KIA: REVISED PROCEDURE ON APPLYING ADDITIONAL ANTI CORROSION MATERIAL TO SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER AND REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS, ON SOME VEHICLES. MODEL 2006-2012 SEDONA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Kia Sedona suspension problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Kia Sedona in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 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.
KIA: ON SOME VEHICLES, TO PREVENT CORROSION ON SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER AND REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM, PROCEDURE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON APPLICATION OF ANTI CORROSION MATERIAL. MODEL 2006-2012 SEDONA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗KIA: REAR COIL SPRING LOWER TUBE REPLACEMENT. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS WHEN TRAVELING ON A ROUGH ROAD OR WHEN CORNERING.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2008 Kia Sedona vehicles report severe corrosion and cracking of the front lower control arms, a defect that triggered NHTSA recall campaign 16V387000. One owner's vehicle veered off a highway at 55 mph and crashed into a tree when the driver-side control arm fractured—the arm was rusted and broken in three places. Another reported the vehicle became undrivable with a corroded, cracked driver-side control arm. A third found severe perforating corrosion on the passenger-side control arm and photos clearly showing the damage, yet Kia refused coverage outside designated salt-use states, requiring the owner to pay for diagnosis before reconsideration.
Several owners heard rattling and clicking from the front end or felt the front wobble side to side. One mechanic found a control arm still loose after the dealer had supposedly completed the recall repair—it was even spray-painted as if already fixed. Multiple owners reported recall parts were unavailable for extended periods, leaving vehicles unrepaired despite safety notifications.
Compounding suspension issues, owners also document brakes that overheat and wear prematurely (failure at 7,000–21,000 miles), and tires that wear far faster than expected (24,000–40,000 miles instead of manufacturer ratings). These patterns suggest front-end geometry or alignment problems linked to the underlying suspension defect.
Same Kia Sedona suspension reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Corroded and fractured lower control arm
Front lower control arms corrode severely (especially on driver and passenger sides) due to salt exposure, leading to cracking and fracture. One incident resulted in the vehicle veering off the highway at 55 mph and crashing into a tree when the driver-side control arm failed during a curve. Another owner discovered the vehicle undrivable with a cracked, corroded driver-side control arm.
When: 171,000 miles reported in one crash incident; 85,000 miles for loose control arm; cracking observed at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Severe perforating corrosion on control arms; Control arm fractured in multiple places; Rattling noise from front end; Front end wobbling side to side; Abnormal sound from steering wheel; Cranking sound when driving or hitting potholes; Vehicle veered off road at highway speed
Repairs/costs cited: Control arm replacement required; one vehicle had recall repair performed but control arm remained loose and improperly repaired (spray painted as if already fixed); parts unavailable for recall repairs at multiple dealers
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V387000 (Suspension recall) issued for this defect; manufacturer denied coverage on vehicle outside identified salt-use states despite owner providing photographic evidence of corrosion; dealer told owner to pay for diagnosis before manufacturer would reconsider; some owners reported recall parts unavailable for extended periods
Brake overheating and premature wear
Brakes overheat and wear prematurely. One owner reported brakes failing at 7,000 miles with warped rotors and overheating; another reported front brakes wore out at 21,000 miles and replacement set lasted only 27,000 miles before requiring service again.
When: 7,000–21,000 miles for initial failure; 27,000 miles for premature wear of replacement brakes
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pulsation at various speeds; Excessive vibration in steering wheel; Burning odor; Warped rotors; Rapid brake pad wear
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pads and rotors replaced; rotors warped from overheating; brake failures coincide with heavy front-end wear pattern noted by owners
Excessive tire wear
Tires wear at an accelerated rate, possibly due to suspension geometry issues and heavy front-end loading. First set lasted 24,000 miles; replacement Goodyear tires expected to last 70,000 miles only achieved 40,000 miles.
When: 24,000 miles for first set; 40,000 miles for replacement set
Symptoms owners cite: Cupping on tires; Rapid and uneven tire wear; Tires do not meet manufacturer mileage expectations
Repairs/costs cited: Original tires replaced at 24,000 miles with Goodyear tires; second set did not meet expected service life
CV axle and rear bearing hub failure
Right front CV axle bearing and seal defect required replacement; right rear bearing hub also failed and required replacement. Both failures attributed to manufacturing defects by owner.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: CV axle bearing and seal failure; Rear bearing hub defect
Repairs/costs cited: Right front CV axle replaced due to bearing and seal defect; right rear bearing hub replaced due to defect
Loose or improperly repaired suspension components
After recall repair under Campaign 16V387000, one owner found the driver-side control arm still loose and spray-painted as if repaired. Passenger-side wheel was also loose and needed replacement. Front end continued to rattle despite recall work.
When: 85,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rattling noise from front end after recall repair; Front wheel loose; Control arm loose despite repair attempt
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed recall repair but work was insufficient; control arm was spray-painted and remained loose; passenger-side wheel needed replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall performed under NHTSA Campaign 16V387000 (Suspension); however, repair was inadequate and defect persisted
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Kia sedona. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v387000 (suspension) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available. Parts…
Today looking my car value, found that my wagon have 4 recalls. I'm worry for this situation.
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2008 Kia Sedona?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 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 14 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 103,500 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/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.