KnownCarProblems2002 Kia Sedona Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 198 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Kia Sedona, most often about the electrical (25% of complaints, typically around 52,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Sedona model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2002 Kia Sedona problems
Electrical
50 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles. Parts named most often: alternator/generator/regulator, wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery, ignition.
Dt: the contact stated that this vehicle has experienced several problems. The first incident was in august 2005 when the alternator, alternator belt, and a sensor were replaced. A sensor was replaced twice in october 2005. Then, on october 28, 2005 there a control valve was replaced. The check engine light was on…
2002 Kia Sedona with steering failure. Consumer states that mechanic told her that a bolt fell out and could not be replaced unless the entire steering shaft was replaced. Consumer states that wasn't the first time the steering has had problems. The consumer stated during the first year of owning the vehicle, the…
Engine
31 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 28,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Check engine light keeps coming on, every 2000 miles. It is always the same thing, a rich fuel mixture. This problem affects the acceleration of the vehicle. When the driver steps on the gas, the car either bucks and won't go, or just bogs down and won't accelerate. This is dangerous when trying to merge in traffic on…
While driving on highway with heat on, the air stopped blowing into the car from the vents even though we could hear the blower motor running. This started october 4, 2003 and still has not been fixed as of june 2004.even though we have had the car in the repair shop 11 times. We have been placed in very dangerous…
Seat belts
28 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear/other.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while traveling 45 MPH, he heard a loud noise from the driver side of the vehicle and the seat belt tightened cutting off his circulation. The contact had to move the seat back to get and unlock the seat belt. A few minutes later, the same failure occurred on…
I have a 2002 Kia Sedona van. We had taken the child seat out of the passenger side-middle row and was trying to reinstall the seat. That is when we discovered the seat belts fail to ratchet when installing child safety seat. Since we still had the back seat in the van (I often take them out.), I was able to install…
Brakes
27 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 16,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, pedals and linkages, drum.
One more time Kia Sedona 2002 failed to brake car lost control front passenger seat belt snapped out, looks like power steering failed and brakes also, not the first time brakes failed in Kia Sedona. Prior to this accident the consumer complained to the dealer about vibrations while braking. Car accelerate by itself…
Car accelerated on his own as a result car went into median, also passenger side seat belt snapped. Car was heavily damaged as a result of the crash. Went from 10 to 50mph in seconds. Also, brake system failed to respond. Previous report filed #10065882.
Visibility and wipers
21 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 36,500 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, glass, side/rear, power window devices and controls, windshield wiper/washer.
While driving on highway with heat on, the air stopped blowing into the car from the vents even though we could hear the blower motor running. This started october 4, 2003 and still has not been fixed as of june 2004.even though we have had the car in the repair shop 11 times. We have been placed in very dangerous…
Consumer belts squeal, slidding door drags, pulley was replaced at 7744 miles. ** answer required*** the pulley and belt have been replaced 10 times. The alternator seized while the vehicle was being driven. The A/C fan made loud noises. The sliding door dragged. The emergency brake would not hold, the dealer adjusted…
Air bags
19 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, on-off switch assembly.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Kia Sedona. While driving less than 25 MPH, the contact noticed that the air bag light was illuminated. The dealer stated that the seat belt sensor failed and caused the air bag light to illuminate. No repairs have been made as of yet. The VIN and engine size were unknown. The current and…
4 months ago my alternator went, taking with it my entire electrical system. After everything was fixed by the repair shop of my choice, the airbag light was still on and could not be reset because Kia will not release the codes to do so. I took it to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and $90 later simply reset the…
Speed control
18 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cables, linkages.
- the contact stated that while driving the 2002 Kia sedonna with 37275 failure mileage at any rate of speed the vehicle accelerated while braking. This failure happened four times. The vehicle has been to the dealer three times, but the problem still persisted. Recall 05v013000 was issued for vehicle speed control…
On several occasions while driving in severe cold weather of 10 degree centigrade vehicle accelerator/throttle froze. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to locate the problem. The consumer stated that the vehicle accelerated on its own. The consumer put the engine in neutral and the engine would not stop…
Transmission
17 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
2002 Kia Sedona with steering failure. Consumer states that mechanic told her that a bolt fell out and could not be replaced unless the entire steering shaft was replaced. Consumer states that wasn't the first time the steering has had problems. The consumer stated during the first year of owning the vehicle, the…
12-23-05 the vehicle started to show reverse problems. Dealer was called and the dealer said that the manufacturer would not honor the warranty because I had not taken it to the dealer to have the tranny fluid checked. This was said without seeing the vehicle and after I had just been asked if I was the same person…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Kia Sedona recalls
Speed control: cables
Risk: This can permit the cable to be hung up, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the throttle cable free of charge. Vehicles produced from march 20, 2001 through november 7, 2001 will have a guide clip installed on the throttle body assembly in order to ensure that the tension force cable does not move out of position. Vehicles manufactured beginning on november 8, 2001, already have the extended guide, which accomplishes the same objective. The recall began march 21, 2005. Owners may contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Full defect summary
On certain mini vans, during assembly, the throttle cable would twist itself out of position.
Seats: mid/rear assembly
Risk: This could result in injuries to occupants of these seats.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat strikers. Owner notification began april 25, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact kia at 1-800-333-4542
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, some of the second and third row seat strikers installed on the vehicle floor pan have been improperly heat treated and could break in a crash.
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle anchor bolts. Owner notification began february 24, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Full defect summary
Certain mini vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the second and third seat belt buckle anchor bolts do not comply with the standards.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Steering intermediate shaft binding
Summary
Odis analysis of warranty data shows that the alleged defect has occurred at a relatively high frequency in salt-belt states (5.9 percent).however, the tests conducted by odi and kia have shown that the alleged defect has a minimal effect on steering efforts.in addition, odi interviews of owners who experienced the alleged defect showed that in most cases the problem was preceded by months or years of noise or a gradual increase in steering efforts and was more of a nuisance concern. There has been one allegation of a minor crash related to the alleged defect, involving a my 2003 kia sedona with 59,900 miles.the vehicle had been checked twice in the previous nine months by a dealer for compl
Steering binding
Summary
On april 28, 2008, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened preliminary evaluation pe08-033 to investigate complaints alleging steering binding in model year 2002 through 2004 kia sedona minivans.kia's response to odi's request for information in pe08-033 indicated that concerns with binding of the steering intermediate shaft were first identified and investigated in august 2002, in vehicles sold in indonesia.this investigation resulted in the addition of a stiffening rib to the bearing cap seal.in june 2003, kia again investigated owner complaints of steering noise and higher than normal steering resistance and in october and november of 2003 design changes to the shaft universal jo
Throttle cable binding
Summary
Kia provided information describing a water entry point at the rubber sealing boot located at the throttle body end of the throttle cable, advising that water could enter the cable sheath during normal vehicle operation.in low temperatures, the water freezes and may impede the movement of the throttle cable thereby preventing an open throttle from returning to the closed position.a stuck throttle could increase the risk of a crash.to prevent water ingress, kia increased the crimping force of the clamp installed on the rubber boot from 2 to 5 kilograms force.the action took place in april 2004 and occurred in connection with other changes to the throttle cable system.to remedy the vehicles bu
Questions about the 2002 Kia Sedona
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Kia Sedona?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (50 complaints, typically around 52,000 miles); engine (31 complaints, typically around 28,000 miles); seat belts (28 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Kia Sedona have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 19, 2005 (speed control). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Kia Sedona?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Sedona model year since 2000, with 198 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.