# 1997 KIA SEPHIA — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
> NHTSA complaint `309387` · 2001-08-16 · Kia America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** KIA
- **Model:** SEPHIA
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Kia America, Inc.
- **Component:** SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
- **Speed:** 15 mph
## Narrative
A PASSENGER'S SIDE IMPACT, THE SEATBELT LOCK BROKE APART ON WHILE I WAS WEARING IT. IT WASN'T SMASHED APART, IT JUST BROKE THE ENTIRE LOCK IN ABOUT 4 PIECES. PREVIOUSLY I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT STAYING LOCKED AND THE ONE BACKSEAT LOCK WOULDN'T WORK, SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THOSE, THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. I RECIEVED MULTIPLE CUTS AND BRUISES, A FEW STITCHES AND A BROKEN KNECK IN TWO PLACES IN MY CERVICAL SPINE. YOU ALWAYS WANT TO WEAR YOUR SEATBELT IN CASE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS. MINE HAPPENED ON MY WAY TO WORK, BUT WHAT GOOD DID IT DO WEARING IT, SINCE THE SEATBELT LOCK CAME APART?*AK
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*