IllustrationMY 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
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
What owners actually said
37 reportsPROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. POPPING AND LOUD TIGHT SOMETIMES. CONCERNED THAT IT COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
2004 KIA SEDONA EX. THERE IS A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM CONTAINING A RESERVOIR WHICH CONTROLS REAR BRAKE FORCE ON TURNS AND OTHER BRAKING MANEUVERS. THIS RESERVOIR IS SUBJECT TO LEAKS (LOCATION -- BETWEEN REAR WHEELS). LEAKING FROM THIS RESERVOIR AND LOW PRESSURE TRIGGERS THE 'CHECK ENGINE' AND 'BRAKE FAILURE' LIGHTS. TEMPORARY FIX IS T…
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2004 KIA SEDONA EX. THERE IS A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM CONTAINING A RESERVOIR WHICH CONTROLS REAR BRAKE FORCE ON TURNS AND OTHER BRAKING MANEUVERS. THIS RESERVOIR IS SUBJECT TO LEAKS (LOCATION -- BETWEEN REAR WHEELS). LEAKING FROM THIS RESERVOIR AND LOW PRESSURE TRIGGERS THE 'CHECK ENGINE' AND 'BRAKE FAILURE' LIGHTS. TEMPORARY FIX IS TO REFILL THE RESERVOIR, BUT THIS LEAKAGE PROBLEM APPEARS SYSTEMIC FROM MANUFACTURE. IF LEFT UNATTENDED, CONTROL OVER THE REAR BRAKING SYSTEM IS SEVERELY DIMINISHED. *TR
I, LIKE OTHERS ON THIS SITE, HAVE TAKEN MY KIA TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKES ISSUES. GRINDING AND STUTTERING WHILE BRAKING. KIA HAS "CORRECTED" THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES, AND ALL THREE TIMES HAVE TOLD ME IT WAS RESOLVED. THE FOURTH TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS NO LONGER A "PROBLEM" THAT IT WAS INDICATIVE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM! MY SERVICE MA…
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I, LIKE OTHERS ON THIS SITE, HAVE TAKEN MY KIA TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKES ISSUES. GRINDING AND STUTTERING WHILE BRAKING. KIA HAS "CORRECTED" THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES, AND ALL THREE TIMES HAVE TOLD ME IT WAS RESOLVED. THE FOURTH TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS NO LONGER A "PROBLEM" THAT IT WAS INDICATIVE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM! MY SERVICE MANAGER AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT KIA IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM , BUT CHOOSES TO IGNORE IT, AND THAT HE HAS HAD QUITE A FEW CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE OUR PURCHASE OF THE CAR IN FEB 2004. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 KIA SEDONA EX, AND WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A FAMILY VACATION, WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE COME FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE, THE VAN STARTED SHAKING AS IF I HAD A FLAT TIRE, I STARTED APPLYING MY BRAKES TO PULL OVER, THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP, THE BACK CORNER WENT DOWN. OUT MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW …
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I HAVE A 2004 KIA SEDONA EX, AND WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A FAMILY VACATION, WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE COME FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE, THE VAN STARTED SHAKING AS IF I HAD A FLAT TIRE, I STARTED APPLYING MY BRAKES TO PULL OVER, THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP, THE BACK CORNER WENT DOWN. OUT MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW I LOOKED AND SAW MY ENTIRE WHEEL FLYING THROUGH THE TREES ON FIRE. I HAD LITERALLY NO STOPPING POWER, LUCKILY I GOT MY VEHICLE STOPPED SAFELY BECAUSE I HAD MY FAMILY AND MOTHER IN LAW WITH ME AT THE TIME. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ABOUT THIS SITUATION, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT IT, AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY $2500 TO HAVE IT FIXED, THE SAME AMOUNT I PAID TO GO ON VACATION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA EX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY DROVE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA EX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT RECEPTACLE WAS EMPTY. SHE ADDED COOLANT, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE RADIATOR WAS FLUS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA EX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT RECEPTACLE WAS EMPTY. SHE ADDED COOLANT, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE SHOP WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE COOLANT LINE WAS ROTTED AND CORRODED. THE PLASTIC CASE WAS ALSO CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WILL PAY FOR THE PARTS, NOT THE LABOR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,485.
I OWN A 2004 KIA SEDONA. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 57,000 MILES ON IT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE WARRANTY CALLS FOR 60,000 MILES TO SECOND OWNER. THE TRANSMISSION, RACK & PINION WERE REPLACED BY ME AT 57,000 AND NOW THE ENGINE HAS A BUILD UP OF SLUDGE AND THE LOCAL DEALER IS REFUSING TO WARRANTY THE DEFECT. THEY DID NOT REPLACE TH…
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I OWN A 2004 KIA SEDONA. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 57,000 MILES ON IT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE WARRANTY CALLS FOR 60,000 MILES TO SECOND OWNER. THE TRANSMISSION, RACK & PINION WERE REPLACED BY ME AT 57,000 AND NOW THE ENGINE HAS A BUILD UP OF SLUDGE AND THE LOCAL DEALER IS REFUSING TO WARRANTY THE DEFECT. THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OR RACK AND PINION EITHER. THEY WERE PAID FOR AND REPLACED BY ME. I FEEL THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND I NEED HELP IN PURSUING RECOURSE AGAINST THIS DEALER IN CHATTANOOGA, PREBUL KIA. THANKS *TR
THE MINI VAN'S POWER LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK THEMSELVES. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. IT USUALLY DOES IT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. IT HAS EVEN LOCKED MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN IN IT. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP 5 DIFFERENT TIMES AND EVERY TIME THEY CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN TOLD THEY CAN'…
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THE MINI VAN'S POWER LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK THEMSELVES. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. IT USUALLY DOES IT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. IT HAS EVEN LOCKED MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN IN IT. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP 5 DIFFERENT TIMES AND EVERY TIME THEY CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN TOLD THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO THE VEHICLE UNLESS IT IS DUPLICATED AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
5/05 NOTICED HUMMING ON OCCASION FROM REAR WHEELS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 6/30/05 RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE THAT REAR HUB ASSEMBLY/OR BEARINGS MAY NEED REPLACING. 7/05 BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR, DEALER ORDERED PART 8/12/15 PART IN TO DEALER, BEARING SCORED AND REPLACED BOTH OUTER WHEEL BEARINGS NOTICED LOUD HUMMING NO…
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5/05 NOTICED HUMMING ON OCCASION FROM REAR WHEELS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 6/30/05 RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE THAT REAR HUB ASSEMBLY/OR BEARINGS MAY NEED REPLACING. 7/05 BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR, DEALER ORDERED PART 8/12/15 PART IN TO DEALER, BEARING SCORED AND REPLACED BOTH OUTER WHEEL BEARINGS NOTICED LOUD HUMMING NOISE WORSE SINCE RECALL REPAIR 8/30/05 BOTH REAR HUB ASSEMBLIES NEEDING REPLACEMENT 3/22/06 AT 22,000 MILES BOTH ROTORS AND BRAKE DRUMS WARPED AND NEED REPLACING AT OWNERS EXPENSE 8/29/06 VIBRATION COMING FROM REAR OF VAN, TIRES ROTATED AND REBALANCED, VIBRATION STILL NOTED IN REAR END 8/31/06 AC COMPRESSOR AND RADIO BRAKES BOTH REPLACED 9/29/06 RADIO BREAKS AGAIN AND IS REPLACED 11/1/06 UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM ENGINE, SHIFT LOCK CABLE BINDING 11/9/06 LOUD HUMMING NOISE AGAIN NOTED IN REAR OF CAR, REAR VALVE REPLACED 11/29/06 LOUD HUMMING NOISE CONTINUES REAR HUB ASSEMBLY FOUND TO BE COMING APART, RIGHT REAR HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED, VIBRATION IN REAR CONTINUES 1/4/07 LOW SCREECHING SOUND INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES SINCE REPLACING REAR HUB ASSEMBLY, BOLTS IN REAR DRUMS FOUND TO BE MISSING , BRAKE PAD TOO TIGHT READJUSTED. *JB
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.