2003 Kia Sedona: seat belt won't latch or retract

Filed Mar 24, 2014 · Airbags, Seat belts · 136,000 miles · OR

I bought a used 2003 kia sedona with 136000 miles. The day after purchasing the vehicle, the SRS indicator light started staying lit on the dash. My mechanic found that the code was b1513, which indicated a problem with the passenger seat belt buckle (female end). They ordered that part new from kia and replaced it (for a cost of $238). The indicator light did not display for about three weeks when it went on again. This time, the codes were b1511 and b1513, which indicates problems with both the diver and passenger buckles. My mechanic believes it is a wiring issue, and at this point we are not replacing the seatbelts, because I have no way of knowing that it would really resolve the issue. The cost to replace the SRS wiring is prohibitive (over $1000). I feel very unsafe in this vehicle, as no one can say for sure that my airbags will still deploy in case of an accident. It is very disappointing because the vehicle still drives very well. Kia should be more proactive about replacing/repairing faulty SRS components, even in older vehicles.

Filed Aug 1, 2012 · Seat belts · 130,000 miles · WI

I have a 2003 kia sedona and my 8 year old daughter went to buckle her seat belt, 2nd row drivers side, and the buckle part came off the seat. Upon inspection I found that the buckle was broke in the middle of the steel cable that holds the buckle to the seat, there is the buckle, cable, then bolts that hold the buckle to the base of the seat . I contacted kia and was immediately told that it would be fixed at my expense since it was out of warranty. I was told that there were no recalls and there would be nothing they could or would do. I took the van to my dealer and they had never seen anything like it, they spoke to their district manager and were told the same thing, my expense. After the dealer visit I inspected the rest of the buckles only to find that the other 2nd row seat belt is wearing through the steel cable and the front passenger belt is broke through the wires and part of the steel cable. Kia called this morning to inform me that they had spoke with the district manager and was told that the seat belt buckle failed due to wear and tear. The only people to look at the buckle were the service tech's and they just looked at, the manager never saw the buckle. I have an estimate of $401.64 for the repairs. I am the only owner and purchased the vehicle new, in november 2003, after my twins were 3 months old. I also had a daughter at the time that was 6. The only people to sit in those seats are children, now 9 and 15. The car seats, when needed, were secured with the tethers. Is there anything that I can do? Kia is being very short with me and don't seem to want to help me other than telling me there is no warranty.

Filed Sep 20, 2011 · Seat belts · 178,000 miles · GA

Seat belts (female part) the piece that you snap the seat belt into, broke totally off all the way. Not 1 but 2 seat belts in my van has done this. And not only that the door handles broke off on the outside and inside. I've called kia to report these problems and they want me to pay for all this. Seems like the last thing that should brake (shouldn't brake at all!) is the seat belts! The door handles is one thing but the seat belts!

Filed Apr 7, 2009 · Airbags · 98,000 miles · AZ

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sedona. While driving at an unknown speed, the air bag indicator illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they changed the seat belt buckles on the driver and passenger seats. There was an inner connection with the circuits, which caused the air bag indicator to illuminate. The failure mileage was 98,000. Updated 05/06/09. *lj updated 05/07/09.

Filed Feb 5, 2009 · Seat belts · 123,632 miles · SC

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sedona. While driving various speeds, the contact noticed that the seat belt came apart and was not properly securing her child seat. The clip that enters the latch on the seat belt was the part that failed. She also noticed that the other seat belts in her vehicle were beginning to fail in the same manner. The dealer has not been notified. The failure mileage was 123,632. Updated 03/12/09. *lj the seat belt clip that held the seat belt when latched, broke off. It was the part that was attached to the actual seat. The inside wires were frayed. Updated 03/16/09.

Filed Dec 16, 2008 · Seat belts · 61,000 miles · IL

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sedona. The contact noticed that her child safety seat would inappropriately move within the driver's side middle row seat when it was restrained by the safety belt. The seat belt would not retract properly, which left the child vulnerable to serious injury in the event of a crash. She took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that she would have to replace the entire seat belt unit. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 61,000 and current mileage was 64,000.

Filed Aug 20, 2005 · Seat belts · 28,750 miles · NC

Third time I am having my seat belt buckle replaced due to airbag lamp being on. They just keep replacing faulty part with another faulty part, this third time, only took two days for light to come back on. I have also been told in the meantime my airbags are inactive. This problem needs to be addressed and recalled, not just replaced. I do not feel safe.

Filed Jul 16, 2005 · Brakes · MD

We've had many problems w/ kia sedona. The biggest has been brakes/rotors. We noticed a loud grinding noise & vibration not even a year after we got it, especially when going downhill. Contacted dealer & they replaced the rotors at 13,000 miles. Not even 4,000 miles later they were back in the same condition. Took the van to a brake service center (not the dealer) to have the brake pads changed & was told the rotors were warped. I explained to the man what we had been through & he felt strongly that it was a defect. Contacted our dealer again and took the van in. Was not even there 10 minutes, they did not want to hear it! Would not do anything for us! So far, we are told we can only purchase rotors directly from the manuf. & so far, the rotors that have been on this van from the manuf. Have not been good! I've talked to several other kia sedona owners & they have expressed the same problem with their vehicle!! We are sorry for trying a kia! The airbag light came on approx. 3 wks ago and stays on all the time that the van is on! I took it in for service and was told there's a defect in the passenger side seat belt buckle but they had none in stock so had to order it. Was told that the airbag probably would not deploy if we're in an accident but they did not seem to mind letting us drive around like that for an undetermined amount of time. Said they would send a card in the mail when they get the part in! The passenger's side window started not working! About every other day it would just stop! I told the service dept about this at the same time I took the van in for the airbag light & was told, well its not doing it right now so we can't do anything about it! The window is still giving us problems but about every day now instead of every other! We've tried to trade this vehicle in a few times & we can only get about half of what we owe on it! We were even told about a week ago that there are major problems with the clearcoat on it!

Filed Jul 13, 2005 · Seat belts · 60,162 miles · MD

Dt on july 12th, 2005 the seat belt completely broke, it broke from the two metal prongs. Look like a mesh of wires that go down into the seat. When the consumer slammed on the brakes, her 5 yr hit the back of the seat which was on the rear drivers side. The other seats belts are all the same except for the rear center. The consumer contacted kia they are replacing the seat belt, however, they are not alarming the public.