Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Kia Sedona owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Received a recall notice from Kia dated 4/8/20 stating hydraulic electronic control unit, which controls ESC, tsc and anti-lock brake system, remains energized when vehicle is turned off and an electrical short circuit increases the risk of engine compartment fire even when car is turned off. The parts are not currently available to fix this. In the meantime, I am to park my vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles and structures. I called my local Kia dealership to inquire if they knew when the repair would be available and they did not even know of its existence. The service department said Kia blows things out of proportion and scares people and they have no idea when and if the repair parts will be in. This is an unacceptable response. Kia needs to communicate with the dealerships about this problem and they need to fix it as soon as possible to avoid injury to consumers. …
Car randomly will not start, problem has been occurring for several years. Let car sit for 15 or so minutes and will start, battery fine and has been replaced. Took to Kia motors and could not detect problem. Recently took to a local mechanic who was able to detect a problem (after investigating Kia website) with the intermittent crank. The service bulletin states that this is problem in 2006 and 2007 Sedona. I have a copy of the bulletin in my possession. The mechanic did not replace the part but he removed, cleaned it and reinstalled. I have not had a problem (has only been one day) but will see how if runs. My concern is that this issue should have been a recall issue and covered by Kia. I had to pay for a rental and for the service of the vehicle. It has been a hardship for me. The car has not been dependable or safe. Can you help me 1. Request a refund on my expenses and 2. …
On Friday, April 17th, 2020, [redacted] received the safety recall interim notice for his 2006 Kia Sedona stating that the engine is at risk for fire when vehicle is off. The letter states to park the vehicle until repaired and says that the risk of fire is due to moisture in an electrical system of the engine that can short out even when the vehicle is shut off. We have pleaded with Kia findlay and the Kia consumer center to at least check for moisture in the unit of concern, but were turned away. We also requested a loaner vehicle in the interim and again, they refused and said they cannot help unless the engine catches fire. We are afraid to have the vehicle here and would like a loaner until it's repaired, rather than risk a catastrophe.
My ESC light and ABS light came on as I was pulling out of the movie theater and my vehicle immediately turned off so I restarted it and pulled out onto the highway where it turned off again and wouldn't restart for 15-20 minutes once I got it restarted my engine started making a weird sound and I could not accelerate it kept jerking like I was running out of gas when I had a full tank luckily I made it home with my 3 kids before it shut off again. Not safe at all.
The ESC and the ABS light came on and know the break lights don't work and it keeps blowing my head lights the air bag is on and they stay on. This happens when you put it in gear and they stay on the whole time the auto is on. At frist it did every once in a while but know it stays on and my brake lights doesn't work.
I had issues putting in park and then getting out of park. Disconnected battery cable to turn off vehicle. Battery seemed dead but had battery checked out it's fully good. Now my ABS,battery,brake,ESC lights all came on and vehicle has no power. Seems like it could be brake-tramission shift interlock problems?
We were notified of a dangerous part failure. In early April. So far we have heard no more from Kia the manufacturer & the dealer knows nothing. We need our vehicle. It's our only vehicle. We need to park it outside away from other vehicles as it can burst into flames. We need this fixed now.
In march2016 brakes replace with new pads/rotor due to screech sound. Today when brake pressed steering wheel vibrates. ABS/ESC off light came on the other day. Front wheels still vibrate on the highway. Transmission sometimes jerks and stalls the car. A/C not work, but heater always working.
Interim recall notice. Can't get any info from Kia they advise parking it outside & nowhere other vehicles due to /fire hazard. It's our only car & we can't get any information from them. Help,no idea when it will get fixed/ can't even make phone contact w/ Kia. Help
We bought this Kia Sedona from a dealer and from the time we bought it always had some starting problem. So when we took to the dealer they said it is the battery and replaced the battery and again the same problem and then they said to replace the battery connecting parts as they are not connecting right. Then had some fuse problems and had to replace some fuse and the ac was down replaced the ac. Again battery problem and not starting. The dealer said to replace a new battery and we said it is a new one, but told to put a Kia battery and replaced it, after few days again car slow downed the speed while driving and stopped middle of the road. Had to tow to the dealer. They said it is the starter motor and replaced it. After a year, same problem - car was not starting and then finally they said it is the fuse box and had to replace the whole fuse box as it was not working right. …
Traction Control complaints in other Sedona years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2006 Kia Sedona?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2006 Kia Sedona, 5% of the model year's 385 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 Kia Sedona traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2006 Kia Sedona, though it has 7 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 2006 Kia Sedona traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 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.