The defect
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.
The risk
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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kia Sephia | 1998, 1999 |
Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sephia | 1998 | 491 | 6 |
| Kia Sephia | 1999 | 428 | 5 |
Other visibility recalls in 1999
12 of the 392 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1999 concerned the visibility; KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. filed 38 campaigns in all.
| 99V348000 16 Dec 1999 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 99V305001 1 Nov 1999 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA |
| 99V284000 15 Oct 1999 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
| 99V264000 20 Sept 1999 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 99V253000 17 Sept 1999 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| 99V225000 18 Aug 1999 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 99V189000 16 Jul 1999 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 99V168000 30 Jun 1999 | FERRARI NORTH AMERICA |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1999