SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS THAT MAY HAVE WATER INTRUDING INTO THE BEARING AREA THROUGH THE JOINT BETWEEN THE HUBCAP AND HUB AND MAY CONTAMINATE THE GREASE OR DAMAGE THE REAR WHEEL BEARING(S).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Kia Sedona suspension problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 11 suspension complaints filed for the 2005 Kia Sedona, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
REAR WHEEL BEARING TORQUE UPDATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report a cluster of front-end problems that start early and persist. The most common complaint is rapid rotor warping every 2,000–5,000 miles with excessive lateral runout, accompanied by thumping at high speeds and grinding at low speeds. Front brake pads wear fast. Front tires wear excessively—some owners have bought four sets before 25,000 miles—and alignment work provides no lasting fix. Owners cite a creaky, snapping noise over bumps and knocking during acceleration, which they trace to faulty strut mounts.
One owner experienced complete brake failure at highway speed, losing pedal pressure and colliding with a median. A second dealer attempt to repair the brakes failed within a week. Early models had wheel bearing and hub fractures holding together by two bolts; one rear hub fractured at highway speed in 2010. One owner was never notified of recall 05V232000.
Kia dealers consistently blame alignment or driving habits and avoid warranty responsibility after initial visits. Owners cite Kia TSB CHA015 on strut mounts but say Kia takes no action. One owner faced a $450 bill for rotor/pad work at 40,000 miles after the dealer reclassified it as maintenance, not warranty.
Same Kia Sedona suspension reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Rotor warping and brake wear
Rotors warp excessively every 2,000–5,000 miles with excessive lateral runout; front brake pads wear rapidly. Owners report thumping at high speeds and grinding at low speeds. Kia attributes the problem to driving habits, but owners cite undersized brakes for the vehicle's weight causing overheating.
When: 12,000 miles and ongoing; rotors fail repeatedly throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Thumping noise when braking at high speeds; Grinding noise when braking at low speeds; Front wheels vibrate when coming to a stop; Shaking steering wheel
Codes mentioned: Excessive lateral runout (per Kia)
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors resurfaced or replaced multiple times (at least 3 replacements reported in one case); pads replaced repeatedly; one dealer quoted $450 for rotor/pad service after warranty expired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia claims driving habits are at fault; TSB CHA015 references new strut mounts but unclear if applied; owners report Kia takes no responsibility for engineering adequacy
Front tire wear and alignment failure
Front tires wear excessively in as few as 15,000–25,000 miles despite repeated alignment work. Owners report purchasing 4+ sets of front tires with no balancing or alignment work resolving the issue. Front-end knock at low speeds, especially during acceleration.
When: Starting around 15,000 miles; accelerates through vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive front tire wear; Knocking or creaking noise at low speeds when accelerating; Vehicle does not stay aligned despite repeated service; Tire blowout reported in one case
Repairs/costs cited: Repeated alignment and balancing; one owner replaced tires 4 times on the front axle alone; tire blowout requiring new tire and rim replacement in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB CHA015 cited regarding strut mount system issues; no recall issued; Kia deemed vehicle excluded from NHTSA campaign 05V232000
Strut and strut-mount failure
Front struts have an incorrect mount system requiring replacement. Owners report creaky, snapping noises over bumps in residential areas. No balancing or alignment fixes the knock, suggesting structural suspension defect.
When: Appears early in vehicle life; progressive
Symptoms owners cite: Creaky, snapping noise when going over bumps; Loud ticking sound when turning; Front-end knock during low-speed acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: TSB CHA015 references new strut mounts; one owner had front suspension repaired twice by 20,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB CHA015 exists but no official recall; Kia does not acknowledge design fault
Wheel bearing and hub fracture
Front wheel bearings and hubs prematurely fracture and are held together only by two bolts in early vehicle life. Noise near brake system was the warning sign. One rear hub failure reported in a 2005 Sedona at highway speeds.
When: Under 20,000 miles; one rear hub failure in 2010 (5 years in service)
Symptoms owners cite: Progressing noise near brake system; Hub breaks during highway driving
Repairs/costs cited: Front driver's side wheel bearing and hub replaced; one rear hub failure required roadside intervention
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 05V232000 issued for wheels; owner of rear hub failure was never notified; manufacturer provided no solution in one case; parts were on nationwide backorder in mid-2005
Brake failure and pedal loss
Brake pedal went to the floor with loss of braking function; loud ticking noise accompanied turning. Owner pumped brakes without response, resulting in loss of vehicle control and collision with median. Resurfacing brakes at dealer did not resolve the problem; brakes failed again one week later.
When: First failure at 2 months; second failure 7 days after repair attempt
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal sinks to the floor; Loss of braking pressure; Loud ticking noise when turning; Brakes would not catch despite pumping
Repairs/costs cited: Brakes and ignition resurfaced at second dealership; defect recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall letter received 8-19-05 regarding gas pedal and braking problems; vehicle taken to Kia on 8-18-05; returned 8-28-05 after three-day repair
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
We have a 2005 sedona which we love. It's been a great car for us. Unfortunately, we have had ongoing issues with it for some time now. Our main problem and concern right now is with the front end struts and or alignment. The noise and knocking at low speeds (especially when accelerating from a stand-still) is troublesome, but more troublesome is that we constantly need to replace the front…
The 2005 Kia sedona I own has been plagued by numerous problems. The first of which is a brake malfunction. It was thumping when braking at high speeds then grinding when braking at low speeds. The pads have been replaced, rotors machined, then they were replaced. Also, there is a joint or strut problem b/c . When you go over a bump in a residential neighborhood it sounds creaky and as if it…
Had suspension trouble with your 2005 Kia Sedona?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2005 Kia Sedona?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 18,074 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Kia/Sedona.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.