Is the 2003 Kia Sedona a bad year?
163 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sedona years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2003 Kia Sedona are in line with other Sedona years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2003 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 56,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 29 (18%) | 26k–108k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 25 (15%) | 36k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 21 (13%) | 15k–78k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 13 (8%) | 15k–69k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 12 (7%) | 35k–88k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 7 (4%) | 18k–82k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Brakes | 26 (16%) | 6k–48k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 11 (7%) | 7k–36k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seats | 9 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 9 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (3%) | 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 56,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 163 complaints: 13 mention a crash · 21 mention a fire · 14 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Dec 2022.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2003 Kia Sedona: 4
On certain Mini vans, freezing conditions can cause water on the throttle cable to freeze during normal operation. Resistance to movement of the throttle cable can occur when the driver lifts their foot off of the gas pedal. This can cause the cable to stick, thus preventing the engine from returning to idle and causing the vehicle to maintain speed or accelerate. Such an event can occur without warning and could cause a crash.
On certain Mini vans equipped with alloy wheels, moisture can accumulate around the rear hub caps causing damage to the outer wheel bearing. Wheel bearing failure may occur without warning which could result in a crash.
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, there was a programming error in the anti-lock braking system (ABS) electronic control module logic. The programming error could cause reduced braking force at speeds below 25 MPH, which could result in increased stopping distances. Such increased stopping distances could result in a crash.
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 2003 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: 4
Steering intermediate shaft binding
Steering binding
Electrical fire
Throttle cable binding
Neighbouring years
2002 Sedona: 198 complaints, keep it · 2004 Sedona: 176 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 2003 Kia Sedona a bad year?
163 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sedona years. At 56,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Kia Sedona?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (29), air bags (25), engine (21), speed control (13), seat belts (12).
How many recalls does the 2003 Kia Sedona have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Speed control (NHTSA 05V-329), Wheels (NHTSA 05V-232), Speed control (NHTSA 05V-013), Brakes (NHTSA 03V-158). 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.