Most common 2003 Kia Sedona problems
Share of the 197 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 →
2003 Kia Sedona recalls (5)
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, freezing conditions can cause water on the throttle cable to freeze during normal operation. Resistance to movement of the throttle cable can occur when the driver lifts their foot off of the gas pedal.
Remedy: Dealers will modify a protective sleeve around the throttle cable. The recall began on August 15, 2005. Owners May contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Wheels
On certain Mini vans equipped with alloy wheels, moisture can accumulate around the rear hub caps causing damage to the outer wheel bearing.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear hub caps free of charge. Upon inspection, some vehicles will also require replacement of the rear outer bearings and/or hub assembly. The recall began on June 13, 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…
Service brakes, air › Antilock › Control unit/module
On certain passenger vehicles, there was a programming error in the anti-lock braking system (ABS) electronic control module logic. The programming error could cause reduced braking force at speeds below 25 MPH, which could result in increased stopping distances.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the control module. Owner notification began May 19, 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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2003 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…
Electrical fire
By letter dated October 4, 2005, Kia notified the agency that it is conducting a safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 05V463) involving all model year (my) 2002, 2003 Kia sedona ex vehicles and certain my 2004 Kia sedona ex vehicles.Kia?s recall covers 74,276 vehicles.Kia reports that fires were caused by wiring under front seats being misrouted; this allowed the wire to be pinched by metal seat components.over time, the…
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 2003 Kia Sedona owners say
Electrical system all 38 →
We have a detached garage, at 4:00 am our dog woke us up to her barking. She could hear the van horn blowing. When I took her out, I saw the van lights flashing and the horn was blowing. I could not stop the horn with the keyless remote. I woke up my husband, when he opened the door the dashboard was all melted, windshield was cracked, the A/C unit going up the driver's door was all melted. He finally found a place to open the hood to disconnect the battery. The mechanism to open the hood was all melted as well. The van was totaled and the insurance company sent us $3900. The van was is great shape for being 11 years old. We had the van serviced as scheduled and it was always kept in the garage. We bought the van new and still live in the same house as when we bought it. So we should have received any recalls on the van. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving at 25 MPH the vehicle hesitated and failed to shift into the desired gear with smoke coming from under the hood. The contact managed to drive the vehicle home, parked the vehicle, and upon opening the hood saw flames. The contact stated that the fire department was called however, her neighbor attempted to extinguish the flames with a water hose until the fire department arrived to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries and a fire report was taken. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. The dealer was not notified of this issue and the manufacturer was not made aware of this issue. The contact mentioned that the check engine and air bags warning lights had been illuminated since she purchased the vehicle.
Engine & cooling all 34 →
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving at 25 MPH the vehicle hesitated and failed to shift into the desired gear with smoke coming from under the hood. The contact managed to drive the vehicle home, parked the vehicle, and upon opening the hood saw flames. The contact stated that the fire department was called however, her neighbor attempted to extinguish the flames with a water hose until the fire department arrived to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries and a fire report was taken. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. The dealer was not notified of this issue and the manufacturer was not made aware of this issue. The contact mentioned that the check engine and air bags warning lights had been illuminated since she purchased the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while in park, the front of the vehicle caught fire. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Brakes all 31 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Kia Sedona. While driving 35 MPH, the brake pedal seized halfway down when it was depressed. As a result, the contact swerved onto the sidewalk and stopped 30 yards in a parking lot. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the electric computer braking module did not allow the brakes to stop completely; therefore, the computer reacted as if the vehicle were traveling on ice. The dealer (moritz Kia hurst, 110 ne loop 820, hurst, tx 76053, [phone]) stated that there was no recall for the failure. The manufacturer stated that they would have the dealer inspect the vehicle for free. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 115,800.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that when driving approximately 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the front driver side brake failed to respond without warning. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the ABS system failed to allow brake fluid to run through. In addition, the outlet valve became stuck in the lock position and the ABS unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. Ma 10/22/2015 updated 9/27/2017
2003 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 2003 Kia Sedona a good car?
Based on 197 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Sedona rates average: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sedona at the same age. 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 2003 Kia Sedona?
The electrical system — 38 complaints, 19% of all complaints for this model year, most often about alternator/generator/regulator. Next are the engine & cooling (34) and brakes (31).
How many recalls does the 2003 Kia Sedona have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2003 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 2003 Kia Sedona problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 50% 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.