2003 Kia SEDONA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
163 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
48,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 121 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 163 complaints (12.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 38 | 23.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 11.7% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 3.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 20 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Tires | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 |
| Seat Belts | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
Air Bags: 20; Electrical System: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Tires: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 8; Seat Belts: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 37 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 37; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 7
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 42 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 21 |
| 2004 | 22 |
| 2005 | 31 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2003: 21; 2004: 22; 2005: 31; 2006: 8; 2007: 18; 2008: 11; 2009: 7; 2010: 12; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 11; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 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 10018065 · 2003-05-02 (May 2, 2003)
AIR IN THE BRAKE LINE CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE LINES WERE SERVICED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 468 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026793 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT 55 MPH VEHICLE SHUTTERS AND SOUDS LIKE BRAKES ARE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050521 · 2003-12-15 (December 15, 2003)
POWER LOCKS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER STATES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 11,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050521 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074829 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
I PURCHASED A 2003 KIA SEDONA VAN FROM SPEEDWAY KIA IN MARCH OF 2003. ONE OF THE REASONS I CHOOSE THIS VAN WAS DUE TO THE 5 STAR SAFETY RATING. ON MAY 26TH OF 2004, I WAS DRIVING MY VAN FROM TAMPA FL TO PORT ORANGE FL ON I-4 AND I STARTED SMELLING AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING BURNING. I GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND CONTINUED EAST TOWARDS DAYTONA BEACH. WHEN I GOT OFF THE PORT ORANGE EXIT ON 95, I SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDER MY HOOD, I DROVE ABOUT A MILE TO MY…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,664 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063163 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER FELT SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS OVERHEATED, CAUSING THEM TO WARP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081530 · 2004-06-29 (June 29, 2004)
UPON IMPACT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN THE DRIVER HITTING HER FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*MR THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM MULTIPLE CUTS INSIDE HER MOUTH, A FRACTURED NOSE WHICH CAUSED SHORTNESS OF BREATH AND MULTIPLE BRUISES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 11,045 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113669 · 2005-03-08 (March 8, 2005)
WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE HIT A METAL POLE. CONSUMER SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. VEHICLE COMMENCED TO ACCELERATE AND LURCH FORWARD. IT RAN OVER A CONCRETE PARKING DIVIDER AND A SIDEWALK INTO A BRICK WALL. CONSUMER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136174 · 2005-09-12 (September 12, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 2003 KIA SEDONA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR AROUND SIX HOURS. THE FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE INSIDE OF THE VAN HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP UNTIL THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER LOOKED AT THE VAN. THE VAN WAS DRIVING FINE AND WORKING IN GOOD SHAPE PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. T A FIRE INVESTIGATOR CAME AND INSPECTED THE SCENE. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED IT WAS AN …
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136174 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119169 · 2005-04-20 (April 20, 2005)
2003 KIA SEDONA HAS PROBLEMS WITH ABS SYSTEM, STALLING AND ABS LIGHT FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE ABS LIGHT FLASHED WHEN IT RAINED ON WHEN THE ROADS WERE WET. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMERS CONCERNS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10680147 · 2015-01-31 (January 31, 2015)
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED. IT DROVE JUST FINE FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT EVENTUALLY IT WOULD START SPUTTERING LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GAS WHEN IT ACTUALLY HAD GAS IN THE VEHICLE. EVENTUALLY, IT CAME TO A POINT WHEN IT WOULD RUN WHEN IT WANTED TO AND STALL WHEN IT WANTED TO. I TOOK IT TO A SERVICE STATION TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM TO FIX IT. THEY GAVE ME A COUPLE OF OPTIONS WHAT IT COULD BE, BUT TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE ONLY 75% SURE AND IT WAS GOING TO COST NEARLY $1000 TO FIX. WELL, I DIDN'T HAVE $1000 TO FIX S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10680147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091216 · 2004-09-18 (September 18, 2004)
I'VE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NEVER BEEN RIGHT. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 13K MILES, AGAIN AT 24K MILES (FRONT & BACK) AND I'M SURE THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 40K MILES. AT 22K MILES I TOOK THE VAN TO THE SHOP FOR BRAKES ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS, THE LEFT STRUT (THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE BOTH STRUTS SINCE IT WAS WARRANTY BUT IF I WAS PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS THEY WOULD RECOMEND REPLACING IN PAIRS) AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS GOING OUT (WHICH THE MANAGER SAID HE WAS DOING ME A…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,295 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091216 at NHTSA ↗