This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I recently had a problem with my 2006 Kia Sedona where the brake lights stayed on constantly regardless of wether the brake was applied. The brake lights stayed on even if the vehicle was off. It was confirmed to be the "brake light swith" which I found was under recall. I took my vehicle to Kia of cerritos who refused to perform the recall as it turned out the recall was allegedly performed in 2009. I suspect in 2009 the part was either not replaced or the replacement switch has the same defect as the original. I contacted Kia for clarification and they told me they only perform recalls once.
Our 2006 Kia Sedona began experiencing intermittent no crank condition that left us stranded multiple times with kids in the car and towing expenses to a mechanic only for the car to start right up after getting there. This leaves the mechanics scratching there head and sending it back to us. We know now that the condition is caused by higher than normal resistance across the burglar alarm relay located in the in panel module. This is a non-serviceable part by Kia and if found defective requires the entire module to be replaced at the owners expense. The part in and of itself is cheap but because it is a non serviceable part the entire panel has to be replaced at about $500. Plus there is no guarantee that the defective part will malfunction again. The issue was fixed on later models made after 2007. Despite Kia acknowledging that it is a problem, due to not enough field complaints they refuse to recall the defective part and fix the mistake on 2006/2007 Kia Sedona's. this can happen at any time and leave you stranded. Turning off your car at the gas pump, turning off your car on the side of the street, turning off your car at the supermarket, or anywhere could mean your left stranded! Kia has sent out a technical service bulletin to their dealerships explaining the customer concern. This was intended to help technicians diagnose the problem. However this does not resolve the issue that they have caused for the 2006 2007 Sedona's that were made with this non-serviceable relay. The bulletin clearly states that if the part is found defective that the whole panel has to be replaced however Kia denies any responsibility in fixing the mistake despite fixing it and later models. I have been told that it is because there's not enough field complaints for them to worry about it.
The alternator on my 2006 Kia Sedona has been replaced at least 4 times but I believe 5 times (I am looking for 2 more receipts). The latest 3 replacements are: Mileage 104472 date 6/2/2018; mileage 95255 date 3/23/16; mileage 70121 date 2/28/2011. Also had van at dealer and other repair shops to check alternator, electrical problems, battery, etc. Some of the dates that it was at the Kia dealer or other repair for dimming lights, headlights dimming, are 2/12/2007 (15957 miles); 7/24/2008 (38853 miles); 11/24/2008 (43470 miles); 4/21/2009 (48936 miles); 3/14/2016 (94429). I have broken down twice due to alternator while out of town; one time in Alabama, and last weekend in osage beach mo. Both times I had to have alternator replaced. Both caused a lot of stress because I had my kids with me and in Alabama we were in the middle of no where. There is a problem with this vehicle since an alternator should not need to be replaced so many times. I have been complaining about this vehicle since almost day one about something strange with the electrical system. You can review the dealers records regarding this. Perhaps Kia should consider a potential recall or different alternator.
The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the ESC warning indicator flashed, the vehicle failed to shift in and out of gear, and the brake lights frequently failed to turn off. The manufacturer indicated that the vehicle was excluded from a manufacturer recall, and provided no solution other than taking the vehicle to the dealer (university Kia, 6519 university dr nw, huntsville, al 35806, (256) 217-1700) for diagnostic testing and repair. The contact was to order the part and determine who may repair the vehicle. The failure mileage was not available.
My ESC light and ABS light came on as I was pulling out of the movie theater and my vehicle immediately turned off so I restarted it and pulled out onto the highway where it turned off again and wouldn't restart for 15-20 minutes once I got it restarted my engine started making a weird sound and I could not accelerate it kept jerking like I was running out of gas when I had a full tank luckily I made it home with my 3 kids before it shut off again. Not safe at all.
- Raiford, FL, USA
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One of the control arms rusted completely and broke while driving. Because of this we have inspected the other control arms and they were all rusted to the point that it made the car unsafe to drive and they have been replaced. Now the car will not start periodically. I have researched and many other owner of the same make and model are having this same issue due to the anti theft device.
I had issues putting in park and then getting out of park. Disconnected battery cable to turn off vehicle. Battery seemed dead but had battery checked out it's fully good. Now my ABS, battery, brake, ESC lights all came on and vehicle has no power. Seems like it could be brake-tramission shift interlock problems?
Bulbs constantly going out. Lots of front end issues with noises, clunking mostly. Difficulty seeing due to blind spot where front window and doors meet and where front doors and back sliding door meets.
Oil leaks from valve cover gasket and timing cover gasket cause oil to drop on the alternator. This oil residue causes the alternator to stop working and in turn the battery dies. My vehicle has stopped abruptly on the freeway three times due to this issue, when all electrical power to the vehicle is abruptly disabled with very less warning and reaction time. This is a very dangerous situation and if not for my alertness and quick reaction, my family would have been a traffic hazard and accident prone. This a manufacturing or part related defect on Kia Sedonas. My mechanics have confirmed seeing this on other Kia Sedonas. My vehicle currently still has this problem and I am trying to get Kia to address it.
Takata recall my air bag light stays on all the time.. saw a show last night about the takata air bags exploding not at all sure how long it has been this way so the date below is not accurate it has been a couple years I think. I don't know how many miles but it is 140,000 now.
The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sedona. Immediately after the contact exited the vehicle, the doors and the steering wheel locked automatically and the alarm system sounded without warning. Whenever the contact drove over 55 mph, the steering locked. Each time the failure occurred, the vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, turned off, and then restarted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The dealer did not test drive the vehicle to see if the failure could be duplicated. The failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they had never heard of such a failure. The failure was not remedied. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V389000 (latches/locks/linkages). The failure mileage was 125,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The van is running perfectly and you make a stop somewhere and it will not start for hours. Once it does start it runs perfectly again. This has happened numerous times where my kids and I are stranded. We have to remove a fuse or the wire to the battery in order to get it going again. It has to do with the theft alarm and there are numerous other complaints about this on the internet. The battery is fine, the lights and doors still work it just doesn't start.
The ESC and the ABS light came on and know the break lights don't work and it keeps blowing my head lights the air bag is on and they stay on. This happens when you put it in gear and they stay on the whole time the auto is on. At frist it did every once in a while but know it stays on and my brake lights doesn't work.
This complaint is regarding a single-owner 2006 Kia Sedona. Since 2006 I have had numerous electrical related problems. Over half the buttons and knobs on the stock cd player/radio have not worked for approximately eight years. I am having to replace headlight and turn signal bulbs every few months. The airbag indicator light is illuminated and will not shut off. I have not been involved in any accidents (yet) and would expect my airbags to deploy if and when necessary. My understanding is that the airbags will not function if the indicator light is illuminated. This is a major safety concern, as this is a family vehicle and I have three small children, and I take frequent road trips due to my job. As far as I know, there are no recalls associated with the airbag or electrical/lighting system for this vehicle. Based on my research of complaints associated with this vehicle year, make, and model, recalls should be issued so affected owners may have these problems corrected at no charge and to prevent injury and or death.
The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the air bag light remained illuminated and the horn stopped working. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Shortly after warranty expired (early 2012), the air bag light went on our Kia Sedona. I took the van to our local Kia dealer to check and they told me that it was the weight classification seat sensor assembly (part 88610 - $1399.75 at that time) that had to be replaced. After labor cost and taxes it would be $2022!! Kia was having some recalls around that time, but none to address this issue. The main reason we bought this van for our family was because of high safety ratings involving all the airbags. Now we are driving without airbags and praying for extra angels around the van when we have to go on the highway. We would like to take long road trips, but that seems too dangerous without airbags. Please investigate and you will find out it is a common issue with this make and model. Kia needs to step it up and fix this issue; lives are at stake. Thank you!
Front chassis need to be replaced and I change 2 alternator and baterry less dam a year is not safe casue the vehicle shuts down and the pedal brake geta hard to stop the van and the airbag light keep on all the time
Intermittent failure to start. Due to an electrical problem in the fuse box (I personally talked to Kia who read the service bulletin to me) the anti-theft system locks down the car rendering it inoperable. The internet is loaded with this same complaint even to the point of offering a solution to jump across the anti-theft system to eliminate this problem. In talking to Kia, they acknowledged the problem but said that unless there was a government recall they would do nothing for it. It bothers me that they won't accept responsibility for their defect. It bothers me more that my wife could be stranded somewhere because her car wouldn't start. Do I have any other recourse since it is now out of warranty and Kia would not even look at it unless I could replicate the problem which was impossible since it is intermittent
My key is stuck in the ignition and I cannot remove the key. The car will start and is drivable, but when I stop the car and put in park then turn off, I cannot remove the key. I have to leave the key in the ignition.
Intermittent failure to start. Due to an electrical problem in the fuse box (I personally talked to Kia who read the service bulletin to me) the anti-theft system locks down the car rendering it inoperable. The internet is loaded with this same complaint even to the point of offering a solution to jump across the anti-theft system to eliminate this problem. In talking to Kia, they acknowledged the problem but said that unless there was a government recall they would do nothing for it. It bothers me that they won't accept responsibility for their defect. It bothers me more that my wife could be stranded somewhere because her car wouldn't start. Do I have any other recourse since it is now out of warranty and Kia would not even look at it unless I could replicate the problem which was impossible since it is intermittent....updated 09/21/15 updated 10/31/2017
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Long Beach, CA, USA