2004 Kia Sedona Owner Complaints

In XXX, my 2004 Kia Sedona caught fire shortly after I arrived at work in [XXX]. My [XXX] daughter was with me because she was sick. After parking, I removed her from the back seat and went inside the salon. Minutes later, I returned and saw smoke coming from the engine. Within seconds, the front of the vehicle caught fire. The vehicle was parked near a building, and the fire and smoke spread toward the building. The fire department responded and made a report. The vehicle was completely disabled and later sold to a salvage yard because I could not drive or transport it. My insurance did not cover the fire because I did not have fire coverage. I am especially concerned because my daughter had been inside the vehicle moments before the fire. Fortunately, I removed her before the fire started. I later contacted Kia America, which opened Case No. XXX and requested the vehicle's location for investigation. Kia also requested preservation of the vehicle, but it had already been destroyed by the fire and sold to salvage. I am requesting that NHTSA review this incident for possible safety defects, recalls, investigations, or similar fire complaints involving the 2004 Kia Sedona or its components. I can provide the fire report, Kia correspondence, and other supporting records. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11767032

Incident

Oct 23, 2019

Everything appears normal driving down road bout 45 to 50 mph. Slowed down for car n front was turning when I noticed smoke coming from under hood around headlights both sides. Then we pulled into a storage unit place. When even more smoke . I got out popped hood it was all on fire. I turned off van and a friend and I got a couple cups and dipped in water puddle and put fire out , while we were watching to make sure it restarted 2 more times. After half hour goes by and no more smoke . Closed van up found a ride home after contacting insurance company.

NHTSA ID

11436117

Incident

Oct 7, 2021

I HAVE A 2004 KIA SENDONA LX VAN AND THE WHEEL BARRINGS ARE BAD I FIXED IT ONCE ALREADY A MONTH AGO AND IT IS ALREADY BROKEN AGAIN BOTH TIMES IT COMPLETELY FELL APART IN TO LITTLE PEICES WHEN I TOOK THE WHEEL OFF.

NHTSA ID

11319611

Incident

Mar 28, 2020

Mileage

18,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,100.

NHTSA ID

11193363

Incident

Mar 30, 2019

Mileage

100,100 mi

MY 2004 KIA SEDONA WAS SITTING STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY ENGINE WAS OFF. WHEN SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE PARTS ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE ENGINE. SUCH BE AS FLUID RESERVOIRS WIRING, FUSE BOX, AND MORE.

NHTSA ID

11141627

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

Mileage

25,000 mi

ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 AM, MY WIFE'S 2004 KIA SEDONA SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME. I HAD DRIVEN IT THAT MORNING TO RUN A QUICK ERRAND, ACTUAL DRIVE TIME LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR WITHOUT ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I RETURNED HOME, PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY BEHIND MY FORD WINDSTAR. BOTH MY WIFE AND MYSELF WERE IN OUR HOUSE WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD BOOM FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY A SECOND BOOM. THAT IS WHEN WE SAW THAT FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF HER VAN AND THE REAR OF MY WINDSTAR WAS ON FIRE. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER OUR LOCAL FIRE COMPANY ARRIVED AND BEGAN FIGHTING THE BLAZE. BY THAT TIME BOTH VEHICLES WERE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE KIA. BOTH VEHICLES ARE A TOTAL LOSS. UNTIL THIS INCIDENT, NOTWITHSTANDING BASIC MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS, THE KIA SEDONA WAS A VERY RELIABLE VEHICLE. AS WITH THE WINDSTAR, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS WERE DONE ON A REGULAR AND AS NEEDED BASIS BY THE SAME SHOP THAT HAS WORKED ON ALL OUR VEHICLES FOR OVER 10 YEARS. I AM SURE I CAN PRODUCE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR RECORDS IF NEEDED. THE LAST TIME THE KIA WAS SERVICED WAS LATE OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR TO REPLACE AN ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA ID

11080722

Incident

Dec 16, 2017

Mileage

214,000 mi

WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR IT IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF, AS IT OCCASIONALLY DOES. THE RPM'S DROPPED AND THE ENGINE CUT OUT. USUALLY THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED BY ME REVVING THE ENGINE FOR A MINUTE OR TWO, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED LONGER THAN USUAL. IT EVENTUALLY STAYED ON AND I TRIED TO DRIVE AWAY. AS I CHANGED INTO GEAR EVERYTHING SEEMED OKAY, I REVERSED FROM WHERE I WAS PARKED THEN I PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND I WAS STUCK THERE FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS LUCKILY. I DROVE BACK TO WHERE I WAS PARKED AND AS I STOPPED THE ENGINE CUT OUT ON ME. THIS TYPICALLY HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS BELOW HALF. I MANAGED TO GET TO A GAS STATION AND FILL UP AND THAT STOPPED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10993222

Incident

Jun 5, 2017

Mileage

101,294 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" ON TUESDAY MAY 9, 2017 WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. TO OUR AMAZEMENT AND HORROR, NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED . 'WE WERE HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VAN . THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR REQUIRED ASSISTANCE FROM THE POLICE/FIRE FIGHTERS ASSISTANCE TO EXIT THE VAN HOWEVER THE SLIDING DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED REQUIRING REMOVING THE BABY THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WE BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN OUR VAN WAS STRUCK BY THE OTHER CAR EXITING A PARKING LOT. NEITHER ONE OF US SAW THE ADVANCE NOR IMPACT OF THE OTHER CAR. AFTER REALIZING WHAT HAPPENED WE CALL EMERGENCY VEHICLES FOR ASSISTANCE. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO MOVE OUR VAN TO A SAFE LOCATION AND WAIT FOR H

NHTSA ID

10992708

Incident

May 9, 2017

Mileage

158,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA. WHILE STATIONARY, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10985783

Incident

May 15, 2017

Mileage

110,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL..MY VAN STALLS OUT NO MATTER WHERE..STOPPED AT IDLE IT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF..DRIVING AVERAGE SPEED IN TOWN 45MPH IT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF..ON THE HWY. SPEEDS AVERAGE FROM 55 TO 70 MPH IT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF ..IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS..I HAVE REPLACED THE FOLLOWING.. FUEL PUMP FUEL FILTER FUEL PUMP RELAYS THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR OXYGEN SENSOR FUEL COIL PACKS SPARK PLUGS INTAKE GASKETS INJECTORS AIR FILTER JUST LIKE THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON THE FORUMEBAY ABOUT KIA SEDONA..I'VE PUT $1000'S IN THE VAN WITH NO SOLUTION TO THE DANGEROUS ISSUES..THE ONLY THING LEFT TO CHANGE IS THE INTERNAL WIRING..THIS PROBLEM IS WAY TO COMMON FOR KIA NOT TO HAVE A RECALL ON IT..ITS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT..NOT JUST FOR ME BUT FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS A KIA SEDONA..ITS OBVIOUSLY A SHORT IN THE WIRING AND IS A MANUFACTURER FLAW FOR SO MANY PEOPLE TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE..BTW MY VAN ONLY HAS 100.000 MILES ON IT I'VE SEEN SOME AS LOW AS 30.000 WITH THIS SAME ISSUE..NO EXCUSES FOR THIS..ANY KIND OF ELECTRONIC SHORT OUT HAS POTENTIAL FOR FIRE NOT TO MENTION THE HAZARDS OF THE VAN RANDOMLY STOPPING IN TOWN AT INTERSECTION ON THE INTERSTATE .

NHTSA ID

10969516

Incident

Mar 30, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

MY STEERING IN MY 2004 KIA SEDONA LX IS TENDING TO BIND AND NEARLY LOCK UP AROUND TURNS. THIS PROBLEM COMES AND GOES.

NHTSA ID

10788466

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

Mileage

120,500 mi

UPON RETURNING HOME AND PARKING MY VAN AFTER RUNNING AN ERRAND OF ABOUT 5 MILES, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, RAN TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITHIN 60 (SIXTY) SECONDS AFTER SEEING THE SMOKE. REMOVING THE AIR CLEANER AND OTHER COMPONENTS, -- THE WIRE HARNESS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS FOUND CHARRED BY THE FIRE. NO IMMEDIATE REASON WAS FOUND FOR THIS INCIDENT TO OCCUR.

NHTSA ID

10716372

Incident

May 13, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED AFTER DRIVING ENGINE WAS OFF . HISTORY OF OIL LEAKS. #15003607 VAN TOTALED AND SENT TO SALVAGE YARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10695433

Incident

Jan 27, 2015

Mileage

172,000 mi

MY VAN WONT STEER. IT IS TIGHT AND WONT LET ME GO LEFT OR RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

10681668

Incident

Feb 6, 2015

Mileage

297,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA. WHILE OPENING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE, ALL FOUR DOORS ON THE VEHICLE LOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 6/11/15*CN UPDATED 06/16/15*JB

NHTSA ID

10669086

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS THE BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER OF STEERING. WHEN TAKEN TO KIA DEALERSHIP TO FIX PROBLEM THEY TOLD US IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG KIA CARS. THEY CHECKED ALL BELTS, BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ALL TESTS CAME BACK NORMAL. WHILE DRIVING IT IS DANGEROUS TO LOSE POWER OF STEERING ESPECIALLY IN WET CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668374

Incident

Oct 7, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATED AND SEIZED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE AT A SLOWER SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V329000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10638653

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

96,000 mi

WHILE MAKING RIGHT AND LEFT TURNS THE STEERING BECOMES VERY TIGHT. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS FINE. NO OTHER WARNINGS. THIS MADE ME VERY SCARED TO MAKE TURNS. I DID MY BEST TO AVOID TURNS ONLY IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR TWO DAYS. IN MY 32 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME. WHEN I TOOK IT TO TIRE CHOICE AND TOTAL CAR CARE THEY SAID IT WAS MY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD IT REPLACED THAT DAY 9/20/14. *TR

NHTSA ID

10638133

Incident

Sep 18, 2014

Mileage

129,994 mi

WIRING UNDER SEAT SHORTED CAUSING SMALL FIRE INSIDE..EXTINGUISHED WIRING UNDER CAR IN SAME AREA MELTED SHORTING EVERY THING OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10622317

Incident

Jul 30, 2014

Mileage

139,685 mi

STEERING NOISE AND HIGHER THAN NORMAL STEERING RESISTANCE REFERENCE BULLETIN TSB-019 THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL! ARE WE JUST WAITING FOR A WRECK THAT ACTUALLY KILLS SOME ONE? WE WERE TURNING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND HAD TO BE TURNED BACK TO STRAIGHT OR ELSE IT WOULD HAVE JUST KEPT TURNING US INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584969

Incident

Apr 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA .THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DEER BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10559674

Incident

Jan 9, 2014

Mileage

152,500 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND SET OF DOUGLAS TIRES I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR EVEN THOUGH WALMART SAYS IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THEY GET HOLES IN THE SIDE OF THE TIRES THIS TIME THE WHOLE INSIDE OF MY TIRE IS GONE LOOKS LIKE ROPE HANGING OUT ME AND MY DAUGHTER COULD OF BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED SO I THINK THAT DOUGLAS SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE MY TIRES ON MY KIA MINI VAN I AM SICK AND TIRED OF WALMART AND THE DOUGLAS TIRES I CANNOT AFFORD MORE TIRES HERE IS THE DOT NUMBER ON THE TIRES AND THE SIZETHEY R EXTRA TRAC [[ MTS 215/70R15 MD34 O1R 17/11 SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536846

Incident

Aug 22, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE OFF THE ROADWAY AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE AGENCY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10532292

Incident

Jun 26, 2013

Mileage

135,000 mi

ABS MODULE IS DEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10531691

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

63,000 mi

VAN DOES NOT STAY STARTED. SENSOR CONTROL AND SHORT ON SEATS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501254

Incident

Dec 26, 2011