2002 Kia Sedona: won't start

Filed Feb 1, 2011 · Electrical · 65,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 kia sedona. The contact stated that on an intermittent basis the engine warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who informed her that there was a loose wire. The vehicle was repaired; however, it currently will not start and she noticed that the heating warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that all of the wires had melted, but they were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired again. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000. The current mileage was approximately 73,000.

Filed Aug 29, 2005 · Electrical · FL

I had my battery replaced in march 2003 because the car would not start. August 22nd my check engine light and brake light came on. I called the service department and they said could be the alternator. I made an appointment for the next day at 9:00a.m. When I was driving home from school I noticed my ABS light was on. I parked it in drive way. It would not start the next morning so my husband jumped started it. I drove my daughter to school and my car starting beeping, hesitating, airbag light came on plus all the other ones from the day before. I dropped my daughter at school and about a block down the road in just died with my son and I in the car. I noticed a vapor fume coming out of the vents by the windshield when it died. I got my son and I out of the car and called roadside assistance. The service department said I need a new alternator and battery. I got the alternator covered and they put a new battery in.

Filed Jan 6, 2005 · Airbags, Electrical · 58,250 miles · NY

Re:kia sedona minivan [xxx] with about 58,300 miles. No prior problems of any kind. St complaint: on evening of friday, 12/31/04, a clunking/grinding sound from right side of my kia sedona at about 58,000 miles grabbed and seized the right axle. On 1/1/05 [sat] I drove car to local srvce cntr. On 1/3/05 [monday] srvc cntr diagnosed burnt/broken right axle wheel bearings. Altho I told srvce cntr to do brake service on all 4 wheels but not wheel bearings, as I wanted that work to be done by my kia dealership - my local station replaced brake pads & rims and honed rotors and replaced front right axle wheel bearings. Tow service to kia dealership was cancelled by me as a result. 2nd complaint: on wed, 1/5/05, I drove daughter at 6:45 a.m. From bronx to her laguardia hs in manhattan. Noticed that car radio and head lights flicked on & off while driving for minutes at a time. Later in day, I drove to brooklyn's 99 street cleaners to pick up my military field coat at 3:20 p.m. Minivan parked but engine would not turn over & start. Used auxiliary battery pack [abp] to start engine and entered bqexpressway. Crossing brooklyn bridge to manhattan, engine died. Used abp to start engine and entered fdr drive up manhattan to home. Car engine died 3 more times. After 4 stalls and re-starts with abp, I kept abp connected to vehicle battery and, with all lights off in darkness from 4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m., in slow rush hour traffic, the abp kept car alive till arrival at local srvce cntr. All fuses checked okay while car battery recharged. Diagnosis made that alternator and/or regulator not working. Have phoned kia tow service for pick up to dealership. Vehicle has about 58,300 miles on it. Nb: I am very satisifed with kia customer service and kia tow service, whom I telephoned on 1/3/05 [and then cancelled tow] and today on 1/6/05. *ak updated 07/24/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Feb 17, 2004 · Brakes, Electrical · 3,300 miles · AZ · fire

On july 4, 2002 we purchased a 2002 kia sedona minivan. Immediately after driving out of the dealership we parked at a store, when we returned to the vehicle it would not start. We called the dealership and they sent out a tow truck. The van was towed to the dealership and the service adviser indicated that they had numerous complaints regarding a driver seat relay that was causing the batteries to go out on this year, make and model of vehicle. He indicated that they were changing all relays. They replaced with new battery and new relay on the van. The van continued to give us problems, the whole electrical system (stereo, windows, door locks) would go off and on as we were driving. If we would stop vehicle, the vehicle would not start. We had numerous jump starts. We took the vehicle in approx. 4 or 5 times to the dealership with complaints regarding problems, there was black smoke coming out of the exhaust when we would start the vehicle. Brakes would squeal when applied. Van was terribly hot under the car and it would blow out the heat and almost burn us. I asked the service adviser if they could exchange the van for another one and he indicated that they had to have a continuous report of repairs in order to turn it in as a "lemon". We were traveling in mexico for business and pleasure when our van started on fire on the highway and other autos noticed and waved us down to stop. We noticed, pulled off the road safely and all 6 adult passengers were able to get out safely and run away from the vehicle as it started exploding. The fire came from all underneath of the van. The mexican federal highway police came to where the van was and took a report of the incident. The van burnt down to a skeleton. I reported the incident to the kia customer service, they denied our claim without no explanation. No one ever called to find out the facts or gather information. Obviously, they did not even look at their own service repair tickets.

Filed Oct 25, 2002 · Electrical · GA

The consumer states that the vehicle stalls. On one occasion the vehicle was moved in the street with traffic flow, and the vehicle shut down. A vehicle had continued moving and slightly scraped the rear of the consumer's vehicle. The engine light had come on. The vehicle was taken to a shop for repairs and after installing a new battery, the alternator doesn't crank.