Is the 2002 Kia Sedona a bad year?
198 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sedona years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2002 Kia Sedona are in line with other Sedona years. Electrical system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 Sedona owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 55,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 50 (25%) | 15k–68k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Seat belts | 28 (14%) | 39k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 24 (12%) | 28k–91k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 19 (10%) | 47k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 27 (14%) | 4k–51k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 18 (9%) | 16k–52k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 21 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 17 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 14 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 13 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 12 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 10 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 10 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 55,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 198 complaints: 17 mention a crash · 13 mention a fire · 11 report an injury.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Aug 2017.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2002 Kia Sedona: 3
On certain Mini vans, during assembly, the throttle cable would twist itself out of position. This can permit the cable to be hung up, which could result in a crash.
On certain passenger vehicles, some of the second and third row seat strikers installed on the vehicle floor pan have been improperly heat treated and could break in a crash. This could result in injuries to occupants of these seats.
Certain Mini vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "Seat belt assemblies." The second and third seat belt buckle anchor bolts do not comply with the standards. In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 9
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Kia Sedona. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable…
Intermittent MIL on with no fault code stored; information about DTC P1330
ECM upgrade with tp sensor replacement-mil on with DTC P2135/P0638
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Steering intermediate shaft binding
Steering binding
Throttle cable binding
Neighbouring years
2003 Sedona: 163 complaints, keep it.
Every Kia Sedona year
2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · All Sedona years side by side
Other Kia models: Kia Amanti · Kia Cadenza · Kia Carnival · Kia EV6 · Kia EV9 · Kia Forte · Kia K5 · Kia Niro · Kia Optima · Kia Optima Hybrid · Kia Rio · Kia Rondo · Kia Seltos · Kia Sephia · Kia Sorento · Kia Soul · Kia Spectra · Kia Sportage · Kia Stinger · Kia Telluride. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2002 Kia Sedona a bad year?
198 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sedona years. At 55,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Kia Sedona?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (50), seat belts (28), engine (24), air bags (19), brakes (27).
How many recalls does the 2002 Kia Sedona have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Speed control (NHTSA 05V-013), Seats (NHTSA 03V-135), Seat belts (NHTSA 03V-017). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.