Best and worst Kia Sedona years — which to avoid

Before the introduction of the Kia Carnival, the Sedona was one of the most reliable and practical minivans on the market. For someone on the used car market, the Sedona makes a more than decent everyday ride, but our team wanted to give you a heads-up on the worst Kia Sedona years to avoid since there are reports on some pretty bad models.

We’ll try to give you a complete breakdown of all the problematic model years based on complaint records on driving safety organizations with authority, real-life driving impressions left by fellow owners, and some issues that persisted throughout the years.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology.

How we rated the best and worst Kia Sedona years

To properly evaluate the best and worst Kia Sedona years, our team mainly used data from prominent automotive agencies like NHTSA and IIHS. We were able to compile a list of the common problem reports, and safety ratings this way as a foundation for our research.

Along with those, we also listened to what drivers and previous Kia Sedona owners had to say through their reviews and ratings left on Edmunds, KBB, and Consumer Reports among other car review sites. After detailed checkups, here’s what we were left with as the best and worst model years:

Most common Kia Sedona problems

Before we get into the main issues that the Kia Sedona had as a model, it’s important to know that it’s overall a rather reliable car. It’s perfectly normal for a car that has been in production for over 20 years to come with a few common problems. Still, it’s not something that would cause engine rebuilds or transmission failures, and that’s a good sign.

There were some performance-related issues with some Kia Sedona model years, but these were mostly related to the crankshaft position sensor. The failure of this sensor could lead to a jerking motion while driving and a sudden power loss, and replacing the sensor usually fixes the power supply, so we’ll explain each of the common problems in detail.

1. Engine stalling and power loss

One of the most troublesome issues that you may experience with the Sedona is a sudden lack of acceleration and even engine stalling. As mentioned, it could be due to a bad crankshaft position sensor that measures the rotation of the crankshaft and submits information to the engine control unit. In other scenarios, it also happened due to burnt-out oil within the engine.

If the information isn’t correct, the engine timing could be off, therefore leading to poor performance and power loss. Also, some drivers experienced odd startup noises or rough idling, and the problems seemed to be in the wrong oil level readings on the dashboard. Luckily, this issue was mostly caused by the failed sensor, instead of a true oil leak.

2. Paint and rust issues

While it’s not a major issue that could cause problems for drivers, the second-generation Kia Sedona had a few problems with the paint. It seems that the paint coat didn’t last very long, and there were some peeling issues and even rust forming on the hood and around the door area.

These issues were the most prominent for the 2005 and 2006 model year of Sedona. Of course, it doesn’t affect the driveability, but it could turn into a serious issue if the paint coat needs to be re-applied for aesthetics. Also, other issues about the car’s construction include a faulty hood latch that sometimes left the hood open even though drivers tried closing it, as well as faulty door handles.

3. Transmission column shift

One of the most prominent issues with the Sedona in several model years was the automatic transmission lever and linkage problem. It sometimes caused the shift lever to fall out of place, and the malfunctioning locking mechanism caused the shifter to fall out of the park mode and cause a rollaway risk.

There was an official recall regarding this issue and Kia managed to fix the problem on most of the 2016 model year Sedona vehicles.

4. Electrical and wiring issues

Finally, there were some electric issues that sometimes even caused seized A/C compressors and problems with the connections. One of the most prominent electric issues was the problem with a malfunctioning alternator that sometimes even represented a fire hazard.

Luckily, there was also a recall by Kia regarding these electric issues and poorly tightened battery terminal connections for the 2020 model.

Worst Kia Sedona years to avoid

The most serious problems with Kia Sedona vehicles included safety concerns such as a fire hazard issue and the faulty transmission column shift. However, these issues were mostly sorted out with the mentioned recalls and the rest of the problems are easily solved by replacing the faulty sensors and wiring harnesses.

Still, some model years are more problematic than others, so your main question probably is – what are the worst Kia Sedona years? The worst Kia Sedona years are 2006 and 2015, but here’s a full list of the years you may want to avoid:

• 2002
• 2003
• 2005
• 2006
• 2012
• 2016
• 2020

We’ll also take a closer look at these through the Sedona generations and explain what went wrong for each.

First-generation Kia Sedona (2002-2003 model years)

While the first production year of any model is often among the most problematic, the issues with first-generation Sedona only started in 2002. After the inception of the model in 1998, Kia didn’t face many driver complaints until the 2002 and 2003 models.

These two were quite problematic due to fire hazard concerns and poor engine performance caused by the malfunctioning sensors. On top of that, the first-generation Sedona mostly requires costly repairs to these issues, especially considering the dropping price of the model. So, it’s best to go with the 2004 model year or the first few production years of the Sedona.

Second-generation Kia Sedona (2005-2006 and 2012 model years)

The second generation of Kia Sedona was overall reliable with only a few problematic model years from 2005 to 2013. Most notably, drivers have expressed worries about the fire hazard caused by the wires that spread under the driver’s seat.

On top of that, there were reported issues with the poor seatbelt assembly, and this one represented a major safety concern. Namely, seatbelts didn’t offer enough restraint power in case of a collision, causing a potentially dangerous situation. After the 2005 and 2006 model years, there was the 2012 model year with poor safety ratings from the NHTSA and even worse ratings from drivers.

Third-generation Kia Sedona (2016 model year)

When it comes to the third generation of the popular minivan, there weren’t many reported issues except for the 2016 model year. This model year suffered from electrical issues the most, and some of these represented safety hazards while driving.

The headlight assembly was prone to failure and the blinker lights didn’t operate properly, which was a problem that’s difficult to notice if you are behind the steering wheel. There were also numerous recalls by Kia including the one for replacing the wiring harnesses for the occupant detection system and turn signal malfunctions.

Fourth-generation Kia Sedona (2020 model year)

The fourth generation Kia Sedona started its production in 2020 as the Kia Carnival, but the car was still known as the Sedona on some markets. The starting production year had a fair share of issues that resulted in official recalls regarding poor battery connections and corroded battery terminals.

What are the best Kia Sedona years to buy?

If serviced correctly, Kia Sedona is a minivan that will serve you great both for everyday driving and for situations that require a vehicle with a slightly higher load capacity. However, you can reduce the risk even more by avoiding the mentioned model years, and going with the recommended production years such as the following:

• 1998
• 1999
• 2000
• 2001
• 2004
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2021
• 2022

The first-generation Kia Sedona didn’t have many issues in the first four production years, so you won’t have to worry about fire hazards and poor performance issues by going with a 1998 to 2001 model. The second generation was among the most reliable as long as you avoid the 2005 to 2006 model years, and problems with the safety hazards and wiring for the 2012 model have been solved through recalls later on.

For the same reasons, it’s best to go with the 2017 or 2018 model from the third generation and avoid the 2016 model year.

2001 Kia Sedona

For the early first-gen Sedona models, we’ve heard a lot of complaints about engine issues and overheating. So, the best option to go with is the 2001 Sedona which didn’t have such issues and was remarkably reliable based on driver ratings and NHTSA reports.

There were no major complaints filed to the driving safety organization, and the only few issues that you might experience with this one are paint peeling and electrical system faults.

2017 Kia Sedona

As the best-rated modern model, the 2017 Kia Sedona makes a perfect choice for those who wish to avoid the problems that affect the previous 2016 model. With engine and transmission issues being revised and fixed, this one is guaranteed to give drivers the best possible driving experience.

We have to say there were some reports of minor electrical issues, but nothing too complicated to fix as the 2016 model had with A/C heater and engine issues.

Is Kia Sedona worth buying?

If you are looking for the general answer, yes – Kia Sedona is a reliable minivan that’s worth buying on the used car market. There weren’t many major problems with the car in the current generation, also known as Kia Carnival, and most of the previous-gen issues were sorted out through recalls.

So, it’s important to see if your car has gone through the recall and still try to avoid the 2002-2003, 2005-2006, and 2012 model years if possible.

If you’re looking for your next family van, our guides like Honda Odyssey years to avoid, Toyota Sienna years to avoid, or Dodge Caravan years to avoid highlight the must-have model years and the ones to skip.