Is the 2005 Kia Sedona a bad year?
185 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sedona years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2005 Kia Sedona are in line with other Sedona years. Brakes 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 2005 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 9,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 81 (44%) | 4k–20k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 23 (12%) | 24k–102k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 22 (12%) | 42k–132k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 16 (9%) | 53k–108k miles · ahead | — |
| Steering | 14 (8%) | 60k–110k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Suspension | 14 (8%) | 71k–136k miles · ahead | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Wheels | 13 (7%) | 18k–81k miles · ahead | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Speed control | 11 (6%) | 25k–92k miles · ahead | — |
| Latches and locks | 6 (3%) | 12k–77k miles · ahead | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 5 (3%) | 13k–86k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Tires | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 6 (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 9,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 185 complaints: 20 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 11 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Apr 2023.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
On june 20th I received a call from my wife that our van had overheated and shut it self off in the intersection, (Luckily there was not much traffic.) when I arrived I found the van out of coolant.
I was driving down the road when the clear road turned into black ice going around a corner, I then got pulled into snow and then side swiped a telephone pole that sent me into a boulder bigger than my car.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 9,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2005 Kia Sedona: 2
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.
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 2005 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
Neighbouring years
2004 Sedona: 176 complaints, keep it · 2006 Sedona: 385 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 2005 Kia Sedona a bad year?
185 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sedona years. At 9,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Kia Sedona?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (81), engine (23), electrical system (22), air bags (16), steering (14).
How many recalls does the 2005 Kia Sedona have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Speed control (NHTSA 05V-329), Wheels (NHTSA 05V-232). 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.