2002 Kia Sedona EX Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report vehicle fires, many starting near the dashboard or wiring, and many of those fires began while the vehicle was parked. Engine stalling or fuel pump failure, airbag warning lights, and seat belt faults also come up repeatedly, and some fuel pump complaints mention metal debris in the fuel tank. Power seat switch and wiring faults appear as well, including owners who say a seat wiring recall did not cover their vehicle.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Fires starting near the dashboard or wiring

   • 9 complaints (18%)
   • median 127,000 mi at 10.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2016

   Owners describe vehicle fires, sometimes starting near the instrument panel, dashboard, or driver-side wiring, and in some complaints the vehicle was destroyed. Many say the fire began while the vehicle was parked at home or in a lot, and in some complaints investigators pointed to the wiring under the dash or a fuse box area. An owner says a recall notice was not received before the fire. Where mileage is listed, the fires were reported between about 54,000 and 180,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has had any fire, electrical, or wiring repairs, and whether the seat wiring recall was completed. Have a mechanic check the wiring behind the dashboard and under the seats for heat damage, melted insulation, or non-factory repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The van was on fire in my yard. Only the front drivers front side caught fire. When I found it it was blasing out of the door and windshield. I got the hose pipe an unhooked the battery to put the fire out. It melted the whole dashboard all the way to the radio steering wheel windshield only on drivers side all damage was at front drivers front side.I didn't drive the van alday that day.”

   NHTSA complaint #10821956, filed 2016-01, 180,000 miles

   “Takata recall. I was at home I heard some kind of noise out side like a horn blowing so I look out and my van was on fire on the drivers side and I ran for the hose to put it out then I called 911an the fire dept. Came an the arsson dept and he said it was in the seat to the fuss box and that's what caused the fire my car is totaled can you please let me know the whole van on drivers side is totaled I have no way to go now .”

   NHTSA complaint #10817224, filed 2015-12, 180,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Engine stalling or fuel pump failure

   • 7 complaints (14%)
   • median 93,558 mi at 4.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2017

   Owners describe the engine stalling while driving, sometimes on the highway, followed by hard restarts or no restart at all. In some complaints a fuel pump was replaced, and in others the dealer found metal shavings in the fuel tank. A complaint says the dealer first suggested bad fuel, which the owner says was not the issue found. Where mileage is listed, these reports were filed between about 73,000 and 142,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask for records of any fuel pump, filter, or tank work, and whether the tank was inspected for debris. Have a mechanic check for stored codes and confirm the engine restarts reliably after a hot shutdown.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had my 02 Kia for 2 years. It ran great for a few 1000 miles but then it just went haywire. The problem that cost me the most time and money turned out to be the fuel pump. The Kia dealer in charlseton sc originally told me that it was bad gas so I called to the gas station on the military base that I got gas from and raised sand. They pulled the whole pump and it turned out to be good gas so the government could not reimburse my money since it was not their fault. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10173531, filed 2006-11, 73,000 miles

   “I own a 2002 Kia sedona. I purchased it in february and was fine until a month later. I was on my way to work and I got on the highway and the van stalled and just shut down. After about 5 minutes later it restarted then shut off again about 3 miles down the highway. I had the fuel pump and camshaft replaced but it still will not start. Then the battery stopped working. I replaced that and it still will not work. I called Kia and because it is out of warranty they would not help. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10457359, filed 2012-05, 142,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag light stays on or airbags not deploying

   • 7 complaints (14%)
   • median 84,900 mi at 10.6 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2017

   Owners describe the airbag warning light coming on and staying on, sometimes after repeated visits where shops could not confirm whether the airbags would work. Some say a sensor or module was replaced and the light came back, and a complaint links it to a passenger seat occupancy sensor fault. According to complaints, the dealer found a passenger-side pretensioner harness installed incorrectly, and in a crash at about 45 mph the airbags did not deploy. Where mileage is listed, these reports fall between about 67,000 and 87,000 miles.

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light is off with the key on, and ask whether the passenger seat sensor and pretensioner harness were inspected. Have a shop that can read airbag module codes confirm the system status, since complaints say the light can return after a sensor replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 2/11/11 my Kia sedona airbag light went on and stayed on. Upon extensive research, I've seen numerous complaints online on the same issue. On 2/28/11, I had the airbag module sensor replaced by a private mechanic. Two weeks after being replaced, the airbag light went on again and stayed on. I have repaired/replaced thousands of dollars of parts on this Kia, making it the most expensive vehicle I've ever owned in the past 32 years. I was told that with the airbag light always on, that in an accident my airbags will not deploy. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10411599, filed 2011-07, 82,000 miles

   “My 2002 Kia Sedona Ex has a fault with the front passenger seat occupancy sensor. It makes the airbag light come on but worst of all in a head on collision the airbags will most likely not deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #10596887, filed 2014-06, 67,000 miles
4. 4
   Seat belts

   Seat belt buckle, latch, or retractor failure

   • 6 complaints (12%)
   • median 91,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2017

   Owners describe seat belt buckles that came off or latches that jammed and would not release, and a belt that tightened and would not retract. Some report middle-row belts that locked up and needed replacement, and that the seat belt warning light did not come on when a belt was unbuckled. According to complaints, the dealer said there were no seat belt recalls, and some replacements were not covered under warranty. Where mileage is listed, these reports range from about 90,000 to 131,000 miles.

   What to check: Test each seat belt buckle, latch, and retractor in every seating position, including the middle and third rows, and confirm the warning light comes on when a belt is unbuckled. Ask the seller whether any belts were replaced and whether the dealer confirmed that a recall applies.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had a few occasions where the middle row seatbelts locked up and it took awhile for them to unlock so I could buckle my children in. Over a week ago one locked up and we couldn't get it to unlock. I had to take my car to the dealership and it turned out I needed to have three (both middle row one rear row) seatbelt replaced. All not covered under warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10258714, filed 2009-02, 91,000 miles

   “I notice that when I unbuckle my seatbelt, the warning light does not come on, nor does it chime. It does not matter if you are in drive and moving, or parked. The seat belt light won't illuminate, nor does the car chime. The only time the light illuminates is when you first start up the vehicle. I don't believe it ever has in the entire life of the vehicle. I now have over 102,500 miles on the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10507011, filed 2013-04, 90,000 miles
5. 5
   Seats

   Power seat switch or wiring faults

   • 7 complaints (14%)
   • median 99,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2013

   Owners describe a power seat switch that malfunctioned while driving, causing the seat to slide fully forward, and electric seat controls that stopped working for months. Others describe wiring under the front seat touching a metal seat part, which led to a short in a junction box. According to complaints, a seat wiring recall did not cover a vehicle because of its VIN, and the owner paid for the repair. Where mileage is listed, these reports were filed between about 54,000 and 118,000 miles.

   Recall 05V463000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 05V463000 was completed on this VIN, and test that each power seat moves smoothly without sliding on its own. Have a mechanic inspect the wiring under the front seats and the junction box for wear, shorts, or earlier repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2002 Kia sedona minivan. Purchased used feb 2006 w/32k miles from private owner. Most recent miles 59k. Caught fire while parked in garage and is totaled. Have had electrical problems including electric seat stop functioning, and dead battery whenever parked for more than 5 days. Replaced the battery, replaced the alternator, replaced the serpentine belt. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10209702, filed 2007-11, 54,700 miles

   “Dt: the contact stated there was NHTSA recall campaign 05v463000 concerning the power seats. This vehicle was experiencing the same problem as indicated in the recall, but was not included in the recall due to VIN. The contact repaired the vehicle at his own expense.”

   NHTSA complaint #10143033, filed 2005-11

Buying note. Buyers considering this model year should ask whether the seat wiring recall was completed and whether any airbag or fuel system repairs are documented, then have a mechanic check the wiring and the airbag light before deciding. Stall and fuel pump complaints in this group were filed between about 73,000 and 142,000 miles, so the fuel pump history is worth reviewing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 48 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.