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2003 Kia Sedona Engine Problems

23 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data

23
Complaints
4
Fires
Jan 2010Dec 2007
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (23)

mediumENGINE
FireFiled: Mar 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA #: 10695194
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Mar 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUIDS ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE REAR COOLING PIPES WERE CORRODED AND LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 03/30/11

NHTSA #: 10389788
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Sep 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABNORMALLY LOOSING COOLANT FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CORRODED HEATER COOLING PIPE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,500.

NHTSA #: 10356088
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Sep 2010

2003 KIA SEDONA RAN GREAT FOR THE 3 YEARS WE OWNED IT. WENT TO GO HOME FROM WORK AND IT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE MOTOR SHUT OFF. HAD A VERY HARD TIME PULLING OVER. NOW IT WONT TURN OVER AT ALL. NOT EVEN WITH A JUMP. CHECKED OILS ,WATER , BATTERY,CABLES AND EVERYTHING APPEARED GOOD. REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE WAS DONE . ALL FLUIDS WERE CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS. PAID $11,000.00 FOR IT AND IT DIDN'T EVEN OUT LAST THE PAYMENTS ON IT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10355030
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FireFiled: Jul 2010

2003 KIA SEDONA EX CAUGHT ON FIRE 07/11/10. VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR AND NOT RUNNING. RESULTANT VEHICLE DESTROYED AND SURROUNDING VEHICLES HAD MELTED COMPONENTS, DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS, ROOF RACK, BUMPERS, HEADLIGHTS AND CRACKED WINDSHIELD DUE TO EXPLOSION AND LAUNCH OF A REACH STRUT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10342555
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Jul 2010

THE ICV VALVE CLIP IN MY 2003 KIA SEDONA CAME LOOSE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. KIA RECALLED THE SAME CLIP IN ALL SORENTOS FROM 2003-2005. MY VEHICLE AS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND STALLED AS I WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. KIA DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10342082
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jan 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS HAVING HER VEHICLE SERVICED, SHE WAS INFORMED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOWER END NOISE AND THAT A SCREW WAS MISSING ON THE THROTTLE BODY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,000.

NHTSA #: 10298004
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT
Filed: May 2009

WE FIRST GOT OUR (USED) KIA SEDONA OCT. OF 2007. IT HAD ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT WHEN WE GOT IT- AND NOW IT HAS ABOUT 74,000. 2 MONTHS INTO HAVING IT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 20 DEGREES(F). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD USUALLY GO OFF BY THE NEXT DAY IF IT WAS WARMER OUT OR WOULD STAY ON FOR UP TO 3 DAYS IF IT WAS VERY COLD) IT STARTED TO BUCK A LOT (ABOUT 6 MONTHS INTO HAVING IT) AND WE BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP AND HAD THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, BOOTS, AND COILS REPLACED. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THOSE WERE REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT AND WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THAT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMES ON WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP-BUT THEY CANT FIGURE OUT WHY. NOW THE CAR STALLS (AND BUCKS) AT VARIOUS TIMES FOR NO REASON. WE'VE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP BUT THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE RADIO WILL TURN ITSELF UP ALL THE WAY AT DIFFERENT TIME (USUALLY IF IDLING). SOMETIMES THE RADIO STATIONS WILL REVERT BACK TO THE PRESETS SO I HAVE TO RESET ALL OF THE STATIONS I HAD SET. (THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S COLD OUT) WE WERE STUPID AND BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY (WHICH DOESN'T COVER ANYTHING THAT HAS GONE WRONG!- ALTHOUGH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS COVERED BY THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY) WE OWE TOO MUCH ON IT TO SELL IT OR TRADE IT IN SO NOW WE'RE STUCK WITH AN UNRELIABLE VEHICLE THAT I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY DAUGHTER AROUND IN- THERE'S NO TELLING WHERE THE CAR MIGHT STALL NEXT! WHAT CAN WE DO? *TR

NHTSA #: 10269907
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FireFiled: Dec 2008

I WAS DRIVING MY KIA SEDONA 2003 EX ONE DAY AND SOMEONE YELLED AT ME THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND THE FIRE CAME UP THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, ALSO THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE PANEL IS. I PROCEEDED TO INFORM THE DEALER, BECAUSE I HAD PURCHASED IT USED ON OCTOBER 19, 2007 AND THIS HAPPENED ON MARCH 10, 2008. THE ONLY REASON WHY THE DEALER PRETENDED TO DEAL WITH IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD INFORMED THE DEALER WITHIN LESS THAN A MONTH OF PURCHASING IT OF SOME DETAILS THAT NEEDED ATTENTION, BUT THEY HAD KEPT PUTTING IT OFF. THE DEALER PICKED UP THE KIA AFTER 2 WEEKS FROM THE INCIDENT AND THEY FIXED SOME HOLES THAT WERE BURNED, BUT ONLY THE ONES I COULD SEE. I WENT VARIOUS TIMES BECAUSE I KEPT HAVING PROBLEMS, THEY FIXED THE GEARS BUT, I KEPT HAVING PROBLEMS, EVERYTIME I WENT THEY PRETENDED TO FIX SOMETHING BUT DID NOTHING. I FOUND MYSELF IN A NO WIN SITUATION, ALL I COULD DO WAS TO TRY FIXING THINGS SLOWLY. I HAD TO PUT IN THE WIRE COVERINGS MYSELF, WHICH WERE BURNED, ALSO HAD TO PUT IN A NEW POWER STEERING HOLES, IT IS NOW ONE YEAR LATER AND THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE GOTTEN WORST, THE DEALER OWNER WILL NOT TALK TO ME. TO MY DISMAY RUBBER PARTS BURNT KEEP GIVING IN; EX: THE SEALER FOR THE VALVE COVER, THE TWO FAN BELTS (I DO HAVE MOST OLD PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED). WHEN THE SEAL COVER WAS REPLACED I REALIZED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS; THAT BEING THE OXYGEN SENSOR WITH THE PLUGS WHICH ARE TOTALLY BURNT AND THE TPS(SENSOR). THE DEALER OWNER WILL NOT TAKE MY CALLS AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO GET THIS FIXED, THEREFORE, I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND A LIGHT TURNED ON, I HAD IT SCANNED AND IT READS THE FOLLOWING: P0102 : LOW INPUT CIRCUIT MAF OR VAF. PLS ADVISE I HAVE SPOKEN TO DACO AND A LAWYER BUT RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING IS ON HOLD FOR ME. AND I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW THE OWNER OF THE DEALER IS NOT CONCERNED WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS A FAMILY VEHICLE AND I AM DISABLED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10250930
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2008

HEAVY FUEL FUMES IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UPHILL. FUEL FUMES CONCENTRATE TO THE POINT OF REQUIRING THE OWNER TO STOP THE CAR TO VENTILATE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN HOT CLIMATE (TEMP OVER 95DEG, SOUTHWESTERN STATES). THE FUMES SEEM TO APPROACH THE IDLE. DEALER KNEW OF THE PROBLEM; HAD CUSTOMER PAID FIX. KIA WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX. COST IS $175 TO INSTALL TUBING TO DIRECT FUMES OUT OF CARBON FILTER ASSEMBLY TO REAR OF CAR. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY KIA. IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE OCCUPANTS. I HAD REPEATED INCIDENTS WITH DOCUMENTATION OF REPORTS TO TWO DEALERS. ULTIMATELY, A DEALER HAD A PARTIAL REPAIR FOR IT. DEALER NOTED THAT, SINCE ISSUE IS RESTRICTED TO SOUTHWESTERN STATES IN HOT WEATHER, KIA WOULD NOT FIX IT; LETTING CUSTOMERS PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA #: 10239712
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Dec 2007

AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES MY KIA SEDONA VAN HAD A BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT. NOW, AT APPROXIMATELY 65,000 THE VAN HAS AN ADDITIONAL TWO BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS -- THAT IS A TOTAL OF THREE BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS IN ONLY 65,000 MILE'S!! THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS -- AND THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN WITH THIS FREQUENCY, IF AT ALL!! *TR

NHTSA #: 10213186
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Sep 2007

I HAVE TAKEN MY FATHER'S 2003 KIA SEDONA TO NAPLETON KIA IN ELMHURST SEVERAL TIMES FOR LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON AND THE RADIATOR FANS BEING ON CONSTANTLY WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP REACHES 80 DEGREES OR MORE ALSO WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. THIS WAS NEVER A PROBLEM WHEN MY FATHER FIRST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER SAYS IT'S NECESSARY FOR THE FANS TO BE ON WHEN THE AIR IS TURNED ON TO PROTECT THE ENGINE FROM OVERHEATING. I BELIEVE THAT UP TO A CERTAIN POINT BUT THE FANS NEVER TURN OFF WHEN THE AIR IS ON. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT LOGIC. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES BUCKS AND BACKFIRES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT'S FINE ONE MINUTE AND BAD THE NEXT THIS OCCURS A LEAST ONCE A MONTH, THEN IT'S FINE LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED, UNTIL NEXT MONTH. THE DEALER MY DAD TAKES IT TO SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN GETTING TO THE PROBLEMS THIS VEHICLE HAS, BUT WAITING UNTIL SOME OTHER PROBLEM OCCURS LIKE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THEN MAYBE THEY'LL SPEND SOME TIME ON IT. BUT THE VEHICLE COMES OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP FINE BUT WITHIN A DAY OR TWO IT'S THE SAME OLD PROBLEMS. MY DAD FEELS LIKE HE'S WASTING HIS TIME TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEMS TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY MAY SEEM INTERESTED BUT HAVE NO INCENTIVE TO FIND THE REAL REASON THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY EITHER DON'T KNOW OR DON'T CARE. I'M BEGINNING TO THINK THAT THE MECHANICS DON'T KNOW AND THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T CARE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10201714
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Feb 2007

MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH JUST 39,000 MILES ON THE VAN AND JUST 4 YEARS OLD. SERVICE DEPT. WILL NOT COVER THIS. *JB

NHTSA #: 10181868
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Feb 2007

IN MY KIA SEDONA MINIVAN I HAD PURCHASED BRAND NEW ONLY BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY I TOOK KIDS TO SCHOOL OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK BACK NO. THEY TOWED TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THE SAID IT WAS NOT WARRANTABLE. *NM

NHTSA #: 10181374
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT
Filed: Jan 2007

2003 KIA SEDONA WITH PROBLEMS WITH LOSING POWER, CHOKING. **NAR**CC THE BUTTERFLY PLATES WERE FOUND LOOSE IN THE PLENUM AND THE SCREWS WERE MISSING. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY FROM THE FACTORY. WHEN THE BUTTERFLY'S FAILED THE CONSUMER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH THE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE A/C FAILED IN THE MIDDLE F THE SUMMER.

NHTSA #: 10179569
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Oct 2006

2003 KIA SEDONA WHICH WE BOUGHT BRAND NEW HAS HAD A PROBLEM ALMOST SINCE WE PURCHASED IT, INITIALLY WITH RUNNING ROUGH, THEN TRANSMISSION INTO STALLING, OR LOSS OF POWER AND ALMOST STALLING, WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO A HIGHWAY OR OTHER MAIN THOROUGHFARE WHERE RAPID ACCELERATION IS REQUIRED FOR SAFE ENTRY. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AT WHICH WE PURCHASED IT NUMEROUS TIMES. EITHER THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, OR THEY MADE REPAIRS WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ON OCTOBER 4, 2006, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT ON A BUSY 4 LANE ROAD WHEN IT STALLED AND COULD NOT BE STARTED AGAIN, LEAVING HER STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE POWER CONTROL MODULE THIS TIME, AND WE GOT IT BACK TODAY, OCTOBER 6, IN THE LATE AFTERNOON. I DROVE TO A DESTINATION 17 MILES AWAY AND BACK THIS EVENING. IT STALLED SEVERAL TIMES, AND ALMOST STALLED SEVERAL MORE TIMES, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ONTO A HIGHWAY OR A MAJOR LOCAL ROAD. I NARROWLY AVOIDED GETTING INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES TONIGHT. THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS. *JB

NHTSA #: 10170183
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jun 2006

OIL SLUDGE IS BUILDING UP IN THE ENGINE. THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AS REQUIRED AND THE ENGINE FLUSHED TO NO AVAIL. ANTWERPEN KIA DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE VEHICLE WARRANTY AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA #: 10160097
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Sep 2005

DAD: A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE MUFFLER/ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED AT SPEEDS OF 35-45 MPH AND IN HOT WEATHER, AND WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA #: 10135997
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Feb 2005

VAN WAS PARKED OUTSIDE IN DRIVEWAY . FIELD MOUSE GOT INTO TIMING BELT AREA, CAUSING BELT TO SKIP TIME WHEN STARTED. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF MICE GETTING INTO TIMING BELT AREA. POOR DESIGN IN TIMING BELT COVER.*AK

NHTSA #: 10112027
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FireFiled: Nov 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, POPPED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FIRE ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA #: 10044228
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Nov 2003

WHILE DRIVING , THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE COILS BURNED OUT. *AK ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH O-RING LEAKING GAS INTO THE AIR VENTS. *LA *JB

NHTSA #: 10038549
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS INSIDE THE CAB OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THE ODOR HAS CAUSED DROWSINESS, ALMOST RESULTING IN LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK *TS

NHTSA #: 10029947
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jul 2003

OVERWHELMING SMELL OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONER. DEALER IDENTIFIED ISSUE AS PURGING OF CHARCOAL CANISTER INCORRECTLY. THE PURGING WAS REDIRECTED TO REAR OF VEHICLE, BUT STILL IS AN ISSUE WHEN PARKING IN THE GARAGE AND SMELL OF GAS IS STILL OVERWHELMING. IS THIS A FIRE HAZARD? *PH

NHTSA #: 10030515

Other 2003 Kia Sedona Issues