2003 Kia Sedona EX problems
Owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Kia Sedona EX. Electrical system is the most reported problem area, at 16% of complaints. After that come engine (14%) and brakes (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 57 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 16% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 9
- Injuries and deaths
- 17 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 49,000 miles 49 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 17 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 12 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 49 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 49,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 9 complaints mention a fire; 17 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 94% of model years in our database.
It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The hydraulics that keep the hood and the back of the van open are not working. So you are stuck holding them open (and they are very heavy) to put in groceries, etc. My daughter has hurt her head a couple of times trying to help me keep it open to get the groceries out. It is very dangerous to be doing this. The electrical system on the inside sometimes works, sometimes no. The back air adapter for the A/C keeps falling out of the ceiling. The A/C itself sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.
Hard to steer on turning steering does not want to return also hard to turn at any speed. The u-joint on the steering intermediate shaft binded up without warning. The rack and pinion was replaced also.
2003 kia sedona ex passenger side sliding rear door outside handle broke. Car only has 65,000 miles and is garage kept. I was unable to take my child out of the car seat promptly, and had to use the other sliding door, which was in the line of traffic. I found out even with the extended warranty I purchased. Once the handle was removed from van, I found out it was made plastic, no wonder it broke, it needs to be made of stronger material, like metal.