Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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. 16 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
DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS GETS REGULAR USE. BOLT BROKE WHEN SECOND ROW PASSENGER SIDE SEATBACK WAS RELEASED AND FOLDED FORWARD FOR ACCESS TO THIRD ROW SEATING. THE SEAT HAD NOT BEEN USED FOR THE PREVIOUS 2-3 WEEKS. SEAT IS STILL IN FOLDED POSITION. I AM RETIRED AND CANNOT AFFORD REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF SEAT. *TR
7 YEAR OLD CHILD SAT IN 3RD ROW PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AND THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. WHEN WE TOOK THE SEAT OUT WE NOTED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SEAT BACK TO THE BASE SEAT HAD SHEARED OFF OF BOTH SIDES. THIS SEAT HAS NORMAL USE AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED ESPECIALLY WITHOUT UNUSUAL FORCE BEING APPLIED TO THE SEATBACK. *TR
I NEED YOUR HELP TO RESOLVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN. MY DAUGHTER IS THE OWNER OF A 2003 KIA SEDONA. WITHIN A THREE MONTH PERIOD, THREE OF THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE FALLEN OFF THIS VEHICLE! AFTER EACH HANDLE FELL OFF, SHE REPORTED IT TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP. SHE LEARNED THAT DOOR HANDLES WERE NOT COVERED AND THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $250.00 PER DOOR TO HAVE THEM REPAIRED. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE IS NOW $750.00. KIA DOES NOT CONSIDER DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLES A SAFETY ISSUE SO THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE. IF MY FAMILY WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, MY FOUR LITTLE GRANDCHILDREN WOULD BE TRAPPED INSIDE THIS VEHICLE. SINCE I BEGAN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR KIA SEDONA VAN. THEIR COMPLAINTS ARE THE SAME'DOOR HANDLES THAT HAVE FALLEN OFF AND KIA REFUSING TO FIX THEM. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFEAT. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN ANTIQUE VEHICLES'ALL THEIR VEHICLES STILL HAVE THEIR ORIGINAL DOOR HANDLES. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF DOOR HANDLES FALLING OFF A VEHICLE, LET ALONE THREE! I CONTACTED BOTH OUR LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THE KIA CORPORATION. THE KIA CORPORATION OF AMERICA'S (800-333-4542) CONSUMER AFFAIRS ASSISTANT SOUNDED LIKE A ROBOT. SHE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM, THE TIME FOR REPORTING A MANUFACTURING DEFEAT WAS OVER AND THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE! SHE DID SAY THAT IF WE WANTED THEM TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE WE COULD BRING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, PAY FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT THEY WOULD STILL NOT PAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS JUST THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD! WHY WOULD I PAY THEM TO TELL ME AGAIN THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FIX THIS VEHICLE? WHEN I SPOKE TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN ST. AUGUSTINE, THEY WERE SYMPATHETIC, HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT ABSORB THE COSTS OF THE REPAIR. PLEASE HELP ALL THESE KIA SEDONA OWNERS WITH THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR
ONE BOLT HOLDING THE REAR SEAT BACK OF MY 2003 KIA SEDONA TO THE SEAT BASE HAS SHEARED OFF AND BROKEN ON BOTH OF MY REAR SEATS. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED AT OCCURRED AT SOMETIME PAST 124,000 MILES OF VEHICLE USE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHEN THE FOLDED SEAT BACKS WERE PUT INTO THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND THE SEAT BACK WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE, BUT INSTEAD MOVED BOTH UP AND DOWN AND FORWARD AND BACKWARD ON ONE SIDE WHILE THE OTHER SIDE WAS LOCKED IN PLACE IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE PROBLEM WAS THEN VERIFIED BY REMOVING THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT HINGE ASSEMBLY AND VISUALLY LOOKING AT THE SHEARED OFF BOLTS. BOTH REAR SEATS HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON THE SIDE CLOSEST TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEAT THE SHEARING TOOK PLACE ON THE SIDE CLOSEST TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE (THE LEFT SIDE AS YOU FACE THE REAR OF THIS SEAT).AND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT THE SHEARING TOOK PLACE ON THE SIDE CLOSEST TO THE EXTERIOR SIDE OF THE SEAT. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN SINCE OUR CHILDREN COULD HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT INJURY IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO DISCOVERY OF THE PROBLEM. THE FACT THAT NOT ONE BUT TWO BOLTS WERE SHEARED OFF ON TWO SEPARATE SEATS IS ALSO VERY TROUBLING. THE BOLTS ARE HOLDING ON BOTH REAR SEAT BACKS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED ON JUNE 23, 2009 IF THE DEALERSHIP HAS THE PARTS. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE DEALERSHIP WILL COVER THESE REPAIRS UNDER THE PRODUCT WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ENTER AND EXIT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WITH HER KEY OR REMOTE. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BREAK THE DOOR TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY SMASHED THE WINDOW INSTEAD. THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE REMAINING LOCKS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE NOT FAILED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HANDLES ON THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOORS BROKE OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE HANDLES WERE PLASTIC. THE DOORS WERE UNABLE TO BE OPENED BECAUSE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WERE ON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,500. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK
A RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THIS SEDONA 2003 ON FEBRUARY 12 2006, REGARDING POWER SEATS WIRING( NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V463000). ON JULY 10, 2006 WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME OUT THE FRONT DASH AND SUDDENLY A FIRE UNDER DRIVER WHEEL(GEAR) RIGHT NEXT TO MY WIFE'S LEFT LEG. DRIVERS WINDOWS WAS DOWN BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY SMOKE PRIOR TO THE FIRE STARTING, SO WHEN MY WIFE STOPPED THE SEDONA AND NOTICED THE FLAMES NEAR HER LEGS SHE JUMPED ON THE DRIVERS SEATS AND SINCE SHE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS POWER FAILURE DUE TO THE FIRE THEN SHE JUMPED THROUGH THE WINDOWS AND GOT OUT, SOMEBODY ELSE PUT OUT THE FIRE QUICKLY WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT HE USED THE KEY TO OPEN THE DOOR BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT OTHER WAY TO OPEN THAT DOOR. ALSO, NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE WHY THE DOOR DID NOT OPENED AT THAT TIME WHEN A FIRE GOING ON. ROAD ASSISTANCE CAME IN TO PICK UP THE SEDONA, THEN WAS TAKEN DOWN TO MOTORAMBAR, INC. AUTHORIZED KIA DEALER IN PUERTO RICO FOR INSPECTION AND TO GET A CERTIFIED DIAGNOSTICS ON HOW AND WHY THIS HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE ADVISOR SUPERVISOR THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST SEDONA THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH NO ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS OTHER THAN WHAT IT CAME ORIGINALLY WHEN I PURCHASED THE UNIT. THEY WERE GOING TO LET KIA MOTORS ENGINEERS KNOW ABOUT IT SO THEY CAN COME DOWN AND PERFORM AND INVESTIGATION ON WHY THIS HAPPENED AND HOW THE FIRE START AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THEY WILL CONTACT ME SO I CAN BE PRESENT WHEN THEY DO THE INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION, BUT THIS NEVER HAPPENED, I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A LACK OF INTEREST FROM KIA MOTORS OR THAT KIA MOTORS WERE NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT IT. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AND THE SEDONA IS STILL THERE GETTING RUSTY. AT THIS TIME THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB
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
THE BOLTS IN ALL OF THE SEATS CONTINUED TO BECOME LOOSE. THE BACK OF THE SEAT CONTINUED TO FALL BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS. THE FRONT SUSPENSION ALWAYS HAS TO BE TIGHTENED WHEN THE CONSUMER HAS THE VEHICLE SERVICE..
WHILE PARKED FOR TWO MINUETS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS GOING OUT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT BECAUSE YOU CANT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE CAR IS VERY DARK ON THE INSIDE. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN OVER 5 TIMES FOR REPAIR AND IT'S STILL NOT WORKING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (DASH BOARD LIGHTS). TWICE THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUSE WHICH THEY REPLACED BOTH TIMES. WITHIN THREE DAYS OF REPAIR THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AGAIN ON BOTH INSTANCES. THE THIRD TIME THEY SAID THE ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS LOOSE. THEY FIXED THE WIRING BUT APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK FOR REPAIR AND THEY SAID THE WIRING WAS LOOSE AGAIN AND THEY FIXED IT. AGAIN, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD SO THEY REPLACED IT. THIS TIME THE LIGHTS STAYED ON ABOUT A MONTH AND NOW IT'S OUT AGAIN.*AK
PIN/LATCH ON DOOR HANDLE BREAKS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP OR TURN SECOND ROW SEAT SLID FORWARD OR BACKWARD, NOT LOCKING IN PLACE WHEN PLACES IN THE FOLD DOWN POSITION. *AK
I HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON MY 2003 KIA SODONA. I PURCHASED THE VECHILE IN JUNE OF 2003, WE HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE VAN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS. THE AIRCONDTIONER STOP BLOWING COLD AIR WITH IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF OWNING IT, THIS HAS BEEN FIXED. PAINT HAS PEELED OFF THE FRONT BUMPER, SEAT BELT RATCHETING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING, ENGINE MOUNT NEEDED REPLACING, TANSMITION NEEDED ADJUSTING THREE TIMES, AND THE LAST PROBLEM WAS THE VECHILE WOULD LOCK WHEN EVER AND WHERE EVER IT FELT THE NEED TO. I LOCKED MY SELF OUT OF THE CAR WITH MY CHILDREN INSIDE MANY TIMES. THE DEALSHIP REPLACED A MAIN PANAL INSIDE THE DOOR. DESPITE, ALL THE TIMES I HAVE TAKEN IT IN, AT LEAST TWICE FOR EVERY PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO GIVE ME A CAR, MIND YOU I HAVE TWO CHILDREN TO CART AROUND ALL DAY. I AM EXTRMEMLY PEEVED ABOUT THIS VAN.
THE CENTER SEATS IN THE KIA SEDONA ARE THE RECLINING TYPE AND WHEN YOU TRY TO PUT IT UP-RIGHT THE BACK OF THE SEAT SLAMS UP AND THE WHOLE SEAT SHOOTS FORWARD AS HAPPEN TO MY DAUGHTER (9 YRS OLD). I POINTED THIS OUT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY HIM SITTING IN THE SEAT THAT HE HAD NO PROBLEM, THEN AGAIN HE IS A GROWN MEN WITH A BIT WEIGHT AND NOT A 9 YR OLD WHOSE FEET TO DO NOT TOUCH THE FLOOR WHEN SITTING IN THAT SEAT. WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL WHEN THIS OCCURRED. ALL I ASKED HER TO DO WAS PUT THE SEAT UP-RIGHT WHICH SHE HAD RECLINED TO READ. END RESULT WAS THE SEAT SLAMMED HER INTO THE (MY) SEAT AND HAD HER TRAPPED, HAD WE BEEN MOVING, WHAT THEN ????????*AK
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 (321-951-9595), I SPOKE WITH "ELVINA" AT KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTLY (2/14/2003 800-333-4542). ELVINA REFUSED TO HELP ME IN ANY WAY. SPECIFICALLY, SHE ALSO REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COMPLAINT IN WRITING. THESE SEATS ARE DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED TO MAKE THEM SAFER AND EASIER TO REMOVE. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS? *NLM
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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