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2004 Kia Sedona Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2004 Kia Sedona has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Wheel bearing failure and recall parts backorder.” Kia uses Hyundai Motor Group's powertrains, so service intervals mirror Hyundai's. Kia Promise covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance. Kia owners with the Theta II 2.0L/2.4L (Optima, Sorento, Sportage 2011-2019) should adhere strictly to oil intervals due to known oil-consumption issues in Kia TSBs.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2004 Kia Sedona.

Reported to NHTSA

Wheel bearing failure and recall parts backorder

WHEELS

31 NHTSA complaints · 2005-07 → 2020-03

“I HAD THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS REPLACED AT 65,000 MILES ON MY 2004 KIA SEDONA UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO PLAY IN THE HUB. LAST MONTH DURING A BRAKE INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY ARE BAD AGAIN THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 106,000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10319669
“CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AROUND 6-15-05 CONCERNING ALLOY WHEELS. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HER THE BEST THEY COULD DO WAS PUT HER ON A WAITING LIST”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10129081
“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, HE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE HUB AND THE BEARING WAS MISSING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10366508

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake grinding noise and premature rotor and pad wear

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

35 NHTSA complaints · 2005-03 → 2013-08

“BEFORE 10,000 MILES, THE FRONT WOULD VIBRATE WHEN BRAKING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR GOING DOWN STEEP HILLS. I HAD THE ROTORS TURNED BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. WITHIN 3 MONTHS, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AGAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10146799
“AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT BRAKES MADE A SCREECHING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE WORN AND INSTALLED NEW PADS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10168072
“I, LIKE OTHERS ON THIS SITE, HAVE TAKEN MY KIA TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKES ISSUES. GRINDING AND STUTTERING WHILE BRAKING. KIA HAS "CORRECTED" THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES, AND ALL THREE TIMES HAVE TOLD ME IT WAS RESOLVED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10240490

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Uncommanded acceleration and throttle cable failure

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

11 NHTSA complaints · 2005-03 → 2014-09

“DRIVING IN MOUNTAINS IN SOUTHWEST IN OCTOBER USING CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MPH. THE CRUISE WAS DISENGAGED BY THE DRIVER AS A TURN APPROACHED. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FULLY. BRAKES DID NOT SLOW IT AND THEY BECAME UNRESPONSIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10478695
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A CAR WASH, SHE SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE THEN TRAVELED OVER A CURB BEFORE CRASHING INTO A TREE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10493816
“WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL NOT GO DOWN. VEHICLE HAS TO WARM UP BEFORE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL OPERATE NORMALLY. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10109560

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering rack-and-pinion and intermediate shaft binding

STEERING

27 NHTSA complaints · 2008-04 → 2019-06

“MY 2004 KIA SEDONA STEERING COLUMN DISINTEGRATED CAUSING STEERING FAILURE. IT HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AT MY COST”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10350418
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SEDONA EX. SHE HAD TO EXERT GREAT FORCE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10285487
“THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING SHAFT U-JOINT FAILURE (BADLY CORRODED) CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE INTO THE BRIDGE ON HER DRIVEWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10223568

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stalling, overheating and internal sludge buildup

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

20 NHTSA complaints · 2005-02 → 2017-06

“MY 2004 KIA SEDONA HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT AND IS IN THE 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER PART OF THE WARRANTY. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO ALBERT KIA. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE CAR HAD A BLOWN ENGINE AND THAT IT WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10185752
“I OWN A 2004 KIA SEDONA 3.5L THAT I PURCHASED ON 08-31-2010 WITH 53638 MILES ON IT. ON 01-25-2011 AS I WAS DRIVING I HEARD A RATTLING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I STOPPED TO OPEN THE HOOD AND CONFIRM THAT IT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE, IT WAS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10379443
“THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE ENGINE SHORT BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE ISSUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10176080

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine compartment and wiring harness fires

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

13 NHTSA complaints · 2005-07 → 2021-10

“UPON RETURNING HOME AND PARKING MY VAN AFTER RUNNING AN ERRAND OF ABOUT 5 MILES, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, RAN TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITHIN 60 (SIXTY) SECONDS AFTER SEEING THE SMOKE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10716372
“I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHEN MY 04 KIA SEDONA LX STARTED SMOKING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE LOCAL AREA. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT IT COULD BE MY VAN AND PULLED OVER AND POPPED THE HOOD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10176180
“AFTER PARKING VAN AFTER A SHORT TRIP OF APPROXIMATELY 2 TENTHS OF A MILE THE VAN WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION AND DOORS WERE LOCKED, FOUR HOURES LATER SOMEONE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VAN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10129485

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment during a crash

AIR BAGS

9 NHTSA complaints · 2005-01 → 2017-06

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DEER BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10559674
“MY WIFE HAD A FRONTAL CRASH AT 35-40 MPH. INTO THE SIDE OF A BOX TRUCK. NEITHER PASSENGER NOR DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE HOOD HAD ALSO FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE AND LANDED MORE THAN 20 FEET AWAY AFTER BEING DEFLECTED OFF HER WINDSHIELD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10172111
“HIT SOME BLACK ICE AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SPIN, THEN ROLLED. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10106210

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 3,750 mi

Severe service: every 3,750 miles. Normal: 7,500 miles. Theta II 2.0L/2.4L on Optima, Sorento, Sportage (2011-2019): full synthetic only, never extend.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Telluride and Sorento AWD owners benefit from rotation every 5,000 miles to prevent uneven wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads and rotors every 7,500 miles. Forte and Soul front pads typically last 40,000-55,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Required for ABS and ESC pump longevity.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Severe or dusty conditions: 15,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Severe service: every 30,000 miles. Normal: 60,000 miles. Use Kia SP-IV — same as Hyundai.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped plugs rated 105,000 miles on most Kia engines. 1.6T (Forte GT, Soul Turbo): 60,000 miles. 3.5L Lambda II V6 (Telluride, Sorento): 105,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 30,000 mi

Kia Long-Life Coolant (pink, same as Hyundai): first change at 60,000 miles, then every 30,000. Do not mix with green or orange coolant.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD)

Every 60,000 mi

On AWD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Optima, Forte, and Sportage; behind the dashboard panel on Telluride.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

63 crashes 1990–2024

How the 63 occupant deaths break down

42

driver deaths

21

passenger deaths

63

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2004 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

12

complaints mentioning a crash

16

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2004 Kia Sedona reflects Kia's published service intervals and the Service Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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