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2009 Kia Sedona

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Kia Sedona do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 120.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

34 reports with mileage · 14 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

48 reports
80,819 miles · Nov 8, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE ALTERNATOR IS BEING REPLACED SINCE 09/19/17. ENGINE OIL LEAKS FROM THE FRONT CYLINDER BANK'S VALVE COVER GASKET. OIL DRIPS ONTO THE ALTERNATOR, THE ALTERNATOR IS THEN OIL SOAKED & DAMAGED RESULTING IN THE CHARGING SYSTEM BECOMING INOPERATIVE. THE CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LAMP IN THE CLUSTER WILL THEN…

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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE ALTERNATOR IS BEING REPLACED SINCE 09/19/17. ENGINE OIL LEAKS FROM THE FRONT CYLINDER BANK'S VALVE COVER GASKET. OIL DRIPS ONTO THE ALTERNATOR, THE ALTERNATOR IS THEN OIL SOAKED & DAMAGED RESULTING IN THE CHARGING SYSTEM BECOMING INOPERATIVE. THE CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LAMP IN THE CLUSTER WILL THEN ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WILL RUN ON BATTERY POWER UNTIL THE BATTERY VOLTAGE DROPS BELOW THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE'S MINIMUM OPERATIONAL VOLTAGE. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND NOT RESTART, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THIS ENGINE IS MANUFACTURED BY HYUNDAI & IS THE SAME ENGINE DESIGN AS THE 2007-2012 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ, WHICH HAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN #121 FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. KIA NEEDS TO IMPLEMENT A RECALL FOR THIS!

NHTSA ODI #11150094

122,000 miles · Jun 12, 2018
Unknown Or Other

THE HORN JUST STOP WORKING!! CHANGED ALL FUSES AND STILL CONTINUE NOT TO WORK

NHTSA ODI #11101535

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2018
Electrical System

RECENTLY THE DRIVER SIDE MASTER SWITCH THAT OPENS/LOCKS ALL THE VAN DOORS OR MOVE ALL THE WINDOWS UP AND DOWN STOPPED WORKING. THE VAN ALSO CANNOT BE LOCKED FROM OUTSIDE WITH THE REMOTE. THE CAR HAS TO BE LOCKED AND OPENED MANUALLY BY THE KEY. THIS ISSUE WITH THE DRIVER SIDE MASTER SWITCH IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. TODAY WHEN…

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RECENTLY THE DRIVER SIDE MASTER SWITCH THAT OPENS/LOCKS ALL THE VAN DOORS OR MOVE ALL THE WINDOWS UP AND DOWN STOPPED WORKING. THE VAN ALSO CANNOT BE LOCKED FROM OUTSIDE WITH THE REMOTE. THE CAR HAS TO BE LOCKED AND OPENED MANUALLY BY THE KEY. THIS ISSUE WITH THE DRIVER SIDE MASTER SWITCH IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. TODAY WHEN WE WENT TO FILL GAS, WE FOUND THAT THE GAS TANK RELEASE BUTTON IS ALSO NOT WORKING. FORTUNATELY THE MECHANIC AT THE PUMP SHOWED US A WAY OF MANUALLY RELEASING THE CAP FROM THE TRUNK OF THE VAN WHICH ENABLED US TO FILL GAS TODAY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE: NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE GAS TANK COVER THE REGULAR WAY. NEITHER THE MECHANIC TODAY NOR ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO I HAVE USED FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG ELECTRICALLY. THEY CHECKED THE FUSES AND RAN DIAGNOSTICS BUT NOTHING STOOD OUT.

NHTSA ODI #11094040

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2017
Unknown Or Other

A RECALL WAS ISSUED. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. WE WERE TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO THE REPAIR AS THEY DID NOT HAVE THE TOOL NEEDED. THAT WAS ON JUNE 23, 2017. AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS, OFTEN DAILY, THERE IS NO RESOLUTION. KIA KEEPS CONTACTING THE DEALER, WHO KEEPS SAYING THEY DO NOT HAVE THE TOOL. WE HAVE REQU…

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A RECALL WAS ISSUED. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. WE WERE TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO THE REPAIR AS THEY DID NOT HAVE THE TOOL NEEDED. THAT WAS ON JUNE 23, 2017. AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS, OFTEN DAILY, THERE IS NO RESOLUTION. KIA KEEPS CONTACTING THE DEALER, WHO KEEPS SAYING THEY DO NOT HAVE THE TOOL. WE HAVE REQUESTED A LOANER CAR UNTIL THE REPAIR CAN OCCUR. WE HAVE BEEN DENIED. TODAY I WAS TOLD THEY WILL CONTACT ME BY NEXT THURSDAY (7/27/17) WITH A RESPONSE. TO DATE IT IS ONE MONTH SINCE WE FIRST TRIED TO GET THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED. WE DO RESIDE IN TEXAS AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE RECALL IS RELATED TO PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO SALT. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN OHIO AND DROVE IT THERE FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS BEFORE MOVING TO TEXAS. THERE IS SOME VIBRATION AT HIGHER SPEEDS, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED TO THE RECALL. WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE INSPECTION IS DONE. WE FEEL THIS VEHICLE MAY BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ATTACHED ARE THE NOTES FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH KIA. I APOLOGIZE THAT THEY MAY BE DIFFICULT TO READ, BUT WE HAD NO IDEA THEY WOULD BE NEEDED.

NHTSA ODI #11006577

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2017
Electrical System

GET INTO IT TO GO IT WILL NOT CRANK HAS 105,000 MILES LEFT ME STRANDED TWICE MY SON THINKS IT COULD BE STARTER SOLENOID OR THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD UNDER DASH IT MAKES A CLICKING NOISE UNDER HOOD VERY FAINT WHEN RUNNING THE STARTER WORKS GOOD NOT RUNNING NOW PULLED INTO YARD NEXT MORNING NOTHING GOOD BATTERY NO CORROSION WILL NOT …

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GET INTO IT TO GO IT WILL NOT CRANK HAS 105,000 MILES LEFT ME STRANDED TWICE MY SON THINKS IT COULD BE STARTER SOLENOID OR THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD UNDER DASH IT MAKES A CLICKING NOISE UNDER HOOD VERY FAINT WHEN RUNNING THE STARTER WORKS GOOD NOT RUNNING NOW PULLED INTO YARD NEXT MORNING NOTHING GOOD BATTERY NO CORROSION WILL NOT CRANK.

NHTSA ODI #10971267

140,000 miles · Dec 13, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 2013 BUT BY 2014 WAS ACTING UP AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM AS INITIAL REPAIR. A RECALL REPAIR THAT GOES BAD IN WITHIN 20,000 MILES IS NOT A GOOD REPAIR. WHEN ASKED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN KIA PUT IN THE WRONG PART I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK A 3RD TIME TO GET IT FIXED. THE TOTAL COST TO MY REPAIR WAS $679.45. THE PROBLEM WA…

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VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 2013 BUT BY 2014 WAS ACTING UP AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM AS INITIAL REPAIR. A RECALL REPAIR THAT GOES BAD IN WITHIN 20,000 MILES IS NOT A GOOD REPAIR. WHEN ASKED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN KIA PUT IN THE WRONG PART I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK A 3RD TIME TO GET IT FIXED. THE TOTAL COST TO MY REPAIR WAS $679.45. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE AND THE ESC LIGHT WOULD GO ON,IT TOOK MULTIPLE TRIES TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK IN ORDER TO DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ODI #10934974

126,133 miles · Dec 1, 2016
Exterior LightingService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,133.

NHTSA ODI #10929018

91,500 miles · Aug 11, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

WHEN GOING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF SOME DEPTH MAYBE 6 INCHES(NOT SURE EXACTLY), THE POWER STEERING WILL STOP AND A COUPLE OF LIGHTS COME ON, ON THE DASHBOARD. THEN ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER ALL GOES BACK TO NORMAL. ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #10895152

85,000 miles · Feb 5, 2015
Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

AN OLDER CHEVY S10 DECIDED TO DO A U-TURN AS I WAS ENTERING AN INTERSECTION. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND PRIOR TO IMPACT THE FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED RESULTING IN MY 84 YEAR OLD PASSENGER HITTING THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THE ACTUAL IMPACT TOOK PLACE AND AS THE TRUCK SPUN FROM THE BROADSIDE HIT IN THE FRONT OF MY VAN, IT HIT US IN THE F…

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AN OLDER CHEVY S10 DECIDED TO DO A U-TURN AS I WAS ENTERING AN INTERSECTION. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND PRIOR TO IMPACT THE FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED RESULTING IN MY 84 YEAR OLD PASSENGER HITTING THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THE ACTUAL IMPACT TOOK PLACE AND AS THE TRUCK SPUN FROM THE BROADSIDE HIT IN THE FRONT OF MY VAN, IT HIT US IN THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER AND ALONG THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. MY FACE WAS BADLY CHAFFED AND MY LEFT ARM AND HAND WERE BADLY BRUISED AND CUT. BUT THE BOUNCING AROUND AFTER THE AIRBAG RAPIDLY SHREDDED CAUSED ME TO END UP WITH SEVERE CERVICAL DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10681635

45,423 miles · Oct 10, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SEDONA. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AND IDLED. DURING THE FAILURE, THE ENGINE RPMS REMAINED AT 500. THE DEALER STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN COMPUTER CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SEDONA. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AND IDLED. DURING THE FAILURE, THE ENGINE RPMS REMAINED AT 500. THE DEALER STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN COMPUTER CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,423.

NHTSA ODI #10643837

Official recalls

5

20V088000 · Electrical System; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Feb 14, 2020

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Sedona and 2007-2009 Sorento vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the vehicle is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the main junction box to prevent power from being directed to the HECU when the vehicle's ignition switch is turned off, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC186.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Sedona and 2007-2009 Sorento vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.

Consequence: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the vehicle is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the main junction box to prevent power from being directed to the HECU when the vehicle's ignition switch is turned off, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC186.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Sedona and 2007-2009 Sorento vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.

Consequence: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the vehicle is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the main junction box to prevent power from being directed to the HECU when the vehicle's ignition switch is turned off, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC186.

16V387000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Jun 1, 2016

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through August 14, 2012 and originally sold in, or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may break due to corrosion from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace the front lower control arms on 2006-2007 models. 2008-2012 models will either have their front lower control arms replaced or additional anti-corrosion coating will be applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC133.

16V389000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Jun 1, 2016

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through April 04, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace the secondary hood latch or clean and lubricate the latch, depending on the vehicle's location and the condition of the latch. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall number is SC134.

13V550000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Nov 5, 2013

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through August 14, 2012 originally sold in, or currently registered in Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, West Virginia or the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may break due to corrosion resulting from prolonged exposure to salty environments.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners and dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on December 20, 2013. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall number is SC100.

13V114000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 1, 2013

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.