Traction Control complaints by model year
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
ABS(automatic breaking system) and ESC ( electronic stability control) lights both came on at the same time on the dashboard as I was driving on the pa. Turnpike. Took car to service station for inspection and it was checked, they said it was the ABS pump. Took car to abeloff Kia dealer who ordered, replaced and repaired the problem at $2,863.00. Car still at dealer waiting pickup.
Was on highway heading into construction zone , tapped brakes to disengage cruise control, cc did not disengage. Heavily pressed brakes, cc would not disengage. Vehicle is actually accelerating every time I step on brake. ABS/ESC lights come on. Ultimately able to disengage cc on the column but not before accelerating to 80+MPH heading into wall of traffic merging from three to one lanes and slowing to 45mph for construction zone. 20 miles later I pull into rest area hoping to clear error lights; turned car off and back on - couldn't get van out of park. After about 100+ restarts finally able to get van into drive. Limped home, flatbedded to dealership next morning. Still no acknowledgement of issue from service department 24 hours later.
Vehicle was repaired in 2013 but by 2014 was acting up again. Same problem as initial repair. A recall repair that goes bad in within 20,000 miles is not a good repair. When asked to repair it again Kia put in the wrong part I had to take it back a 3rd time to get it fixed. The total cost to my repair was $679.45. The problem was that the car would not shift from park into drive and the ESC light would go on,it took multiple tries to get the car out of park in order to drive it.
The brake lights turned on and cannot be turned off except for disconnecting the battery. They are on all of the time while driving and drivers cannot tell when I apply my brakes. They are on after I power off the vehicle and park and lock the Sedona. The ESC off light was also illuminated when I started the car. The vehicle has 25,000 miles and is kept in naples, florida.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. The message "ESC OFF" was displayed. The contact stated that the headlights were inoperable. Additionally, the engine had overheated, causing an electrical short and battery failure. The battery was replaced several times; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle shut off unexpectedly. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot. The vehicle was restarted and driven at 25 MPH; however, the failure recurred. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and remained on the side of the road. The contact stated that several mechanics had previously diagnosed the vehicle with electrical failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Kia Sedona. The contact stated several months ago, smoke was seen coming from the front of the vehicle while stopped at a stop sign. The contact stated that recently she parked, the vehicle and it failed to reverse, she checked the oil level however, there was no oil in the engine. The contact stated that the failure recurred as while she was driving smoke was seen in the vehicle and the brake pedal failed to engage while depressed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated on the final failure a few weeks later the vehicle stalled, while driving 55 MPH and came. The contact was not able to move the vehicle, which caused the vehicle on fire on engine. The contact stated the fire was extinguished by the fire department and a fire department report was filed. …
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ESC and ABS warning lights illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that on several occasions, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the brake light independently activated while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed stop light switch. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched and discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V088000 (Electrical System, Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the recall was not associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
The Kia van was parked , turned off, keys were removed, outside in our business parking lot. A person driving by noticed it was on fire and called the fire department. This happened around 12 am. (midnight) the local fire department responded to the call and reported to the scene.
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Sedona years have traction control problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2006 (20), 2007 (18), 2008 (16) and 2009 (7) model years. Traction Control complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2006.
Is there a recall for Kia Sedona traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for any Kia Sedona model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Kia Sedona traction control problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 87,000 miles; 27% happened 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.