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NHTSA recall 99V271000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

Campaign
Published byNHTSA (United States)
Campaign number99V271000
Manufacturer's numberSCO12
ManufacturerKIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
Reported1999-10-06
Owners notified1999-11-19
ComponentVISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
Units potentially affected90054

What is wrong

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BALL SOCKET ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINK MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE RESULTING IN THE LINK DISENGAGING FROM THE WIPER MOTOR DRIVE UNDER LOAD, SUCH AS PUSHING AGAINST ICE, SNOW OR OTHER RESISTANCE. ALSO THE WIPER ARM RETAINING NUT COULD BE INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED ALLOWING THE WIPER ARM TO SLIP AND/OR STOP FUNCTIONING.

What can happen

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE IMPAIRMENT OF VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

The remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINK AND ALSO PROPERLY TIGHTEN THE WIPER ARM RETAINING NUTS.

Notes

KIA RECALL NO. SC012.OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 19, 1999. 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 1-949-470-7000.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Vehicles this campaign lists
1998 KIA SEPHIABuilt 1997-09-03 to 1999-01-29.
1999 KIA SEPHIABuilt 1997-09-03 to 1999-01-29.

A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.

Investigated as PE99033

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

NHTSA investigations that led to this recall
PE99033Preliminary evaluation, opened 1999-05-06, closed 1999-10-21. WINDSHIELD WIPER. VISIBILITY.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. The JSON has NHTSA's summary of each.

Check one vehicle officially