Which Years Of Used Kia Sedonas Are Most Reliable?
The Kia Sedona premiered in 1998 as a quality minivan option from the Kia brand. It’s well-known for its sleek appearance and abundance of room for passengers and luggage inside. If you’re interested in purchasing a used version of this vehicle, you might wonder - what is the most reliable Kia Sedona year?
When investing in a minivan, it’s helpful to get the most out of your expenses. After all, purchasing a minivan usually comes with the primary responsibility of dragging kids to games and recitals. Read on to learn about the most reliable Kia Sedona year options, the worst for your wallet, the largest problems, and anything else you should understand before buying.
THE KIA SEDONA YEARS TO AVOID
While not a super-advanced vehicle, most Sedona’s were credited with limited flaws and could last up to 250,000 miles with general maintenance and good upkeep. Here are the Kia Sedona years to avoid.
Most Reliable Years For The Sedona
People enjoy the room offered in the Kia Sedona, allowing driving to shift around town with plenty of space for passengers and cargo. If you’re interested in a Sedona, it might seem overwhelming to pick out a reliable selection with twenty years on the market. Luckily, we have you covered with our top choices.
Those seeking the most reliable Kia Sedona year will be satisfied by selecting one of these options:
- 2008 Kia Sedona
- 2009 Kia Sedona
- 2014 Kia Sedona
- 2018 Kia Sedona
- 2019 Kia Sedona
- 2020 Kia Sedona
- 2021 Kia Sedona
These will perform well and keep you satisfied behind the wheel of your Kia Sedona.
Kia did a quality job with these selections. They are trustworthy and there are very few issues reported from customers, providing a reliable experience on the road. These options are built solid and come in at a price point that will work for most families and individuals hunting for a minivan.
These options are the best if you want to keep your cost low and value high in your Sedona. However, they don’t speak for the reliability of the brand as a whole.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP
The CoPilot car shopping app is the smartest way to buy a car. Get a curated list of the best cars for sale in your area, as well as notifications if a similar vehicle is listed nearby at a lower price. CoPilot is the smartest way to shop for used cars.
Are Kia Sedonas Generally Reliable?
It’s ideal to know the best years for the Kia Sedona, but it’s also valuable to understand the reliability of the Sedona as a whole. If the Sedona isn’t reliable, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to invest in the vehicle.
The Kia Sedona has a decent reliability rating. According to withclutch.com, the Sedona has a score of 59.2. This number makes it a vehicle with decent reliability and one of the better selections from the Kia brand.
It’s also ideal to have a secondary perspective on the reliability of the product. According to repairpal.com, the Kia Sedona comes in with a score of ⅘, putting it above average for minivans. It comes in first out of eight competing minivans.
The annual repair cost of the Kia Sedona is $495, coming in at almost $200 cheaper than the average minivan repair cost on the market. If there is a necessary repair, there is a 10% chance it will be severe, 2% lower than the average for minivans.
Those behind the wheel of the Kia Sedona report taking it in for unexpected repairs an average of .3 times a year. Again, this score is lower than the average of .4 for similar minivans. Overall, the Kia Sedona is a reliable option for interested drivers who want a Kia minivan.
Which Kia Sedona Years Are The Least Reliable?
The best way to get the maximum bang for your buck is to purchase the most reliable options. To do that, you need to be aware of the least reliable selections to stay away from at all costs. We have some suggestions here.
If you’re looking to make the most out of your investment, stay away from these options:
- 2002 Kia Sedona
- 2003 Kia Sedona
- 2005 Kia Sedona
- 2012 Kia Sedona
- 2016 Kia Sedona
Those looking for the most reliable Kia Sedona year will do well to avoid purchasing these years.
There were tons of customer complaints during these years. A few of the most severe included a low roof strength rating, incorrect rear hazard lights, and headlights turning off in the middle of nowhere. Not only are these issues inconvenient, but they’re also dangerous.
These years have the most issues by far. However, some troubles appear in all Sedona years, good and bad. Let’s talk more about them next.
What Are The Most Common Issues With A Kia Sedona?
Before you purchase a Kia Sedona, one of the best things you can do is check out the customer complaints. These will let you know what issues a typical Sedona sees in its lifetime.
According to breakeryard.com, here are the most common issues with the Kia Sedona:
- Engine Starting Issues: Many Sedona owners face trouble with engine startup. This is often traced back to a faulty immobilizer control module. While replacing the module can be challenging, it’s a necessary fix to resolve the starting problem. New modules are available through various parts suppliers.
- Noisy Air Conditioning: Excessively loud AC operation is a common complaint. The culprits are usually worn idler and tensioner pulleys on the AC alternator belt. Although some drivers learn to live with the noise, replacing these parts is a relatively simple and effective solution.
- Engine Misfires: Cracked ignition coils frequently cause engine misfires in the Sedona. If left unaddressed, this issue can lead to catalytic converter damage. It’s often necessary to replace the entire ignition coil pack, as failure of one coil suggests others may soon follow.
- Transmission Problems: Smooth gear changes can become a challenge for some Sedona models. Drivers might experience unexpected shifts to third gear at highway speeds. The root cause is typically a worn output sensor atop the transmission. While temporarily fixed by cooling the car, replacing the sensor is the proper long-term solution.
- Malfunctioning Turn Signals: Intermittent or non-functioning turn signals are a common annoyance. The problem usually lies with a faulty switch in the selector lever. While it’s possible to replace just the switch, many find it easier and more effective to replace the entire selector lever.
These may cause a sudden trip to the repair shop and extra expenditures.
Whether you buy a reliable or unreliable year, these issues may show up. However, they are most common in unreliable years.
We’ve gone over most items relating to the reliability of the Kia Sedona. Now, it’s time for a vital question - is the Kia Sedona worth it?
THE 10 MOST RELIABLE AMERICAN CARS
Because the car buying experience is so stressful, it’s helpful to go into the dealership with information ahead of time. Therefore, we’ve curated a list of the 10 most reliable American cars so you can approach the process from a place of empowerment.
Is The Kia Sedona Worth It?
Although it isn’t always the best, the Sedona offers excellent value if you buy it used. It’s low-cost and will provide top-notch reliability on the road.
If you decide to invest in the Kia Sedona, you may encounter a few faults. However, they won’t be too much in the best years.
Kia is an excellent brand, and the Sedona is a quality minivan addition to the lineup. It’s a reliable, unique selection.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TINT CAR WINDOWS?
Different tints block different levels of UV light and in the long run can prevent sun damage to your skin and eyes, but how much does it cost to tint car windows? We’ve got the answer.
Final Thoughts
The Kia Sedona is a decent option when considering reliability and is sure to get you and your family through many years of driving. Although there are issues, they are far from too much to handle and won’t cost much to repair.
We hope this information was helpful! It can be a lot to select a reliable used option when there are so many available, but we hope our information was enough to narrow it down to a choice few. The Kia Sedona is a decent selection.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
