2003 Kia SEDONA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005848 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)
I HURT MY BACK TRYING TO REMOVE THE "REMOVABLE" REAR SEATS IN MY 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE SEATS ARE NOT ONLY VERY HEAVY, BUT THE REARWARD JERKING MOTION RECOMMENDED BY MY DEALER TO REMOVE THE SEAT OFTEN FAILS TO DISENGAGE THE SEAT, CAUSING BACK INJURY. MY DEALER TOLD ME THE SPECIFIC SEATS I HAVE ARE NOT BROKEN, BUT THEY AGREED THAT KIA'S DESIGN FOR REMOVAL IS FLAWED. ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF MY DEALER SERVICE CONSULTANT YVES FERNANDEZ [phone removed]), I SPOKE WITH "ELVINA" AT KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTLY (2/14/2003 [phone removed]). ELVINA REFU…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008579 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK.SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008579 at NHTSA ↗
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 10029732 · 2003-07-21 (July 21, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILOR AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029947 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS INSIDE THE CAB OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THE ODOR HAS CAUSED DROWSINESS, ALMOST RESULTING IN LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030515 · 2003-07-31 (July 31, 2003)
OVERWHELMING SMELL OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONER. DEALER IDENTIFIED ISSUE AS PURGING OF CHARCOAL CANISTER INCORRECTLY. THE PURGING WAS REDIRECTED TO REAR OF VEHICLE, BUT STILL IS AN ISSUE WHEN PARKING IN THE GARAGE AND SMELL OF GAS IS STILL OVERWHELMING. IS THIS A FIRE HAZARD? *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031242 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED A FRONT AND REAR ACCIDENT AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO AVOID BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN SHE SWERVED, THE VEHICLE GOT TO CLOSE TO THE GUARDRAIL SO SHE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. AT THAT POINT, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SKID AND FISHTAIL. CONSUMER COULDN'T REGAIN CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE GUARDRAIL WITH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THEN THE VEHICLE BOUNCED ACROSS THE EXPRESSWAY AND HIT THE GUARDRAIL WITH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031242 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V158000 · Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Control Unit/Module
Reported: 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE WAS A PROGRAMMING ERROR IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE LOGIC. THE PROGRAMMING ERROR COULD CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING FORCE AT SPEEDS BELOW 25 MPH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.
Consequence: SUCH INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE CONTROL MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V013000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Cables
Reported: 2005-01-19 (January 19, 2005)
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, DURING ASSEMBLY, THE THROTTLE CABLE WOULD TWIST ITSELF OUT OF POSITION.
Consequence: THIS CAN PERMIT THE CABLE TO BE HUNG UP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE CABLE FREE OF CHARGE. VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM MARCH 20, 2001 THROUGH NOVEMBER 7, 2001 WILL HAVE A GUIDE CLIP INSTALLED ON THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE TENSION FORCE CABLE DOES NOT MOVE OUT OF POSITION. VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BEGINNING ON NOVEMBER 8, 2001, ALREADY HAVE THE EXTENDED GUIDE, WHICH ACCOMPLISHES THE SAME OBJECTIVE. THE RECALL BEGAN MARCH 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V232000 · Wheels
Reported: 2005-05-19 (May 19, 2005)
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH ALLOY WHEELS, MOISTURE CAN ACCUMULATE AROUND THE REAR HUB CAPS CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE OUTER WHEEL BEARING.
Consequence: WHEEL BEARING FAILURE MAY OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR HUB CAPS FREE OF CHARGE. UPON INSPECTION, SOME VEHICLES WILL ALSO REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR OUTER BEARINGS AND/OR HUB ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V329000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Cables
Reported: 2005-07-20 (July 20, 2005)
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, FREEZING CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE WATER ON THE THROTTLE CABLE TO FREEZE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. RESISTANCE TO MOVEMENT OF THE THROTTLE CABLE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER LIFTS THEIR FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL.
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE CABLE TO STICK, THUS PREVENTING THE ENGINE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED OR ACCELERATE. SUCH AN EVENT CAN OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY A PROTECTIVE SLEEVE AROUND THE THROTTLE CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗