSI. 25 Maximum variation PSI.

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque to Knuckle	18-24 ft-lbs / 76 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	18-24 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.080 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.040 in
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0039 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.394 in / 0.787 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	36 ft. lbs.	36 ft. lbs
2	loosen 1 turn
3	29 ft. lbs.	29 ft. lbs
4	90 degrees	90 degrees
5	90 degrees	90 degrees

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

29 ft. lbs., Step 2: backoff 360 degrees, Step 3: 15 ft. lbs., Step 4: 90 degrees, Step 5: 60

29 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace)
At 90,000 mi	Timing Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 mi	Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2001 Sephia sits on the steep downward slope of a complaint curve that peaked dramatically in 1998 with 713 complaints and six recalls, then fell to 518 in 1999, 340 in 2000, and 115 in 2001 before nearly vanishing in 2002–2003. The target year records zero recalls and only three investigations — a sharp improvement over the 12 investigations seen in both 1998 and 1999 — though its 115 complaints remain well above the single-digit figures of the final two model years. The leading complaint categories (air bags and engine/cooling at 16 each, powertrain at 13, hydraulic brakes at 11) and 22 crash-related complaints indicate that safety-critical systems still drew significant owner reports, though the data does not specify root causes. TSB volume at 11 also reflects ongoing manufacturer attention to emerging patterns. For a buyer, 2001 represents a substantially cleaner federal record than the 1998–2000 window but carries more documented issues than the virtually clean 2002–2003 close-out years, making it a reasonable but not risk-free choice if priced accordingly.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

115

Owner complaints

22 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00’01’02 ’03

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 115 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags16

Engine & Engine Cooling16

Power Train13

Service Brakes, Hydraulic11

Structure6

Fuel System, Gasoline4

Electrical System4

Seat Belts4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 11 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TSB_BOD055_R1	2021-09-13	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This…
PS539	2018-03-02	Engine And Engine Cooling	PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed…
TSB-GEN085R1	2017-01-18	Equipment	TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners…
TSB-GEN085	2016-11-04	Latches/Locks/Linkages	TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners…
TSBTRA046	2013-12-06	Power Train	TSB: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sephia. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 90 battery Vehicles taking 4.2 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2001 Sephia take?

4.2 qt of ABOVE -15 degrees F: 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API, BELOW -15 degrees F: 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API, ABOVE 85 degrees F 40W API STARBURST, per the factory manual.

Does the 2001 Sephia have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sephia get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 28 highway / 23 combined mpg.