As I was approaching an intersection and I started to apply the brakes, the van suddenly accelerated, when I pressed hard on the brake still it wouldn't stop...call Kia sedona authorized dealer, they said there's no recall. As I researched the internet, I notice that car gurus(which is a car forum) over 33 people had complaint with the same problem. There were an accident with fatalities even.…
2008 Kia Sedona cruise control problems
moderate 34 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 34 cruise control complaints filed for the 2008 Kia Sedona, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Of the 10 model years of Kia Sedona we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 34.
Owners have filed 34 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple owners of 2008 Kia Sedona report sudden, unpredictable loss of throttle control while driving—the vehicle drops to idle speed, check engine and ESC lights illuminate, and restart is required to regain power temporarily. Dealers clear diagnostic codes, then refuse repair because the codes are gone, leaving owners with a live but unresolved hazard that strikes without warning during highway driving.
Owners describe sudden, complete loss of throttle response while the vehicle is in motion—engine stays running but won't accelerate past idle speed (5–20 mph) without warning. The Check Engine light and ESC "OFF" light come on simultaneously. Stopping and restarting restores throttle temporarily, but the failure recurs, sometimes within 50 miles, sometimes days later. Incidents happen on highways (55–85 mph, often with cruise control engaged), residential streets, while making turns, and going uphill.
Some owners report the opposite problem: sudden, unwanted acceleration with brakes that don't respond or feel ineffective. One driver had three separate episodes over weeks; another narrowly avoided hitting a car at a stop sign. Mechanics find no brake system faults, pointing instead to electronic throttle control.
The core issue: Kia dealers clear the diagnostic codes as part of troubleshooting, then tell owners "We can't fix it because the check engine light is off." This happens repeatedly. Fleet operators report a 50% failure rate across dozens of 2008 Sedonas. Related recalls exist for 2006–2007 models, but Kia has not extended coverage to the 2008 model year. Owners at or near warranty limits are denied coverage even when the defect is active.
Same Kia Sedona cruise control reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden loss of throttle response / loss of acceleration while driving
Engine remains running but vehicle loses all or most throttle control, drops to idle speed (5–20 mph), and cannot accelerate. Occurs suddenly and without warning while vehicle is in motion. Often triggered while cruise control is active on highways; also happens during normal driving, hill ascents, and turns. In many cases, stopping and restarting the vehicle temporarily restores throttle function until the failure recurs.
When: 14,534 to 128,000 miles; owners report incidents ranging from low-mileage occurrences to higher-mileage failures; one fleet report cites 50% failure rate across 40 vehicles.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete or near-complete loss of throttle response despite pressing accelerator pedal; Vehicle drops to idle speed (~5–20 mph) and cannot be accelerated further; Check Engine light illuminates during or after the event; ESC (Electronic Stability Control) 'OFF' light or blinking ESC light appears on dashboard; Vehicle must be stopped and restarted to regain temporary throttle function; Failure recurs after temporary fix; may happen multiple times in a single trip or over days/weeks; Occurs while cruise control is active (highway incidents at 55–85 mph) and during normal driving; No warning or gradual decline in power; failure is abrupt
Codes mentioned: Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) code, Accelerator Pedal Position (AAP) Sensor code
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle Position Sensor replacement recommended by dealers; one case involved incompatibility between replacement TPS and engine connector holes/plugs. Some repairs did not resolve the issue. ECM software upgrade also mentioned in one diagnostic.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners report Kia dealers clearing diagnostic codes and computer memory even when codes are present, then denying repair because the check engine light no longer displays when vehicle is brought in; similar recall issues noted for 2006 and 2007 model years but not addressed in 2008 model.
Unintended acceleration with brake unresponsiveness
Vehicle accelerates without driver input while brakes fail to respond or are ineffective. Occurs at low speeds (30 mph) and high speeds (70 mph), in residential streets and on hills. Drivers resort to emergency brake or shifting to Neutral to regain control. Mechanics cannot find brake system faults, suggesting electronic throttle malfunction rather than hydraulic brake failure.
When: Multiple incidents reported across different mileages; one driver reported three separate episodes over a period of weeks.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates suddenly without driver pressing accelerator pedal; Brakes do not respond or are ineffective when pressed (hard pedal pressure ineffective); Occurs while slowing for stop signs, on residential streets, while turning, and during highway driving; Driver able to regain control only by shifting to Neutral or engaging emergency brake; No brake system faults found upon inspection
Codes mentioned: Throttle Position Sensor code (implied in related complaints)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed in the cases described; mechanics performed diagnostics (diagnostic cost cited as $110+ in one case) but found no brake defects.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers advised checking for recalls (none found in some cases); some dealers did not offer guidance or remedy.
Intermittent failure to accelerate (vehicle will not respond to throttle input)
Vehicle sporadically refuses to accelerate when the pedal is engaged, or accelerator response is intermittent and unpredictable. Differs from the sudden-loss scenario in that the failure may occur at lower speeds and may not drop the vehicle to idle; instead, the pedal simply has no effect. Dealers unable to duplicate the issue during diagnostic visits.
When: Low mileage (14,534 miles) reported in at least one case.
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal has no response or delayed/weak response when pressed; Vehicle loses power gradually or remains at low speed despite pedal input; Intermittent nature makes the failure difficult to diagnose and reproduce; Occurs sporadically at different driving speeds
Codes mentioned: Throttle Position Sensor code (suspected but not always confirmed)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs performed in cases where dealer could not duplicate the failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers unable to diagnose or fix due to inability to reproduce the fault during service visits.
Synthesized from 34 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Traveling at 85 MPH, cruise control on, "ESC off" light and check engine light illuminated on the dashboard and the vehicle decelerated rapidly. Lost ability to accelerate past 20 MPH. Vehicle was stopped and restarted. Accelerator resumed working for however the check engine light illuminated and checked the code it was throttle position sensor. This morning the check engine light remained on…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2008 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 cruise control problem on the 2008 Kia Sedona?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 34 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 33 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 22,000 and 30,378 miles, with the median around 25,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 22,000; a quarter make it past 30,378. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2008/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.