2004 Kia Sedona Engine Problems

Your 2004 Kia Sedona caught fire, which the fire department had to extinguish. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The exact cause of the fire is unknown, and neither the dealer nor manufacturer has been contacted to investigate.

Your 2004 Kia Sedona caught fire in the engine compartment while parked with the engine off, causing extensive damage to engine components including fluid reservoirs, wiring, and the fuse box. This is a serious safety hazard that requires immediate professional inspection to identify the fire source and prevent future incidents. A mechanic will need to thoroughly inspect the engine bay, electrical system, and fuel lines to determine what caused the fire and replace all damaged components.

While your 2004 Kia Sedona was parked, the front end suddenly caught fire originating from the engine compartment. The fire department extinguished it, and no one was injured. The fire occurred at 110,000 miles and the manufacturer was not notified. A full engine inspection and potential replacement of fire-damaged components will likely be necessary.

Your engine suddenly seized without any warning while driving. You were able to safely steer the vehicle to the shoulder, but in heavy traffic or bad weather, this sudden loss of engine power could have caused a serious accident. The engine shutdown creates a significant safety risk because you lose power steering and braking assistance.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE OFF THE ROADWAY AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE AGENCY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

CPSC#I1230221A. 2004 KIA SEDONA. CONSUMER STATED HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE VEHICLE DUE TO STALLING. THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE IDLING AND WHILE DRIVING. LOSS OF POWER RESULTS IN DIFFICULTY IN STEERING THE VEHICLE. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED NONE OF THE REPAIRS, HAVE FIXED THE STALLING ISSUE.

VAN WAS MAKING A HIGH-PITCHED WHINING SOUND. TOOK IT IN AND FOUND THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEY TESTED IT AND IT WAS STILL NOT RUNNING PROPERLY SO THEY DUG A LITTLE DEEPER AND FOUND THAT THE COILS AND WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. GOT THE VAN BACK IN WORKING CONDITION AND LESS THAN TWO DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THANKS TO LAWS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WE CANNOT REPLACE WITH AN AFTERMARKET ($200); INSTEAD WE WERE QUOTED $1K, AND THAT APPARENTLY IS ON THE CHEAP SIDE. THE GOV.'T HAS A WARRANTY PROGRAM TO REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ON VEHICLES 80,000 MILES OR LESS. WE WERE JUST OUT OF THAT LIMIT. TOO BAD FOR US. WE'RE TRADING IT IN. *TR

I OWN A 2004 KIA SEDONA 3.5L THAT I PURCHASED ON 08-31-2010 WITH 53638 MILES ON IT. ON 01-25-2011 AS I WAS DRIVING I HEARD A RATTLING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I STOPPED TO OPEN THE HOOD AND CONFIRM THAT IT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE, IT WAS. I DROVE TO THE NEAREST AUTO MECHANIC AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED TO BE TOLD THAT I HAD A BLOWN ENGINE AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I HAD IT TOWED TO HE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP TO BE LOOKED AT FURTHER. THE ENGINE WAS OPENED UP TO BE INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE #6 CYLINDER WAS COMING APART AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE VAN CURRENTLY HA ONLY 59430 MILES ON IT. IT IS UNDER THE 60000 MILE WARRANTY MARK BUT OVER THE 5 YEAR PORTION. I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A KIA SERVICE BULLETIN THAT MENTIONED THAT THE 2004 KIA SEDONA 3.5L ENGINE HAD SCORING ON THE #6 CYLINDER FROM THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS WHICH ALSO RESULTED IN A GASKET DEFECT OR MALFUNCTION. THIS CLEARLY SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SERVICE. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY CASE OF THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM WITH THE #6 CYLINDER. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 KIA SEDONA THE REAR COOLANT LINES HAVE FAILED AND NOW I AM LEAKING COOLANT AND IT WILL COST $1000 TO FIX. IT HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. NOW I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR SAFELY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY MAKE A JERKING MOTION AND STALL WITHOUT WARNING; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE OWNER. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME AND AGAIN THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ALSO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT, A SPECIALIST AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE EMISSIONS SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE VALVE WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS PERFORMED AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA. IN JUNE OF 2007, WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE DATES WERE AUGUST 20, 2007 AT 74,200 MILES AND SEPTEMBER 9, 2007 AT 77,450 MILES. WHEN THE CONTACT APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED ON MARCH 28, 2008. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AT 83,000 MILES. THE CONTACT WAS NEAR A NAPA AUTO PARTS STORE AND PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO DIFFERENT KIA DEALERS TO ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, BUT THEY WERE ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,400. UPDATED 04/29/08 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA. WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE STALLS. THE VEHICLE CAN BE RESTARTED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER; HOWEVER, A LOCAL MECHANIC COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

I HAVE REPAIR PAPERWORK FROM THE TWO PAST OWNERS. THE KIA SADONA ENGINE DIES FOR NO REASON WHAT SO EVER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. TODAY, IT ALMOST GOT MY FAMILY KILLED BECAUSE IT STALLED AT AN INTERSECTION THEY WERE CROSSING THROUGH. *TR

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.

CAR BUCKING AND SHIFTING PROBLEMS. KIA HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SEDONA AND FUEL PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF BUT REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. THE CAR STALLS ON THE FREE WAY IT BUCK VIOLENTLY AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE FACING. *JB

MY 2004 KIA SEDONA HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT AND IS IN THE 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER PART OF THE WARRANTY. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO ALBERT KIA. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE CAR HAD A BLOWN ENGINE AND THAT IT WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, WE NEEDED TO BRING IN ALL THE OIL CHANGE RECORDS FOR WARRANTY PURPOSES -WHICH WE DID. THAT DEALERSHIP WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND THE CAR WAS NEVER REPAIRED. A REP FROM KIA USA TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TOW MY CAR TO BALISE KIA IN WARWICK, RI. TWO DAYS LATER, SCOTT, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT BALISE, CALLED TO TELL ME THAT HE AND THE DISTRICT MANAGER HAD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT HAD 5 LITERS TOO MUCH OIL IN IT. I TOLD SCOTT THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT ALBERT KIA HAD ALREADY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND REPORTED A BLOWN ENGINE, NEVER ONCE MENTIONING ANYTHING ABOUT TOO MUCH OIL. WITHIN THE 72 HOURS, JEFF FROM KIA USA CALLED AND INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD MY CASE. AFTER A BRIEF REVIEW, JEFF ASKED ME TO FAX OVER THE SERVICE RECORDS TO HIM. ON JANUARY 16TH, MY CASE WAS GIVEN TO RUSSELL STUART. LATER IN JANUARY, THE KIA DM AND I CHECKED THE OIL TOGETHER AND NOTED THAT IT WAS NOT OVER THE FILL LINE. THE DM REMOVED THE OIL CAP, LOOKED AT THE UNDERSIDE, AND NOTED THAT IT FILLED COVERED WITH SLUDGE. THE DM NOW STATED THAT THE CAR NEVER HAD AN OIL CHANGE - VOIDING THE WARRANTY. I ASKED IF THE SLUDGE ON THE BACK OF THE CAP WAS THE RESULT OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE DM SAID NO. MY SON, AN ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN, FOUND A KIA ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATING THAT SOME 2004 SEDONA MODELS WITH THE 3.5 LITER ENGINE HAD A DEFECT THAT LEFT A SCORE MARK AT THE #6 CYLINDER ON THE HEAD, RESULTING IN HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT 4 WEEKS AFTER KIA SAID THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BUT KIA WILL NOT LEND ANY CREDENCE TO THIS BULLETIN REGARDING MY VEHICLE. I'M STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR 3 MONTHS.*AK

HAD TO GET MY CAR SERVICED BECAUSE ANTIFREEZE WAS POURING OUT OF MY CAR. AFTER THEY LOOKED AT MY CAR I WAS NOTIFIED THAT KIA DOES NOT HAVE THE PART TO FIX MY CAR BUT INSISTS THAT I CAN STILL DRIVE IT. MEANWHILE I NEED TO FILL UP THE TANK AFTER MY ERRANDS FOR THE DAY, THAT'S AN ESTIMATE OF $20 A DAY!THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE UP TO 2-3 WEEKS UNTIL THIS PART CAME IN. I FOUND IT DISTURBING HOW THEY TOLD ME I CAN DRIVE THIS CAR WHILE IT POURS OUT ANTIFREEZE (ANTIFREEZE IS POISON TO ANIMALS). ALSO TO GET IT SERVICED I CALLED THE PLACE WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY COULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT MY CAR TILL ANOTHER 3 WEEKS OR SO. MY CAR IS NOW AN HOUR AWAY AND KIA WILL NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A RENTAL. ITS A SHAME HOW THEY SCAM PEOPLE INTO BUYING THE CAR FOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE ONCE THEY HAVE YOUR MONEY THEY DON'T CARE AFTER THAT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE ENGINE SHORT BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE ISSUE.

THE VAN WILL LUNGE OR CUT-OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPEATED THIS PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL EMPLOYEES. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IS CAUSING THIS OR HOW TO REPAIR. SO THEY KEEP GIVING IT BACK TO US UN-REPAIRED. *JB

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. ENGINE WAS KNOCKING. CALLED THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS MY GAS CAP NOT LOCKED ON PROPERLY. WHEN I FINALLY BROUGHT IT IN THEY HAD TO DO AN ENTIRE TUNE UP BECAUSE A PLUG WAS MISFIRING. *JB

DT: THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON MARCH 30, 2004. AFTER THE ENGINE STALLED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER BUT SLOWLY REGAINED IT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST 6 TIMES. KIA SAYS THAT A CYLINDERS IS MISFIRING , PLUGGING WIRES ARE CROSS FIRING. THE DATES OF FAILURE ARE APRIL 13, 2004, AUGUST 13, 2004, OCTOBER 19, 2004 AND MARCH 11, 2005, MAY 12, 2005 AND FINALLY JUNE 21, 2005. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS FAMILIES LIVES HAVE BEEN IN DANGER THREE TIMES. *AK *NM

2004 KIA SORENTO LEAKS OIL. FOUR TIMES IN FOR SERVICE, LATEST TIME JANUARY 5, 2005. TWICE DEALER REPLACED OIL PLUG GASKET. LAST TIME IN DEALER SERVICE DEPT SAYS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE DESIGNED OIL FILTERS. DEALER GOES ON TO SAY KIA AWARE OF PROBLEM AND GOING TO REDESIGN OIL FILTER. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHEN NEW FILTER IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE. IN MEAN TIME MY 2004 SORENTO CONTINUES TO LEAK OIL. FUMES FROM OIL BURNING ON HOT ENGINE CAUSING ME HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. DON'T BELIEVE DEALER EXPLANATION. USED TO HAVE A 2003 SORENTO WHICH KIA REPLACED BECAUSE OF MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS. NOW THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE (2004 SORENTO) HAS OIL LEAKING PROBLEMS THAT ARE UNRESOLVED BY DEALER. GOING TO TAKE IN AGAIN BECAUSE FUMES SO STRONG IT MAKES IT UNDRIVEABLE EXCEPT AS A LAST RESORT. BELIEVE ENGINE IN 2003 SORENTO IS SAME TYPE ENGINE IN 2004 SORENTO. OIL LEAKING IN THE 2003 WASN'T AN ISSUE. ONLY IN THIS SORENTO 2004.*AK

OIL LEAKS - 2004 KIA SORENTO. COMPLIANT FORM DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO SELECT SORENTO AS VEHICLE MODEL WHEN COMPLETING THIS FORM. DEALER REPLACED OIL PLUG GASKET TWICE. BEEN IN FOR OIL LEAK COMPLAINTS 4 TIMES. LAST TIME THERE JAN 05, 2005 DEALER SERVICE SAYS PROBLEM IS OIL FILTER LEAKING BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE OIL FILTER DESIGN. DEALER SERVICE SAYS KIA IN PROCESS OF RE-DESIGN OF FILTER. WHEN NEW OIL FILTERS AVAILABLE DEALER SAYS UNKNOWN. FIND THIS EXPLANATION OF PROBLEM TO BE UNBELIEVABLE. DON'T BELIEVE 2004 ENGINE DIFFERENT FROM 2003 ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE. WHEN LAST IN DEALER SERVICE ANOTHER CUSTOMER WAS IN FOR SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM; OIL LEAKS IN 2004 SORENTO. WAS IN MULTIPLE TIMES FOR A SOLUTION. USED TO HAVE SORENTO 2003 AND NEVER HAD LEAKING OIL, KIA REPLACED MY 2003 WITH A 2004 SORENTO BECAUSE OF MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH 2003. ENGINE OIL LEAKING WAS NOT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH 2003. BELIEVE SAME ENGINE USED IN BOTH MODELS. DON'T BELIEVE PROBLEM IS OIL FILTER DESIGN.*AK

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND THEN SHUT DOWN. THE DEALER CHANGED THE ENGINE AND THE DEFECT OCCURRED AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON THE COMPUTER AND NO DEFECTS HAVE BEEN FOUND. *JB

WHEN DRIVING THE VAN ANY SPEED. ONCE IT WARMS UP WITH THE AC ON THERE IS A LOUD GROANING/GROWING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR CARGO AREA OF THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND STARTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN CONTINUES AND INCREASES IN FREQUENCY. *NM