2003 Kia Sedona EX

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER SEATS, THE WIRING UNDER THE FRONT SEATS COULD BE MISROUTED, ALLOWING CONTACT WITH METAL SEAT COMPONENTS.

Risk. 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.

THE BREAKS WERE CHANGED DUE TO GRINDING COM TO FIND OUT THERE WAS 1BOLT ON THE BREAK CALIBERS PUT THEM ON AND IT STILL GRINDS AND CAN NOT STOP

THERE BEEN WHINING NOISE DURING ACCELERATING AND DE-ACCELERATE SPEED, I HAD SOMEONE LOOK AND THOUGHT I WAS BRAKING SYSTEM. YESTERDAY MY SON WAS DRIVING IT AND TURNING RIGHT AND WE HEARD A POP, AND THE WHOLE STEERING WENT OUT. WE WERE ALMOST KILLED ON 134, HE ABLE BACK IT UP. HAD SOMEONE ELSE LOOKS AT IT RACK AND PINION. THERE BEEN MSNY CLAIMS AND NO RECALL WHY

I HAVE A 2003 KIA SEDONA. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED 2 TIMES IN A MONTHS TIME. THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING NOW THAT THE CONNECTOR TO THE FAN HAS MELTED BECAUSE THE FAN IS PULLING TOO MUCH VOLTAGE. BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM OTHERS, THE ISSUE IS THE CONNECTOR AND NOT THE FAN? I HOPE THEY ARE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT KEEPS CAUSING THESE ISSUES AND CAN FIX THIS ASAP! I AM SICK OF SPENDING MY NIGHTS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD! NOT TO MENTION THE FINANCIAL STRAIN IT IS PLACING ON MY FAMILY. NOW I KNOW WHY THE PREVIOUS OWNER TRADED IN THIS JUNK WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES ON IT!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 KIA SEDONA EX. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 5 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BY THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND SHERIFF. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING FROM THE SEAT BELT STRAP ACROSS THE CHEST, AND BRUISING ACROSS THE WAISTLINE AND BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A POLICE HOLDING STATION AND LATER TO A BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. UPDATED 02/03/17*LJ *TR

WE HAVE A DETACHED GARAGE, AT 4:00 AM OUR DOG WOKE US UP TO HER BARKING. SHE COULD HEAR THE VAN HORN BLOWING. WHEN I TOOK HER OUT, I SAW THE VAN LIGHTS FLASHING AND THE HORN WAS BLOWING. I COULD NOT STOP THE HORN WITH THE KEYLESS REMOTE. I WOKE UP MY HUSBAND, WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR THE DASHBOARD WAS ALL MELTED, WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED, THE A/C UNIT GOING UP THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS ALL MELTED. HE FINALLY FOUND A PLACE TO OPEN THE HOOD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE MECHANISM TO OPEN THE HOOD WAS ALL MELTED AS WELL. THE VAN WAS TOTALED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY SENT US $3900. THE VAN WAS IS GREAT SHAPE FOR BEING 11 YEARS OLD. WE HAD THE VAN SERVICED AS SCHEDULED AND IT WAS ALWAYS KEPT IN THE GARAGE. WE BOUGHT THE VAN NEW AND STILL LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE AS WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. SO WE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ANY RECALLS ON THE VAN. WE WANTED TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE WERE ANY CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS PENDING. WHEN WE RAN A SEARCH ON OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, THERE WERE SEVERAL LISTED. SOME JUST AS OURS WAS, DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. I DON'T HAVE THE VIN AT THIS TIME BUT I CAN FIND IT AT HOME IN OUR INSURANCE CLAIM. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE US IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

1)HAPPENED TWICE: CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY AFTER A BEEPING NOISE AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON BRIEFLY. THERMOSTAT, THERMOSTAT GASKET HAD TO REPLACED TWICE IN 7 MONTHS (REPAIRS DONE ON 5/11/10 AND 12/13/2010). NOTE: ENGINE FLUSH 11/24/09; COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE TESTED 2/22/10, RADIATOR FLUSHES 6/8/09 AND 7/30/10 IN ADDITION TO LOF EVERY 3,000 MILES) COOLING SYSTEM /CORROSION ISSUES/COOLING SYSTEM CORROSION CONTROL KIT INSTALLED: 12/30/05 & 4/8/08, 2) CAR CAREENING AND TIPPING WHEN STEERING HARD TO RIGHT: FRONT HUB AND WHEEL BEARING, SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL - 3 TIMES (1/2/09; 12/13/10, 8/1/2011). 3) CAR LOST POWER ON FREEWAY DUE TO BAD ALTERNATOR WHICH DISCHARGED BATTERY 6/23/06. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN HE HEARD THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM SOUNDING. THE CONTACT WAS INSIDE HIS HOME AND OBSERVED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW GLOWING FROM AFAR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

MY KIA SEDONA 2003 EX WAS A GREAT VEHICLE , UNTIL 12/20/2011 WHEN THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE SLIDING SIDE DOOR BEHIND THE DRIVER BROKE OFF IN MY HAND WHEN I OPENED IT. THIS WAS A HUGE SURPRISE TO ME BECAUSE I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT CAME OFF IN MY HAND. THEN ON 12/31/2011 , I OPENED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR AND THE SCREW CAME OUT AND HIT THE GROUND AND I COULD NOT FIND IT.WHAT GOING ON , I'VE OWNED 4 CARS AND NONE OF THEM HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR HANDLES. THEN THE SILVER BUMPER ON THE FRONT AND THE REAR IS FADING TERRIBLY, THIS A WONDERFUL VEHICLE BUT, I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT THE DOOR HANDLES FELL OFF . NOW IT IS VERY INCONVENIENT FOR ME TO OPEN THESE 2 DOORS. THIS CAR HAS NO CHILDREN PLAYING ON THE DOORS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN , MOST OF THE TIME ITS JUST ME ....IS THERE ANY REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. I'M HOPING THAT THEIR IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER.... I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME CONCERNING THIS MATTER.... *TR

ON 12/26/2011 WE WENT OUT TO THE VAN (2003 KIA SEDONA) AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE WHOLE VAN SMELLED LIKE MELTED PLASTIC. I LOOKED AT THE FUSE BOX AND THE ENTIRE THING WAS MELTED ALONG WITH THE TRIM AND CARPET. I HAVE PICTURES AND A MOVIE TO SHOW THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. KIA OF PUTNAM CONNECTICUT REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WE WERE NOT EVEN DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED THE ISSUE HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. IF PICTURES ARE REQUESTED PLEASE EMAIL ME AT [XXX] THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON MY 2003 KIA SEDONA, I HAVE REPLACED OVER 3 WHEEL BEARINGS AND HAVE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE STEERING HAS LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA EX. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE RESIDENCE GARAGE AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT INTERIOR AND ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL MELTED SEVERELY. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL MELTED AND WAS DISTORTED TO THE POINT THAT THE STRUCTURE AND GAUGES WERE NOT VISIBLE. THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING WIRE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE GARAGE TO A NEARBY LOCATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE PRESENT OR FLAMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES IN WHICH THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION OR ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. UPDATED 09/24/10. *LJ ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER, A RECALL WAS ISSUED REGARDING THE SEATS. UPDATED 09/27/10

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

2003 KIA SEDONA EX PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING REAR DOOR OUTSIDE HANDLE BROKE. CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES AND IS GARAGE KEPT. I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE MY CHILD OUT OF THE CAR SEAT PROMPTLY, AND HAD TO USE THE OTHER SLIDING DOOR, WHICH WAS IN THE LINE OF TRAFFIC. I FOUND OUT EVEN WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED. ONCE THE HANDLE WAS REMOVED FROM VAN, I FOUND OUT IT WAS MADE PLASTIC, NO WONDER IT BROKE, IT NEEDS TO BE MADE OF STRONGER MATERIAL, LIKE METAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING SHE WOULD HEAR A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS. AFTER THE REPAIR THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION A MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. HOWEVER, HE ADDED THAT BECAUSE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE NOT ONLY DEFECTIVE, THEY WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED, THEREFORE NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

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

05V232000 - THIS MORNING MY LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF MY 2003 KIA SEDONA AT THE HUB -- NOT THE LUGS AT THE HUB - FORTUNATELY I WASN'T DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND DUE TO THE NOISE IT WAS MAKING REALIZED THAT I HAD A PROBLEM. PER KIA - THE ABOVE MENTIONED RECALL DID NOT PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE. *TR

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

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

BRAKE ROTORS WARPING EVERY YEAR SINCE PURCHASING THIS MINIVAN IN 10/03 I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY ROTORS CHANGED EVERY YEAR DUE TO WARPING THE VAN HAS ONLY 43,000 MILES ON IT IT TO MUCH ALREADY ALL PARTS WERE KIA OEM PARTS PURCHASE AT A DEALER. *TR