Kia Recalling Sephias to Repair Faulty Fuel Pumps

Kia Motors Corp., a unit of Korea’s largest auto maker, Hyundai Motor Co., is recalling 102,944 Sephia 1998 and 1999 sedans to repair fuel pumps.

Kia, whose U.S. operations are based in Irvine, will replace faulty fuel pump connectors, which could stop operating and cause the engine to stall. Owners will be notified by mail, and dealers will replace the connectors for free, Kia said.

Auto makers typically pay for such repairs out of a warranty reserve, and it’s not unusual for a company to have more than a dozen recalls a year. Kia issued a recall last month on the same cars to repair the windshield wipers.

Kia, the maker of the Sephia compact car and Sportage sport-utility vehicle, sold 125,139 vehicles in the U.S. through November, a 58% increase from the year-earlier period.