Problems · by component

2002 Kia Sedona engine and engine cooling problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Kia Sedona cite engine and engine cooling, 12% of all 250 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
31
12% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I OWN A 2002 KIA SEDONA. I PURCHASED IT IN FEBRUARY AND WAS FINE UNTIL A MONTH LATER. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I GOT ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE VAN STALLED AND JUST SHUT DOWN. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER IT RESTARTED THEN SHUT OFF AGAIN ABOUT 3 MILES DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE FUEL PUMP AND CAMSHAFT REPLACED BUT IT STILL WILL NOT START. THEN THE BATTERY STOPPED WORKING. I REPLACED THAT AND IT STILL WILL NOT WORK. I CALLED KIA AND BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT HELP. THE DEALERSHIP IS WAY TOO EXPENSIVE BEING THAT I AM A SINGLE PARENT I CANNOT AFFORD THEIR PRICES. KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE IS VERY BAD AND WILL NOT HELP WITH ANYTHING. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I HAVE CAME TO A CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ONE FIX TO IT. I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO OUT AND PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE AND JUST WANT THIS ONE FIXED. PLEASE HELP! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10457359
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SEDONA EX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE BATTERY, BRAKE AND SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL MOMENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AT LEAST EIGHT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 25, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10378634
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE FUEL PUMP AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE AIR FLOW SENSOR. SEPTEMBER 2010, THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,735. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,084.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10358191
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SEDONA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED FOR A SHORT PERIOD AND THEN CORRECTED ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE CATYLATIC CONVERTER REPLACED; HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIRS THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARING ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS . THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 3000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10303846
“2002 KIA SEDONA MINIVAN. PURCHASED USED FEB 2006 W/32K MILES FROM PRIVATE OWNER. MOST RECENT MILES 59K. CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE AND IS TOTALED. HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING ELECTRIC SEAT STOP FUNCTIONING, AND DEAD BATTERY WHENEVER PARKED FOR MORE THAN 5 DAYS. REPLACED THE BATTERY, REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT. ON 11/17/07 AFTER 6-MONTHS OF THE SEAT NOT WORKING, THE DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRIC SEAT CONTROLS SUDDENLY BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN, A FEW HOURS LATER THE VAN CAUGHT FIRE (DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND DASH) AND BURNED THE INTERIOR. INSURANCE DECLARED IT TOTALED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 22, 2007Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, SeatsFire reportedODI 10209702
“THE REAR ANTI-FREEZE LINE OF MY 2002 KIA SEDONA RUSTED THROUGH AT 70,000 MILES CAUSING A SEVERE LEAK AND EVENTUAL TERMINAL ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO OVER HEATING WARNING ALARM BUILT IN AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE LINES WERE NOT DEFECTIVE SO IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. REGIONAL KIA SERVICE REP WAS VERY DISRESPECTFUL. KIA DID NOTHING TO HELP AND IT COST $4,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A USED ONE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2007Engine and engine coolingODI 10185386

Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.