YearToAvoid

2008 Kia Sedona Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

69/100

#6 most-complained of 17 Sedona years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Kia Sedona has a Complaint Index of 69, ranking 6th worst among 17 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 170 complaints, 5 recalls, and 10 reported fires, with Electrical System issues the top problem area at 30% of complaints.

Complaints
170
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
4 / 10
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18
16 city / 23 hwy

Top 2008 Kia Sedona problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System51 (30%)
  2. Engine50 (29%)
  3. Structure & Body39 (23%)
  4. Brakes33 (19%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (10%)
  6. Other14 (8%)
  7. Airbags8 (5%)
  8. Fuel System7 (4%)
  9. Steering4 (2%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain4 (2%)

What owners report

  • Electrical wiring, headlight, or blower motor faults have led to fires starting under the hood, in the dashboard, or at rear light assemblies.
  • Owners describe fires breaking out hours after the vehicle was parked and turned off, with no clear trigger identified.
  • Front lower control arms have rusted and fractured, causing loss of steering control while cornering.
  • Engine failures have occurred without warning while driving, including one case where the vehicle crashed into another car.
  • ABS warning lights have illuminated alongside burning smells and smoke from under the hood, traced to a faulty fan module.
  • A vehicle rolled backward while parked and shifted into park, with the ignition off and key removed.
2008 Kia Sedona complaints: complaints filed per quarter262008 Q22010 Q32012 Q22014 Q22016 Q22018 Q32020 Q32023 Q1
231 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q2 to 2026 Q1; peak 2010 Q1 (26).

2008 Kia Sedona recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V088000Feb 14, 2020Brakes228,829 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Sedona and 2007-2009 Sorento vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.

    Risk: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the vehicle is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.

    Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the main junction box to prevent power from being directed to the HECU when the vehicle's ignition switch is turned off, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC186.

  2. NHTSA 16V387000Jun 1, 2016Suspension, Wheels & Tires97,884 vehicles

    Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm

    Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through August 14, 2012 and originally sold in, or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may break due to corrosion from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

    Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace the front lower control arms on 2006-2007 models. 2008-2012 models will either have their front lower control arms replaced or additional anti-corrosion coating will be applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC133.

  3. NHTSA 16V389000Jun 1, 2016Structure & Body219,800 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

    Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through April 04, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

    Risk: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

    Remedy: Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace the secondary hood latch or clean and lubricate the latch, depending on the vehicle's location and the condition of the latch. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall number is SC134.

See all 5 recalls for the 2008 Kia Sedona →

2008 Kia Sedona fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Sedona years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Avoid94385718
2007Avoid88157618
2008Caution69170518
2009Caution5048518
2010Good2532519

All Kia Sedona years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Kia Sedona reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2008 Sedona a Complaint Index of 69 and a Caution verdict, ranking 6th worst out of 17 model years for this model. Electrical System problems make up 30% of its 170 complaints.
Does the 2008 Kia Sedona have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering Brakes, Suspension, Structure & Body, and Electrical System components, including an ABS module moisture issue and a secondary hood latch problem.
What is the biggest problem with the 2008 Kia Sedona?
Electrical System issues are the top problem area, accounting for 51 of 170 complaints (30%) and 7 of the model year's 10 reported fires, with a median failure mileage of 77,500 miles.
How does the 2008 Sedona compare to other Sedona years?
The 2008 model's Complaint Index of 69 is worse than 2009 (50), 2010 (25), and 2014 (19), but better than 2006 (94) and 2016 (100), which rank as Avoid years.
Are there fire risks with the 2008 Kia Sedona?
NHTSA complaints report 10 fires for this model year, several linked to electrical wiring, headlight circuits, and blower motor faults.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.