KnownCarProblems2003 Kia Sedona Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 163 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Kia Sedona, most often about the electrical (18% of complaints, typically around 56,000 miles). It is 7th of 19 Sedona model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2003 Kia Sedona problems
Electrical
29 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, alternator/generator/regulator, horn, 12v/24v/48v battery.
2003 Kia Sedona with approx 48,000 miles, parked and unoccupied in the parking area of my townhouse community. Went to open the door remotely using the key ring and there was no response. Eventually had to manually open the car and noticed the entire left hand side of the instrument panel and dashboard area had…
I had gone to lunch and stopped by the grocery store first and then went by the gas station for a moment. When I came out, I got into my van and it would not crank. No warning, no prior trouble, noises, slow crank, nothing. It would not even attempt to crank. I had to walk back to work. Later that evening, my father…
Brakes
26 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 36,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, drum.
Car has been huge headache bought new in 2003 has been towed twice for leaking coolant lines that rusted out. Last time was on vacation Kia has not returned on phone call or e-mail as it cost me 300 dollars and car is under bumper to bumper warranty has 34k miles . Drivers door handle broke and airbag light was on…
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Sedona. While driving approximately 20 MPH the left rear wheel separated from the vehicle. He was able to pull over on the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the garage. The manufacturer did not take a report. The estimated cost for the repair was $400.00. The wheel bearing seals…
Air bags
25 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 88,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
My 2003 Kia Sedona air bag light kept coming on told Kia dealer about it they refused to do anything for it. Said was not a problem. Upon a accident the pass. Airbag deployed with know one in the seat or any item in the seat it deployed so hard that it tore the sun visor off its arm and turned it into a projectile.
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Sedona. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a deer and caused significant damage to the front end. During the crash, the air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
Engine
25 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 57,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
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…
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!!
Wheels and tires
16 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 72,500 miles. Parts named most often: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Kia Sedona. She received a recall notice for the wheel bearings, brake lights, and the vehicle speed control. The dealer refused to honor her recall notice since the VIN was not included. The contact provided the dealer with copies of the recall notice with her vehicle information listed and…
Tl contact owns a 2003 Kia Sedona. While driving 20 MPH the contact heard a loud vibrating noise. The contact stated the faster he drove, the more noise the vehicle made. He stated that he drove the vehicle to the dealer and was told that his vehicle was not part of the recall.the contact referenced recall NHTSA…
Speed control
13 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control, cables, springs.
The cruise control will not work at certain times and this has been going on for at least 6 or 7 months and is still happening. Dealer replaced cruise switch but that did not work, it still is doing the same thing. Went back to dealer and they said they could not doing anything about it until they see it happening.…
While driving approximately 50 MPH vehicle would suddenly accelerate. Had applied the brakes to stop vehicle. Managed to pull to side of road and stop. Restarted vehcle, and took it to dealership. Mechanic indicated could not locate cause of acceleration.
Seat belts
12 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 123,500 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear/other.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Kia Sedona. While driving various speeds, the contact noticed that the seat belt came apart and was not properly securing her child seat. The clip that enters the latch on the seat belt was the part that failed. She also noticed that the other seat belts in her vehicle were beginning to fail in…
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while attempting to buckle the seat belt, the second row seat belt anchor cables snapped off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.…
Suspension
11 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 16,500 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
There's vibration in the engine compartment at idle or driving. Dealership/manufacturer are aware of the problem, but don't have a solution.
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Sedona. While driving approximately 20 MPH the left rear wheel separated from the vehicle. He was able to pull over on the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the garage. The manufacturer did not take a report. The estimated cost for the repair was $400.00. The wheel bearing seals…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Kia Sedona recalls
Speed control: cables
Risk: This can cause the cable to stick, thus preventing the engine from returning to idle and causing the vehicle to maintain speed or accelerate. Such an event can occur without warning and could cause a crash.
Fix: Dealers will modify a protective sleeve around the throttle cable. The recall began on august 15, 2005. Owners may contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Full defect summary
On certain mini vans, freezing conditions can cause water on the throttle cable to freeze during normal operation. Resistance to movement of the throttle cable can occur when the driver lifts their foot off of the gas pedal.
Wheels and tires: wheels
Risk: Wheel bearing failure may occur without warning which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear hub caps free of charge. Upon inspection, some vehicles will also require replacement of the rear outer bearings and/or hub assembly. The recall began on june 13, 2005. Owners may contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Full defect summary
On certain mini vans equipped with alloy wheels, moisture can accumulate around the rear hub caps causing damage to the outer wheel bearing.
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.
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: Such increased stopping distances could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the control module. Owner notification began may 19, 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, there was a programming error in the anti-lock braking system (ABS) electronic control module logic. The programming error could cause reduced braking force at speeds below 25 MPH, which could result in increased stopping distances.
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
Electrical fire
Summary
By letter dated october 4, 2005, kia notified the agency that it is conducting a safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 05v463) involving all model year (my) 2002, 2003 kia sedona ex vehicles and certain my 2004 kia sedona ex vehicles.kia?s recall covers 74,276 vehicles.kia reports that fires were caused by wiring under front seats being misrouted; this allowed the wire to be pinched by metal seat components.over time, the short in the wiring under the seat causes overheating of components in the fuse box (located under the driver side instrument panel).specifically, the circuit breaker diodes cycle on-off-on etc. And overheat.kia will inspect vehicles for proper wire routing and install protective
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 2003 Kia Sedona
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Kia Sedona?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (29 complaints, typically around 56,000 miles); brakes (26 complaints, typically around 36,000 miles); air bags (25 complaints, typically around 88,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Kia Sedona have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 20, 2005 (speed control). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Kia Sedona?
- It is 7th of 19 Sedona model years by number of complaints, with 163 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.