2002 Kia Sedona Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Kia Sedona.

< older2003
Complaints
328
Crashes
26
Fires
25
Injuries
37
Fatalities
2
Recalls
0

Worst 2002 Kia Sedona Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#121 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:183,331 mi
Fires:6
#215 complaints

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Avg mileage:35,324 mi
Fires:2
#312 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:89,470 mi
Crash-related:4
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Kia Sedona.

Electrical Faults
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
6
Avg Miles
183,331
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
35,324
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
89,470
Automatic Transmission
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
40,438
Unintended Acceleration
12
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
52,746
Seat Belt Issues
11
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
50,892
Visibility:Windshield
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
23,667
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
19,811
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
56,780
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
23,881
Hydraulic Brakes
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
1,118
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
36,483
Steering Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
66,813
Engine & Cooling
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,983
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
62,634
Seat Belts:Rear/Other
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
46,850
Tire Defects
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
54,806
Electrical System:Wiring
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
56,250
Structure:Body:Door
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
53,446
Engine Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wiring & Fuses
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Kia Sedona. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Kia Sedona Years

2002 Kia Sedona — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2002 Kia Sedona reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2002 Kia Sedona has 328 NHTSA complaints, 26 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 21 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Kia Sedona?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (21 complaints, avg 183,331 mi); Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator (15 complaints, avg 35,324 mi); Airbags (12 complaints, avg 89,470 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Kia Sedona?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 60,474 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Kia Sedona?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Kia Sedona include 26 crash-related reports, 25 fire reports, 37 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Kia Sedona have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Kia Sedona as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Kia Sedona?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Kia Sedona reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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