YearToAvoid

2009 Kia Sedona Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#9 most-complained of 17 Sedona years

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

The 2009 Kia Sedona has 48 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 50 out of 100 — #9 highest of 17 Sedona model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (15 complaints, 31% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes, 2 fires, and 5 injuries.

Complaints
48
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
3 / 2
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18
16 city / 23 hwy

Top 2009 Kia Sedona problems

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

  1. Engine15 (31%)
  2. Brakes14 (29%)
  3. Electrical System14 (29%)
  4. Other7 (15%)
  5. Structure & Body5 (10%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (10%)
  7. Airbags3 (6%)
  8. Steering3 (6%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain2 (4%)
  10. Fuel System1 (2%)
2009 Kia Sedona complaints: complaints filed per month6Jun 2009Dec 2010Jun 2012Sep 2014Apr 2017Dec 2018Feb 2020
70 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2009 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2010 (6).

2009 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 2009 Kia Sedona →

2009 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.

2009 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
2007Avoid88157618
2008Caution69170518
2009Caution5048518
2010Good2532519
2011Good3865621

All Kia Sedona years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Kia Sedona a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Kia Sedona ranks #9 of 17 among Sedona model years (Complaint Index 50/100, verdict: Caution). It has 48 complaints and 5 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Kia Sedona?
The most reported problem areas are engine (15 complaints), brakes (14 complaints), and electrical system (14 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 45,712 miles.
Does the 2009 Kia Sedona have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2009 Kia Sedona, most recently reported 2020, covering brakes, suspension, wheels & tires, structure & body, and electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Kia Sedona?
EPA rates the 2009 Kia Sedona at 18 MPG combined (16 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,600. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.