The Kia Sedona: A Reliable Minivan The Kia Sedona is an excellent minivan, yes. Due to its excellent balance of quality and value, we actually selected the Sedona a finalist for our 2021 Best Minivan for the Money award. It has no significant flaws outside its underwhelming mpg ratings.
In This Article...
What issues is the Kia Sedona experiencing?
Principal Kia Sedona Issues
- Unusual startup sounds.
- Initially Complicated.
- defective battery
- Clutch assembly for the air conditioner that isn’t working.
- Software Issues Affecting Transmission.
- Issues with Exterior Lighting.
- Crankshaft Position Sensor failure.
- Failure of the alternator too soon.
What is the price of a 2019 Kia Sedona?
The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2019 Kia Sedona starts at roughly $28,000 for the base L model and includes a $990 destination charge. The top-of-the-line SX, on the other hand, starts at close to $42,000 and is fully loaded.
When should you stay away from Sedona?
Since its introduction in 1998, the Kia Sedona has served as the brand’s iconic minivan model for more than 20 years. It served as the forerunner to Kia’s rebranded and redesigned minivan, the Carnival, which made its debut in 2022. Until the more SUV-like Carnival took its place, the Sedona served as Kia’s main offering in the minivan market.
Although not very sophisticated, most Sedonas were said to have few problems and could travel up to 250,000 miles with regular maintenance and proper upkeep. Despite being somewhat successful, it still had shortcomings. These Kia Sedona years should be avoided.
Short Answer: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2012, 2016
The Sedona had been a fixture in the minivan market for 20 years prior to the Carnival. The Sedona is generally thought of as a nice minivan for a reasonable price. However, some particular years have a number of issues, including recalls and owner-reported customer complaints. The first and third versions of the Kia Sedona are mostly the ones to steer clear of.
Common problems and grievances
- An abundance of recalls
- low engine output
- Fire risks
- Ratings of average safety
- Costly repair work
The Sedona has seen a series of significant recalls since its launch shortly after 2000 for each model year. The only vehicles with just one significant recall were those from 2014 and the most recent model year in 2020. Recalls are a factor to take into account, although they do not always make or break a car.
- 4 in 2002
- 5 in 2003
- 3 in 2004
- 2 in 2005
- 8 in 2006
- 9 in 2007
- 6 in 2008
- 6 in 2009
- 6 in 2010
- 6 in 2011
- 5 in 2012
- 2013 not applicable
- 1 in 2014
- 3 in 2015
- 3 in 2016
- 3 in 2017
- 3 in 2018
- 1 in 2020
In addition to recalls, Kia has replied to over 200 recorded bulletins with common troubleshooting concerns reported by drivers and consumers. Due to the fact that the 20062012 models were recalled numerous times for the same issues, they have a comparable number of recalls. Due to the Kia Sedona’s absence in 2013 the 2013 model is also lacking.
The best approach to purchase a car is through the CoPilot app. We’ll show you all you need to know about each listing, including how long it’s been on the lot and whether or not there are comparable cars in the area for less money. We’re built using the same technologies that dealerships use.
Kia Sedona Years to Avoid: 2002, 2003, and 2005
A used 2002 Kia Sedona would probably cost less than $3,000 if you were looking for one today. There have been concerns about the difficult handling and weak engine in this model year. In addition, the 2002 Sedona was the target of numerous safety recalls right away after the model’s introduction. It encountered comparable difficulties in 2003 and 2005 as a result of inadequate front seat assembly and seat belt concerns.
The seatbelts’ shoddy construction prevented them from providing reliable restraint in the event of a collision. Wires that touched the metal underneath the front seats were the subject of the most recent recall, which was issued in 2005. This was one of the most hazardous risks since it occasionally sparked flames.
Common problems
- inadequate engine power
- defective seatbelts
- numerous recalls
- Under the chairs, there are fire risks
- inadequate handling skills
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Kia Sedona Years to Avoid: 2012
The 2012 Sedona gained notoriety for a relatively unusual cause. It had a weak roof rating and presented potential safety risks in the event of an accident. Furthermore, the car cage’s design and safety rating only obtained a “satisfactory grade. The best cars on the market right now, even older Sedona models, frequently have great overall IIHS ratings.
For the 2012 model year, there have been a total of 5 significant recalls, raising more concerns about its safety. Even the 2012 model year was the target of a lawsuit because of the soy wire coating that had drawn animals to the undercarriage and harmed the electrical system. Consumer Reports only gave the 2012 model a 1 out of 5 owner satisfaction rating, which is a significant indicator of consumer unhappiness.
Most frequent problems:
- safety issues
- problems with soy-based electrical wiring
- a low score for customer satisfaction
Kia Sedona Years to Avoid: 2016
The most expensive and current model to appear on the list of years to stay away from is the 2016 Kia Sedona, but its issues show that it is not worth the money. According to Kia Complaints, the only Sedona model year from the third generation to stay away from is the 2016.
The 2016 Sedona has received the most NHTSA complaints involving electrical issues. The incorrect rear light would be produced by blinkers, posing a clear driving hazard. Headlights suddenly cut off and turn signals don’t work properly, greatly increasing the chance of a collision at night.
- Turn signal and electrical failure
- sudden failure of the headlights
You want to find the best bargain on the car you want, not actually purchase it. If a comparable vehicle is offered locally for less money, the CoPilot app will let you know, so you can be sure you received the best bargain.
What Kia Sedona Models are Good?
In the US, the Kia Sedona has been available for sale for about 20 years. In this regard, we were able to gather testimonials from long-term owners from a variety of Sedona forums. The Kia Sedona has received favorable reviews from numerous reputable sources, especially the most current model produced prior to 2016. These typically receive ratings from U.S. News of 4.5 out of 5 stars, indicating that they are reasonable choices for customers. Most of the newest generation cars have only a few recalls and minor complaints, with the exception of the 2016 model.
J.D. Power ranked the most recent Sedona second among the top four minivans with an 81 out of 100 quality and reliability rating. Most experts would advise extra rustproofing after the Sedona’s 5-year anti-perforation warranty has passed. Although the Sedona has since been replaced by the more contemporary Carnival, it still offers most families a reasonably reliable car at a reasonable cost.
To get a better sense of the ride, it’s usually a good idea to test out a few different model years. Even though each generation is generally similar, each year does have a distinctive mood and its own eccentricities. Most people looking for a minivan should consider the Sedona; you just need to look around a bit to get the one that’s right for you.
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Just seeking for more recent models? The search engine for virtually new vehicles is CoPilot Compare. only observe recentfive years or lessautos with little mileage. The greatest place to look for off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO vehicles is CoPilot Compare.
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Do Kia Sedonas have issues with the transmission?
You can drive at the speed you want thanks to your transmission, which transfers power from the engine to the wheels.
Your transmission is in charge of translating the appropriate amount of power into the appropriate amount of speed, therefore
Who constructs Kia Sedonas?
The generous five-year bumper-to-bumper guarantee and the extensive 10-year powertrain warranty offered by Hyundai and sister firm Kia are well-known. The Sedona outperforms the competition with its standard policies, but buying a Toyota Sienna comes with two years of free scheduled maintenance.
What was the Kia Sedona’s successor?
In February, Kia unveiled the 2022 Carnival, claiming that it will be more rigid and durable than the outgoing Sedona it will replace.
The three-row Carnival “Multi-Purpose Vehicle” is designed to fill what Kia refers to as “the vacant gap between SUV and family hauler.” The Sorento and K5 both use the third-generation “N3 platform, which is a unibody SUV.
According to a news release from Kia on February 23, “Kia’s engineers made sure it was lighter, stronger, and quieter than the departing architecture.
According to the OEM, it used more “hot-stamped components and ultra-high-strength steel for enhanced average tensile strength and torsional stiffness that lead to superior driving dynamics.
James Hope, national manager of Kia Product Communications, claimed on Friday that the Carnival employed hot-stamped steel in 14 locations, two more than the Sedona.
He listed the following hot-stamped steel locations:
- all the way around the driver’s and passenger’s front doors
- Along the header of the windshield
- Crash channels in the firewall’s lowest section
- channels in the rear chassis that extend longitudinally from the back of the vehicle toward the second row of seats. (Slight formatting changes.)
Hope claimed that he was not given any information regarding the use of aluminum in the massive truck.
When the Carnival reaches dealers this quarter, in addition to all of the higher-strength steels, repairers will run into extra “sound absorbent and insulating elements to minimize road, wind, and engine noise,” according to Kia.
Other bodily and technical information that may be of interest is:
- For better gas mileage, Kia claimed to have made aerodynamic adjustments to the wheels, mirrors, and front bumper.
- According to the OEM, the wheel arches are “(b)rawny,” the headlights and taillights are united by “(a) bold cutline,” and the hood has “(d)ramatic body lines.”
- There is a two-tone color scheme on the mirrors. Wheels in gloss black are an option.
- Skid plate garnish and “black/chrome rocker panel moldings” are examples of trim. The Carnival is additionally the first automobile to sport Kia’s new emblem.
- Although it’s not clear if the taillights are LEDs, the headlights are.
- Nearly all trims come included with an intercom and a camera that can see in the dark to see what’s in the backseat.
- There is UVO telematics available, which enables the Carnival to dial 911 in the event of an airbag activation.
- The SUV was equipped with “12 standard Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) features, the most complete standard ADAS suite in the sector, and available segment-exclusive Blind-Spot View Monitor,” according to a claim made by Kia. Although Kia did not list all 12, the highlights included autobraking, blind-spot monitoring and autobraking, rear cross-traffic autobraking, parking distance alerts, lane centering, automatic high beams, and alerts to drivers who the vehicle’s movement may cause them to perceive as being potentially inattentive.
How long is the Kia Sedona’s lifespan?
With no significant issues, the Kia Sedona can last up to 250,000 kilometers. If you drive 15,000 miles per year, that’s at least 16 years. Most Sedonas would reach this mileage or perhaps more with good maintenance and gentle use.
What distinguishes a Kia Sedona from a Kia Carnival?
Compared to the Sedona, the Kia Carnival has a marginally higher price range. On the other hand, its extensive onboard equipment and more potent engine make it well worth the price.
- Price range for the 2022 Kia Carnival: $36,460 to $50,260, 5 models
- Price range for the 2021 Kia Sedona: $34,205 to $44,705, 4 variations
In terms of engines, the 2022 Kia Carnival defeats the Sedona thanks to its 3.5 L V6 engine’s 290 horsepower. That outperforms the 276 horsepower, 3.3 L V6 engine of its predecessor. Their combined towing capacities, which are 3500 pounds for both models, are unchanged.
The Carnival nevertheless offers higher fuel economy than the Sedona despite having greater power, with city/highway ratings of 12.0/8.9 L/100 km compared to 12.7/10.0 for the Sedona.
Although the size of their exteriors is quite comparable, the Carnival once again has the advantage. The Carnival’s load volume, which varies from 1,139 to 4,110 L depending on whether the rear seats are folded down or not, is its strongest asset. This measurement for the Sedona spans from 960 to 4,022 L.