NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
37 reports47,000 miles · Sep 14, 2010
Wheels
VEHICLE: 2004 KIA SEDONA AT 47K MILES ROARING NOISE COMING FROM REAR-END. NOTIFIED KIA SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL ON CERTAIN 2004 MODELS BUT THEY SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL...GO FIGURE. I HAD MY LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP REPLACE BOTH INNER AND OUTER WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE REAR AXLE. THEY SHOWED ME THE OLD BEARINGS WH…
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VEHICLE: 2004 KIA SEDONA AT 47K MILES ROARING NOISE COMING FROM REAR-END. NOTIFIED KIA SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL ON CERTAIN 2004 MODELS BUT THEY SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL...GO FIGURE. I HAD MY LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP REPLACE BOTH INNER AND OUTER WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE REAR AXLE. THEY SHOWED ME THE OLD BEARINGS WHICH WERE RUSTY AND HAD PITS. IT APPEARS THAT ALL 2004 MODELS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10355445
50,599 miles · May 5, 2010
Electrical SystemSeats
ON OR ABOUT MARCH 20, 2010, WHILE MY WIFE WAS OPERATING OUR 2004 KIA SEDONA VAN, THE LEFT FRONT (DRIVERS SEAT) POWER SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY FORWARD WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DRIVER DID NOT INITIATE ACTION. SEAT COULD NOT BE MOVED TO THE REARWARD POSITION. MILEAGE AT THIS TIME (MARCH 2010 WAS 50,599) THIS SAME ACTION OCCUR…
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ON OR ABOUT MARCH 20, 2010, WHILE MY WIFE WAS OPERATING OUR 2004 KIA SEDONA VAN, THE LEFT FRONT (DRIVERS SEAT) POWER SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY FORWARD WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DRIVER DID NOT INITIATE ACTION. SEAT COULD NOT BE MOVED TO THE REARWARD POSITION. MILEAGE AT THIS TIME (MARCH 2010 WAS 50,599) THIS SAME ACTION OCCURRED ON ONE PREVIOUS OCCASION(WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE) ON OR ABOUT FEBRUARY 17, 2009, AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LAFOUNTAINE KIA, DEARBORN, MICHIGAN FOR SERVICING. VEHICLE MILEAGE AT THIS TIME WAS 40,431. BASED ON THE INVOICE FOR THAT WORK THE SWITCH BOX ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS AGAIN AT LAFOUNTAINE KIA FOR REPAIRS. HOWEVER AT THIS NO WARRANTY EXIST FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. LAFOUNTAINE STATED THAT PARTS AND LABOR FROM THE FEBRUARY 2009 INCIDENT ARE ONLY COVERED FOR 12 MONTHS/12,000 MILES. SO WHAT I HAVE IS A 2004 KIA SEDONA VAN IN WHICH DURING A ROUGHLY 13 MONTH PERIOD THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT, ON ITS OWN MOVED TO THE FULL FORWARD POSITION AND COULD NOT BE MOVED BACK. LAFOUNTAINE CLAIMS THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH KIA POWER SEATS. UPDATED 05/12/10 *BF THE DEALER CLAIMED THE WIRING PULLED LOOSE FROM THE ELECTRIC SWITCH. THE CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN/ THE SWITCH AND WIRING WERE SPLICED TOGETHER AND THE WRING HARNESS WAS TIE STRAPPED TO THE SEAT MOUNTING TO PREVENT FUTURE OCCURRENCES. UPDATED 05/14/10.*JB *TR
NHTSA ODI #10328938
72,000 miles · Feb 1, 2010
Steering
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. *…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10303652
66,000 miles · Dec 22, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
I AM WRITING TO BAND TOGETHER EVERYONE WHO IS READY TO BRING ON A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST KIA FOR THE LIES, BREECH OF WARRANTY, AND DEFECTIVE ENGINES THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I HAVE THE EXACT SAME STORY AS EVERYONE HERE......MY ENGINE BLEW, KIA WOULDN'T HONOR THEIR WARRANTY, SAID IT WAS MY FAULT DUE TO OVERHEATING, …
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I AM WRITING TO BAND TOGETHER EVERYONE WHO IS READY TO BRING ON A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST KIA FOR THE LIES, BREECH OF WARRANTY, AND DEFECTIVE ENGINES THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I HAVE THE EXACT SAME STORY AS EVERYONE HERE......MY ENGINE BLEW, KIA WOULDN'T HONOR THEIR WARRANTY, SAID IT WAS MY FAULT DUE TO OVERHEATING, AND THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAD A CRACK IN IT.....SOUND FAMILIAR? I WAS OUT OVER $8000....I NEED TO RECLAIM MY LOSSES. WHO'S WITH ME? PLEASE CONTACT ME . STACI MINNICK *TR
NHTSA ODI #10296750
99,990 miles · Nov 12, 2009
Steering
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10291920
36,000 miles · Sep 28, 2009
Steering
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…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10285487
90,350 miles · Aug 11, 2009
Tires
DRIVING ON 8/9/09, CAR STARTED SHAKING, GOING ABOUT 70 MPH. PULLED TO RIGHT LANE SLOWING DOWN, GOT OFF EXIT RAMP AND ABOUT 30 FEET DOWN LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AND ONCE GOT TO SAFE PLACE TO CHANGE TIRE, MY FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT WERE DAMAGED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10280057
61,100 miles · Jul 30, 2009
Electrical SystemSeatsFire
TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN: WE ARE A FAMILY OF 6 AND ON JULY 21ST OUR 2004 KIA SEDONA EX CAUGHT ON FIRE. WE HAD JUST DRIVEN IT 2 HOURS BEFORE WITH NO INDICATIONS OF A FIRE. WE HEARD A BLARING HORN AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW TO SEE THE NEIGHBOR RUNNING ACROSS THE STREET. WE STEPPED OUT OF THE HOUSE TO FIND OUR VAN IN FLAMES COMING …
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TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN: WE ARE A FAMILY OF 6 AND ON JULY 21ST OUR 2004 KIA SEDONA EX CAUGHT ON FIRE. WE HAD JUST DRIVEN IT 2 HOURS BEFORE WITH NO INDICATIONS OF A FIRE. WE HEARD A BLARING HORN AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW TO SEE THE NEIGHBOR RUNNING ACROSS THE STREET. WE STEPPED OUT OF THE HOUSE TO FIND OUR VAN IN FLAMES COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE. THE WINDOWS WERE ALL UP AND WE WATCHED THE FIRE DIE DOWN AND SMOKE FILL THE AIR. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND TOOK PICTURES AND MADE A REPORT. AFTER ALL THAT WAS SAID AND DONE WE BEGAN TO RESEARCH THE INTERNET AND FOUND A RECALL THAT WAS SENT OUT ON OUR VAN BACK IN NOV/DEC 2005. (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V463000) THE FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE FUSE BOX AREA. APPROX. A YEAR BEFORE THE INCIDENT WE HAD STARED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WORKING ON AND OFF. DUE TO NOT BEING UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER WE DECIDED NOT TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE WE NEVER REALLY USED THE SEAT CONTROLS ON THAT SIDE MUCH. WE WERE UNAWARE OF ANY RECALL ON OUR VEHICLE; IF WE HAD BEEN WE WOULD HAVE DEALT WITH THIS MATTER MUCH DIFFERENTLY. IN ADDITION, WE HAD BEEN HAVING ISSUES FOR APPROX 9 MONTHS WITH THE BATTERY GOING DEAD. WE HAD REPLACED 3 BATTERIES IN 9 MONTHS AND OUR CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING 3 MONTHS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. WE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE FIRE AND THEY INFORMED US THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE RECALL ON JANUARY 11, 2006; A FEW DAYS BEFORE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF THIS RECALL WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OR SHOWN THE RECALL ON THE CAR FAX. THIS FIRE HAS NOW RESULTED IN OUR FAMILY VEHICLE BEING TOTALED OUT AND OUR FAMILY NOW BEING LEFT WITH NOTHING. WE APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER AND THANK YOU.*TR
NHTSA ODI #10278783
70,000 miles · Jan 28, 2009
Steering
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
NHTSA ODI #10256609
65,000 miles · Jan 12, 2009
Steering
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10254713
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.