2008 Kia SEDONA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
170 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
52,847 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 136 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 45 of 170 complaints (26.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 33 | 19.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 24 | 14.1% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.6% |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 45 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 37 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 15 |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 |
| Service Brakes | 12 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 12 |
| Suspension | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
Electrical System: 45; Vehicle Speed Control: 37; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 15; Exterior Lighting: 14; Service Brakes: 12; Structure:Body:Door: 12; Suspension: 12; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 36 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 26 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 36; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 9
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 34 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 37 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 4; 2009: 6; 2010: 37; 2011: 8; 2012: 10; 2013: 14; 2014: 18; 2015: 9; 2016: 11; 2017: 8; 2018: 7; 2019: 8; 2020: 14; 2021: 6; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 24 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 11 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 10225762 · 2008-04-25 (April 25, 2008)
BAD MISFIRE. THIS MISFIRE STARTED AT 14,000 MILES. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOK AT THEY COLD NOT GET IT TO MISFIRE. AS TIME WENT ON AT 20,000 THE MISFIRE BECAME WORSE, WE LEFT THE VAN FOR PM SERVICE WITH THE FIRST DEALER FOR ONE WEEK,WE WEAR ON VACATION. THEY CALLED AND SAID THAT THE VAN WAS READY,THAT WAS ON A FRIDAY,I WENT TO PICK UP THE VAN FROM THE DEALER. WHEN I STARTED IT AND PUT IT IN DRIVE IT STARTED TO MISS. I HAD THE SERVICE WRITER COME OVER AND I HAD HIM FELL THE MISS AND YOU COULD HEAR IT IN THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT,TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234948 · 2008-07-19 (July 19, 2008)
KIA SEDONA( A DOLLAR RENTAL VEHICLE) PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IN THE DRIVEWAY ROLLED BACKWARDS WHEN IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND KEY REMOVED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243827 · 2008-09-28 (September 28, 2008)
WITH ONLY 700 MILES ON SEDONA MINIVAN I HAVE HAD AN AIR BAG SENSOR GO BAD, A DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR SENSOR GO BAD, A PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR SENSOR GO BAD, THE IP COMPUTER (FUSE BOX) INSIDE VEHICLE NEAR DRIVERS SIDE) BURN UP COMPLETELY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 684 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252965 · 2008-12-28 (December 28, 2008)
INITIAL OCCURRENCE WAS ON NOVEMBER 20, 2008 WHEN OUR 2008 SEDONA WAS LESS THAN SEVEN MONTHS OLD AND WITH ONLY 13000 KILOMETERS ON IT. VEHICLE STALLED WHEN TRYING TO START UP AFTER A FOUR WAY STOP. THOUGHT SOME TYPE OF FLUKE? NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES FOR TWO TO THREE HUNDRED KILOMETERS UNTIL NOVEMBER 23, 2008 WHEN STALLED WHILE TURNING AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. STALLED AGAIN AFTER PUT IN PARK AND RESTARTED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE SERVICED ON NOVEMBER 24, 2008 -CORRECTION: "SCAN CODE P2106/P1295/P0638 AND PO236 RESET AND RE-PROGRAM - ROAD TES…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10277660 · 2009-07-21 (July 21, 2009)
IT ALL STARTED WHEN MY WIFE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION FROM A RENTAL SALESMAN, HE TOLD HER THAT SHE SHOULD NOT PLUG OUR GPS UNIT INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER OR IT WOULD COST $90.00 FOR US TO REPAIR THE LIGHT THAT WOULD COME ON FOR THE AIR BAGS. WE DID NOT PLUG THE UNIT INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER BUT PLUGGED IT INTO THE ACCESSORY POWER OUTLET. ON SUNDAY 07/12/09 I ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, THE AIR CONDITIONER ONLY CAME ON HIGH, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT. IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE OUTLETS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10277694 · 2009-07-22 (July 22, 2009)
LET ME START BY SAYING WE LOVED THE VAN UP UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY FAMILY IN OUR 2008 KIA SEDONA. I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 75 MPH, I WENT TO PASS SOMEONE AND WHEN I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO PASS THE CAR. I TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY PRESSING THE BRAKE AS WELL AS DOING IT MANUALLY BY PRESSING THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON. I COULD NOT GET THE VAN TO SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR. AT ONE POINT I WAS DOING BETWEEN 90 AND 100 MPH. I FINALLY MANAGED TO GET THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 6,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282894 · 2009-09-04 (September 4, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES BEGAN PULSATING AND THERE WAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL INCLUDING A BURNING ODOR. THE STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE RELATED TO THE WAY SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE. A SECOND DEALER STATED THAT BRAKES OVER HEATED AND THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SHOULD HAVE FAILED AT 15,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, SHE STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10284162 · 2009-09-16 (September 16, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH SHE LOST POWER STEERING. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE INABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE INCREASED THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,900.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284162 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V114000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
NHTSA campaign record ↗13V550000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
Reported: 2013-11-05 (November 5, 2013)
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through August 14, 2012 originally sold in, or currently registered in Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, West Virginia or the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may break due to corrosion resulting from prolonged exposure to salty environments.
Consequence: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners and dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on December 20, 2013. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall number is SC100.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V387000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
Reported: 2016-06-01 (June 1, 2016)
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through August 14, 2012 and originally sold in, or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may break due to corrosion from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
Consequence: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace the front lower control arms on 2006-2007 models. 2008-2012 models will either have their front lower control arms replaced or additional anti-corrosion coating will be applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC133.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V389000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
Reported: 2016-06-01 (June 1, 2016)
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through April 04, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Consequence: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace the secondary hood latch or clean and lubricate the latch, depending on the vehicle's location and the condition of the latch. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall number is SC134.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V088000 · Electrical System | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Reported: 2020-02-14 (February 14, 2020)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Sedona and 2007-2009 Sorento vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
Consequence: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the vehicle is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the main junction box to prevent power from being directed to the HECU when the vehicle's ignition switch is turned off, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC186.
NHTSA campaign record ↗