Takata recall sliding doors do not properly close all the time and can pop open while driving. So I have to get out and close the door by hand. This has happend on different occasions since november of 2016. The Kia dealership I went to said they fixed the problem but still had issues after that.
2015 Kia Sedona electrical problems
severe 34 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 34 electrical complaints filed for the 2015 Kia Sedona, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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
Owners have filed 34 electrical 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.
Electrical accounts for 25% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Sedona shows a cluster of electrical issues across multiple subsystems. Turn signal defects dominate: owners report left blinker intermittently activating the right signal, failing to work at all, or requiring repeated toggling to function. Several incidents involved near-miss collisions. Headlight problems track closely—lights cutting off when blinkers engage, flickering randomly day or night, or going out entirely. One owner noted this happens multiple times daily.
Power sliding door motors fail or malfunction, causing grinding noise, incomplete closure, or doors popping open while driving at speed—a life-threatening hazard with children aboard. A few owners report failed closure motors that dealers quoted at $2,200 and up.
Battery and charging issues include dead batteries requiring jump starts, batteries overheating dangerously (white smoke, acid evaporation), and one fire originating from a short circuit. A/C control units fail repeatedly around 70k–80k mile intervals; owners describe melted plastic power buttons, burnt connectors, and fire hazard concerns. One owner replaced the unit four times by 201k miles.
Brake lights fail despite bulb and fuse replacement. UVO phone system volume spikes unexpectedly. Airbag sensors malfunction—one passenger-seat sensor disabled bags at 71,718 miles; another seat occupant sensor fails to recognize adults. One vehicle caught fire at the dealer. Engine overheating without warning and one complete engine failure (fuel in oil) round out the report. Most failures occur between 60k and 130k miles.
Same Kia Sedona electrical reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Turn Signal Intermittent Malfunction
Left blinker activates right signal lights, fails to activate at all, or requires repeated toggling to function correctly. Occurs 10–20% of the time, randomly, making it difficult for shops to reproduce. Safety issue: drivers around vehicle receive wrong directional signal.
When: Reported throughout vehicle life; multiple owners mention it as ongoing issue
Symptoms owners cite: Left turn signal activates right side lights; Left turn signal does not activate at all; Signal arm requires repeated toggling to work; Right signal blinks rapidly three times before left signal blinks once
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports being told turn signal switch replacement needed; some dealers unable to reproduce intermittent fault
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 222 addresses UVO phone volume issue; not referenced for turn signals
Headlight Failure and Flickering
Headlights cut off when turn blinkers engage, flicker randomly, or fail to illuminate. Some incidents occur multiple times daily, particularly at night. One owner notes headlights turn off completely when blinker is used, requiring toggling the lever to restore function.
When: Reported throughout ownership; one owner with 90k miles; another with issue lasting months and becoming more frequent
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights turn off when blinkers engaged; Headlights flicker randomly on and off; Automatic headlights shut off and stay off; Lights go out for 0.5 to 5 seconds when blinker engaged; Loss of illumination in total darkness while turning
Repairs/costs cited: Owner describes possible loose connectivity or wire; no repair costs cited in narratives
Power Sliding Door Motor Failure
Electronic sliding doors fail to close completely, grind during closure, do not latch, pop open while driving at speed, or remain ajar with door light illuminated and air/noise leaking in. One door opened at highway speed with a 2-year-old child in car seat, creating life-threatening condition.
When: Starting around 60k miles; failures continue through higher mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Door does not close completely (remains 0.25–0.5 inch open); Grinding/motor vibration noise during closure; Door pops open while vehicle at speed; Door does not latch when supposedly closed; Door fails to lock; Interior light remains on; air/noise enters through gap
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quote motor replacement at $2,200 or higher; one owner reports dealership repair did not permanently fix issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall mentioned in two narratives; one owner reports dealership stated fix was completed but problem persisted
Battery Failure and Overheating
Batteries die repeatedly within short periods (three times in five days reported); jump-start restores function temporarily. Batteries overheat excessively while engine running, reaching boiling point with white toxic smoke and acid evaporation from battery terminals—fire explosion hazard. One vehicle caught fire at the dealer after failure to start; root cause determined to be short circuit in electrical system.
When: One report at low mileage (1,200 miles); another at 80,000 miles when fire occurred; battery overheating incidents in 2016
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dead on multiple occasions; Battery overheats rapidly while engine running and stationary; Battery boiling, nearly at explosion point; White toxic smoke and acid evaporation from battery; Vehicle caught fire (short circuit root cause identified); Vehicle fails to start
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement attempted; one dealership advised driving vehicle more often; fire incident resulted in vehicle catch-fire at dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer case filed for fire incident; recall 19V109000 (electrical system) issued
A/C Control Unit Failure and Melted Connectors
A/C control units fail repeatedly approximately every 70k–80k miles. Power button melts and burns; electrical connectors burn out and short the connected components (blower motor, resistor). Plastic burning smell occurs when A/C activated. Connectors not replaced during factory warranty repair, leading to recurring failure. Fire hazard concern due to melting/burning plastic and repeated component failure.
When: First replacement at 70k miles under factory warranty; second at 130k miles out of warranty; fourth unit approaching at higher mileage
Symptoms owners cite: A/C control unit failure requiring replacement; Power button melted and burnt; Electrical connectors melted and burnt; Burning plastic smell when A/C activated; Blower motor failure (connector burnt, motor shorted); Blower motor resistor connector melting/burning
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement cost $1,200–$1,500 out of warranty; owner self-repaired to avoid dealer cost; connectors never replaced during factory warranty service despite being root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: First A/C control unit replaced under factory warranty at 70k miles; Kia service technician attributed issue to heavy commercial use (Uber) but design flaw appears to remain
Engine Overheating and Failure
Engine overheats without warning—vehicle begins smoking under hood and coolant sprays. No warning lights appear before failure. One vehicle experienced complete engine failure with fuel found in oil; shop determined fuel breakdown allowed motor to fail. Another engine overheated repeatedly despite multiple repair attempts (thermostat, head gaskets, head replacement). All repairs failed; final diagnosis required complete engine replacement.
When: One report at 68k miles; another report without specific mileage; third report at unknown mileage during 70k–80k range
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating without warning indicator; Smoking under hood; Coolant spraying; Vehicle loses power during acceleration; Complete engine failure; Fuel smell in oil; Engine knocking/noise
Repairs/costs cited: First repair: thermostat, coolant, fluid, minor parts = $700; second repair: head gaskets, head bolts, thermostat, spark plugs, heli coil, coolant, oil, labor = $2,087; third repair needed: complete engine replacement quoted $6,000; vehicle ultimately repossessed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner states Kia dealership indicated many Sedona models recalled for engine failure but owner's vehicle not included in recall despite having same motor
Brake Light Failure
Lower brake lights on both sides fail to illuminate. Upper LED brake light functions but lower lights remain out despite bulb and fuse replacement. Owner notes this is reported as a common Kia issue across multiple models.
When: No specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Lower brake lights do not illuminate; Upper LED brake light works but lower lights fail; Lights remain out after bulb replacement; Lights remain out after fuse replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Bulb replaced; fuse replaced; no repair resolution cited
Airbag System Sensor Malfunction
Front passenger seat occupant sensor fails to recognize seated adults or incorrectly detects occupancy. Airbag indicator illuminates and airbags disable. One sensor located under front passenger seat caused airbag disablement; repair cost over $1,000. Owner received recall notice 19V109000 but reimbursement denied because dealer stated part was fine.
When: Failure at 71,718 miles; another owner reports light remaining on with adult in seat
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag indicator illuminates; Airbags disabled; Occupant sensor under passenger seat malfunctions; Front passenger seat light does not extinguish with adult seated
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost over $1,000; manufacturer split cost initially (parts paid by Kia, labor by owner); owner submitted reimbursement request under recall 19V109000 but was denied after six weeks
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 19V109000 (electrical system) issued with reimbursement offer; reimbursement claim denied; dealer stated part was fine
UVO Infotainment System Malfunction
UVO system intermittently malfunctions with phone ringer volume spiking to extremely loud levels, startling and distracting driver. Volume reset to low level does not prevent recurrence. Issue occurs randomly, making dealer reproduction difficult; dealer refuses reprogramming without reproducing symptom. TSB 222 addresses issue but requires symptom reproduction.
When: Multiple occurrences during ownership; no specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Phone ringer volume intermittently extremely loud; Driver startled and temporarily distracted by incoming calls; Volume reset ineffective; Malfunction occurs randomly
Repairs/costs cited: No upgrades available for consumer upload; reprogramming requires specialized dealer equipment and symptom reproduction
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 222 addresses this issue; dealership and corporate stated they will not reprogram without reproducing symptom
Electrical System Short Circuit / Fire Risk
Vehicle electrical system develops short circuits resulting in fire. One vehicle caught fire at dealership after failure to start; dealer diagnosed short circuit as root cause. Another vehicle caught fire on highway after 120,000 miles of cruise control operation; electrical system shut down immediately and hood would not open.
When: One report at 80,000 miles; another at 120,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle catches fire; Electrical system shorts; Hood inoperable (electrical lock failure); Door locks fail (electrical lock failure); Rear doors seal completely during fire event
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed by fire; one dealership retained vehicle for 28–30 days during failed repair attempt and subsequently repurchased it
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer case filed; recall 19V109000 referenced in at least one narrative
Backup and Safety Warning Chimes Inaudible
Backup warning chime and seat belt warning chime cannot be heard in vehicle. Dealer states volume cannot be increased, but owner notes that their previous Kia Sorento had audible backup warning. Safety issue: backup warning designed to alert driver to unseen objects but is ineffective if inaudible.
When: Issue present on new car purchase; no specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Backup warning chime inaudible or too quiet; Seat belt warning chime inaudible or too quiet
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer states volume cannot be increased
Transmission Lock / Electrical Failure
CHECK BGD warning light illuminates while driving at 40–45 mph. Vehicle immediately loses power brakes and power steering, slows down, and multiple dashboard warning lights activate (check engine, etc.). Vehicle brought to stop, transmission placed in park, and vehicle fails to restart with transmission locked. Dealer retained vehicle 28–30 days unable to repair; dealer subsequently repurchased vehicle from owner.
When: No specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: CHECK BGD warning light illuminates; Loss of power brakes; Loss of power steering; Vehicle automatic deceleration; Multiple dashboard warning lights; Vehicle fails to restart; Transmission locks in park
Codes mentioned: CHECK BGD (specific code unclear from narrative)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer retained vehicle 28–30 days, unable to repair; dealer repurchased vehicle from owner
Synthesized from 34 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
For about 6 wks now while driving specially at night my headlights will randomly flicker off and on, and there have been several times where the automatic headlights just turn off and stay off. It has happened while driving and while parked.
Blinker malfunction. When blinker switch to left turn indicator, it will intermittently flash to the right while vehicle is in motion and stopped. This has numerously times caused people around me to move in wrong direction. It is commonly reported online. Please force recall.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, it would not start. The contact was able to change the battery and the vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and while the vehicle was at the dealer, it caught on fire. The dealer stated that the vehicle had a short circuit that caused the vehicle to catch on fire. The manufacturer was…
Complete engine failure, knocking like crazy, fuel smell in the oil, The shop said the fuel in the oil broke it down and allowed the motor to fail. We were driving down the highway when it happened with family and kids which was not safe at all. No warning message at all, no check engine light, the shop has inspected and said it’s failed. The kia dealership has said many of the Kia’s have…
Had electrical trouble with your 2015 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 electrical problem on the 2015 Kia Sedona?
It's a meaningful issue. 34 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 23 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 30,000 and 88,789 miles, with the median around 71,718. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 88,789. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2015/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.