IllustrationPOWER STEERING MAKES WHINING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL, POWER STEER FLUID LOW IN CANISTER DUE TO LEAKS. HARD TO TURN TO THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING. DON'T KNOW IF BELTS AFFECTED I HEAR A HUMMING SOUND. DON'T KNOW IF THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS WORKING PROPERLY. CONSTANTLY ADDING FLUID TO THE CANISTER.
2004 Kia Sedona Ex
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sedona Ex years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
525–50K
1050–75K
975–100K
4100–150K
2150K+
33 reports with mileage · 4 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports
Steering complaints
11 reportsWHILE DRIVING TODAY, I NOTICED A WHINING NOISE, WITH A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE TO IT AS WELL. INITIALLY THINKING IT WAS THE BRAKES, I LISTENED CLOSER AND REALIZED IT WAS NOT HAPPENING WHEN BRAKING BUT RATHER SEEMED TO BE HAPPENING WHEN TURNING, PRIMARILY DURING ACCELERATION. SOON AFTER THE TURN AS I STEADIED SPEED, THE NOISE WOULD…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING TODAY, I NOTICED A WHINING NOISE, WITH A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE TO IT AS WELL. INITIALLY THINKING IT WAS THE BRAKES, I LISTENED CLOSER AND REALIZED IT WAS NOT HAPPENING WHEN BRAKING BUT RATHER SEEMED TO BE HAPPENING WHEN TURNING, PRIMARILY DURING ACCELERATION. SOON AFTER THE TURN AS I STEADIED SPEED, THE NOISE WOULD DECREASE OR DISAPPEAR. AFTER THE FIRST FEW TIMES MAKING TURNS HOWEVER, IN ADDITION TO THE NOISE THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO BECAME VERY STIFF AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT PROGRESSED SO SUDDENLY AND SEVERELY THAT I WAS WORRIED I MAY NOT MAKE IT HOME WITHOUT CRASHING. THIS ALL HAPPENED DURING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES OF DRIVING IN TOWN. SINCE RETURNING HOME I BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE WHAT THE LIKELY CULPRIT MAY BE, AND NOW BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT IT IS THE UNIVERSAL JOINT; A PROBLEM THAT HAS CLEARLY EFFECTED ENOUGH KIA SEDONA OWNERS THAT I FIND THE LACK OF RECALL QUITE MADDENING AND A BIT CONFOUNDING. WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE VAN AT THE TIME, IT IS PLAIN TO SEE HOW POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS THIS PROBLEM IS, AND I AM JUST GRATEFUL THAT THERE WAS SO LITTLE TRAFFIC AT THE TIME; HAD IT BEEN A BUSIER TIME OF DAY OR MORE HEAVILY POPULATED TOWN, I BELIEVE A CRASH WOULD'VE BEEN HIGHLY UNAVOIDABLE. *TR
THE STEERING STARTED TO BECOME DIFFICULT WHILE DRIVING ,INTERMITTENTLY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU NEVER KNEW IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN. EVENTUALLY JUST STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER ,I DID ALOT OF ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ,WITH THE STEERING KNUCKLE BINDING BECAUSE OF CORROSION . ALL AND ALL THINK THE VEHICL…
Read full complaint
THE STEERING STARTED TO BECOME DIFFICULT WHILE DRIVING ,INTERMITTENTLY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU NEVER KNEW IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN. EVENTUALLY JUST STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER ,I DID ALOT OF ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ,WITH THE STEERING KNUCKLE BINDING BECAUSE OF CORROSION . ALL AND ALL THINK THE VEHICLE WAS VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT AND ALOT OF AMENITIES ARE AWESOME IN THIS VEHICLE ,WHY DOESN'T KIA JUST OFFER A RECALL ,SINCE THEY HAVE ALREADY POSTED A BULLETIN FOR THIS? CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND REALIZE THIS PART IS ALWAYS ON BACK ORDER COME ON KIA MAN UP. *TR
WE WERE HEARING A GRINDING TYPE NOISE WHEN WE WERE MAKING A TURN SO WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A BAD RACK AND PINION AND ARE REPLACING IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE GOING OUT AT 70,000 MILES. AS OF RIGHT NOW, KIA WILL NOT REPLACE IT FOR US. *…
Read full complaint
WE WERE HEARING A GRINDING TYPE NOISE WHEN WE WERE MAKING A TURN SO WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A BAD RACK AND PINION AND ARE REPLACING IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE GOING OUT AT 70,000 MILES. AS OF RIGHT NOW, KIA WILL NOT REPLACE IT FOR US. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 KIA SEDONA MINI-VAN. ON THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER 6, 2009 THE STEERING COLUMN ESSENTIALLY SEIZED ON ME. THE VAN BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS UNDRIVEABLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR PREVIOUS INDICATIONS. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE VAN TO A SHOP ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2004 KIA SEDONA MINI-VAN. ON THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER 6, 2009 THE STEERING COLUMN ESSENTIALLY SEIZED ON ME. THE VAN BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS UNDRIVEABLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR PREVIOUS INDICATIONS. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE VAN TO A SHOP ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009 WHERE THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT KIA HAD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR STEERING DIFFICULTIES DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN. GIVEN THE SEVERE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS OF THIS SITUATION, I BELIEVE THAT KIA SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE AND SHOULD REIMBURSE OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE PART REPLACED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA EX. SHE HAD TO EXERT GREAT FORCE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBI…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA EX. SHE HAD TO EXERT GREAT FORCE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
STEERING BINDS WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN FROM CORNERING/TURNING AS IT NORMALLY WOULD. STEERING BINDING MAKES NORMAL HANDLING DIFFICULT. REPAIR SHOP SPRAYED STEERING KNUCKLE/JOINT WITH LUBRICANT BUT AFTER A 2 MONTH PERIOD THE STEERING IS BINDING ONCE AGAIN. THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE AND A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
2004 KIA SEDONA EX. I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED (UNDER 60K MILE WARRANTY) BECAUSE STEERING GOT TIGHT AND NOISY. NOW 5 MONTHS LATER (AND OUT OF WARRANTY) THEY TELL ME THE STEERING KNUCKLE (OR UNIVERSAL - NOT VERY SPECIFIC) NEEDS REPLACED AT A COST OF $200. I TOOK THIS TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPAIR OF THE FRONT…
Read full complaint
2004 KIA SEDONA EX. I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED (UNDER 60K MILE WARRANTY) BECAUSE STEERING GOT TIGHT AND NOISY. NOW 5 MONTHS LATER (AND OUT OF WARRANTY) THEY TELL ME THE STEERING KNUCKLE (OR UNIVERSAL - NOT VERY SPECIFIC) NEEDS REPLACED AT A COST OF $200. I TOOK THIS TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPAIR OF THE FRONT HEEL BEARINGS (100K WARRANTY ON THESE) AND FOR EVALUATION OF THE DANGEROUS STEERING. THIS VAN SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, AND YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO "UN-STEER" WHEN GOING AROUND A BEND. THE WHEEL WILL STAY IN THE POSITION YOU STEER IT TO AND WOULD RUN RIGHT OFF THE ROAD IF YOU DO NOT FORCE IT BACK TO CENTER. *TR
MY 2004 KIA SEDONA WITH 85,000 MILES LOST STEERING. I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT KILLED. REPAIR SHOP STATES THAT THE SHAFT BROKE, RACK AND PINION WENT AND THE CLOCK SPRING WENT. IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT. *TR
PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. POPPING AND LOUD TIGHT SOMETIMES. CONCERNED THAT IT COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Official recalls
105V463000 · Seats
Oct 5, 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER SEATS, THE WIRING UNDER THE FRONT SEATS COULD BE MISROUTED, ALLOWING CONTACT WITH METAL SEAT COMPONENTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONTACT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT CONDITION THAT MAY RESULT IN A FIRE IN THE JUNCTION BOX AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RE-ROUTE THE WIRES UNDER THE POWER SEATS, IF NECESSARY, AS WELL AS INSTALL PROTECTIVE SEAMING WELTS AROUND THOSE WIRES TO BETTER INSULATE THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 28, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA08017 · Steering Intermediate Shaft Binding
Opened Aug 28, 2008 · Closed Jul 1, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
ODIS ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY DATA SHOWS THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS OCCURRED AT A RELATIVELY HIGH FREQUENCY IN SALT-BELT STATES (5.9 PERCENT).HOWEVER, THE TESTS CONDUCTED BY ODI AND KIA HAVE SHOWN THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS A MINIMAL EFFECT ON STEERING EFFORTS.IN ADDITION, ODI INTERVIEWS OF OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE ALLEGED DEFECT SHOWED THAT IN MOST CASES THE PROBLEM WAS PRECEDED BY MONTHS OR YEARS OF NOISE OR A GRADUAL INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORTS AND WAS MORE OF A NUISANCE CONCERN. THERE HAS BEEN ONE ALLEGATION OF A MINOR CRASH RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT, INVOLVING A MY 2003 KIA SEDONA WITH 59,900 MILES.THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHECKED TWICE IN THE PREVIOUS NINE MONTHS BY A DEALER FOR COMPLAINTS OF STIFF STEERING AND THAT THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS INTERMITTENTLY LOSING POWER ASSIST.THE CRASH OCCURRED AS THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES PER HOUR AND STRUCK A VEHICLE PARKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING INTO. THE CRASH RESULTED IN MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. AFTER THE CRASH, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS EXHIBITING SOME BINDING OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARINGS.WHILE THE ABSENCE OF ADDITIONAL CRASHES OR INJURIES DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE IS NOT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT, THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTED ADDITIONAL CRASHES CAUSED BY THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE RELEASE OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SHOULD ASSIST SERVICE PERSONAL IN DIAGNOSING THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM LONG BEFORE IT BECOMES POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REFER TO THE EA08-017 CLOSING REPORT.
PE08033 · Steering Binding
Opened Apr 28, 2008 · Closed Aug 28, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
ON APRIL 28, 2008, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE08-033 TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING STEERING BINDING IN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 KIA SEDONA MINIVANS.KIA'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S REQUEST FOR INFORMATION IN PE08-033 INDICATED THAT CONCERNS WITH BINDING OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WERE FIRST IDENTIFIED AND INVESTIGATED IN AUGUST 2002, IN VEHICLES SOLD IN INDONESIA.THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN THE ADDITION OF A STIFFENING RIB TO THE BEARING CAP SEAL.IN JUNE 2003, KIA AGAIN INVESTIGATED OWNER COMPLAINTS OF STEERING NOISE AND HIGHER THAN NORMAL STEERING RESISTANCE AND IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER OF 2003 DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT BEARINGS WERE MADE TO IMPROVE LUBRICANT RETENTION AND ELIMINATE WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD LEAD TO EARLY BEARING FAILURE.ACCORDING TO KIA, THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTS IN A PROGRESSIVE CHANGE IN STEERING EFFORT THAT SHOULD BE APPARENT TO THE DRIVER THROUGH NOISE AND GRADUAL CHANGES IN STEERING STIFFNESS LONG BEFORE THE CONDITION COULD BECOME DANGEROUS. ODI'S ANALYSES OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT SHOW THAT THE CONDITION IS OCCURRING AT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATES IN SALT-BELT STATES (NOTE:FOR PURPOSES OF THIS INVESTIGATION THE SALT BELT INCLUDES CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN).THE WARRANTY RATE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS 5.5% FOR VEHICLES SOLD IN THE SALT BELT AND 0.5% FOR THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES.THE COMPLAINT RATE FOR THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS 186.8 PER 100,000 VEHICLES IN THE SALT BELT AND 29.4 PER 1000,000 VEHICLES FOR THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES.THERE IS ONE ALLEGATION OF A CRASH RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SUBJECT VEHICLE STRUCK TWO PARKED CARS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ALLEGEDLY RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. ODI HAS UPGRADED THIS INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-017) COVERING MY 2002 THROUGH 2004 KIA SEDONA VEHICLES SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN SALT BELT STATES TO ASSESS THE FREQUENCY AND TREND OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AND ITS EFFECT ON STEERING EFFORT.