There are 33 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2003 Kia Sedonain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
My Sedona keeps catching on fire not sure why but now if I get it up to temperature it automatically catches on fire I'm going into my second fire extinguishe
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE DESIRED GEAR WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME, PARKED THE VEHICLE, AND UPON OPENING THE HOOD SAW FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED HOWEVER, HER NEIGHBOR ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH A WATER HOSE UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHTS HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAD EXPERIENCED A FIRE AND MELTED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED SMOKE AND SOOT PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND A BURN HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER ROCK RIVER KIA (226 NORTH ALPINE RD. ROCKFORD IL) WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT HAD LATER ALSO EXPERIENCED BURNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CLEAR OUT THE SMOKE AND NOTICED THAT THE FUSE BOX CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
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 WAS ALL MELTED, WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED, THE A/C UNIT GOING UP THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS ALL MELTED. HE FINALLY FOUND A PLACE TO OPEN THE HOOD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE MECHANISM TO OPEN THE HOOD WAS ALL MELTED AS WELL. THE VAN WAS TOTALED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY SENT US $3900. THE VAN WAS IS GREAT SHAPE FOR BEING 11 YEARS OLD. WE HAD THE VAN SERVICED AS SCHEDULED AND IT WAS ALWAYS KEPT IN THE GARAGE. WE BOUGHT THE VAN NEW AND STILL LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE AS WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. SO WE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ANY RECALLS ON THE VAN. WE WANTED TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE WERE ANY CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS PENDING. WHEN WE RAN A SEARCH ON OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, THERE WERE SEVERAL LISTED. SOME JUST AS OURS WAS, DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. I DON'T HAVE THE VIN AT THIS TIME BUT I CAN FIND IT AT HOME IN OUR INSURANCE CLAIM. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE US IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
FUSE PANEL CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT IN USE. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. *TR
WHILE DRIVING TO THE GAS STATION TO GET SOME GAS THE CAR DIED. AFTER A TWO MINUTE WAIT, WE RESTARTED THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEM.. THIS DID HAPPEN ONE OTHER TIME TWO WEEKS BEFORE AND IT SHUT OFF APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. THERE WAS PLENTY OF FUEL IN THE SYSTEM. AGAIN, WAITED A MINUTE AND IT RESTARTED. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER AS A GIFT ON JANUARY 2014 FROM AL SERRA NORTH CHEVROLET USED CAR LOT. THEY OFFERED SAFETY INSPECTION ALONG WITH TEST DRIVE. I JUST TOOK IT BACK TO AL SERRA CHEVROLET FOR A 90 DAY COMPLIMENTARY SAFETY CHECK WITH ALL FLUIDS TOPPED OFF. THEY SAID ALL WAS FINE. I CAN BET THE ELECTRONICS WAS NOT EVEN CHECKED. I AM AFRAID THAT MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS DRIVING A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COULD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND WITH CATASTROPHIC EFFECTS. REQUEST IMMEDIATE ACTION. *TR
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.
I PURCHASED THE 2003 KIA SEDONA IN JUNE OF 2012 AND BY OCTOBER OF 2013 WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR TWICE IN LESS THEN A MONTH DUE TO IT LOSING POWER NOW THE CAR CONTINUES TO LOOSE POWER WHEN DRIVING AND WHILE IT IS STOPPED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE BATTERY IS BRAND NEW AND THE ALTERNATOR IS BRAND NEW BUT THE BATTERY DIES EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. ALL THE MECHANICS CAN TELL ME IS THAT THE ALTERNATOR IS NOT CHARGING THE BATTERY BUT IT IS WORKING. IT WILL START HICCUPING WHEN YOU HAVE TO ACCELERATE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN HE HEARD THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM SOUNDING. THE CONTACT WAS INSIDE HIS HOME AND OBSERVED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW GLOWING FROM AFAR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000.
ON 12/26/2011 WE WENT OUT TO THE VAN (2003 KIA SEDONA) AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE WHOLE VAN SMELLED LIKE MELTED PLASTIC. I LOOKED AT THE FUSE BOX AND THE ENTIRE THING WAS MELTED ALONG WITH THE TRIM AND CARPET. I HAVE PICTURES AND A MOVIE TO SHOW THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. KIA OF PUTNAM CONNECTICUT REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WE WERE NOT EVEN DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED THE ISSUE HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. IF PICTURES ARE REQUESTED PLEASE EMAIL ME AT [XXX] THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WOULD HAVE TO BE JUMP STARTED EVERY THREE HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE BATTERY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. A REPLACEMENT BATTERY WAS INSTALLED YET THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,363.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SEDONA EX. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE RESIDENCE GARAGE AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT INTERIOR AND ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL MELTED SEVERELY. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL MELTED AND WAS DISTORTED TO THE POINT THAT THE STRUCTURE AND GAUGES WERE NOT VISIBLE. THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING WIRE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE GARAGE TO A NEARBY LOCATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE PRESENT OR FLAMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES IN WHICH THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION OR ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. UPDATED 09/24/10. *LJ ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER, A RECALL WAS ISSUED REGARDING THE SEATS. UPDATED 09/27/10
1)HAPPENED TWICE: CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY AFTER A BEEPING NOISE AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON BRIEFLY. THERMOSTAT, THERMOSTAT GASKET HAD TO REPLACED TWICE IN 7 MONTHS (REPAIRS DONE ON 5/11/10 AND 12/13/2010). NOTE: ENGINE FLUSH 11/24/09; COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE TESTED 2/22/10, RADIATOR FLUSHES 6/8/09 AND 7/30/10 IN ADDITION TO LOF EVERY 3,000 MILES) COOLING SYSTEM /CORROSION ISSUES/COOLING SYSTEM CORROSION CONTROL KIT INSTALLED: 12/30/05 & 4/8/08, 2) CAR CAREENING AND TIPPING WHEN STEERING HARD TO RIGHT: FRONT HUB AND WHEEL BEARING, SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL - 3 TIMES (1/2/09; 12/13/10, 8/1/2011). 3) CAR LOST POWER ON FREEWAY DUE TO BAD ALTERNATOR WHICH DISCHARGED BATTERY 6/23/06. *TR
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
HEATER WIRING HARNESS OVER HEATED BURNED OUT FAN SWITCH HAPPENED TWICE CANNOT GET FAN TO COME ON NOW. *TR
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
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
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.
ON TUES. THE 3RD OF OCT. 2006 I WENT TO START MY 2003 KIA SEDONA AND IT WOULD NOT START SO AAA WAS CALLED, THEY CAME AND JUMPED THE BATTERY AND IT WAS ALL SET TO GO. THURSDAY THE 5TH I NOTICED CONSOLE NEAR RADIO WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH. FRIDAY OCT. 6TH 2006 I WENT TO GET INTO MY CAR AND I COULD NOT GET THE DOOR OPEN. I NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AND BLACK. WHEN I FINALLY GOT INTO THE CAR THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS COMPLETELY MELTED BY A FIRE THAT OCCURRED SOMETIME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY, THEY ARE GIVING ME CASH VALUE FOR IT AND NOW I AM STUCK WITH OWING MONEY ON A CAR I DON'T HAVE. THEY ARE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME KIND OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IT WAS A 2003 AND I PURCHASED IT ONLY 6 MONTHS AGO. NO ONE WAS HURT BUT EVERYTHING WAS DAMAGED AND I AM AT A LOSS AND DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN DO. *NM
Showing 1–20 of 33 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026