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 2004 Kia Sedona submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 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 29, in the owner's own words
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.
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.
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.
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.
MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO START. WILL SUBSEQUENTLY TURN OVER FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND FINALLY "CATCHES" AND WILL RUN ROUGH. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL RUN ROUGH, HESITATE AND STALL, MOSTLY AT TIMES DURING A FULL STOP ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO NORMAL DRIVING SPEED IN TRAFFIC AND THROUGH TURNING. UPON INSPECTION AT DEALERSHIP, NO FAULTY PARTS FOUND AND CONDITION "DISAPPEARS". UPON RECEIPT OF VEHICLE FROM DEALERSHIP, PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO PLAGUE VEHICLE. REPLACED MANY PARTS UNDER THE ADVISEMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE NEVER FOUND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. NO CHECK ENGINE CODE PRESENT DURING PROBLEM. HAS LEFT FAMILY STRANDED ON MORE THAN A FEW OCCASIONS MAKING VEHICLE UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE. *TR
CPSC#I1230221A. 2004 KIA SEDONA. CONSUMER STATED HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE VEHICLE DUE TO STALLING. THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE IDLING AND WHILE DRIVING. LOSS OF POWER RESULTS IN DIFFICULTY IN STEERING THE VEHICLE. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED NONE OF THE REPAIRS, HAVE FIXED THE STALLING ISSUE.
VAN WAS MAKING A HIGH-PITCHED WHINING SOUND. TOOK IT IN AND FOUND THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEY TESTED IT AND IT WAS STILL NOT RUNNING PROPERLY SO THEY DUG A LITTLE DEEPER AND FOUND THAT THE COILS AND WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. GOT THE VAN BACK IN WORKING CONDITION AND LESS THAN TWO DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THANKS TO LAWS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WE CANNOT REPLACE WITH AN AFTERMARKET ($200); INSTEAD WE WERE QUOTED $1K, AND THAT APPARENTLY IS ON THE CHEAP SIDE. THE GOV.'T HAS A WARRANTY PROGRAM TO REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ON VEHICLES 80,000 MILES OR LESS. WE WERE JUST OUT OF THAT LIMIT. TOO BAD FOR US. WE'RE TRADING IT IN. *TR
I OWN A 2004 KIA SEDONA 3.5L THAT I PURCHASED ON 08-31-2010 WITH 53638 MILES ON IT. ON 01-25-2011 AS I WAS DRIVING I HEARD A RATTLING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I STOPPED TO OPEN THE HOOD AND CONFIRM THAT IT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE, IT WAS. I DROVE TO THE NEAREST AUTO MECHANIC AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED TO BE TOLD THAT I HAD A BLOWN ENGINE AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I HAD IT TOWED TO HE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP TO BE LOOKED AT FURTHER. THE ENGINE WAS OPENED UP TO BE INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE #6 CYLINDER WAS COMING APART AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE VAN CURRENTLY HA ONLY 59430 MILES ON IT. IT IS UNDER THE 60000 MILE WARRANTY MARK BUT OVER THE 5 YEAR PORTION. I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A KIA SERVICE BULLETIN THAT MENTIONED THAT THE 2004 KIA SEDONA 3.5L ENGINE HAD SCORING ON THE #6 CYLINDER FROM THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS WHICH ALSO RESULTED IN A GASKET DEFECT OR MALFUNCTION. THIS CLEARLY SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SERVICE. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY CASE OF THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM WITH THE #6 CYLINDER. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 KIA SEDONA THE REAR COOLANT LINES HAVE FAILED AND NOW I AM LEAKING COOLANT AND IT WILL COST $1000 TO FIX. IT HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. NOW I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR SAFELY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY MAKE A JERKING MOTION AND STALL WITHOUT WARNING; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE OWNER. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME AND AGAIN THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ALSO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT, A SPECIALIST AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE EMISSIONS SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE VALVE WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS PERFORMED AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA. IN JUNE OF 2007, WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE DATES WERE AUGUST 20, 2007 AT 74,200 MILES AND SEPTEMBER 9, 2007 AT 77,450 MILES. WHEN THE CONTACT APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED ON MARCH 28, 2008. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AT 83,000 MILES. THE CONTACT WAS NEAR A NAPA AUTO PARTS STORE AND PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO DIFFERENT KIA DEALERS TO ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, BUT THEY WERE ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,400. UPDATED 04/29/08 *BF
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA. WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE STALLS. THE VEHICLE CAN BE RESTARTED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER; HOWEVER, A LOCAL MECHANIC COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
I HAVE REPAIR PAPERWORK FROM THE TWO PAST OWNERS. THE KIA SADONA ENGINE DIES FOR NO REASON WHAT SO EVER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. TODAY, IT ALMOST GOT MY FAMILY KILLED BECAUSE IT STALLED AT AN INTERSECTION THEY WERE CROSSING THROUGH. *TR
THIS VAN HAS BRAKE PROBLEMS SQUEAKING AND WEARING OUT PADS WAY TOO FAST. I WAS TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM BUT WHEN TAKING IT TO A BRAKE SHOP I WAS TOLD THE CALIPERS ARE BAD, KIA HAS NOT FIXED THEM AND DENIES THAT THEY'RE BAD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS TOLD THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD MISFIRED, THAT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEN ANOTHER SPARK PLUG MISFIRED AND WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. THE OIL LEVEL WAS GETTING LOW BUT I HAD NO LEAK AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL FILTER WAS SIMPLY LOOSE SO THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT. I ASKED IF I SHOULD BRING THE VAN BACK IN A WEEK TO HAVE THE OIL LEVEL CHECKED AND WE WERE ASSURED THERE WAS NO LEAK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED, DID NOT STAY ILLUMINATED, SO WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY, AS THE OWNERS MANUAL AND THE MECHANIC HAD STATED. THEN WE'RE TOLD THAT THERE'S SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT IT WILL BE 2,000 DOLLARS TO TAKE IT APART AND CHECK THE DAMAGE THAT WE CAUSED FROM CONTINUING TO DRIVE IT. THEY NEVER TOLD US THERE WAS ANY REASON TO NOT DRIVE IT NOR DID THEY MENTION SLUDGE PREVIOUSLY. THE VAN WILL BE TOWED BACK TO KIA TOMORROW. *TR
CAR BUCKING AND SHIFTING PROBLEMS. KIA HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SEDONA AND FUEL PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF BUT REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. THE CAR STALLS ON THE FREE WAY IT BUCK VIOLENTLY AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE FACING. *JB
MY 2004 KIA SEDONA HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT AND IS IN THE 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER PART OF THE WARRANTY. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO ALBERT KIA. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE CAR HAD A BLOWN ENGINE AND THAT IT WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, WE NEEDED TO BRING IN ALL THE OIL CHANGE RECORDS FOR WARRANTY PURPOSES -WHICH WE DID. THAT DEALERSHIP WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND THE CAR WAS NEVER REPAIRED. A REP FROM KIA USA TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TOW MY CAR TO BALISE KIA IN WARWICK, RI. TWO DAYS LATER, SCOTT, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT BALISE, CALLED TO TELL ME THAT HE AND THE DISTRICT MANAGER HAD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT HAD 5 LITERS TOO MUCH OIL IN IT. I TOLD SCOTT THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT ALBERT KIA HAD ALREADY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND REPORTED A BLOWN ENGINE, NEVER ONCE MENTIONING ANYTHING ABOUT TOO MUCH OIL. WITHIN THE 72 HOURS, JEFF FROM KIA USA CALLED AND INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD MY CASE. AFTER A BRIEF REVIEW, JEFF ASKED ME TO FAX OVER THE SERVICE RECORDS TO HIM. ON JANUARY 16TH, MY CASE WAS GIVEN TO RUSSELL STUART. LATER IN JANUARY, THE KIA DM AND I CHECKED THE OIL TOGETHER AND NOTED THAT IT WAS NOT OVER THE FILL LINE. THE DM REMOVED THE OIL CAP, LOOKED AT THE UNDERSIDE, AND NOTED THAT IT FILLED COVERED WITH SLUDGE. THE DM NOW STATED THAT THE CAR NEVER HAD AN OIL CHANGE - VOIDING THE WARRANTY. I ASKED IF THE SLUDGE ON THE BACK OF THE CAP WAS THE RESULT OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE DM SAID NO. MY SON, AN ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN, FOUND A KIA ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATING THAT SOME 2004 SEDONA MODELS WITH THE 3.5 LITER ENGINE HAD A DEFECT THAT LEFT A SCORE MARK AT THE #6 CYLINDER ON THE HEAD, RESULTING IN HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT 4 WEEKS AFTER KIA SAID THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BUT KIA WILL NOT LEND ANY CREDENCE TO THIS BULLETIN REGARDING MY VEHICLE. I'M STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR 3 MONTHS.*AK
HAD TO GET MY CAR SERVICED BECAUSE ANTIFREEZE WAS POURING OUT OF MY CAR. AFTER THEY LOOKED AT MY CAR I WAS NOTIFIED THAT KIA DOES NOT HAVE THE PART TO FIX MY CAR BUT INSISTS THAT I CAN STILL DRIVE IT. MEANWHILE I NEED TO FILL UP THE TANK AFTER MY ERRANDS FOR THE DAY, THAT'S AN ESTIMATE OF $20 A DAY!THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE UP TO 2-3 WEEKS UNTIL THIS PART CAME IN. I FOUND IT DISTURBING HOW THEY TOLD ME I CAN DRIVE THIS CAR WHILE IT POURS OUT ANTIFREEZE (ANTIFREEZE IS POISON TO ANIMALS). ALSO TO GET IT SERVICED I CALLED THE PLACE WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY COULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT MY CAR TILL ANOTHER 3 WEEKS OR SO. MY CAR IS NOW AN HOUR AWAY AND KIA WILL NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A RENTAL. ITS A SHAME HOW THEY SCAM PEOPLE INTO BUYING THE CAR FOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE ONCE THEY HAVE YOUR MONEY THEY DON'T CARE AFTER THAT. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE ENGINE SHORT BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE ISSUE.
THE VAN WILL LUNGE OR CUT-OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPEATED THIS PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL EMPLOYEES. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IS CAUSING THIS OR HOW TO REPAIR. SO THEY KEEP GIVING IT BACK TO US UN-REPAIRED. *JB
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. ENGINE WAS KNOCKING. CALLED THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS MY GAS CAP NOT LOCKED ON PROPERLY. WHEN I FINALLY BROUGHT IT IN THEY HAD TO DO AN ENTIRE TUNE UP BECAUSE A PLUG WAS MISFIRING. *JB
NONE. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA MINI VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THEIR RECALL 03V158000 CONCERNING ABS BRAKES WAS ISSUED IN 2003 FOR THE 2003 KIA SEDONA. THIS VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT INCLUDE 2004 IN THE RECALL. FRONT ENDS SHIMMIED WHILE BRAKING. SHE WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE RECALL STATED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES AND RESULT IN A CRASH. KIA HAS TURNED THE ROTORS AND PADS FOUR TIMES. WHILE MAKING A HARD STOP WHEN COMING OFF OF A FREEWAY THE FRONT END, STEERING WHEEL, AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOOK AND SHIMMIED. THE CONTACT HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE ON MARCH 14, 2004. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE RIGHT NOW UNDER THE RECALL. SHE WAS IN TOUCH WITH ARBITRATION, AND WITH CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO POSSIBLY APPLY THE LEMON LAW FOR THIS VEHICLE. SHE HAS A LETTER THAT WAS WRITTEN FROM KIA GENERAL SALES MANAGER, WHERE SHE TAKES VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. THE LETTER STATED: THAT 2003 RECALL CAME FROM KIA MOTOR CORPORATION NOT FROM DEALERSHIP. THEREFORE, SHE MIGHT QUALIFY FOR THE LEMON LAW. ALSO, TOLD HER TO PURSUE THE PROBLEM THAT WAY. THE CONTACT HAS COPIES OF THE LETTERS AVAILABLE FROM THE AGENCIES THAT SHE CORRESPONDED WITH. THE CONSUMER ALSO HEARD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE *AK *NM
HAD ENGINE AND TRANS PROBLEMS AT 1200 MI. FOUND METAL IN ENGINE AND COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY. HAVE HAD RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES/ROTORS IN WHICH HAVE HAD ROTORS REPLACED AND NEW PADS AS WELL. HAS HAD VIBRATION IN ENGINE ON OTHER OCCASIONS IN WHICH FOUND CRACK IN SPARK PLUG. INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. MY VAN WOULD NOT START ONE DAY AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO KIA IN LEX AND THEY HAD IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND WAS NEVER GIVEN A REASONABLE ANSWER TO WHAT IT WAS THAT CAUSED IT TO NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL, HOWEVER TO MANY OCCURRENCES FOR ANY NEW VEHICLE SO PLAN TO START LITIGATION TO DECLARE IT A LEMON! *NM
DT: THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON MARCH 30, 2004. AFTER THE ENGINE STALLED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER BUT SLOWLY REGAINED IT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST 6 TIMES. KIA SAYS THAT A CYLINDERS IS MISFIRING , PLUGGING WIRES ARE CROSS FIRING. THE DATES OF FAILURE ARE APRIL 13, 2004, AUGUST 13, 2004, OCTOBER 19, 2004 AND MARCH 11, 2005, MAY 12, 2005 AND FINALLY JUNE 21, 2005. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS FAMILIES LIVES HAVE BEEN IN DANGER THREE TIMES. *AK *NM
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVEABLE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK DEALER STATED PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICL HARNESS. ALSO HAVING MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR; TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES; THERMOSTAT ASSEMBLY; POWER STEERING LEAKED; INPUT SPEED SENSOR; LOW GROUND VOLTAGE FAILED; FUSE BLOCK PROBLEMS; CRUISE CONTROL. CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES OFTEN WHILE ON AN INCLINE AT 45 TO 55 MPH AS IF VEHICLE'S ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WAS RACING. *TT *TC
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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