Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| TSB-048 | 09/01/2009 | 10031947 | Kia: power sliding door remoe controller motor replacement. on some vehicles, a power sliding door (psd) may not open when using an overhead console switch, b pillar switch or remote control button. *pe | 02/01/2010 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - SOFTWARE | |||||
| TSB-044 | 11/01/2009 | 10033464 | Kia: ecm upgrade with tp sensor replacement-mil on with dtc p2135/p0638. information related to ecm software and tp sensor upgrade on some vehicles with 2.7l engines which may experience a malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illuminated with | 08/18/2010 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | ||||||
| PE05035 | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC | 06/28/2005 | 10/19/2005 | ELECTRICAL FIRE | 05V463000 | |
| By letter dated october 4, 2005, kia notified the agency that it is conducting a safety recall (nhtsa recall no. 05v463) involving all model year (my) 2002, 2003 kia sedona ex vehicles and certain my 2004 kia sedona ex vehicles.kia | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 11/25/2012 | 115000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia sedona. the contact stated that while parked, the vehicle caught on fire from under the driver's side dashboard area. prior to the fire, the horn activated independently. the vehicle was destroyed and was not inspected for the cause of the fire. the failure and the current mileages were 115,000. | |||
| 11/25/2012 | 115000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 kia sedona. the contact stated that while parked, the vehicle caught on fire from under the driver's side dashboard area. prior to the fire, the horn activated independently. the vehicle was destroyed and was not inspected for the cause of the fire. the failure and the current mileages were 115,000. kmj | |||
| 11/25/2012 | 115000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 kia sedona. the contact stated that the vehicle caught fire under dhashboard on the driver side of the vehicle. the contact stated the vehicle was not running when it caught fire. the contact stated the horn on the vehicle started honking right before the vehicle caught fire. the vehicle was destroyed in the fire. the failure mileage and current mileages were 115,000.rl | |||
| 07/24/2008 | 38284 | 4 | 08/16/2007 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sedona. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer because the power windows were inoperative. upon inspection, a technician replaced the console because it was blowing the fuse in the electrical system. the fuse melted and smoke engulfed the passenger compartment of the vehicle when the engine was started. the vehicle has been to the dealer on four occasions and the console and connector were replaced. none of the repairs have corrected the failure. he called the manufacturer and was referred back to the dealer. the failure mileage was 38,284 and current mileage is 48,000. updated 02/05/09 *bf updated 02/06/09. *jb | |||
| 10/08/2007 | 2 | 02/03/2003 | |
| Heater wiring harness over heated burned out fan switch happened twice cannot get fan to come on now. *tr | |||
| 06/01/2007 | 65000 | 1 | 12/20/2002 |
| The junction block (fuse box) located behind the cover near the emergency brake pedal partially burned and melted at two pin connectors. the adjacent wiring harness connector also partially burned and melted. prior to the failure, the dash indicator for the defroster illuminated and remained illuminated even though the defroster was not turned on. when the car was turned off, the dash indicator for the defroster remained illuminated. the battery was dead the next day. after jump starting the van, it was driven to the local kia dealer where the machanic identified the junction block damage. kia has proposed to replace the junction block and entire dash wiring harness for $1,934.19. the cost of the junction block is $19.95, but the cost of the wiring harness is $1,067.65. the balance of the proposed cost is labor and taxes. kia does not provide the harness connector as a separate part. i called the kia help line and provided a verbal report to a customer service agent, and was told that kia can do nothing else to resolve the problem. i located 12 relevant odi complaints for 2003 sedonas and 2 relevant odi complaints for 2003 sedona ex models, all resulting in dash fires. i did not search other model years. it may have been my good fortune not to experience a vehicle fire, as well as compelling evidence related to the cause of these other reported fires. | |||
| 09/08/2005 | 40000 | 1 | 04/04/2003 |
| Dt: the consumer stated that 2003 kia sedona caught on fire while parked in the garage. the vehicle had been sitting for around six hours. the fire started underneath the steering wheel in the dashboard area. the inside of the van had substantial damage. the van was towed to a body shop until the insurance adjuster looked at the van. the van was driving fine and working in good shape prior to the fire. the fire department came and put out the fire. t a fire investigator came and inspected the scene. the fire investigator concluded it was an electrical fire. the dealer and the manufacturer have been told about the fire. the consumer just told kia about the fire, and they wanted the consumer to get a copy of the fire report ,and then they would talk to him. the dealership told the consumer that they didn't know what to tell him. an insurance and fire report was taken, although the consumer did not have a copy right now of the report. the fire department took pictures on the night of the fire. there were no injuries and no damage to the home. the transmission would not come out of gear for the wrecker to tow it.*ak | |||
| 09/04/2005 | 1 | 03/01/2003 | |
| Dt: the contact owns a 2003 kia sedona. the vehicle was trying to start by itself . the windshield wipers were on and there was smoke in the vehicle and flames on the driver's side emergency brake. the contact's husband put the flames out before the fire department responded. the fire was first noticed from the drivers side where the emergency brake was located. the vehicle was not operating unusually before. the vehicle had been parked for about two hours before the fire was noticed. the dealership told her husband at this point they believed this was started from the low jack installation which was installed by the dealership. the police reported to the scene, and after arson was ruled out they handed the situation over to the fire department. the contact going there tonight to pick up the fire department's report. *ak the horn did not work. | |||
| 07/26/2005 | 1 | 03/14/2003 | |
| Drove 2003 kia sedona 4 or 5 miles. got out to eat and in about 5 minutes or less the inside was full of smoke and the dashboard was in flames behind the steering wheel. used fire estingisher but did not get the fire out completely and fire department came and put the fire out. i had heard there could be a problem with this happening on other 2003 kia sedona's. have contacted kia and they will not do anything until insurance company contacts them. | |||
| 06/21/2005 | 88000 | 1 | 10/26/2002 |
| On the morning of 6/21/05, i double parked my car across the street from my home for street cleaning. i was inside my house @ 10 minutes when a neighbor told me there was smoke coming from my car. i went to the car and saw flames coming from under the area under the driver's side of the dashboard by the brake/gas pedals. called the fire department and the fire was put out. according to the claims investigator and the body shop the car is at, the fire came from the fuse box of the vehicle. i understand that several fires similar to this have started in other 2003 kia sedonas and wanted to report the situation. | |||
| 06/16/2005 | 48000 | 1 | 12/16/2003 |
| 2003 kia sedona with approx 48,000 miles, parked and unoccupied in the parking area of my townhouse community. went to open the door remotely using the key ring and there was no response. eventually had to manually open the car and noticed the entire left hand side of the instrument panel and dashboard area had literally melted into the floorboard. appears as if there was some kind of electrical short. vehicle was towed to bonneville kia and due to my extended service contract immediately set up a rental. the service rep at bonneville said he had not seen anything like it and was to call his factory rep and recommended i contact my auto insurance carrier to begin the claims process. the circumstances of this incident seem way to close to other complaints found on our webpage. clearly there is some kind of defect that kia needs to address. other than service for oil changes and tire rotation, only kia bonneville has performed maintenance on this vehicle. purchase date was dec 2003. *jb | |||
| 05/20/2005 | 21000 | 1 | 02/15/2004 |
| Dt: after driving the car for 10 minutes pulled into a parking lot and got out of car ,and while in restaurant for 45 minutes, it caught on fire. black smoke and flames came out from steering wheel and the windows blew out. nothing happened before she parked the car. from inside of firewall back was totaled, the engine was the only thing left. car was towed to dealer. manufacturer has called her back, and was waiting for investigation. dealer said it was kia's responsibility. *ak | |||
| 09/03/2004 | 20000 | 1 | 08/30/2003 |
| We have a 2003 kia sedona ex that is one year old. it had 20,000 miles on the car and had no problems at all. on 09/03/04, after dropping our daughters off at school 5 minutes away, we pulled in the driveway, turned the car off and smoke poured out of vents. after that, car started on its own with no keys in it, panic started sounding constantly and then the car started on fire behind the steering wheel and was in full flames within one minute. the chief of the goshen fire dept. stated it was an electrical fire that started in the dashboard. we are waiting for copy of report. we contacted the kia manufacturer in ca immediately and sent pictures (can be furnished). it took kia almost 2 weeks to even contact us after repeated calls to them. they called on 09/14/04 and said we'd have an answer by 2 p.m. 09/15 and they never called. today, after we called and threatened to sue them (msg. left on voicemail), they called us right back to tell us they are denying our claim and this is not their responsibility. this was obviously a defective car with a faulty electrical system. this is not an insurance issue by any means and we feel kia should replace this car. they didn't even ask us any questions or wait for the fire report before denying our claim. the grief this has caused our family has been horrible. *jb | |||
| 07/01/2003 | 06/19/2003 | ||
| I have numerous complaints on my 2003 kia sodona. i purchased the vechile in june of 2003, we have since taken the van in to the dealership for a variety of problems. the aircondtioner stop blowing cold air with in the first three months of owning it, this has been fixed. paint has peeled off the front bumper, seat belt ratcheting system stopped working, engine mount needed replacing, tansmition needed adjusting three times, and the last problem was the vechile would lock when ever and where ever it felt the need to. i locked my self out of the car with my children inside many times. the dealship replaced a main panal inside the door. despite, all the times i have taken it in, at least twice for every problem, the dealership refuses to give me a car, mind you i have two children to cart around all day. i am extrmemly peeved about this van. | |||
| 11/10/2003 | 11500 | 1 | |
| Power locks failed without warning. dealer states an electrical short occurred. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 10/22/2008 | 1 | ||
| I have a 2003 kia sedona and i have had nothing but issues. anywhere from having to replace the alternator, which i will say was a pain in the butt...to major issues with the brakes. from reading many different sites this is not an uncommon issue!!!!!!!!!!!! it is just so frustrating that you purchase a van because they say it is great then you get this piece of junk. the sad thing is most people who own these are young couples with children and can not afford the repairs but have to pay for them and we are stuck with theses trash boxes because we have children and can not afford to go out and trade it in, lose our butts because they are not worth the money we owe on them. i can not afford to keep fixing this heap of junk but i am stuck with it. i hope that something gets done with these...they are worthless and my children are paying for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i have not had a vehicle so bad in my life...i am tired of replacing the brakes, routers, and now the calipers!!!!!!!!!!!!!*tr | |||
| 03/06/2008 | 66000 | 1 | 11/30/2005 |
| I purchased my 2003 kia sedona in november 2005. so far the following have been repaired or replaced: front hub assembly left side once, right side 2x's, the alternator, the wiper motor, two recalls, the battery, now at 65,000 miles the transmission is shot and needs to be replaced and the timing belt has been replaced. however the warranty company says they wont replace it because the cost of the repair exceeds the value of the car. this is simply outrageous. i have brought the car to the dealer for every service needed. transmission, oil filter ect. *tr | |||
| 07/30/2007 | 64000 | 1 | 08/01/2003 |
| I had gone to lunch and stopped by the grocery store first and then went by the gas station for a moment. when i came out, i got into my van and it would not crank. no warning, no prior trouble, noises, slow crank, nothing. it would not even attempt to crank. i had to walk back to work. later that evening, my father came to look at it and we assumed it was a dead battery. we replaced the battery and the battery light as well as the break light remained on. my father suspected the alternator. we called the kia dealership and they told us there had been a recall on alternators, but as usual, our vin number did not show up as one recalled. $400.00 later, i am wondering why our vehicle was not on the recall list. we have spent nearly $2,000 on warranty maintenance just to make sure nothing goes wrong and if it does it should be covered. unfortunately for us, we spent well over $1500.00 on our 60,000 mile maintenance to insure the warranty stays in affect just 3 months ago. of course, we are told now that the alternator is not covered after 60,000 miles. why am i paying so much money if nothing is going to be covered. *tr | |||
| 07/13/2007 | 15000 | 4 | 08/23/2002 |
| Our sedona has been unreliable from 15,000 miles on. i loose sleep over the fact that my wife and children are in this vehicle every day to get to and from school and other daily activities and errands. it is back in for service for the same re-occurring problem - a shot alternator. this is the fourth time this component has been damaged, twice before damaging the battery as well. i pride myself in keeping our vehicles serviced nearly to the recommended schedule, but this minivan is just not a quality built. i have read of other complaints, and similarly our minivan also bucks when idle at a traffic light, it bucks when traveling under 40 mph, and the air conditioning units are as load as an industrial type fan. *tr | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 03/06/2008 | 66000 | 1 | 11/30/2005 |
| I purchased my 2003 kia sedona in november 2005. so far the following have been repaired or replaced: front hub assembly left side once, right side 2x's, the alternator, the wiper motor, two recalls, the battery, now at 65,000 miles the transmission is shot and needs to be replaced and the timing belt has been replaced. however the warranty company says they wont replace it because the cost of the repair exceeds the value of the car. this is simply outrageous. i have brought the car to the dealer for every service needed. transmission, oil filter ect. *tr | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 09/30/2004 | 26000 | 1 | 09/15/2003 |
| On september 30, 2004 at approximately 6:00 p.m. my husband and son were scheduled to attend a meeting. as they approached our vehicle parked in the driveway, my husband noticed that the automatic key did not open the vehicle. he tried several times and finally manually unlocked the door. when he opened the door he noticed that the steering column, dash board and driver's door were damaged by fire and melted plastic damaged the carpet. the windows and interior were covered in residue from the smoke. we immediately contacted the kia dealership and reported the incident and had the vehicle towed to southpoint kia where we purchased the vehicle. we received a slow response for getting a replacement vehicle and was told several days later that we would need to cover the rental vehicle until they determined the cause of the fire. i was told to report the claim to my insurance company state farm. state farm determined that the damage was caused by a right seat switch - electrical problem. as of today, we have not received the status of this claim or the cause of the damage from kia engineers. it appears that they are not honoring their 10 year 100,000 mile warranty. our vehicle was purchased september, 2003. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 05/26/2004 | 28664 | 1 | 03/16/2003 |
| I purchased a 2003 kia sedona van from speedway kia in march of 2003. one of the reasons i choose this van was due to the 5 star safety rating. on may 26th of 2004, i was driving my van from tampa fl to port orange fl on i-4 and i started smelling an electrical burning smell. i pulled off the highway, looked under the hood but could not see anything burning. i got back on the highway and continued east towards daytona beach. when i got off the port orange exit on 95, i smoke started pouring out from under my hood, i drove about a mile to my home. i then opened the hood and the insulation under my hood was on fire. my husband put out the fire, and smoke continued to come out of the vent behind the engine. at that point, my husband disconnected the battery to remove the power source because it smelled like and electrical fire, the smoke eventually stopped. kia picked it up the next day, the van was at speedway kia for one week. no one at kia was able to tell what caused the fire, the only thing they could tell was that the insulation was burned. i picked my van up one week after dropping it off and nothing was done to it. i will never again be able to confidently travel in the van with my family because the manufacturer was unable to tell why it caught on fire and fix it. so much for the 10 year/ 100,000 mile warranty.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 03/27/2005 | 26000 | 1 | |
| While parked for two minuets vehicle caught on fire under the dashboard. *ak | |||
| 11/05/2004 | 10000 | 5 | |
| I have been experiencing ongoing electrical problems with the dashboard lights going out. it is very dangerous at night because you cant see the speedometer and the car is very dark on the inside. i have taken my vehicle in over 5 times for repair and it's still not working. this has been an on-going problem with the electrical system (dash board lights). twice they said it was the fuse which they replaced both times. within three days of repair the lights were out again on both instances. the third time they said the electrical wiring was loose. they fixed the wiring but approximately two weeks later the lights went out again. i took it back for repair and they said the wiring was loose again and they fixed it. again, the lights went out. i took the vehicle back to the dealership where i purchased it and they stated that the ignition switch was bad so they replaced it. this time the lights stayed on about a month and now it's out again.*ak | |||