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 2003 Kia Sedona submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
My Sedona keeps catching on fire not sure why but now if I get it up to temperature it automatically catches on fire I'm going into my second fire extinguishe
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE DESIRED GEAR WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME, PARKED THE VEHICLE, AND UPON OPENING THE HOOD SAW FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED HOWEVER, HER NEIGHBOR ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH A WATER HOSE UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHTS HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
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 SOME PARTS THAT THEY ARE ONLY 75% SURE ABOUT. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT IN TOWN AND IT CONTINUED TO STALL AND DRIVE AS IT PLEASED. AT THIS POINT, IT ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO TURNOVER, BUT WON'T START. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS VEHICLE PROBLEM. CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE?
I BOUGHT A 2003 SEDONA USED IN 2007 WITH ABOUT 50000 MILES AND HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. 1ST IN 7/08 I WENT TO A LOCAL SHOP (NOT KIA) BECAUSE MY ENGINE SEEMED VERY LOUD. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW MOTOR MOUNTS N THAT IT WAS KIND OF UNUSUAL FOR A CAR TO NEED THEM SO SOON. I DID CALL KIA N ASK THEM ABOUT THIS AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD TO BAD FOR YOU. SO I HAD THEM FIXED ($556.36). NOT EVEN A FEW WEEKS LATER MY AC WAS BLOWING HOT. SAME MECHANIC TOLD ME MY AC WAS OUT N THAT ONE OF THE HOSES NEEDED REPLACED. HAD TO WAIT A FEW YEARS BUT HAD IT REPLACED ($1050.72). HAD MY 1ST BRAKE JOB DONE IN 2008 EVER SINCE I'VE HAD TO HAVE MY BRAKES REPLACE 2-3 YEARLY PLUS HAD TO HAVE NEW CALIPERS. NO ONE CAN TELL ME WAY THE BREAKPADS WEAR OUT SO QUICKLY. I DONT DRIVE A UNUSUAL AMOUNT. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE 2 INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE AND NOW HAVE A BROKEN EXTERIOR HANDLE. MY AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE I DRIVE WHICH SCARES ME READING OTHERS AIRBAG STORIES. WHEN I TRY TO FILL MY CAR WITH GAS THE PUMP WILL CLICK OFF AFTER A DOLLAR OR 2 LIKE ITS FULL BUT ITS NOT. AND JUST A WEEK OR SO AGO I WAS OB THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUUSE CONTROL ON ALL OF A SUDDEN I SMELT THIS OVERPOWERING SMELL OF GAS. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED BUT DIDNT SEE ANYTHING WRONG. CONTINUED DRIVING AGAIN SMELLED GAS TRIED TURNING OFF THE AC DIDNT HELP. TRIED TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL THE SMELL INSTANTLY STOPPED. I HOPE THAT SOMETHING CAN B DONE TO HELP ME AND THE OTHERS WITH KIAS. I HAVE SOME OF MY REPAIR PAPERWORK. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ME PLEASE CALL ME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABNORMALLY LOOSING COOLANT FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CORRODED HEATER COOLING PIPE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,500.
2003 KIA SEDONA RAN GREAT FOR THE 3 YEARS WE OWNED IT. WENT TO GO HOME FROM WORK AND IT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE MOTOR SHUT OFF. HAD A VERY HARD TIME PULLING OVER. NOW IT WONT TURN OVER AT ALL. NOT EVEN WITH A JUMP. CHECKED OILS ,WATER , BATTERY,CABLES AND EVERYTHING APPEARED GOOD. REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE WAS DONE . ALL FLUIDS WERE CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS. PAID $11,000.00 FOR IT AND IT DIDN'T EVEN OUT LAST THE PAYMENTS ON IT. *TR
2003 KIA SEDONA EX CAUGHT ON FIRE 07/11/10. VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR AND NOT RUNNING. RESULTANT VEHICLE DESTROYED AND SURROUNDING VEHICLES HAD MELTED COMPONENTS, DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS, ROOF RACK, BUMPERS, HEADLIGHTS AND CRACKED WINDSHIELD DUE TO EXPLOSION AND LAUNCH OF A REACH STRUT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS HAVING HER VEHICLE SERVICED, SHE WAS INFORMED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOWER END NOISE AND THAT A SCREW WAS MISSING ON THE THROTTLE BODY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,000.
2003 KIA SEDONA - MILEAGE ON THIS VAN 48,177 1. STEERING STIFFNESS, MAKE IT HARD TO TURN ABOUT 90% OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. 2. ROUGH ENGINE - MISSED FIRE DUE TO THE COIL LEAKAGE AND ABOUT STARTED ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS AGO. *TR
I PURCHASED MY 2003 KIA SEDONA IN NOVEMBER 2005. SO FAR THE FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED: FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY LEFT SIDE ONCE, RIGHT SIDE 2X'S, THE ALTERNATOR, THE WIPER MOTOR, TWO RECALLS, THE BATTERY, NOW AT 65,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE TIMING BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED. HOWEVER THE WARRANTY COMPANY SAYS THEY WONT REPLACE IT BECAUSE THE COST OF THE REPAIR EXCEEDS THE VALUE OF THE CAR. THIS IS SIMPLY OUTRAGEOUS. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR EVERY SERVICE NEEDED. TRANSMISSION, OIL FILTER ECT. *TR
AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES MY KIA SEDONA VAN HAD A BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT. NOW, AT APPROXIMATELY 65,000 THE VAN HAS AN ADDITIONAL TWO BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS -- THAT IS A TOTAL OF THREE BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS IN ONLY 65,000 MILE'S!! THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS -- AND THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN WITH THIS FREQUENCY, IF AT ALL!! *TR
I HAVE TAKEN MY FATHER'S 2003 KIA SEDONA TO NAPLETON KIA IN ELMHURST SEVERAL TIMES FOR LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON AND THE RADIATOR FANS BEING ON CONSTANTLY WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP REACHES 80 DEGREES OR MORE ALSO WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. THIS WAS NEVER A PROBLEM WHEN MY FATHER FIRST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER SAYS IT'S NECESSARY FOR THE FANS TO BE ON WHEN THE AIR IS TURNED ON TO PROTECT THE ENGINE FROM OVERHEATING. I BELIEVE THAT UP TO A CERTAIN POINT BUT THE FANS NEVER TURN OFF WHEN THE AIR IS ON. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT LOGIC. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES BUCKS AND BACKFIRES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT'S FINE ONE MINUTE AND BAD THE NEXT THIS OCCURS A LEAST ONCE A MONTH, THEN IT'S FINE LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED, UNTIL NEXT MONTH. THE DEALER MY DAD TAKES IT TO SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN GETTING TO THE PROBLEMS THIS VEHICLE HAS, BUT WAITING UNTIL SOME OTHER PROBLEM OCCURS LIKE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THEN MAYBE THEY'LL SPEND SOME TIME ON IT. BUT THE VEHICLE COMES OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP FINE BUT WITHIN A DAY OR TWO IT'S THE SAME OLD PROBLEMS. MY DAD FEELS LIKE HE'S WASTING HIS TIME TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEMS TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY MAY SEEM INTERESTED BUT HAVE NO INCENTIVE TO FIND THE REAL REASON THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY EITHER DON'T KNOW OR DON'T CARE. I'M BEGINNING TO THINK THAT THE MECHANICS DON'T KNOW AND THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T CARE. *TR
MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH JUST 39,000 MILES ON THE VAN AND JUST 4 YEARS OLD. SERVICE DEPT. WILL NOT COVER THIS. *JB
IN MY KIA SEDONA MINIVAN I HAD PURCHASED BRAND NEW ONLY BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY I TOOK KIDS TO SCHOOL OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK BACK NO. THEY TOWED TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THE SAID IT WAS NOT WARRANTABLE. *NM
2003 KIA SEDONA WITH PROBLEMS WITH LOSING POWER, CHOKING. **NAR**CC THE BUTTERFLY PLATES WERE FOUND LOOSE IN THE PLENUM AND THE SCREWS WERE MISSING. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY FROM THE FACTORY. WHEN THE BUTTERFLY'S FAILED THE CONSUMER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH THE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE A/C FAILED IN THE MIDDLE F THE SUMMER.
CAR HAS BEEN HUGE HEADACHE BOUGHT NEW IN 2003 HAS BEEN TOWED TWICE FOR LEAKING COOLANT LINES THAT RUSTED OUT. LAST TIME WAS ON VACATION KIA HAS NOT RETURNED ON PHONE CALL OR E-MAIL AS IT COST ME 300 DOLLARS AND CAR IS UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY HAS 34K MILES . DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON FIXED BY DEALER. ONE BRAKE PAD LINING FELL OFF AT 25K MILES REPLACED MYSELF. MOST IMPORTANT WE HAD A REAR TIRE BLOW OUT AT 60 MPH IN THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC. TIRE SHREDDED APART WITH 28K MILES AND WAS NEW YORK INSPECTED 2 MONTHS EARLIER. OTHER BACK TIRE BUBBLED OUT ON ONE SIDE AND MADE THE CAR SHUDDER. REPLACED TIRES MYSELF BUT PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS CAR NOW I AM REALLY WORRIED AFTER READING ABOUT THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. *JB
OIL SLUDGE IS BUILDING UP IN THE ENGINE. THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AS REQUIRED AND THE ENGINE FLUSHED TO NO AVAIL. ANTWERPEN KIA DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE VEHICLE WARRANTY AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ENGINE. *JB
DAD: A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE MUFFLER/ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED AT SPEEDS OF 35-45 MPH AND IN HOT WEATHER, AND WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
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
VAN WAS PARKED OUTSIDE IN DRIVEWAY . FIELD MOUSE GOT INTO TIMING BELT AREA, CAUSING BELT TO SKIP TIME WHEN STARTED. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF MICE GETTING INTO TIMING BELT AREA. POOR DESIGN IN TIMING BELT COVER.*AK
I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 KIA SEDONA. INITIALLY ONE OF THE GASKETS LEAKED AND HAD TO N BE REPLACED. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED OVERNIGHT IN THE GARAGE WHEN THERE WAS NO WEATHER EXTREMES. THE WHEEL BEARINGS WENT IN THE FRONT TIRE. RECENTLY THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING AND AFTER REPLACING ALL THE GASKETS IT COULDN'T GET PRESSURE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE BROKE, THE LUMBAR SUPPORT STOPPED WORKING. THE HOOD WOULDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY. AND ON TOP OF ALL THOSE THINGS I'VE HAD 2 BLOWOUTS TO THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE IN A 2 YEAR PERIOD. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WHEEL BUT I'M NOT SURE HE EVEN CHECKED BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE PROBLEMS HE HAD TO DEAL WITH. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, POPPED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FIRE ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. *AK *SCC *JB
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
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
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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