Skip to content
Kia SedonaModel year report

2009 Kia Sedona Problems

Compared with other Kia Sedona years

Typical for this model

52/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2010

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
48filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
45,712miles, 34 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 3.8L 6-cyl FWD · 16 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Kia Sedona (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 48 consumer complaints for the 2009 Kia Sedona. The part named most often is brakes, with 9 complaints (19% of the total), followed by electrical system (8) and electronic stability control (7). 34 of the complaints include a mileage, and 53% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 45,712 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 41 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the switch filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 10 Kia Sedona model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 52 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Latches, locks and linkages (3), Steering (3), Body and structure (2), Transmission and drivetrain (2), Fuel system (1), Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #11281379, filed 2019-11, 25,000 miles

Electrical system: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10934974, filed 2016-12, 140,000 miles

Electronic stability control: “The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sedona. While driving at low speeds of 5 MPH, the check engine and electronic stability control (ESC) lights illuminated. The dealer advised that the failure was common in her model vehicle. The throttle position sensor was replaced and the pmc was upgraded. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 21,441 and the current mileage was not unknown. Updated 7/16/10 updated 07/22/10.”

NHTSA complaint #10330948, filed 2010-05, 21,441 miles

Exterior lighting: “After I checked with Kia dealer, I learned that there were 4 recalls since april of 2013 on my Kia Sedona; they are (1) stop light switch, (2) lower control arm, (3) rear control arm, and (4) heater pipe replacement. I never received recall notices on this vehicle. However, I received recall notice on my other Kia my2009 sportage vehicle, whose recall repair was taken care of immediately after receiving the notice. Kia needs to do a better job for sending out the recall notices.”

NHTSA complaint #10569069, filed 2014-03, 20,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

53% of the 34 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 21,441 and 96,000 miles.

15%0–1015%10–2524%25–509%50–7515%75–10015%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (34 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 45,712 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’099’11’139’15’17’19’21’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Kia Sedona. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Sedona · van lwb w/sab FWDnot rated5 / 5———
Sedona · van swb w/sab FWDnot rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Kia Sedona version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Sedona FWD3.8L 6-cyl5-speed automatic162318$3,700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Kia Sedona → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 41 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 41 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Sedona

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2021106,8000521—Not enough data
20202065,2451521—Rising
20193930,000252113 · FewerRising
20184916,895352028 · FewerRising
201713440,000452054 · TypicalRising
201629769,000452084 · MoreRising
201514055,000352050 · TypicalRising
20143960,00015200 · FewerFalling
201210870,0005—2165 · MoreFalling
20116579,6606—2139 · TypicalFalling
20103279,8455—1914 · FewerStable
20094845,7125—1852 · TypicalFalling
200817052,8465—1884 · MoreFalling
200715770,6746—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200638583,2507—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200518525,0002—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200417645,0002—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200316348,0004—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200219850,0003—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Kia Sedona model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Kia Sedona have?

NHTSA recorded 48 consumer complaints for the 2009 Kia Sedona as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Kia Sedona is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 9 complaints (19% of the total), followed by electrical system with 8.

Has the 2009 Kia Sedona been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Kia Sedona get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Kia Sedona (Sedona, 3.8L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Kia Sedona reported?

Among the 34 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 45,712 miles and the middle half falls between 21,441 and 96,000 miles; 53% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.