Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Kia Sedona problems

Owners filed 185 complaints about the 2005 Kia Sedona with NHTSA between Jun 2005 and Apr 2023. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (72).

Complaints
185
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic72
  2. Electrical system22
  3. Engine and engine cooling16
  4. Air bags16
  5. Suspension14
  6. Steering14
  7. Wheels13
  8. Engine11
  9. Tires11
  10. Vehicle speed control11
  11. Equipment9
  12. Service brakes8
  13. Latches/locks/linkages6
  14. Power train5

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200523
200626
200737
200813
200910
20109
20117
20125
20137
20147
201516
20168
20176
20183
20193
20200
20214
20220
20231

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes, hydraulic

72 reports4 crashes1 fire
“2005 KIA SEDONA BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT PADS, CALIPERS, WHEEL BEARING, AND DISKS MULTIPLE TIMES. WHEEL BEARING AND CALIPERS WERE FROZEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 15, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10396030

Electrical system

22 reports2 crashes8 fires
“The contact owns a 2005 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, she noticed that the vehicle was overheating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated she attempted to open the hood of the vehicle to determine the cause of the failure, but the hood would not open. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 13, 2021Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 11429054

Engine and engine cooling

16 reports1 crash
“THE COOLANT LINE CORRODED AND LEAKED COOLANT WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE RUN HOT AND STOP. I WAS LUCKY TO BE NEAR A GAS STATION AND GOT OFF OF THE ROAD. I CALLED AAA FOR A TOW. THE DEALER WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE COOLANT LINE STATING IT IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. MAINTENANCE ISSUE? HOW CAN THE GENERAL CONSUMER KNOW THAT THE COOLANT LINE THAT RUNS UNDER THE VEHICLE IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE MAKERS WARRANTY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 20, 2015Engine and engine coolingODI 10676777

Air bags

16 reports12 crashes
“MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND I TALK TO KIA ABOUT IT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME A PRICE FOR TO TAKE IT OFF I HAE A WHEEL BEARING PROMBLE TO. I HAD TO GET MY WHEEL BEARING REPAIR TO.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2018Air bags, Wheels, Unknown or otherODI 11123210

Suspension

14 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING NOISE HEARD NEAR THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS PREMATURELY FRACTURED AND WERE HELD TOGETHER ONLY BY TWO BOLTS. THE PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE DEALER WAS TO FURTHER INSPECT THE OTHER THREE TIRES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V232000 (WHEELS). THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHO WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND IF THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 14, 2017SuspensionODI 10965926

Steering

14 reports2 crashes
“3/29/2016...MY 2005 KIA SEDONA HAS STEERING PROBLEMS. THE STEERING WHEEL IS TIGHT OR STIFF AND OFTEN DIFFICULT TO STEER ESPECIALLY IN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. MY MECHANIC EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM THIS MORNING WHEN DRIVING IT AND SAID IT IS THE STEERING COUPLER. WHEN HE CONTACTED A LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS WHEN I CALLED TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL ADDRESSED, I LEARNED THAT THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AT THIS TIME BUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL BACK IN 2005 ON THE STEERING COUPLER AND WORK HAD BEEN DONE. HOWEVER, I DIDN'T PURCHASE THE VAN UNTIL 2007 AND WAS UNAWARE OF THAT RECALL. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS STEERING PROBLEM THAT IS OCCURRING NOW IN MY KIA SEDONA VAN AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AGAIN BY KIA AND BELIEVE THAT OTHER OWNERS MAY BE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS IN STEERING THEIR VANS AS I AM. THE STEERING COUPLER NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AGAIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 29, 2016SteeringODI 10852166
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026

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