2005 Kia SEDONA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
185 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
25,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 143 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 185 complaints (16.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 86 | 46.5% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 10.3% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 6.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 29 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Air Bags | 14 |
| Steering | 12 |
| Wheels | 12 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Tires | 11 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 30; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 29; Electrical System: 16; Air Bags: 14; Steering: 12; Wheels: 12; Engine: 11; Tires: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 71 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 71; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 15
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (71). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 23 |
| 2006 | 26 |
| 2007 | 37 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2005: 23; 2006: 26; 2007: 37; 2008: 13; 2009: 10; 2010: 9; 2011: 7; 2012: 5; 2013: 7; 2014: 7; 2015: 16; 2016: 8; 2017: 6; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2021: 4; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 86 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10126026 · 2005-06-21 (June 21, 2005)
TOOK MY 2005 KIA SEDONA VAN IN FOR THE 7 TIME SINCE 12/2004 TO HAVE BRAKES REPLACED. SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE TECHS AND THEY SAY THAT KIA SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE, AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTOR TELLS THE SERVICE DEPT. TO JUST KEEP REPLACING THEM. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS REPLACED THE BRAKING SYSTEM MANY TIMES, BUT THE KIA MOTORS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133700 · 2005-08-22 (August 22, 2005)
DT: CALLER SAID AT 4950 MILES VEHICLE STARTED WOBBLING. THIS HAPPENED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN HE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THE ROTORS WERE WARPED, AND HAD THEM REPLACED. CURRENTLY, AT 8490 MILES IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. HE HAS NOT GONE BACK TO THE DEALER YET. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON 7-27-05 THE SECOND TIME WAS ON 8-20-05.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126148 · 2005-06-21 (June 21, 2005)
DRIVING OUT OF SPOT AT PARKING LOT MY WIFE HAD THE STEERING TO HARD TO TURN AND THE ENGINE WAS ACCELERATED. SHE COULD NOT TURN AND HIT A CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126148 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134620 · 2005-08-29 (August 29, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2005 KIA SEDONA. SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 6-20-05, AND TWENTY MINUTES AFTER SHE DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT, THE RADIO QUIT WORKING ALONG WITH THE IGNITION LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY COULD NOT SERVICE THE CAR THAT DAY BUT MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO COME BACK ON 6-22-05. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR THREE DAYS. ON 7-26-05 THE BRAKE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND MADE A LOUD TICKING NOISE WHILE TURNING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 297 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133819 · 2005-08-22 (August 22, 2005)
DT: 2005 KIA SEDONA. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN MAY, AND IT STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FIST TIME VEHICLE STALLED WAS IN JULY. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND WHEN APPROACHING A LIGHT THE CAR STALLED. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. SECOND TIME THAT VEHICLE STALLED WAS WHILE DRIVING ON I95 AND SLOWING DOWN 20 -25 MPH. AGAIN,NO INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AT THIS TIME. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. A THIRD TIME THE CAR STALLED, BUT IT WAS RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. CRANKED THE CAR AND IT ONLY …
Owner-reported narrative. 6,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140396 · 2005-10-20 (October 20, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER A WHILE IT RESTARTED. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE CAR IN. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE STALLED NINE TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP ADJUSTED THE IDLING AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. LESS THAN A WEEK LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND THE CAR DID NOT STALL. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP; THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE SENSOR. THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL THE NEXT WEEK. THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED HER THA…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,590 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170434 · 2006-10-10 (October 10, 2006)
2005 KIA SEDONA LX PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER ON 3-10-05. ON 3/24/05, TOOK VAN IN FOR INITIAL OIL CHANGE AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK BRAKES AS WELL BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE NOISE, GRINDING, AND A PULSATING WHEN USING BRAKES. MILEAGE WAS 2890. WHEN TECHNICIAN CHECKED BRAKES, THE ROTORS WERE FOUND TO BE WARPED, SO THEY WERE RESURFACED. ON 9/17/05, TOOK VAN BACK IN FOR GRINDING NOISES AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. MILEAGE WAS 7781. ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN, NO FAULT WAS FOUND WITH BRAKING SYSTEM AND NOISED WAS BLAMED ON HIGH HUMIDITY. NO FAULT FOU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174318 · 2006-11-14 (November 14, 2006)
CONSUMER 2005 SEDONA WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE BRAKES. *TS THE CONSUEMR BELIEVES THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162448 · 2006-07-15 (July 15, 2006)
JULY 2006 I NOTICED A SMELL OF BURNING BRAKES OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. BUT AFTER I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR AN HOUR THE SMELL DISAPPEARED. THEN ON JULY 4TH 2006 WE WERE 10 MILES FROM HOME AND NOTICED THE RADIO TURNED OFF, THEN A FEW MORE MILES THE GAUGES ALL TURNED OFF, THEN BY THE TIME WE GOT OFF THE FREEWAY, THE CAR TURNED OFF. WE THEN TURNED IT BACK ON, THE RADIO AND GAUGES ALL WORKED UNTIL WE DROVE TO THE DEALER WHICH WAS CLOSED SO WE DROVE ONE MORE MILE TO A SAFE PLACE TO PARK. AT THIS TIME THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. WE LOOKED IN THE ENG…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,795 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172974 · 2006-11-08 (November 8, 2006)
I HAVE HAD MY KIA SEDONA IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES NOW DUE TO IT BLOWING FUSES UNDER THE HOOD, THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THEY JUST KEEP REPLACING THE FUSES. SEEMS TO ME THERE IS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SOMEWHERE, I AM WORRIED THIS CAN BECOME A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 12,141 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172974 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158822 · 2006-06-02 (June 2, 2006)
GASOLINE LEAKING UNDER GAS TANK OF VEHICLE. WAS TOLD BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO FIRST CALL FIRE DEPT. DID THAT. THEN HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. SAID THEY REPLACED A FITTING THAT WAS CAUSING THE LEAK. DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. DAY LATER AFTER SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY THE WHOLE TIME GAS WAS LEAKING AGAIN. VEHICLE IS NOW BEING TOWED BACK IN TO THE DEALER AGAIN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 11,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158822 at NHTSA ↗