Total Complaints
328 filings
KIA SEDONA · model year
328 NHTSA complaints, 26 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002KIASEDONA carries 328 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 26 crashes, 25 fires, 37 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 SEDONA is electrical system with 21 filings, followed by electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator (15) and vehicle speed control (12). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2002 SEDONA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
328 filings
Crashes Reported
26 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 21 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 15 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 12 |
| AIR BAGS | 12 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 12 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 11 |
| SEAT BELTS | 11 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 10 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 9 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 8 |
| STEERING | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 7 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 6 |
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
CERTAIN MINI VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE SECOND AND THIRD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ANCHOR BOLTS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, DURING ASSEMBLY, THE THROTTLE CABLE WOULD TWIST ITSELF OUT OF POSITION.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SOME OF THE SECOND AND THIRD ROW SEAT STRIKERS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE FLOOR PAN HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD BREAK IN A CRASH.
THE DOOR HANDLES ARE PLASTIC AND EVENTUALLY BROKE OFF ON THE OUTSIDE SO THAT OPENING THE DOORS -ALL 4- IS TRICKY SINCE ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE HANDLE REMAINS IN PLACE. THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE A PLASTIC CHROME-LOOKING COATING THAT PEELS OFF AND HAS CUT OUR HANDS SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING US TO NEED BANDAGES AS SOON AS WE RUN IN THE FRONT DOOR.
DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE.
IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PUMP GAS INTO THE VAN. THE PUMP KEEPS SHUTTING OFF NO MATTER HOW SLOW I PUMP OR HOW FAR I PUT THE NOZZLE INTO THE TANK.
Mileage: 150,000
I WAS DRIVING NO LESS THEN THAN BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE - WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FUSE PANEL AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW THE WHOLE PANEL BECAME ENGULF IN FLAMES. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ABLE TO PUT FIRE OUT- BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR BECOME TOTAL IN THE DAMAGE.
Mileage: 1,800,000
I WAS DRIVING NO LESS THEN THAN BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE - WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FUSE PANEL AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW THE WHOLE PANEL BECAME ENGULF IN FLAMES. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ABLE TO PUT FIRE OUT- BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR BECOME TOTAL IN THE DAMAGE.
Mileage: 1,800,000
I WAS DRIVING NO LESS THEN THAN BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE - WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FUSE PANEL AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW THE WHOLE PANEL BECAME ENGULF IN FLAMES. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ABLE TO PUT FIRE OUT- BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR BECOME TOTAL IN THE DAMAGE.
Mileage: 1,800,000
DROVE HOME FROM WORK AT 35 MPH. THE NEXT MORNING NOTICED TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL AROUND MUCH OF THE PERIMETER OF THE TIRE. TIRE WAS FLAT.
BEFORE THE INCIDENT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE REAR CAPTAIN CHAIRS SEAT BELT LATCH WHEN TRYING TO BUCKLE THEM. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 3 YEARS OF AGE AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CRUCIAL THAT SEAT BELTS ARE IN WORKING ORDER WITHOUT ISSUES FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR WELL BEING. BEFORE THE INCIDENT THE SEATS THEMSELVES IN THE REAR ROWS HAD ISSUES LATCHING AS WELL WHEN BEING INSTALLED. ON AUGUST 18, 2015 MYSELF AND THREE SMALL CHILDREN WERE IN A SEVERE HIGH IMPACT ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS HAD GONE OFF LIKE THEY NEVER EXISTED. MY KIDS AND I SUFFER FROM SEAT BELT ABRASIONS AND I SUFFER FROM BRUISING IN MULTIPLE PLACES FROM MY HEAD DOWN, SHOULDER PAIN AND BACK ISSUES. POLICE, PARAMEDIC'S, COLLISION CENTER, WITNESSES, AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY WERE ALL NOTIFIED OR HAD NOTIFIED ABOUT THE AIRBAGS. APPARENTLY, MY SEAT WHICH WAS THE DRIVER SEAT WAS ALSO COMPLETELY SNAPPED OFF AS WELL. UPDATED 08/26/15*BF
BEFORE THE INCIDENT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE REAR CAPTAIN CHAIRS SEAT BELT LATCH WHEN TRYING TO BUCKLE THEM. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 3 YEARS OF AGE AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CRUCIAL THAT SEAT BELTS ARE IN WORKING ORDER WITHOUT ISSUES FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR WELL BEING. BEFORE THE INCIDENT THE SEATS THEMSELVES IN THE REAR ROWS HAD ISSUES LATCHING AS WELL WHEN BEING INSTALLED. ON AUGUST 18, 2015 MYSELF AND THREE SMALL CHILDREN WERE IN A SEVERE HIGH IMPACT ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS HAD GONE OFF LIKE THEY NEVER EXISTED. MY KIDS AND I SUFFER FROM SEAT BELT ABRASIONS AND I SUFFER FROM BRUISING IN MULTIPLE PLACES FROM MY HEAD DOWN, SHOULDER PAIN AND BACK ISSUES. POLICE, PARAMEDIC'S, COLLISION CENTER, WITNESSES, AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY WERE ALL NOTIFIED OR HAD NOTIFIED ABOUT THE AIRBAGS. APPARENTLY, MY SEAT WHICH WAS THE DRIVER SEAT WAS ALSO COMPLETELY SNAPPED OFF AS WELL. UPDATED 08/26/15*BF
BEFORE THE INCIDENT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE REAR CAPTAIN CHAIRS SEAT BELT LATCH WHEN TRYING TO BUCKLE THEM. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 3 YEARS OF AGE AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CRUCIAL THAT SEAT BELTS ARE IN WORKING ORDER WITHOUT ISSUES FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR WELL BEING. BEFORE THE INCIDENT THE SEATS THEMSELVES IN THE REAR ROWS HAD ISSUES LATCHING AS WELL WHEN BEING INSTALLED. ON AUGUST 18, 2015 MYSELF AND THREE SMALL CHILDREN WERE IN A SEVERE HIGH IMPACT ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS HAD GONE OFF LIKE THEY NEVER EXISTED. MY KIDS AND I SUFFER FROM SEAT BELT ABRASIONS AND I SUFFER FROM BRUISING IN MULTIPLE PLACES FROM MY HEAD DOWN, SHOULDER PAIN AND BACK ISSUES. POLICE, PARAMEDIC'S, COLLISION CENTER, WITNESSES, AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY WERE ALL NOTIFIED OR HAD NOTIFIED ABOUT THE AIRBAGS. APPARENTLY, MY SEAT WHICH WAS THE DRIVER SEAT WAS ALSO COMPLETELY SNAPPED OFF AS WELL. UPDATED 08/26/15*BF
I HAD MY CAMSHAFT REAR PLUG REPLACED AFTER IN CAME OUT AND LEAKED OIL EVERYWHERE IN 2014. NOW IT'S COME OUT AGAIN DOING THE SAME THING. WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN AND AGAIN. IS IT THE PLUG OR THE CAMSHAFT THAT'S BLOWING IT OUT. I CAN'T FIND ANY SCHEMATIC TO SHOW ME WHY OR WHAT TO DO. *TR
GOING DOWN 251 AND THEY WERE BUSH HOGING AND WE SLOWED DOWN AND THE LAST ONE WE WENT BY BROKE THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK WINDOW. *TR
Mileage: 180,000
BOTH OF MY FRONT DOOR HANDLES ON INSIDE BROKE COMPLETELY OFF EXACTLY THE SAME WAY ONLY WAY TO GET OUT IF MY CAR IS TO ROLL WINDOW DOWN AND OPEN FROM OUTSIDE. ALSO SLIDING DOOR HANDLE SAME MATERIAL BROKE OFF I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF THE WINDOWS WERE TO QUIT WORKING I WOULD HAVE NO WAY OUT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING OF THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING UNITS. ADDITIONALLY, THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATE. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND POWER WINDOWS WOULD ALSO INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Mileage: 127,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED HEAD, NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Mileage: 92,000
THE CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. A NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND TOLD US THAT THE KIA WAS ON FIRE. NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR AT THAT TIME. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS TOTALLY BURNED UP. THE CAR GAVE ME NO OTHER PROBLEMS. *TR
Mileage: 130,500
THE CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. A NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND TOLD US THAT THE KIA WAS ON FIRE. NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR AT THAT TIME. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS TOTALLY BURNED UP. THE CAR GAVE ME NO OTHER PROBLEMS. *TR
Mileage: 130,500
DRIVING HOME AND A DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF MY VAN AND I HIT THE DEER AND TOTALED MY VAN BAD WHERE THE AIR BAGS SHOULD OF WENT OFF BUT IT DIDN'T NOW THERE'S A LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT LOOKS LIKE A GUY SITTING IN A SEAT WITH A BELT ON AND AN AIR BAG IN FRONT OF IT.
Mileage: 187,376
I DROVE 25 MINUTES FROM A TO B AND PARKED MY CAR. TURNED THE ENGINE OFF SAT THERE WITH THE RADIO ON FOR 1 MINUTE EXACTLY AND I HEAR A. PSHHHHH AND SMOKE RISING QUICKLY, THEN A FLAME FROM THE FUSE BOX BY MY LEFT FOOT. I GOT OUT OPENED THE DOOR LOOKED FOR THE SMOKE AND FLAME THAT WERE REFLECTING AND WAVING. I OPENED THE FUSE BOX SLIDER COVER WITH A KNIFE AND STARTED TO SQUIRT WATER OUT FROM MY BOTTLED WATER QUICKLY. THANK GOODNESS I HAD WATER. FLAME WENT OUT AND I SAW THE INSIDE OF THE FUSE COVER BURNT, AND A FUSE LOOKED LIKE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE THE FUSE LOOKED COMPLETELY MELTED.I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE AFTERMATH RIGHT AFTER THE FIRE WENT OUT. TOMORROW ILL BE CALLING INSURANCE, KIA, AND WHOEVER ELSE THAT CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT I CAN DO TO ENSURE MY SAFETY. PLEASE HELP OR APPROVE A RECALL. THANK GOODNESS I DIDNT EXIT MY CAR SO QUICK OR ALOT OF THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN ON FIRE.
Mileage: 69,500
I DROVE 25 MINUTES FROM A TO B AND PARKED MY CAR. TURNED THE ENGINE OFF SAT THERE WITH THE RADIO ON FOR 1 MINUTE EXACTLY AND I HEAR A. PSHHHHH AND SMOKE RISING QUICKLY, THEN A FLAME FROM THE FUSE BOX BY MY LEFT FOOT. I GOT OUT OPENED THE DOOR LOOKED FOR THE SMOKE AND FLAME THAT WERE REFLECTING AND WAVING. I OPENED THE FUSE BOX SLIDER COVER WITH A KNIFE AND STARTED TO SQUIRT WATER OUT FROM MY BOTTLED WATER QUICKLY. THANK GOODNESS I HAD WATER. FLAME WENT OUT AND I SAW THE INSIDE OF THE FUSE COVER BURNT, AND A FUSE LOOKED LIKE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE THE FUSE LOOKED COMPLETELY MELTED.I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE AFTERMATH RIGHT AFTER THE FIRE WENT OUT. TOMORROW ILL BE CALLING INSURANCE, KIA, AND WHOEVER ELSE THAT CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT I CAN DO TO ENSURE MY SAFETY. PLEASE HELP OR APPROVE A RECALL. THANK GOODNESS I DIDNT EXIT MY CAR SO QUICK OR ALOT OF THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN ON FIRE.
Mileage: 69,500
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.