Acceleration complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 | 20% | 7,000 miles |
| 2019 | 1 | 3% | 1,000 miles |
| 2018 | 1 | 2% | 6,000 miles |
| 2017 | 2 | 1% | 65,000 miles |
| 2016 | 5 | 2% | 25,000 miles |
| 2015 | 2 | 1% | 1,000 miles |
| 2014 | 3 | 8% | 6,000 miles |
| 2012 | 7 | 6% | 22,000 miles |
| 2011 | 5 | 8% | 64,000 miles |
| 2010 | 4 | 13% | 106,000 miles |
| 2009 | 7 | 15% | 30,000 miles |
| 2008 | 38 | 22% | 25,000 miles |
| 2007 | 21 | 13% | 66,000 miles |
| 2006 | 22 | 6% | 64,000 miles |
| 2005 | 11 | 6% | 95,000 miles |
| 2004 | 12 | 6% | 78,000 miles |
| 2003 | 13 | 7% | 20,000 miles |
| 2002 | 19 | 8% | 50,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
While driving, van went to half power with no warning light. Would not go above 15 MPH. It had recently had an oil change at a KIA dealership, but when we took to the shop, the oil was barely existent and foamy. It is undriveable and 3 different mechanics have said it cannot be fixed without a new engine.
While pulling into my driveway going between 5-10 MPH I applied the brake and the vehicle lunged forward into my garage door which was closed and damaged another car parked in the garage. If the other car was not there to stop it I May have been killed. I reported this to Kia and the investigation only showed a blown fuse when they connected it to the tester. There are two other accidents that I know of with similar circumstances, please check into this before someone is killed or loses money due to something that was not their fault. By the way I was turning right into my driveway and my husband was backing out in his car when this took place and he saw the whole thing.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while coming to a complete stop, the vehicle surged when the brake pedal was depressed and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. A rapid increase in the rpms also occurred during the malfunction. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the fuel injector was cleaned however, the failure recurred. The vehicle had not been repaired for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 3,500. Updated 8/19/14
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Kia Sedona. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle accelerated and decelerated independently without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000. Updated 09/03/15 updated 11/01/2017
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while attempting to parallel park and gear in drive, the vehicle independently accelerated violently while lightly depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning light illuminated. The contact crashed the front of the vehicle into the rear of a parked vehicle where it came to a stop. No police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed however the failure was unable to be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact's wife mentioned that the failure had occasionally occurred in the past but was able to avoid a collision. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer for the previous incidents where it was confirmed that the vehicle performed as normal. The failure mileage was approximately 213,000.
I have reported to the Kia dealership and filed a complaint with Kia motors customer service about the accelerator pedal being unusually sensitive to foot pressure. This is a constant issue that causes me to accelerate more than I wish to. I have never experienced an issue with an accelerator pedal in my decades of driving experience. From a stop, I have to concentrate on pressing down extremely gently or else I can spin my wheels and lurch forward unintentionally. While driving I cannot help but speed up more than I want to do. It is dangerous and wastes fuel to be continually backing off foot pressure after the overly sensitive (loose feeling) gas pedal speeds up the engine. I asked to take the dealership service director with me. He had me drive another Kia Sedona, which is when I discovered the accelerator pedal felt and acted similarly to mine. …
While vehicle is in drive, once brakes are applied, it randomly refuses to move into park. Must keep foot on brake while fighting with vehicle to try to get it into park. This happens frequently but randomly. It would be easy to run over a person or object in front of the car while fighting the car to move it into park. This failure also happens while in park -- it will randomly refuse to move into reverse. Without warning, from one time to the next it works properly then later in the same day it will not work properly -- sometimes just minutes apart. It has occurred over the last two days and is on-going today. I nearly hit the car in front of me today at a gas pump while trying to get the transmission to move into park.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Kia Sedona. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact was able to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to community Kia of bloomington (2200 s walnut st, bloomington, in 47401), but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000. Consumer stated he is having issues with the brakes and cruise control is not working. Updated 12/12/18
Related recalls (2)
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.
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…
NHTSA investigations
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Sedona years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (38), 2006 (22), 2007 (21), 2002 (19) and 2003 (13) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 22% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Kia Sedona acceleration problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 05V-329 (cables, Jul 20, 2005); 05V-013 (cables, Jan 19, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Kia Sedona acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 46,000 miles; 61% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the cables (11 mentions), followed by the accelerator pedal (10).
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.