AI Damage2003 KIA Sedona EX: common problems
Owners of the 2003 KIA Sedona EX filed 34 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 34
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 26% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 21% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 15% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 15% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 9% of all complaints
- 8 Wheels 9% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 9 complaints (26% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 7 complaints (21% of all).
- Powertrain: 5 complaints (15% of all).
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (15% of all).
- Steering: 5 complaints (15% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 34 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed by the highway patrol and sheriff. The contact sustained bruising from the seat belt strap across the chest, and bruising across the waistline and back. Medical attention was received. The vehicle was towed to a police holding station and later to a body shop.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 mph, the vehicle was involved in a head on collision with another vehicle. Neither frontal air bag deployed. There was a police report taken at the scene. There were no injuries sustained.
The breaks were changed due to grinding com to find out there was 1bolt on the break calibers put them on and it still grinds and can not stop
There been whining noise during accelerating and de-accelerate speed, I had someone look and thought I was braking system. Yesterday my son was driving it and turning right and we heard a pop, and the whole steering went out. We were almost killed on 134, he able back it up.
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.
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…
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.
My kia sedona 2003 ex was a great vehicle , until 12/20/2011 when the door handle on the sliding side door behind the driver broke off in my hand when I opened it. This was a huge surprise to me because I could not believe it came off in my hand.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 6,426 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 18% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sedona EX has 40 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 34, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 KIA Sedona EX?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, powertrain. Total complaints: 34. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (15%), stalls while driving (12%), rust, corrosion (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 KIA Sedona EX?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2003 KIA Sedona EX from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2003 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.