Owners filed 48 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 5 times.
When it fails
04600046,000 milesMedian miles at failure
34 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 0–10,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Unknown or Other
7
0
1
0
Service Brakes
6
0
0
0
Electrical System
6
0
1
0
Vehicle Speed Control
3
1
0
1
Suspension
3
0
0
0
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
3
0
0
0
Air Bags
3
1
0
4
Structure › Body › Door
2
0
0
0
Power Train
2
1
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
2
0
0
0
5 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Electrical System20V088000
Filed Feb 14, 2020228,829 vehiclesKia Motors America
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch16V389000
Filed Jun 1, 2016219,800 vehiclesKia Motors America
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm16V387000
Filed Jun 1, 201697,884 vehiclesKia Motors America
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm13V550000
Filed Nov 5, 201379,867 vehiclesKia Motors Corporation
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 7, 2026IN
My 2009 Kia Sedona is under Safety Recall SC133 (NHSTA 16V-387) for front lower control arms that can corrode and break. The dealership has had the vehicle at ANDY MOHR KIA in [XXX] for two weeks and states the frame is too heavily rusted to safely mount the new control arms. They will not perfom the recall repair. The vehicle is currently undriveable due to the structural condition related to the salt-belt corrosion issue covered by the recall. I have an open Kia Consumer Affairs case (XXX) but have not received a resolution. The dealership escalated this, but there has been no timely response or resolution. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 18, 2022FL
The door locks on passenger sliding doors,do not keep doors shut,they remain open on both sides and have to use a screw driver to rotate the mechanism.
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights
Filed May 26, 2021SC
An L shape plastic part broke off under the brake pedal that is causing the brake lights to remain on, intermittently, when I am not using them. It has drained my battery causing me to be late to work.
Steering
Filed Nov 4, 2020161,000 milesMN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE BUT FOUND NO ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN DROVE TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Feb 27, 2020LA
THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND A FIRE STARTED SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE AND THE WHOLE CAR BURNED.
Service Brakes
Filed Nov 20, 201925,000 milesMN
THE BRAKE LIGHTS TURNED ON AND CANNOT BE TURNED OFF EXCEPT FOR DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. THEY ARE ON ALL OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING AND DRIVERS CANNOT TELL WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES. THEY ARE ON AFTER I POWER OFF THE VEHICLE AND PARK AND LOCK THE SEDONA. THE ESC OFF LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. THE VEHICLE HAS 25,000 MILES AND IS KEPT IN NAPLES, FLORIDA.
Suspension
Filed Jun 17, 2019PA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SEDONA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BARELY PASS THE INSPECTION. IN 2017, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNBURY MOTORS KIA (570-286-7746, LOCATED AT 2030 N SUSQUEHANNA TRAIL, SELINSGROVE, PA 17870) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON THE CONTROL ARM, BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR A REPLACEMENT. THE TECHNICIAN APPLIED AN UNDERCOATING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE DEALER DID WHAT WAS NEEDED AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TT CONSUMER STATED KIA REFUSES TO REPLACE THE CONTROL ARM BECAUSE THEY SAY THE UNDERCOATING IS ALL THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO.*JB
Service Brakes
Filed Mar 14, 2019170,000 milesGA
THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER MOUNTING BRACKETS BOLTS LOOSEN AND FALL OUT CAUSING CALIPER FAILURE. THIS ALSO CAUSE THE CALIPER TO BECOME LOOSE AND SCRUB THE INSIDE OF THE RIM WHICH IN TURN DAMAGES BOTH THE CALIPER AND THE RIM. THIS HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION BOTH ON HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS.
Service Brakes
Filed Feb 20, 2019102,000 milesIA
ABS AND ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON LAST WEEK AND SINCE I HAVE HAD NO ABS OR STABILITY CONTROL. CAUSED ME TO SPIN OUT ON ICY INTERSTATE
Air Bags
Filed Dec 23, 2018105,000 milesOR
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON AND GOES OFF BOUGHT NEW KIA SEDONA LESS THAN 10 YEARS AGO
Electrical System
Filed Nov 8, 201880,819 milesFL
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!
Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 12, 2018122,000 milesNY
THE HORN JUST STOP WORKING!! CHANGED ALL FUSES AND STILL CONTINUE NOT TO WORK
Electrical System
Filed May 15, 2018MA
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.
Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 20, 2017TX
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.
Electrical System
Filed Apr 8, 2017SC
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.
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Dec 13, 2016140,000 milesNJ
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.
Service Brakes
Filed Dec 1, 2016126,133 milesOH
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.
Electrical System
Filed Aug 11, 201691,500 milesNJ
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.
Air BagsCrash3 injured
Filed Feb 5, 201585,000 milesFL
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
Engine
Filed Oct 10, 201445,423 milesMO
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.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Feb 14, 2020. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.