Most common 2002 Kia Sedona problems
Share of the 248 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Sedona complaints by model year
Best Sedona years: 2010, 2021, 2014. Years to avoid: 2006, 2016, 2002, 2004. Compare all years →
2002 Kia Sedona recalls (4)
Seats
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with power seats, the wiring under the front seats could be misrouted, allowing contact with metal seat components.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and re-route the wires under the power seats, if necessary, as well as install protective seaming welts around those wires to better insulate them. The recall began on November 28, 2005.
Vehicle speed control › Cables
On certain Mini vans, during assembly, the throttle cable would twist itself out of position.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the throttle cable free of charge. Vehicles produced from March 20, 2001 through November 7, 2001 will have a guide clip installed on the throttle body assembly in order to ensure that the tension…
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
On certain passenger vehicles, some of the second and third row seat strikers installed on the vehicle floor pan have been improperly heat treated and could break in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat strikers. Owner notification began April 25, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Seat belts › Rear/other
Certain Mini vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the second and third seat belt buckle anchor bolts do not comply with the standards.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle anchor bolts. Owner notification began February 24, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2002 Kia Sedona:
Steering binding
On April 28, 2008, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened preliminary evaluation pe08-033 to investigate complaints alleging steering binding in model year 2002 through 2004 Kia sedona minivans.Kia's response to odi's request for information in pe08-033 indicated that concerns with binding of the steering intermediate shaft were first identified and investigated in August 2002, in vehicles sold in…
Throttle cable binding
Kia provided information describing a water entry point at the rubber sealing boot located at the throttle body end of the throttle cable, advising that water could enter the cable sheath during normal vehicle operation.in low temperatures, the water freezes and May impede the movement of the throttle cable thereby preventing an open throttle from returning to the closed position.a stuck throttle could increase the…
Steering intermediate shaft binding
Odis analysis of warranty data shows that the alleged defect has occurred at a relatively high frequency in salt-belt states (5.9 percent).however, the tests conducted by odi and Kia have shown that the alleged defect has a minimal effect on steering efforts.in addition, odi interviews of owners who experienced the alleged defect showed that in most cases the problem was preceded by months or years of noise or a…
What 2002 Kia Sedona owners say
Electrical system all 62 →
Takata recall. I was at home I heard some kind of noise out side like a horn blowing so I look out and my van was on fire on the drivers side and I ran for the hose to put it out then I called 911an the fire dept. Came an the arsson dept and he said it was in the seat to the fuss box and that's what caused the fire my car is totaled can you please let me know the whole van on drivers side is totaled I have no way to go now .
The van was on fire in my yard. Only the front drivers front side caught fire. When I found it it was blasing out of the door and windshield. I got the hose pipe an unhooked the battery to put the fire out. It melted the whole dashboard all the way to the radio steering wheel windshield only on drivers side all damage was at front drivers front side.I didn't drive the van alday that day.
Engine & cooling all 37 →
At approx. 3:55 a.m on the above date my step son woke up to the sound of a horn continuously blowing in our driveway. He looked out the window and saw flames coming from inside the cab of the listed vehicle. He ran into the bedroom and woke me and his mom up. I jumped up and ran outside to find my fiances van on fire as I ran back in the house to get the kids and her to get out of the trailer because the van was parked within 5 feet of it the drivers window busted and flames began rolling out of it. We called 911 and waited for the fire dept to get there to extinguish the fire. The van became fully involved and burned almost completely up. I found out later that day of a recall back in 2005 of possible fire danger caused by wiring in electric seats. I started thinking that May be what started because the drivers electric seat stopped working about 8 months ago. …
From 2nd week we complained of engine noise. Each time no problem was found. Few months later ck engine came on. A spark plug was replaced. 1 month later ck engine light on again. New fuel injector. 2 days later ck engine light again. Needed new motor at 3800 miles. 1 week later caught on fire in our garage. Kia regional management chris butler said they would repair damages from fire but had no concern that our 6 month old van with only 3800 miles already had the motor replace and caught on fire. His advise don't park in the garage anymore so we won't have to worry about it burning down our house. Ironic that we choose this van because we thought it would be easier and safer for our kids. Now I fear our families safety everyday because we have it.
Brakes all 33 →
One more time Kia Sedona 2002 failed to brake car lost control front passenger seat belt snapped out, looks like power steering failed and brakes also, not the first time brakes failed in Kia Sedona. Prior to this accident the consumer complained to the dealer about vibrations while braking. Car accelerate by itself (throttle stuck).
Car accelerated on his own as a result car went into median, also passenger side seat belt snapped. Car was heavily damaged as a result of the crash. Went from 10 to 50mph in seconds. Also, brake system failed to respond. Previous report filed #10065882.
2002 Kia Sedona engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Kia Sedona a good car?
Based on 248 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Sedona rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sedona at the same age. It is one of the Sedona years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Kia Sedona?
The electrical system — 62 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about alternator/generator/regulator. Next are the engine & cooling (37) and brakes (33).
How many recalls does the 2002 Kia Sedona have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2002 Kia Sedona, the most recent from October 5, 2005 (seats). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Sedona?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2021 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2016, 2002 and 2004. See the full Kia Sedona years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Kia Sedona problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 59,000 miles; 39% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.