There are 4 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2008 Kia Sedonain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Van caught fire in the engine compartment burned the firewall
WHILE DRIVING IN CONSTRUCTION (55MPH) GOING TO WORK IN MORNING RUSH, THE ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS LOSS OF ACCELERATION. I TURNED THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AND COASTED TO A STOP, BUT THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. CARS STARTED SWERVING AROUND ME AND ONE CAR ALMOST HIT A DIVIDER WALL. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED 3 TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET GOING AGAIN. IT HAPPENED TWICE AGAIN WITHIN A 2 MILE DISTANCE ALL IN THE CONSTRUCTION AREA. RESEARCH SHOWED THE TPS IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. SOMEBODY COULD BE KILLED. *TR
WE RENTED A 2008 KIA SEDONA VAN WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE AND IT LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 65-70MPH. THE ENGINE DID NOT DIE, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE AND ESC WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THERE WAS NO POWER BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE TRANSAXLE. ON THE FIRST VAN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING ONLY 50 MILES, THE REPLACEMENT VAN WAS DRIVEN 1,286 BEFORE IT TOO DID THE SAME THING. WE INFORMED ADVANTAGE CAR RENTAL THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM WITH THAT MAKE AND MODEL. *TR
KIA SEDONA( A DOLLAR RENTAL VEHICLE) PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IN THE DRIVEWAY ROLLED BACKWARDS WHEN IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND KEY REMOVED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026