Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Kia Sedona submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
I WAS DRIVING NO LESS THEN THAN BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE - WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FUSE PANEL AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW THE WHOLE PANEL BECAME ENGULF IN FLAMES. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ABLE TO PUT FIRE OUT- BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR BECOME TOTAL IN THE DAMAGE.
I HAD MY CAMSHAFT REAR PLUG REPLACED AFTER IN CAME OUT AND LEAKED OIL EVERYWHERE IN 2014. NOW IT'S COME OUT AGAIN DOING THE SAME THING. WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN AND AGAIN. IS IT THE PLUG OR THE CAMSHAFT THAT'S BLOWING IT OUT. I CAN'T FIND ANY SCHEMATIC TO SHOW ME WHY OR WHAT TO DO. *TR
THE CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. A NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND TOLD US THAT THE KIA WAS ON FIRE. NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR AT THAT TIME. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS TOTALLY BURNED UP. THE CAR GAVE ME NO OTHER PROBLEMS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE THREADS FOR THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT WERE MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALANCER AND BOLT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SEDONA EX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE BATTERY, BRAKE AND SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL MOMENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AT LEAST EIGHT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE FUEL PUMP AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE AIR FLOW SENSOR. SEPTEMBER 2010, THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,735. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,084.
CONSUMER BELTS SQUEAL, SLIDDING DOOR DRAGS, PULLEY WAS REPLACED AT 7744 MILES. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE PULLEY AND BELT HAVE BEEN REPLACED 10 TIMES. THE ALTERNATOR SEIZED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE A/C FAN MADE LOUD NOISES. THE SLIDING DOOR DRAGGED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD, THE DEALER ADJUSTED IT THREE TIMES THEN FINALLY REPLACED. AN INTERNAL SHORT IN THE FUSE CLOCK CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENLTY BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE STALLING. THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD STICK AND MAKE NOISE, THE DEALER LUBED IT AND REPLACED THE REGULATOR. THE REAR HATCH RUSTED AROUND HANDLE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED/REFINISHED TWICE. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD RACKED. OIL LEAKED FROM OIL FILTER. THE FRONT AND REAR WIPERS FAILED. THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLE BROKE. THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED DUE TO BROKEN BAD SWITCH CONTACTS. THE ROTORS WARPED. THE A/C WAS BLOWING WHEN IT WASN'T ON AND SOMETIMES IT BLEW OUT WARM AIR. THE REAR SEAT ARM REST WILL NOT STAY DOWN. THE THRESHOLD ON THE LEFT SIDE IS CRACKED. *NM
ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS/FAILURE IS A FRONT END BOBBLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT. THE DEALER STATES THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. ORIGINALLY THEY REPLACED THE FRONT STRUTS AND 2 ENGINE MOUNTS AS THESE WERE CRACKED. THE NOISE IS STILL THERE AND MY DEALER IS AT A LOSS ON HOW TO FIX IT. KIA-FORUMS.COM UNDER KIA SEDONA FRONT STRUTS IS A FORUM DEVOTED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THIS FRONT END BOBBLING NOISE. THERE ARE ABOUT 5000 HITS ON THIS FORUM AND EACH ONE OF THE CAR OWNERS HAS BEEN TOLD KIA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING ON ALL SEDONAS FROM 2001 TO PRESENT. *JB
2ND REQUEST LTR FM RICHARD JORGE (FL) RE HIS DEFECTIVE 2002 KIA SEDONA.*MR WHEN THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 180 MILES IT OVERHEATED AND SHORTED OUT. PRESENTLY, THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. *JB
WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THEN STALL. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART,BUT WAS UNABLE TO START. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED, AND THE ENGINE DIED UPON TRYING TO ACCELERATE. *AK
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY KIA SEDONA. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND IT WAS TOWED IN AND REPLACED. THEN THE WINDSHIELD BROKE DURING THE NIGHT IN THE GARAGE WITH NO WEATHER EXTREMES. I REPLACED THAT. IN 2 YEARS I'VE HAD 2 BLOWOUTS TO THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE. THE ONLY 2 IN MY WHOLE 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING.DEALER SAYS ITS NOT THE CAR. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. IN DEC 2004 THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, THE LUMBAR SUPPORT WAS BROKEN AND FIXED, THE DRIVER'S DOORHANDLE BROKE AND WAS FIXED BY KIA. JAN18 IT WAS BACK IN BECAUSE THE HOOD RELEASE WAS NOT WORKING. IT WAS FIXED AND WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE 1/19. ON 1/21 THE GAS PEDAL STUCK, I BROUGHT IT IN AND THEY FIXED IT IMMEDIATELY. " THE COVER HAD FALLEN DOWN AND THEY TIED IT BACK UP." OBVIOUSLY NOT A GOOD JOB BECAUSE IT STUCK AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME AT 65MPH. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED BACK IN. I THINK IT IS A DEATH TRAP!
WE HAVE A 2002 KIA SEDONA; WE BOUGHT IN DEC OF 2001. WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS, THE ALTERNATOR,BATTERY,IGNITION SWITCH, HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH SLIDING DOORS FALLING OFF THE HINGE. I COMPLAINED OF A WIND NOISE FOR THE FIRST YEAR NO ONE KNEW WHAT IT WAS. IT WENT UNFIXED. WITHIN A YEAR THE SHOCKS, THE STRUTS AND SLIDING DOORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. MY AIR-CONDITION WENT OUT COMPLETELY GUESS WHAT NO MORE WIND NOISE. AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. MY REAR WIPER CONTROL WENT OUT. RECENTLY, WHILE ON THANKSGIVING VACATION TO OHIO WE HAD TO HAVE ROADSIDE PICK UP OUR VAN AS THE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE IN THE SHOP WE WERE ADVISED OUR BRAKES WERE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. WE HAD NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. AND THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE ALSO IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. WAS IN THE SHOP 14 DAYS, WE HAD TO DRIVE BACK TO OHIO TO WHEN READY. THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR HAD NEVER EVER DONE THAT BEFORE. WHEN WE WERE ON OUR WAY OUT OF TOWN, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP. WE MADE IT HOME ON DEC 7TH AND NO ONE AT KIA COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE IN UNTIL THE SERVICE MANAGER RETURNED MY CALL HE WAS OFF FOR DOCTOR VISIT. ON DEC 13, I TOOK MY VAN IN TO BE REPAIRED, THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME IT WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, AND GUESS WHAT THEY ARE ALSO REPAIRING THE SLIDING DOORS 5TH TIME I THINK. THEY HAVE TO ALSO FIX THE DENT IN THE HOOD THAT WAS NOT THERE, BEFORE THE OHIO KIA TOOK IT IN TO BE FIXED. TODAY IT HAS BEEN 15 DAYS. I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY VAN. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND KIA TO MY WORST ENEMY. PLEASE ALLOW OTHERS TO KNOW THAT KIA IS A LEMON IF EVER THERE WERE ONE.*AK
OUR KIA SEDONA'S ENGINE HAS BEEN DYING WHEN COMING TO A STOP FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. KIA TRIED ON 8-5-04 TO FIX AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS. REPLACED THE PLUGS. THREE WEEKS LATER ON 9-11-04 VAN ENGINE DYED AGAIN WHEN COMING TO A STOP. KEEPED A LOG OF THIS. ON 9-25-04 WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE AGAIN DYED WHILE IN THE PASSING LANE. FINALLY GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAD TO WAIT THREE DAYS TO GET VAN INTO KIA, LIGHT WENT OUT BY THEN. KIA DEALERSHIP SAID IT HAS A TRANSMISSION ERROR CODE BUT CAN'T PINPOINT THE DEFECT TO FIX. KIA KEPT THE VAN A WEEK TRYING TO GET ENGINE LIGHT TO REAPPEAR IN VAIN. SO I NOW HAVE A VAN THAT COULD STOPPED RUNNING AT ANYTIME AND PLACE. NOT VERY REASSURING OR SAFE. WE ARE VERY UPSET AND KIA CORP REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. *NM
KIA HAS INFORMED US THAT OUR CAR WILL CONTINUE TO NEED REPAIRS SINCE IT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE DRIVEN ON DIRT ROADS. WE LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD AND DRIVE MANY MILES OF DIRT ROADS AND NOW WE ARE SPENDING MONEY REPLACING PARTS NOT PROTECTED FROM DIRT DUE TO FAULTY ENGINEERING DESIGN.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUME DROVE IN NORMAL CITY TRAFFIC WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT A CAUSE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 4 TIMES. YET, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH HEAT ON, THE AIR STOPPED BLOWING INTO THE CAR FROM THE VENTS EVEN THOUGH WE COULD HEAR THE BLOWER MOTOR RUNNING. THIS STARTED OCTOBER 4, 2003 AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AS OF JUNE 2004.EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE REPAIR SHOP 11 TIMES. WE HAVE BEEN PLACED IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF THIS. DURING THE WINTER, WHEN THE BLOWER WOULD QUIT, THE WINDOWS WOULD FOG UP OR FREEZE UP IMMEDIATELY. WE COULDN'T EVEN SEE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO WAY TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS, NOT TO MENTION THE DISCOMFORT OF FREEZING TO DEATH WHEN IT WAS 30 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. THE ENTIRE HEATING SYSTEM, ACTUATORS, BLOWER MOTOR WERE REPLACED AND THE BLENDER DOORS WERE REPROGRAMMED. WE ONLY HAVE HEAT SPORADICALLY. NOW THAT SUMMER IS HERE, THE AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T WORK,. IT IS IN THE SHOP NOW HAVING THE COMPRESSOR REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO WAS REPLACED IN OCT. 2003. WE FEEL THE COMPANY HAS HAD AMPLE TIME TO REPAIR THE CAR. THEY EVEN ADMIT THEY CAN'T FIX IT. WE ARE SEEKING A REPLACEMENT (COMPARABLE) VEHICLE OR A REFUND SO THAT WE CAN GET A VEHICLE THAT WORKS. I REFUSE TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER WINTER LIKE THAT. *AK
VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT SHORTING OUT THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES AND ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED ONCE. ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE MOTOR. VEHICLE BURNED EXCESSIVE FUEL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. THE ABOVE REPAIRS ONLY PROVIDED A TEMPORARY SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEMS.*AK
I REALLY NEED HELP AND DON?T KNOW WHAT TO DO. ALSO WITH MY CAR MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ON AND TO THIS DAY THE LIGHT IS PROBABLY STILL ON AND KIA HAVE NOT CONTACTED ME YET AND EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE THROUGH KIA PAYING THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE I WANT MY CAR SO THAT CAN SELL IT SO THAT I DON?T LOSE MY HOME BECAUSE I AM UNEMPLOYED DUE TO THIS BUCKET OF BOLTS. AND ALSO THE KIA REPAIR MAN STEVE JOHNSON AT KIRKLAND KIA STATED TO ME THAT MY ODOMETER READING WAS INCORRECT AND THE KIA MANUFACTURER TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER BECAUSE I WAD BEING SEEN AT THEIR AUTO SHOP TOO MUCH AND IS BIZARRE OR WHAT? I SPOKE TO A PAUL STAPLETON AT KIA MOTORS AMERICA BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 30 DAYS STRAIGHT. ON OCT 8 I PICKED MY CAR UP AND 20 MIN LATER MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. THE DAY BEFORE I WAS OFFERED $1000 FOR A GOOD WILL GESTURE FROM KIA. WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON THE NEXT DAY MR. STAPLETON OFFERED TO BUY MY VEHICLE BACK FOR 11,300 AND THAT WAS WITHOUT THE $1000 GOOD WILL. TODAY IS OCT 12TH AND BY THIS AFTERNOON I WILL BE HEARING FROM THIS COMPANY. THIS IS NOT SATISFYING TO ME BECAUSE I STILL HAD A FULL WARRANTY ON MY CAR AND FOR 11,300 I WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE USED AND NO WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD A 2002 THAT WAS PAID IN FULL AND A FULL WARRANTY.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, EVERY 2000 MILES. IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME THING, A RICH FUEL MIXTURE. THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE DRIVER STEPS ON THE GAS, THE CAR EITHER BUCKS AND WON'T GO, OR JUST BOGS DOWN AND WON'T ACCELERATE. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO MERGE IN TRAFFIC ON BUSY, CONGESTED HIGHWAYS. EVERYTIME THIS HAPPENS, WE TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEEP IT SEVERAL DAYS TO A WEEK BEFORE THEY CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME SINCE APRIL 2003 FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *LA
MY 2002 KIA SEDONA HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN MARCH, 2002. MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BATTERY REPLACEMENT, SLIDING DOOR FAILING TO CLOSE, ENGINE NOISE, AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS. HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND DEALER. SOME ISSUES RESOLVED - - OTHERS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPLICATED. FEAR THAT ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND WILL FAIL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*AK
FROM 2ND WEEK WE COMPLAINED OF ENGINE NOISE. EACH TIME NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. FEW MONTHS LATER CK ENGINE CAME ON. A SPARK PLUG WAS REPLACED. 1 MONTH LATER CK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. NEW FUEL INJECTOR. 2 DAYS LATER CK ENGINE LIGHT AGAIN. NEEDED NEW MOTOR AT 3800 MILES. 1 WEEK LATER CAUGHT ON FIRE IN OUR GARAGE. KIA REGIONAL MANAGEMENT CHRIS BUTLER SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR DAMAGES FROM FIRE BUT HAD NO CONCERN THAT OUR 6 MONTH OLD VAN WITH ONLY 3800 MILES ALREADY HAD THE MOTOR REPLACE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. HIS ADVISE DON'T PARK IN THE GARAGE ANYMORE SO WE WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT BURNING DOWN OUR HOUSE. IRONIC THAT WE CHOOSE THIS VAN BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASIER AND SAFER FOR OUR KIDS. NOW I FEAR OUR FAMILIES SAFETY EVERYDAY BECAUSE WE HAVE IT. *AK
STRONG ANTIFREEZE SMELL WHEN USING THE AC ON HOT DAYS. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VIOLENTLY FROM 1-2 AND OCCASIONALLY INTO REVERSE. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT SEVERAL TIMES. *NLM SLIDING DOORS HAVE HAD ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS AND BEARING FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES ALSO. (CURRENTLY FIXED).
DEFECTIVE AUTO EQUIPMENT.
THE VEHICLE DID NOT HOLD WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL OR NO LOW RANGE. THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE MOTOR(DEALER DIDN'T FIND PROBLEM), AND A WIND NOISE HAD COME FROM THE FRONT GLASS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *NLM *SCC
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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