Most common 2004 Kia Sedona problems
Share of the 213 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 →
2004 Kia Sedona recalls (3)
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2004 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 2004 Kia Sedona owners say
Wheels & tires all 44 →
I have a 2004 Kia Sedona ex, and was returning home from a family vacation, was driving along and heard a loud noise come from the back passenger side, the van started shaking as if I had a flat tire, I started applying my brakes to pull over, then I heard a loud pop, the back corner went down. Out my rear passenger side window I looked and saw my entire wheel flying through the trees on fire. I had literally no stopping power, luckily I got my vehicle stopped safely because I had my family and mother in law with me at the time. I see there was a recall about this situation, but I don't remember any notification about it, and now I have to pay $2500 to have it fixed, the same amount I paid to go on vacation.
I have a 2004 Kia sendona lx van and the wheel barrings are bad I fixed it once already a month ago and it is already broken again both times it completely fell apart in to little peices when I took the wheel off.
Brakes all 39 →
I have been going to Kia for years complaining of a strange intermittent groaning sound coming from the brakes at low speed stops. It would never make noise at the dealer and would only make the noise sometimes. Never for the same reason. It was very random. This time I was driving for several hours ( city traffic) where I began to hear the sound. After about 20 minutes or so I smelled rubber or tar. Thought it was from the street repaving but when we passed the construction I could still smell it. The car began to drive as though the transmission was not working properly. After about 2 miles at slow speed I pulled over and saw steam. I lifted hood where it appeared to be coming from transmission. I continued 10 MPH or less to get closer to home and out of the way of traffic. About a mile or 2 later I could hardly drive even at slow speed. …
The vehicle was bought in July of 2004 since then I been having several problems with the brakes. Nov 26, 2006 brake pads were worn out, there was no specific reason fron the mechanic since the vehicle was less than 3000 miles. April 2, 2006 the vehicle went back to warranty for the same reason noisy brakes and vibration. July 23, 2005 back to repairs for same reason. September 9, 2005 the vehicle went back to repairs for same reason, brakes, vibration and noise. Nov 10, 2005 the whole car went black no lights, vibration and noise. Dec 9, 2005 the vehicle was down due to brake problems. Dic 21, 2005 the car dos not want to start. May 31, 2006 problem with front and rear brakes. August 2, 2006 vibration when brake, noise in front suspension and noisy engine. Dic, 15, 2006 vehicle went down due to brake problem. …
Engine & cooling all 35 →
In [redacted], my 2004 Kia Sedona caught fire shortly after I arrived at work in [redacted]. My [redacted] daughter was with me because she was sick. After parking, I removed her from the back seat and went inside the salon. Minutes later, I returned and saw smoke coming from the engine. Within seconds, the front of the vehicle caught fire. The vehicle was parked near a building, and the fire and smoke spread toward the building. The fire department responded and made a report. The vehicle was completely disabled and later sold to a salvage yard because I could not drive or transport it. My insurance did not cover the fire because I did not have fire coverage. I am especially concerned because my daughter had been inside the vehicle moments before the fire. Fortunately, I removed her before the fire started. I later contacted Kia America, which opened Case No. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Kia Sedona. While stationary, the front end of the vehicle erupted into flames. The contact stated that the fire originated from the engine compartment. A police report was not filed. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. There were no injuries sustained. The manufacturer was not made aware of the fire. The failure mileage was 110,000.
2004 Kia Sedona engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 14 / 21 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Kia Sedona a good car?
Based on 213 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Sedona rates use caution: 1.5× 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 2004 Kia Sedona?
The wheels & tires — 44 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about hub. Next are the brakes (39) and engine & cooling (35).
How many recalls does the 2004 Kia Sedona have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2004 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 2004 Kia Sedona problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 59,000 miles; 46% 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.