NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2002–2004

Kia Sedona EX recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 121 owner complaints for the Kia Sedona EX, covering model years 2002 to 2004. The 2002 model year drew the most complaints (50), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Kia Sedona EX VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

1 recall campaign on file
121 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
3 model years with data (2002–2004)

most complaints: 2002 (50 for that model year)
top component: Electrical System (26 complaints)
latest recall 05V463000 (reported Oct 5, 2005)

6 complaints reporting a crash (5.0%)
18 complaints reporting a fire (14.9%)
7 complaints reporting an injury (5.8%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Kia Sedona EX complaints by model year

3 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2002 model year has the most complaints: 50 of 121, or 41.3%. Next come 2004 (37) and 2003 (34).

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Kia Sedona EX complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Kia Sedona EX complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury
2002	50	2	8	4
2003	34	2	7	2
2004	37	2	3	1
All model years	121	6	18	7

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Kia Sedona EX components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 26 complaints (21.5% of all 121), followed by Steering (20) and Engine and Engine Cooling (16).

Components named most often in Kia Sedona EX complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Kia Sedona EX complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Electrical System	26	21.5%
Steering	20	16.5%
Engine and Engine Cooling	16	13.2%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	13	10.7%
Seats	12	9.9%
Structure	11	9.1%
Air Bags	10	8.3%
Power Train	10	8.3%
Suspension	8	6.6%
Wheels	7	5.8%
Seat Belts	6	5.0%
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	5	4.1%
Tires	5	4.1%
Engine	4	3.3%
Exterior Lighting	4	3.3%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Kia Sedona EX recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Sedona EX, newest first. The only campaign, 05V463000, covers model years 2002, 2003 and 2004.

1 recall campaign

Kia Sedona EX recall campaigns covering each model year
2002: 1 campaign	2003: 1 campaign	2004: 1 campaign

NHTSA campaign 05V463000
Reported Oct 5, 2005
Seats
Model years 2002–2004
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with power seats, the wiring under the front seats could be misrouted, allowing contact with metal seat components.
Consequence:
This contact could eventually result in a short circuit condition that may result in a fire in the junction box area of the vehicle.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect and re-route the wires under the power seats, if necessary, as well as install protective seaming welts around those wires to better insulate them. The recall began on November 28, 2005. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Filed by Kia America, Inc.

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Kia Sedona EX questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Kia Sedona EX have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the Kia Sedona EX, covering model years 2002 to 2004. The campaign, 05V463000, was reported on October 5, 2005 and is filed under “Seats”. The 2002, 2003 and 2004 model years are covered by the most campaigns (1 each).

Which Kia Sedona EX model year has the most complaints?

The 2002 model year, with 50 of the 121 complaints in NHTSA’s file (41.3%). The next are 2004 (37) and 2003 (34). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Kia Sedona EX complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 26 complaints, or 21.5% of all 121. Steering (20) and Engine and Engine Cooling (16) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Kia Sedona EX?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Kia dealer.

How many Kia Sedona EX complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 121 complaints, 6 report a crash, 18 a fire, 7 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Kia models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Kia VIN decoder with every Kia model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Kia Sorento 2003–2026 · 40 recalls · 10,159 complaints
Kia Optima 2001–2020 · 22 recalls · 7,499 complaints
Kia Soul 2010–2025 · 15 recalls · 5,532 complaints
Kia Sportage 1995–2026 · 36 recalls · 4,687 complaints
Kia Forte 2009–2024 · 18 recalls · 2,539 complaints
Kia Sedona 2002–2021 · 23 recalls · 2,406 complaints
Kia Telluride 2020–2027 · 19 recalls · 2,009 complaints
Kia Sephia 1995–2003 · 7 recalls · 1,687 complaints

All Kia models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.