Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Kia Sedona owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
2002 Sedona was repaired 2 times with less then 200 miles on it for battery draining- claim was it was the radio didn't shut off with the car. Then last month with 59.000 miles on it I complained of the car hesitating and lights flickering, airbag light came on for no reason, claim to repair was tune-up- 1700.00 and two months later my battery went on fire with 5 people in it, 3 children and one is carried out handicapped. Lights flickered, odometer went nuts without the engine racing, door locks locked and unlocked, battery light, break light, and airbag light came back on. Wipers went on without turning them on with the switch and the hazards went on without pushing the button. I am more then happy to file a consumer complaint and a lawsuit. My dealer went out of business I was told when my car went on fire two weeks ago. …
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. …
I drove 25 minutes from a to b and parked my car. Turned the engine off sat there with the radio on for 1 minute exactly and I hear a. Pshhhhh and smoke rising quickly, then a flame from the fuse box by my left foot. I got out opened the door looked for the smoke and flame that were reflecting and waving. I opened the fuse box slider cover with a knife and started to squirt water out from my bottled water quickly. Thank goodness I had water. Flame went out and I saw the inside of the fuse cover burnt, and a fuse looked like it caught on fire because the fuse looked completely melted.I have a video of the aftermath right after the fire went out. Tomorrow ill be calling insurance, Kia, and whoever else that can help me understand what is going on and what I can do to ensure my safety. Please help or approve a recall. …
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.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Kia Sedona. The vehicle had been parked for approximately 8-10 hours when it suddenly caught fire. The wiring fuse box caused the engine, radio, and wiper/washer to activate. The fire originated in the instrument panel. The contact was able to douse the fire with a fire extinguisher. The vehicle was later towed to a dealer and they did not provide a reason as to why it caught fire. The contact found numerous complaints on the same type of vehicle with identical failures. The current and failure mileages were 72,000. Updated 03/06/08. The consumer stated the recall was done, however ever since the repair, the seats never worked correctly. The consumer had worked done on the air conditioner. Updated
2002 Kia Sedona minivan. Purchased used feb 2006 w/32K miles from private owner. Most recent miles 59K. Caught fire while parked in garage and is totaled. Have had electrical problems including electric seat stop functioning, and dead battery whenever parked for more than 5 days. Replaced the battery, replaced the alternator, replaced the serpentine belt. On 11/17/07 after 6-months of the seat not working, the drivers side electric seat controls suddenly began to work again, a few hours later the van caught fire (drivers side door and dash) and burned the interior. Insurance declared it totaled.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Kia Sedona. The vehicle was parked in the driveway and the wires from the driver side under the instrument panel caught fire. The inside of the vehicle was totally destroyed. The fire department extinguished the fire by also cutting the electrical wires from the instrument panel and stating that was the origin of the fire. A report was available if needed and there were no injuries. The contact did not contact her insurance company, the dealer or the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Kia Sedona ex. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure occurred on several occasions and the contact was unable to restart the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the front passenger's seat belt tightened and would not retract. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.
Electrical complaints in other Sedona years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2002 Kia Sedona?
NHTSA has 62 complaints about the electrical system of the 2002 Kia Sedona, 25% of the model year's 248 complaints. The component named most often is alternator/generator/regulator (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Kia Sedona electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2002 Kia Sedona, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Kia Sedona electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 18 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.