2003 KIA Sedona EX Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sedona EX years
- Not enough data 3rd of 3 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 KIA Sedona EX. That ranks 3rd out of 3 Sedona EX model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (9 complaints, 26%), typically at around 61,726 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 7 fires, 5 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 34owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 KIA Sedona EX problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 | 26% | 61,726 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 21% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 15% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 15% | 67,132 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 15% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 12% | 17,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 9% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 9% | 78,005 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 6% | 74,980 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 6% | 61,726 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 6% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 6% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 6% | 24,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 3% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 3% | 17,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 3% | 155,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 KIA Sedona EX recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seats
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with power seats, the wiring under the front seats could be misrouted, allowing contact with metal seat components.
Risk: This contact could eventually result in a short circuit condition that may result in a fire in the junction box area of the vehicle.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Steering intermediate shaft binding (EA08017) — opened Aug 28, 2008, closed Jul 1, 2009.
- Steering binding (PE08033) — opened Apr 28, 2008, closed Aug 28, 2008.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The breaks were changed due to grinding com to find out there was 1bolt on the break calibers put them on and it still grinds and can not stop
There been whining noise during accelerating and de-accelerate speed, i had someone look and thought i was braking system. Yesterday my son was driving it and turning right and we heard a pop, and the whole steering went out. We were almost killed on 134, he able back it up. Had someone else looks…
I have a 2003 kia sedona. I have had to have the alternator replaced 2 times in a months time. The dealership is saying now that the connector to the fan has melted because the fan is pulling too much voltage. But from what i understand from others, the issue is the connector and not the fan? I…
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 kia sedona ex. While making a left turn at 5 mph, another vehicle rear ended the rear passenger side of the contact's vehicle. The vehicle spun out of control. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed by the highway patrol and sheriff. The contact…
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…
Other KIA Sedona EX years
← 2002 Sedona EX · 2004 Sedona EX →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 Sedona EX | 37 | 1 |
| 2003 | 34 | 1 |
| 2002 Sedona EX | 50 | 1 |
See all KIA Sedona EX problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 KIA Sedona EX?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, power train problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 9 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 KIA Sedona EX?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 KIA Sedona EX a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sedona EX model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.