AI Damage2004 KIA Sedona EX: common problems
Owners of the 2004 KIA Sedona EX filed 37 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 37
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 30% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 19% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 11% of all complaints
- 5 Wheels 11% of all complaints
- 6 Electronic stability control 8% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 8% of all complaints
- Steering: 11 complaints (30% of all).
- Service brakes: 7 complaints (19% of all).
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (14% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 4 complaints (11% of all).
- Wheels: 4 complaints (11% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 37 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion 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 van was in drive to move forward when the gas was pressed instead of going forward it went in reverse & when the brake was pressed to stop it didn't work. The only way to stop the van before going into the cement wall of a community center was to open the driver door which caused 3 other vehicles to be damaged.
While vehicle was rolling over the airbags didn't deploy. At the time of the incident there were 4 passengers in the vehicle ,3 of the passengers had minor injuries, but the driver, who was not wearing a seat belt ,was ejected from the vehicle , sustaining severe injuries.
Power steering makes whining sound when turning the wheel, power steer fluid low in canister due to leaks. Hard to turn to the steering wheel when turning. Don't know if belts affected I hear a humming sound. Don't know if the power steering pump is working properly. Constantly adding fluid to the canister.
(this is after getting spark plugs done & numerous other repairs that involved repeated fixes involving the vehicles water system); one mechanic says there may be another problem & unrelated to the sensor; and these problems have been ongoing with no mechanic able to fix the problems since the vehicle's purchase in…
I was broke down and stranded in the middle of the road.van was so hot it wouldn't start and. Behaved as a vehicle with a blown head gasket . The dishonest criked. Crook sales man at the dealer. Ship wound. Not fix it at first after complaining at the better business bureau sales man [xxx].
Engine seized without any warning. There wasn't much traffic on the road and helped to steer the vehicle to the shoulder. In bad weather and/or traffic conditions, this could have resulted in a serious accident.
While driving today, I noticed a whining noise, with a slight grinding noise to it as well. Initially thinking it was the brakes, I listened closer and realized it was not happening when braking but rather seemed to be happening when turning, primarily during acceleration.
I pulled over to stop and as I got out the front passenger brakes were on fire and the rear driver side brakes were smoking. The front brakes were new and the bake ones still had plea toy of life. I have been complaining for years and keep getting told there is no problem. This is a major problem.
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 6,176 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sedona EX has 40 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 37, about average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- 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.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 KIA Sedona EX?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, service brakes, electrical system. Total complaints: 37. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (19%), rust, corrosion (11%), smoke, burning smell, fire (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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.