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.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sedona. While driving 35 mph, the contact's vehicle accelerated without warning and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. 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 128,000.
Traveling at 85 mph, cruise control on, "ESC off" light and check engine light illuminated on the dashboard and the vehicle decelerated rapidly. Lost ability to accelerate past 20 mph. Vehicle was stopped and restarted. Accelerator resumed working for however the check engine light illuminated and checked the code it was throttle position sensor. This morning the check engine light remained on and the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sedona. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle decelerated independently and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the throttle sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.
As I was approaching an intersection and I started to apply the brakes, the van suddenly accelerated, when I pressed hard on the brake still it wouldn't stop...call Kia Sedona authorized dealer, they said there's no recall. As I researched the internet, I notice that car gurus(which is a car forum) over 33 people had complaint with the same problem. There were an accident with fatalities even. I'm very concern as I drive with all my kids specially my grandson often, and it scares the crap out of me to think that I would get involved in an accident with the little one on board. A lot of people did the diagnostics that the dealer suggested, after paying over $110 plus taxes, the car is still showing the same problem. I really need somebody to tell me what am I supposed to do? I'm still paying for the vehicle, I'm scared to drive it anywhere specially the highway...help please...
The first time this incident happened, I was driving my 2008 Kia Sedona van on a level street at approximately 30mph. The van started accelerating at a fast speed and the brakes would not work. Fortunately, there were no cars coming the other way and no people out walking. I was not able to stop at the stop sign and I put on my emergency brake and turned off the van. The second incident occurred while I was driving up a hill. The van started accelerating and I was not able to use my brakes. This time I put the van in neutral and was able to regain control of the van. I took the van to my mechanic and they did not find any problem with the brakes or anything else. My friend also experienced a similar incident with her newer model Kia Sedona and uses my same mechanic and found nothing wrong. Her incident happened before my first episode in June. Today, I was driving my daughter to work and the same thing happened as I was driving up a slight elevated street. I was not able to use the brakes and shifted into neutral. I was able to slow the engine and get her to work. I have five children and I have had at least one of them with me when each of these incidences has occurred. I called the Kia dealer today and they told me to call Monday. This is a very scary situation and I fear serious injury may occur. I was on residential streets when all three episodes occurred and did not have my cruise control on as noted from other Kia owners who have experienced this on the highway.
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph the vehicle would not accelerate. The failure occurred intermittently at different speeds and the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated the engine throttle position sensor had to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
Traveling at 70 mph, cruise control on, "ESC off" light and check engine light illuminated on the dashboard and the vehicle decelerated rapidly. Lost ability to accelerate past 20 mph. Vehicle was stopped and restarted. Accelerator resumed working for about 50 miles and the same things happened again: ESC off light and check engine light illuminated and vehicle rapidly decelerated and lost all acceleration ability this time. Stopped vehicle again and restarted and accelerator resumed working. This happened at around 2am. In the morning the check engine light remained on and the vehicle was taken to a Kia dealer. On the way to the dealer the "ESC" light began blinking (note: This is not the same as the ESC off light), the acceleration sputtered, but remained working. The dealer stated that they retrieved the throttle position sensor codes, but they cleared the computer history and could no longer duplicate the problem and therefore it could not be fixed. They retrieved the codes, cleared the memory and want to send me on my way. This is the second time a Kia dealer has cleared the computer memory and the vehicle was not fixed. I was told, by my local dealer to make sure the dealer does not clear the codes/history or it can not be fixed. I have called Kia Consumer Affairs and am awaiting a response.
While traveling on the open highway at a high rate of speed, the vehicle rapidly decelerated and lost ability to maintain acceleration, as if in idle but without rpms. The cruise control was on at the time. The check engine light and the ESC off light illuminated on the dashboard. Once the vehicle was stopped and restarted it was drivable to the nearest Kia dealer. The check engine light stayed on. The dealer (who was closing for the weekend and 200 miles away from home) ran a diagnostic scan which indicated that the throttle position sensor needed replacement and an ECM software upgrade was needed. He then cleared the computer and sent us on our way, telling us we should be able to make it home, but stated it was imperitive it get fixed. He stated that when it happened again to stop and restart the vehicle. Once home, the dealer said he could do nothing to repair the vehicle because the computer was no longer registering a problem and the check engine light was not on. I called back to the dealer that originally diagnosed the vehicle and he concurred that without a current code/check engine light on, the vehicle could not be fixed (he was the manager!). so now I am told to wait for it to happen again and come in immediately. This is the second time the check engine light has come on and the dealer was unable to diagnose the problem because it was off when taken in. The rapid deceleration was a very dangerous situation as there were many semi-trucks on the open highway and they can not stop/slow down quickly. One blasted his horn and was barely able to move over in time as we tried to coast to a safe area on the side of the road! scary, with 2 children in the vehicle and completely helpless to do anything to quckly get to safety.
2 months while decelerating at red light, acceleration occurred while pressing brake pedal, stopped within a fraction of an inch from car in front of me. Last night while driving 70mph on hwy ESC and check engine lights came on and lost all acceleration function. Car stayed idling but could not regain acceleration. Had to cross over 4 lanes of traffic to get to an offramp exit. Was able to pull over to small shoulder and had myself and 6 children standing on highway while waiting for roadside assistance. The exit was for another hwy so we had no safe place to stand but along the guardrail of 2 hwys. Was told to call a taxi and would be reimbursed. Now Kia motors is telling me that since I purchased a fleet vehicle I am not covered under a warranty because it is at 70000. Purchased as certified reowned and was told it would be covered for 10 years 10,000 miles. Same problem was recalled on the 06 and 07 models but has not been corrected for 08 model. We all could have been killed!!! dealer was not even able to look at it yet and said they won't until tomorrow so here I am on the second day without transportation and do not know what it is going to take to be fixed. Internet searches and complaint search on this site reveal complaints of the same nature to numerous to count.
2008 Kia Sedona 47000 miles. Loss of acceleration and check engine and ESC light come on. Van coast to a stop and after I shut off the ignition it cranks back up and is fine but it does this alot.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sedona. While traveling 55 mph the contact noticed that the vehicle had suddenly accelerated without warning causing the contact to apply the brakes in order to stop the vehicle. The vehicle has not been diagnosed and there were no prior warnings. The current mileage is 18000 and the failure mileage was 17000. Updated 01/11/2011 updated 12/22/10 the consumer stated the vehicle suddenly began to accelerate and the vehicle would not stop until the brakes were forcefully applied. The cruise control was not activated. Also, the power doors stopped working. Updated 04/12/11
Acceleration failure gas pedal un-responsive has occurred on multiple occasions over the past few months. Mileage at onset approx. 28,000, current mileage 37,000. 1- first occurrence June 13th 2010 traveling on freeway when loss of acceleration caused vehicle to become dangerous as navigation off the highway was reliant on drifting to shoulder with no power; once off the road turning off and restarting the engine caused the gas pedal to reengage - however during the 4 hour trip the issue repeated 7 times with the most dangerous occurrence in an area of construction where no shoulder was available to pull off. As this issue occurred on a Sunday, taking the vehicle in for service was not an option until Monday, and during the waiting period the check engine light was no longer illuminated and therefore the code for investigation unavailable. 2-issue occurred again on Saturday, July 30, 2010 while traveling on the highway after one hour of travel and repeated every 10-15 miles; on this date turning off and restarting the engine multiple times was required to regain gas pedal control. Serious safety issue when the loss of power was experienced while passing traffic and navigation off the road from the passing lane required returning to the right lane in high traffic with no ability to adjust speed. On the 2.5 hour return commute the issue did not resurface. 3- the issue again repeated on Sunday, August 1, 2010 while traveling on arterial roads, during the 45 minute commute the issue repeated 3 times at varying speeds from 45 - 60 mph. Young automotive group in lansing was contacted first thing this morning and the vehicle is scheduled for next available service on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010.
Ltr fwd fm (va) us navy personnel serving overseas in italy having difficulties getting the throttle position sensor on a 2008 Kia Sedona LX repaired due to the screw holes and plug of replacement not lining up, reply to chesapeake, va the consumer stated while driving, she would loose throttle power. She applied the accelerator, but nothing happened. The vehicle would just continue to slow down, until she had no choice, but to pull over. The consumer was informed the throttle position sensor was defective and it needed to be replaced with an upgraded model. The part was ordered, and arrived at the dealer. However, it was soon discovered the screw holes and plug to the engine did not line up with the previous tps. There was no way to attach the new part to the vehicle.
2nd of 2 incidents in 2 days! next day while turning sharply to park in a parking spot (approx. 120-140 degree angle) the car suddenly accelerated as driver straightened out wheel to continue forward into parking spot. Strong and quick slamming on of brakes stopped vehicle just before hitting car in space in front of the one where car was being parked. Kia dealer was called, referred to roadside assistance and car towed to dealer to inspect for problem. Driver refused to drive the vehicle.
While driving on interstate w/ cruise control on, driver tapped "accel" to increase speed by a mile or two per hour. A sudden acceleration occurred causing passengers to be "pushed" backward in seats. Braking hard ended the incident. Cruise control was turned off and not used again.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sedona. While driving at 55 mph, the check engine light illuminated the vehicle began to lose power. The engine did not shut off and the contact was able to pull over on the side of the road, shut the vehicle off and re-start. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the throttle position sensor was replaced. However the failure continued. The failure and the current mileages were approximately 28,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sedona. The vehicle would sporadically accelerate without driver intent. When the failure would occur, the vehicle would feel similar to activating the cruise control mechanism but would not respond to the contact engaging the brakes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on three separate occasions; however, the dealer could not duplicate the failure. No repairs were made to the vehicle. The failure mileage was 14,534 and the current mileage was 15,000. Updated 04/22/10 updated 05/06/10
Defective throttle position sensor causes the Kia Sedona van to suddenly and unexpectedly stop with no throttle control. Failure rate in our fleet has been over 50%. that is right, 50%!!! see past safety complaints, with VIN#'s to expedite Kia verification. Note: Failed multiple times w/ 5 month old grandson on board.
Defective throttle position sensor causes the Kia Sedona van to suddenly and unexpectedly stop with no throttle control. Failure rate in our fleet has been over 50%. that is right, 50%!!! see past safety complaints, with VIN#'s to expedite Kia verification.
Defective throttle position sensor causes the Kia Sedona van to suddenly and unexpectedly stop with no throttle control. Failure rate in our fleet has been over 50%. that is right, 50%!!! see past safety complaints, with VIN#'s to expedite Kia verification.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Oak Lawn, IL, USA