FaultScore

KIA Sedona steering problems

98 of the 3,406 complaints filed about the KIA Sedona are about the steering — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.

98

Complaints

3%

Share of all complaints

9

Crashes

5

Fires

Steering complaints by model year

2002 Sedona 9 9.2%

Median failure at 69,500 miles

2003 Sedona 3 3.1%

Median failure at 41,000 miles

2004 Sedona 22 22.4%

Median failure at 68,000 miles

2005 Sedona 14 14.3%

Median failure at 93,700 miles

2006 Sedona 21 21.4%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

2007 Sedona 3 3.1%

Median failure at 78,500 miles

2008 Sedona 4 4.1%

Median failure at 88,200 miles

2009 Sedona 3 3.1%

Median failure at 95,000 miles

2011 Sedona 1 1.0%

Median failure at 1 miles

2012 Sedona 4 4.1%

Median failure at 12,000 miles

2015 Sedona 2 2.0%

Median failure at 6,700 miles

2016 Sedona 6 6.1%

Median failure at 1,041 miles

2017 Sedona 3 3.1%

Median failure at 36,500 miles

2018 Sedona 1 1.0%
2019 Sedona 2 2.0%

Median failure at 2,500 miles

What owners said

2016 KIA Sedona at 222,627 miles Spring Valley, IL

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle lost motive power and drove forward about the length of the vehicle before the vehicle stalled. The contact and the occupants were stranded for an hour. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who replaced the starter and informed the contact that the piston or tie rod was fractured. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 222,627.

NHTSA complaint #11690730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 KIA Sedona Los Angeles, CA 1 injured

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I have a 2016 kia sedona. Engines on the vehicle have been known to be bad and I already had 1 engine replaced under their extended warranty that covers to 150000 miles after a blown head gasket. I got a new engine 11/2024 however car overheats & coolant leak everywhere&bust hoses. I was told to replace radiator and all cooling/heater hoses, but video show coolant bubbling car still overheating. Replaced one loose hose under warranty. Car overheats again was told to replace relay switch for fan another. Dealer crash my car waited a month for parts and they never repaired damages to my bumper and airbag light. 2 month later car overheats again now coolant spraying into trunk and hose pop again now at heater core. There is no light notice of when car overheating tiil very hot. Or someone tells me my car is smoking by then it is followed by a loud noise and coolant leaking everywhere again. This time the overheating bust the heater core hose in my trunk and was spraying coolant all in trunk while I was getting ready to get of freeway. Very scary. I pulled over just in time for noise and coolant to leak out everything from resovoir again. This is my family car and have 5 kids under 18 and feel very unsafe now. Despite paying for everything kia suggest every 1-2 months they still fail to find cause of overheating and constant hoses breaking or coming loose after the pressure build up and I am scared this car will catch fire or stall one day with my children in car. Already noticed sometime its like car struggles to accelerate despite a supposed new engine but car been constantly overheating even after engine replacement and it also still causes sludge in hose& had 4 coolant flushes in a year and new hoses and now seems people working on car not sure what they doing because I was told I needed new heater hoses 2months later they didn't know my heater core was at back car so didn't replace so this hose burst despite kia recommendation to replace. Please help b4 it too late

NHTSA complaint #11673557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 KIA Sedona Simi Valley, CA

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Intermittent air bag light come and goes Window fluid leaking Power steering leaking Bad reception AM radio (Lots static)

NHTSA complaint #11643821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 KIA Sedona Suwanee, GA Fire

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While parking, the power steering hose melted and power steering liquid leaked, causing the engine room and the bottom of the engine room to catch fire. There was danger to the driver and cars parked nearby. The problem was confirmed and repaired at a auto repair shop. Firefighters responded and the insurance company inspected the vehicle. Before the error occurred, there were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of a problem.

NHTSA complaint #11594052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 KIA Sedona Fort Wayne, IN

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Vehicle shut off while driving for no apparent reason. Vehicle had plenty of fuel and battery measures 12.8 volts with engine off, 13.8 volts when vehicle is on. No error code. Steering and braking stopped working correctly. We were traveling through a parking lot at the time so luckily not at high speed or this could have ended deadly. The vehicle would not immediately start back up, we put it in park, turned the key and the engine would turn over but not start. After 4 or 5 tries it did start, and the only fault to appear was the ABS light which came on and stayed on solid. After parking and shutting the vehicle off and restarting it the ABS light went away. No other fault codes are or were present.

NHTSA complaint #11573778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 KIA Sedona Westminster, MD Fire

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Engine rod failed, puncturing the engine causing oil to spill, resulting in the car catching on fire while driving.

NHTSA complaint #11546251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 KIA Sedona Visalia, CA

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Steering wheel became stiff and it's not steering. Yes, vehicle is available for inspection. Driving on freeway with my children in the vehicle when wheel became stiff. Was able to get off ramp and get home. Incident happened on 10/02/2022, currently on 2 hour hold with Kia (800-333-4542). Called local dealership, but was sent to voice mail for service department. No, vehicle has not been inspected. There were no warning lamps or messages at time of incident nor prior symptoms. Turned vehicle on this AM (10/03/2022) and no warning lights nor messages have appeared. Checked power steering fluid level and it is at the recommended level.

NHTSA complaint #11487739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 KIA Sedona at 113,000 miles Salem, MO

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The contact owns a 2003 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to steer. The contact pulled over and left the vehicle. The contact returned 2 days later and drove the vehicle home. The contact stated that the check engine, brakes and air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. Dealer/manufacturer was contacted but no open recalls.*JB Consumer stated in addition to the prior issues has airbag lights on and brakes that lock up in the rain. Power steering was repaired but still having problems.

NHTSA complaint #11419218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 KIA Sedona at 112,000 miles Unicoi, TN

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN, A POPPING NOISE OCCURRED COMING FROM THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK & PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW RACK & PINION HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A KIA DEALER RACK & PINION WAS TESTED AND FAILED, AND WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SIX MONTHS AGO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11377316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 KIA Sedona at 210,000 miles Warwick, RI

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WHEN THE ABS BRAKES ACTIVATE WHILE GOING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED DURING SNOWY OR RAINY WEATHER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON. I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT'S VERY SCARY. VERY MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP, BUT THEY DIDN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS. THE MILEAGE VARIES. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT THE VEHICLE HAD 210,000 MILES

NHTSA complaint #11374697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 KIA Sedona at 161,000 miles Shakopee, MN

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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.

NHTSA complaint #11373016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 KIA Sedona at 35,000 miles Taunton, MA

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POWER STEERING PUMP HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES IN PAST 4 YEARS. NEEDS REPLACEMENT ABOUT EVERY YEAR BIT LAST 2 WERE 6 MINTHS APART. SOMETHING IS CAUSING FRICTION AND RUINING PUMPS. MAKES FLUID INSTANTLY POUR OUT AND CAR IS UNCONTROLLABLE. SO DANGEROUS

NHTSA complaint #11363091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 KIA Sedona at 54,000 miles Stafford, VA

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MY 2017 KIA SEDONA SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION ON A STREET. I HAD TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK TURN THE KEY AND THEN RESTART MY CAR. THIS HAPPENS ON 10/31/2019. ROUGHLY 20 MINUTES LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS TOWED TO THE KIA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. ON 2/1/2020 MY CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN WHILE AT A RED LIGHT. ON 2/25/2020 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME A CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SWERVE INTO THE OTHER LANE IN ORDER NOT TO SLAM IN TO ME. ON 2/26/2020 WHILE DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL IT SHUT OFF AGAIN WHILE IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA SERVICE CENTER. IT IS STILL CURRENTLY THERE. THEY ARE STATING THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11311957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 KIA Sedona Deer Park, NY

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BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR AT 20 MILES ON ODOMETER. WHILE DRIVING HOME STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING BADLY. I WAS SURPRISED TO FEEL THIS SINCE IT IS A BRAND NEW CAR. I WENT TO SERVICE NEXT DAY THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH TIRES OR SUSPENSION AND WAS TOLD THIS IS HOW THIS CAR DESIGN TO DRIVE. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THERE IS KNOW VISIBLE ISSUE WITH THE TIRES KIA WOULD NOT REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. NOW I'M STUCK WITH THIS BRAND NEW CAR THAT DRIVES LIKE 10 YEARS OLD CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11287729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 KIA Sedona at 19,000 miles Sedro-Woolley, WA Crash 1 injured

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WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CORNER DOING 25 MPH, ON A BACK ROAD THAT WAS DRY, I CORRECTED THE STEERING TO THE LEFT OUT OF THE CURVE AND THE STEERING CONTINUED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND WOULD NOT CORRECT. VEHICLE WENT DOWN A 20 FOOT EMBANKMENT AND STRUCK A TREE HEAD ON. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE COLLISION AND THE ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF. I SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES, RESULTING IN 4 MONTHS OF MISSED WORK AND A DOUBLE DISCECTOMY TO REPAIR TWO SEVERELY HERNIATED DISCS. UNTIL MY SURGERY I WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR FROM THESE INJURIES, AS MY SPINAL CORD WAS COMPRESSED BY THE DISCS IN MY NECK. THE KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS HOTLINE WILL NOT SPEAK TO ME REGARDING THE SAFETY FEATURES OTHER THAN TO SAY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY FROM A FULL FRONT IMPACT GOING A SPEED OF AT LEAST 25MPH (AS THERE WAS DOWNWARD MOMENTUM AT THAT POINT) HOWEVER THE AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP THAT OUR INSURANCE COMPANY ASSIGNED US TO SAYS THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO DEPLOY IN SUCH AN ACCIDENT. AS I CANNOT GET AN ANSWER FROM KIA AS TO WHETHER THIS HAS MERIT, I AM LEFT DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT I AM UNSURE IS SAFE.

NHTSA complaint #11197050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 KIA Sedona at 2,500 miles Colona, IL

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2019 KIA SEDONA WITH 2600 MILES ON IT, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE ROAD, IT HAS EXTREME ALIGNMENT ISSUES WANTING TO GO TO THE LEFT, ALMOST CAUSED 3 DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS PUTTING MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN DANGER. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT, YOU REALLY HAVE TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY.

NHTSA complaint #11192764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 KIA Sedona at 1 miles Indianapolis, IN

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ANY TIME THERE IS BUDDLE OF WATER ON THE ROAD AT LOW SPEED UNDER 15 I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND POWER YOU CAN'T TURN THE STEERING AND HAS POWER WARNING ON THE DASH SOMETIME ON CAR WASH I HAVE TO PUSH GAS TO GET POWER ON AGAIN

NHTSA complaint #11172060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 KIA Sedona at 88,200 miles Dearborn Heights, MI

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THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE CONTROL ARMS. I FOUND THIS OUT WHEN I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH BECAUSE MINE HAS BROKEN NEARLY COMPLETELY IN HALF AS I WAS DRIVING IT. I WAS ON A CITY STREET AND IT SNAPPED AS I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. AFTER THAT IT WAS GIVING ME ISSUES TURNING LEFT AND BRAKING. THE RECALL STATES THAT THE CONTROL ARMS WILL RUST AND BREAK WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. BUT APPARENTLY MY VEHICLE HAS A CANADIAN VIN NUMBER AND BECAUSE OF THAT KIA WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL AND I HAVE TO GET IT FIXED MYSELF. I CAN EVEN PUT MY VIN NUMBER INTO THE KIA CANADA WEBSITE AND THE RECALL PIPS UP. THEY GAVE ME THE TOLL FREE NUMBER TO KIA CANADA WHICH I TRIED TO CALL BUT CAN'T GET THROUGH BECAUSE IT IS 'NOT AVAILABLE FROM MY AREA' IN MY OPINION KIA IS KIA. NO MATTER WHERE I AM AND WHERE MY CAR IS FROM. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO CANADA TO FIX THE RECALL!! THE COMPANY AS A WHOLE SHOULD BE MORE CONCERNED WITH THEIR CONSUMERS AND ENSURE OUR SAFETY AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY ARE DOING! I HAD MY BABY IN THE CAR AND A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE GREAT INJURY TO ALL OF US

NHTSA complaint #11110408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 KIA Sedona Wrightsville, GA

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WE CAN NOT TURN ON OUR VEHICLE. EVERYTHING WORKS AS FAR AS THE AIR CONDITIONER AND RADIO HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. AFTER YOU CHECK THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT'S POSITION AND TURN THE KEY ON TO CHANGE BETWEEN PARK AND NEUTRAL, SOMETIMES IT WILL START. RIGHT NOW WE CAN NOT FIND A SOLUTION TO WHY IT WILL START AND THEN YOU CAN NOT PUT IT BACK IN PARK. THIS IS ALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY.

NHTSA complaint #11073470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 KIA Sedona at 200,000 miles Jacksonville, FL

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IN MARCH2016 BRAKES REPLACE WITH NEW PADS/ROTOR DUE TO SCREECH SOUND. TODAY WHEN BRAKE PRESSED STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. ABS/ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON THE OTHER DAY. FRONT WHEELS STILL VIBRATE ON THE HIGHWAY. TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES JERKS AND STALLS THE CAR. A/C NOT WORK, BUT HEATER ALWAYS WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #11062420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other KIA Sedona problems