Kia SEDONA EX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
121 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 to 2004 model years. Data snapshot: . 105 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 121 complaints (17.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 19.0% |
| Steering behavior | 23 | 19.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 14.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 6.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 4.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 21 |
| Steering | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Seats | 7 |
| Wheels | 6 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 5 |
Electrical System: 21; Steering: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 11; Air Bags: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Seats: 7; Wheels: 6; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 28 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 28; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 16 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 22 |
| 2007 | 15 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2005: 4; 2006: 22; 2007: 15; 2008: 19; 2009: 15; 2010: 9; 2011: 8; 2012: 5; 2013: 6; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10146723 · 2006-01-02 (January 2, 2006)
THE PARKING BRAKE ON MY VAN WILL NOT HOLD IT IN PLACE PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY SINCE I BOUGHT IT AS A DEMO WITH 2,400 MILES. I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNING IT. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TRIED TO TIGHTEN IT, AND THEY ENDED UP BREAKING IT. A NEW ONE WAS INSTALLED, AND IT FEELS JUST LIKE THE OLD ONE. I DEPRESS THE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND WHEN I SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE VEHICLE MOVES. IF I GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT OF GAS, THE CAR WILL ROLL. I JUST MADE UP MY MIND THAT MY VAN DOES NOT HAVE A WORKING PAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146723 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146805 · 2006-01-03 (January 3, 2006)
PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT FUNCTION. I FIRST NOTICED THIS WHEN PARKING TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER (SLIGHT INCLINE). AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND DEPRESSING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIGHTLY ROLL. WHEN I GOT HOME, I STOPPED ON AN INCLINE, PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL, ACTIVATED THE PARKING BRAKE AND LET GO OF THE 4 WHEEL BRAKES... THE VEHICLE ROLLED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RESISTANCE. CONTACTED THE DEALER, SAID IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 48,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161619 · 2006-07-06 (July 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE DRIVER SIDE ELECTRIC SEAT, THE SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. THE SEAT SLID COMPLETELY TO THE FRONT OF THE TRACK, FORCING THE DRIVER AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL.
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185684 · 2007-03-20 (March 20, 2007)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SEDONA. ON ONE OCCASION THE STEERING WHEEL TEMPORARILY LOCKS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOTION. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO BE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 65000.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144948 · 2005-12-12 (December 12, 2005)
FIRST HAD PROBLEMS WHEN THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN OR UP. ALSO, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD CLICK AND NOT FUNCTION. WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER - THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT - NEXT DAY WHEN OUT OF TOWN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A GROUND/SHORT FAULT IN THE WIRING OF THE DOOR HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THEY WORKED ON IT AGAIN AND STILL NOT FIXED. THREE WEEKS LATER - RECEIVE A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ABOUT DEFECTIVE WIRING UNDER THE SEATS AND CAUSING SHORTS AND POTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173531 · 2006-11-14 (November 14, 2006)
I HAVE HAD MY 02 KIA FOR 2 YEARS. IT RAN GREAT FOR A FEW 1000 MILES BUT THEN IT JUST WENT HAYWIRE. THE PROBLEM THAT COST ME THE MOST TIME AND MONEY TURNED OUT TO BE THE FUEL PUMP. THE KIA DEALER IN CHARLSETON SC ORIGINALLY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BAD GAS SO I CALLED TO THE GAS STATION ON THE MILITARY BASE THAT I GOT GAS FROM AND RAISED SAND. THEY PULLED THE WHOLE PUMP AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE GOOD GAS SO THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT REIMBURSE MY MONEY SINCE IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT. KIA WANTED TO CHARGE ME 500 DOLLARS TO PULL ALL THE FUEL COMPONENTS AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251691 · 2008-12-13 (December 13, 2008)
I OWN A 2002 KIA SEDONA, AND 2 TIMES NOW THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE HAS TOTALLY SEIZED. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS LAST WINTER, AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. NOW AGAIN IN NOVEMEBER IT HAS HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP BUT ONCE THERE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AT ALL. IT WAS ACTUALLY TOWED INTO THE BAY FOR REPAIRS. EACH REPAIR WAS OVER 300.00 CDN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147266 · 2006-01-09 (January 9, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS HARD TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE GAS TANK. AS A RESULT THE FUEL PUMP, FILTER AND PRE-FILTER WERE REPLACED. THE TANK WAS INSPECTED FOR ANY REMAINING METAL SHAVINGS. *AK UPDATED 02/02/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 81,117 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10303846 · 2010-02-02 (February 2, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SEDONA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED FOR A SHORT PERIOD AND THEN CORRECTED ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE CATYLATIC CONVERTER REPLACED; HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIRS THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARING ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS . THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 3000.
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147680 · 2006-01-13 (January 13, 2006)
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE GAS TANK OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP WAS INSIDE THE GAS TANK. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW THE SHAVINGS GOT INTO THE TANK. *JB UPDATED 2/24/2006 - THE CONSUMER STILL HAS THE FAULTY PUMP AND SOME OF THE METAL SHAVINGS IN HIS POSSESSION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 81,117 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147680 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1