Overall rating (best variant)
Safety ratings
2016 Kia Sedona VAN FWD
- Lane departure warningOptional
- Forward collision warningOptional
- Electronic stability controlStandard
Crash test videos & photos
No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.
Recalls (4)
- STRUCTURE:BODY:DOORCampaign 18V338000 · 23/05/2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Kia Sedona vehicles equipped with a power sliding door (PSD). The PSD may not auto-reverse when its closing is obstructed.
Risk: If the door closes on an occupant, there is an increased risk of an injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PSD module software, free of charge. The recall began on June 18, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC164.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRINGCampaign 19V109000 · 19/02/2019
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Sedona vehicles equipped with manually-adjusted front passenger seats. Over time, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) wiring harness located underneath the front passenger seat may break from the seat being occupied.
Risk: If a child is in a child seat in the front seat, a broken ODS wiring harness will not prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the child.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the wire harness clip to prevent the wiring harness from breaking. If the harness is found damaged, the front passenger seat cushion will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC175.
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNALCampaign 21V725000 · 17/09/2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Sedona vehicles. The Smart Junction Box (SJB) software logic may not properly interpret the signals received from the multifunction switch, which could cause the turn signal to activate in the opposite direction of what the driver intended.
Risk: A turn signal activating in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the SJB software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 12, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC217.
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFTCampaign 22V612000 · 10/08/2022
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016 Sedona and Sorento vehicles. The vehicles may have been manufactured with faulty automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, preventing the shift lever from locking, which can allow the vehicle to rollaway.
Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC246.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- ENGINE144
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM44
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING37
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER30
- STRUCTURE22
- AIR BAGS18
- POWER TRAIN13
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/30/2024· ENGINE
Engine died in the middle of driving. After having it towed and diagnosed, there was no engine oil at all. I still had 1500 miles before the recommended mileage for my next oil change. No warning lights. Engine is totally seized and will need to be replaced. Kia dealership stated that an indicator should have told me that my oil was low and the engine should have shut off prior to running dry. We were driving with my 4 children in the car. Thankfully we were on a side road where we could push the car to safety.
- 12/30/2019· STRUCTURE
THE SLIDING DOOR MOTOR DOES NOT CLOSE THE DOOR PROPERLY. THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE NOT COVERED BY KIA. THE PROPER CLOSING OF THE SIDE DOOR IS NOT THEIR CONCERN.
- 12/29/2025· ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Kia service dealer diagnosed high oil consumption on my car with heavy sounds. They recommend to replace whole engine but it's out of warranty. It has only 106k miles on it. I am afraid the car is posing safety issue as well and it has less miles on it. I filed complain with kia consumer corporate a case has been generated on their system [XXX] but no one had contacted me yet. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- 12/28/2023· ENGINE
There were absolutely no warning lights on my dashboard for the engine, engine oil or anything. I was on a busy 2 lane road with my 7 year old on December 21, 2023 and suddenly the Charging System Warning light and the Immobilizer Indicator came on and the car stopped accelerating. I had to coast off of the road where there was no where to pull over. There are only 61,355 miles on my car and I had just had the safety inspection completed by Kia on September 7, 2023. I had the car towed to the Kia dealership in Leesburg as I always trusted them with servicing my car. They now want me to pay $9,899.72 to replace the long block, starter motor, and intake manifold OR they said they will pay me $500 for my car. The car is in the Kia dealerships lot right now because we would have to tow it somewhere else. The only symptom started 2 days before the incident. When starting the car it made a clicking sound. There were absolutely no other symptoms.
- 12/28/2022· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The go bad ABS Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement: REPLACE REAR DRIVER WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FOR ABS ISSUE 2.0 Engine light went on then off. Car overheated and blew a head gasket and ruining engine. The engine light was off. There was no warning before this car overheated. And it overheated fast!
- 12/26/2020· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGS
WHEN YOU USE YOUR BLINKERS TO CHANGE LANES AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF TILL I MOVE THE BLINKER NOB BACK TO THE MIDDLE THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND IS DANGEROUS NEEDS TO RECALLED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT
- 12/23/2024· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
My 2016 Kia Sedona developed a loud engine knocking / idling noise around 90000 miles. Had at least one oil change at a non-Kia shop around that time and was given vague warning about Kia engines as to why I was hearing the louder idling. At the time of another oil change at 99631 miles I was told there were a large number of metal shavings found in the oil, and my Check Engine light was illuminated with a message about faulty camshaft timing. After bringing to Kia dealership at that time. They first assessed that the camshafts needed to be replaced. After working for some time they eventually determined that the entire engine needed to be replaced (3.3 Liter GDI_DOHC). The engine was replaced and the car was given back to me. After 2 days of driving the car would not start up again and I had it towed back to the dealership. They needed to replace one of the already-repaired parts (CVVT ASSY / CAMSHAFT ASSY-INTAKE). These engine issues could have occurred at a more problematic time in the middle of a busy highway and could have resulted in damage / harm to human life.
- 12/22/2020· EXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGS
ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING OCCASIONAL TIMES WHEN I WOULD TURN ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WOULD COME ON. THE FIRST FEW TIMES IT HAPPENED, I THOUGHT I MUST'VE TURNED ON THE WRONG SIGNAL AS IT HAPPENED INFREQUENTLY. NOW IT OCCURS OFTEN, WHERE ENGAGING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE, WITH IT SOMETIMES TURNING ON THE LEFT SIGNAL, SOMETIMES THE RIGHT SIGNAL, SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE SIGNALS, OR NO SIGNAL ENGAGING. WHEN ENGAGING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND COMPLETING A LEFT TURN, WHEN THE SIGNAL DISENGAGES, THE RIGHT SIGNAL WILL TURN ON AND FLASH SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT TURNING ON THE RIGHT SIGNAL. THIS MAKES FOR DANGEROUS LANE CHANGING AND TURNING AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAKE SURE THE RIGHT SIGNAL TURNS ON. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AS IF THE VEHICLE THINKS A CHILD IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO KIA TO HAVE THEM FIX THIS, BUT THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS 3 YEARS OLD, AND WANTED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO EVEN LOOK AT IT, NOT INCLUDING FIXING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TURN SIGNALS IN THIS MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR, PARTICULARLY WITH THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. HERE IS A LINK TO A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF ANOTHER KIA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/IDXLNMXMHQY HERE IS A LINK TO A PAGE WHERE OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM: HTTPS://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/KIAMOTOR/SEDONA/TURN-SIGNAL-PROBLEMS.PHP THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.
- 12/22/2016· SEAT BELTS
THE 2ND ROW CENTER SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE AND CAN NOT HOLD AN OCCUPANT. THE CENTER SEAT BELT HAD NEVER BEEN USED BEFORE TODAY - THE BUCKLES WERE STILL WRAPPED IN BLUE PLASTIC FROM THE FACTORY. UPON ATTEMPTED FIRST USE, THE SMALLER LATCHPLATE WOULD NOT GO INTO THE SMALLER BUCKLE. THE WHITE RELEASE BUTTON ON THE SMALLER BUCKLE WAS DEPRESSED INWARDS - WHICH IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN. THE SMALLER LATCHPLATE WOULD GO INTO THE BUCKLE AND GIVE A FALSE LATCH AND THEN AT EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF PULLING ON THE BELT THE LATCHPLATE WOULD COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE. NOTE: BECAUSE THIS SHOULDER BELT COMES FROM THE ROOF THERE ARE 2 BUCKLES AND 2 LATCHPLATES. THE DEFECT WAS WITH THE SMALLER LATCHPLATE THAT WOULD NOT LATCH PROPERLY INTO THE SMALLER BUCKLE.
- 12/21/2022· ENGINE
I was driving the car and noticed a smell. I looked down and saw the the temperature gauge was in the red zone but there were no dashboard lights or any sounds to let me know there was a problem . I pulled over and called AAA. They took the car to a AAA repair shop. The repair shop called me and said the head gasket was blown and that the car needed a new engine as the cost to repair would be even more money.
- 12/19/2025· ENGINE
2016 KIA Sedona. I was driving on the highway when the Engine started knocking and smoking. I had to cut cars off on the highway to get to the shoulder. The car was towed to a local mechanic who told us there were holes blown through the engine and it would need replaced. This was after a year and a half of driving it so we still had a loan on the car that we couldn't afford to just scrap the car. We had to get a new engine put in the car. Insurance would not help since we did not hit anything and it was a manufacturer defect. Mechanic checked oil level and viscosity and did not see any issues with it. No warning lamps indicated there was anything wrong with the vehicle before the engine ripped itself apart. Thankfully none of our 3 kids were in the vehicle at the time. This was 2 months that we did not have our family van during the winter holidays and it was a very difficult time for the family.
- 12/19/2023· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while a State Inspection was being performed on the vehicle, it was discovered that water and condensation were present inside the driver's and passenger’s side rear brake light housing. The contact stated that the vehicle failed the safety inspection due to the failure. The water and condensation were removed from the housing and the light bulbs were replaced but the failure reoccurred during the next rainstorm. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 97,000.
- 12/19/2023· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Coolant all over everything! Mechanics will not touch it. Constantly adding coolant. Can’t drive far. Without overheating. Cracked heater core less then 90,000 miles
- 12/19/2023· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Valve cover is cracked, loosing coolant and oil, ruining alternator, smoking, smells like it’s burning. Runs rough, dash lights up. Dies while driving
- 12/15/2023· ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact became aware that the radiator was overheating while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact replaced the thermostat, the radiator cap, and flushed the coolant and radiator system. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that the temperature gauge was indicating that the vehicle had started overheating. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the mechanic discovered that the head bolts on the cylinder heads had been stretched, causing coolant to leak into the engine cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
- 12/14/2025· ENGINE
I was at an intersection & was turning left. In the middle of the turn the car started knocking noise and vibrating and turned off in the middle of the intersection. It did not crank for several tries while I was panicking with a car full of kids in a busy intersection. When I got it to crank again it turned off again. Some good Samaritans then helped by holding traffic and pushing us out of harms way in a church parking lot. I kept trying to crank it and when it did, I tried to put it in drive and it started the violent knocking and vibrating like it was going to blow up. I had it towed later when I had gotten paid. I had it towed to Keffer Kia where they told me total engine failure at 88,000 miles. I still pay $300 monthly for the car and have 5 kids that I have to shuffle in my mother in laws 4 door car.
- 12/11/2019· STRUCTURE
I OWN A 2016 KIA SEDONA LX. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR NOT LATCHING WHEN CLOSING A FEW MONTHS AGO. THE THING IS, I RARELY EVER USE THAT SIDE FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING. MORE TIMES THAN NOT I USE THE PASSENGER SIDE (CURB SIDE) DOOR. WHEN THE DOOR IS ATTEMPTING TO LATCH, IT MAKES A VERY WEIRD SOUND LIKE IT IS GROANING. IT CLOSES, BUT DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY. ACCORDING TO THE DASHBOARD, THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN. I TOOK IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND THEY SAID I NEED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AND CABLE AT A COST OF OVER $700. I'VE ALSO HAD A FUEL INJECTOR GO BAD $580. THESE SITUATIONS MAKE ME WONDER ABOUT YOUR "RELIABILITY" STATEMENTS. I FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SA-210) RELATING TO SEDONAS, 2015~2016 MODEL YEARS, GROUP BOD, NUMBER 116, DATED NOVEMBER, 2015. IT DESCRIBES WHAT TO DO TO CORRECT "A VEHICLE WHICH MAY EXHIBIT AN INOPERATIVE POWER SLIDING DOOR." MY VAN, ACCORDING TO THE VIN, FALLS WITHIN THE DATES THAT ARE MENTIONED IN THE BULLETIN (1/6/15 - 7/6/15). TO ME, THIS SEEMS LIKE THE BULLETIN PERTAINS TO MY VEHICLE. THE PSD IS DEFINITELY NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. SINCE IT IS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY IN TOTAL, I SUBMIT THEREFORE, THAT THE LATCH IS INOPERABLE.
- 12/09/2022· ENGINE
My 2016 Kia Sedona has only 79900 miles on it, yet needs an engine replacement. It is experiencing the EXACT same issues as the other kia engines that have been recalled/replaced by kia, yet they will not help fix it, because "there are no problems with my engine, but there are with the other kia engines" A vehicle should not need a new engine at 79000 miles. There were zero warnings to this. No check engine lights. No oil lights. Nothing. In fact there are still no lights, even after having this problem diagnosed at the dealer. If my engine fails in the middle of the road, I am putting myself, my 4 children, my husband, and anyone else on the road at risk. This should not be happening at such low mileage, especially with no warning lights. The dealer confirms I need a new engine. Other auto shops claim kia should cover this repair because this engine is defective.
- 12/09/2020· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE
WHILE DRIVING WHEN I USE MY TURN SIGNALS THE HEADLIGHTS WILL EITHER FLASH HIGH BEAMS OR COMPLETELY GO OUT THEN BACK ON. ALSO MY DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOESN'T SHUT COMPLETELY WITH THE POWER DOOR OPTION THIS JUST STARTED AROUND THE 100K MILE MARK.
- 12/08/2022· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Headlights will randomly turn off and flicker on and off. Has happened multiple times and on dark roads
- 12/08/2021· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the headlights would turn off without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the headlights regained functionality however, shortly thereafter the vehicle lost headlight functionality again. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer to be inspected. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,758.
- 12/07/2019· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FLICKERING HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. SOMETIMES THEY GO OUT AND THEN COME BACK ON
- 12/06/2021· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
The airbag light would come on and go off randomly while driving. We took it to the dealer several times. I believe repairs were made twice and within days it happened again. The other times it was taken into the dealer, the problem could not be replicated as the light would randomly come on/blink. The airbag light stays on all the time now. I've been told it is dangerous to drive the vehicle while the light is on because the airbags will not deploy should the vehicle get in an accident. The passenger side seatbelt like blinks constantly now whether there is a passenger in the front seat or not. I've been told by Kia that the warranty has expired and any cost associated with the repair of the airbag and seatbelt sensor will be our responsibility. This was an ongoing problem well before the warranty expired.
- 12/05/2025· ENGINE
The Sedona just stopped in traffic with out warning with my kids in the van. No type or warning lights came on. I had recently got an oil change and tune up. I almost caused an accident. It was extremely scary. I am thankful no one was hurt. I had to pay for a tow and come to find out the engine is locked . The machine started it had very low oil. Which makes no sense since it hadn’t even been 7 days since my oil was changed .
- 12/04/2025· ENGINE
2016 Kia Sedona SX-L (VIN: [XXX]) equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engine. This is the second engine failure — first engine failed due to head bolt studs separating from the block, second (mechanic sourced) engine began heavy smoking and nearly caught fire due to possible oil starvation/rod bearing failure. Vehicle is parked and unsafe to operate. Temperature gauge at time of incident was going towards above average operating temperature. This is the exact defect covered under multiple NHTSA investigations into Lambda 3.3L engine seizing/fire hazard (including PE23-019 for similar Kia Sorento models with the same engine, and defect petition DP24-002 specifically for 2016 Kia Sedona). Kia has extended the warranty on these engines to 15 years/150,000 miles for bearing damage in some cases, but no full recall exists yet. Requesting immediate investigation and inclusion in an engine fire recall similar to those for Theta engines. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- 12/04/2017· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WHEN SUDDENLY THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AS WELL. THIS WAS DEFINITELY A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION! IT HAPPENED ON A 2200 MILE TRIP AND NECESSITATED CHANGING PLANS, MOTEL RESERVATIONS, AND ARRIVING LATE AT THE DESTINATION, BECAUSE... IT WAS THE WEEKEND (NO SERVICE AVAILABLE) AND WE HAD TO DRIVE ONLY IN DAYLIGHT HOURS. TAKING IT TO A KIA DEALER ASAP, BUT AM EXPECTING AN "WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BECAUSE IT'S AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM." RESPONSE.
- 12/03/2024· ENGINE
I brought my 2016 Kia Sedona into a mechanic to get checked over and get some new front tires put on on 8/19/24. I was informed that the oil needed changing. So, I changed it as I have always done for years. We took off on a ~2600 mile round trip out east. Once there, I noticed that when I would travel close to a cement divider, a noise was coming from the vehicle that got louder as I accelerated. Thought is was the muffler (sounded like I was hot rodding). There were no engine lights on the dash, so I didn't think there were any major issues. A muffler could wait till I got back. This trip was end of August. There were no other issues, so I put it off. I figured a small hole in muffler or loose. We were called to go back out to New York for 11 days the end of November, and after another 2600 miles, the noise was significantly louder, but mostly noticeable when accelerating. Still idled fairly well. Still no engine lights. On 11/27/24 we took a 600+ mile trip. As of 12/2/2024, I brought the vehicle in to get the spark pugs changed and check the noise. The mechanic said that I was 4.5 quarts low and the noise was knocking in the motor itself. I had replaced the engine oil (synthetic) end of August and now find this Dec. 3rd after bringing it in. It has never burned oil, and there is no evidence of leakage on the floor or anywhere in the engine compartment or oil pan (mine and mechanics observations). Loss of 4.5 quarts in just over 2 months, when never an issue before? And no low oil engine light coming on? This was just taken on 5800 miles of primarily highways. From what I have been reading, knocking prior to engine failure has been popping up, and my family and I could have had a major problem had I gone any longer without checking it out. It is a major issue not having the low oil sensor go off, and suddenly being without 4.5 quarts in such a short time without prior issues, or warning.
- 12/02/2020· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SEAT BELTS
THE DAYTIME AND HEADLIGHTS LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF RANDOMLY. (STARTED AROUND THE 100K MILEAGE). WHEN STATIONARY, THE SLIDING DOORS DO NOT SHUT CORRECTLY. 1ST THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BEGINS RATTLING LIKE CHANGE IS INSIDE THE DOOR. 2ND THEN THE DOOR BEGINS TAKING 2 TURNS TO CLOSE, AND THEN IT IS HIT OR MISS WHEN CLOSING. THE DOOR CLOSURE BUTTON WILL OCCASIONALLY NOT WORK, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CAR IS OFF AND PARKED. (STARTED AROUND THE 45000 MILEAGE). THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CONNECTOR OCCASIONALLY INDICATES A FAULT ERROR. ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT INDICATOR WILL TURN ON WHEN 5 POUNDS OR LESS IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. (STARTED AROUND THE 100K MILEAGE). MY BIGGEST CONCERN: SINCE I BELIEVE THE SIDE DOORS ARE FATAL ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN, I HAVE MY KIDS SIT IN THE 3RD ROW. ONLY ADULTS ARE ALLOWED TO SIT IN MY PASSENGER CAPTAIN CHAIRS. THE BLIND SPOT WARNING DOES NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY.
- 11/30/2025· AIR BAGS
My 2016 Kia Sedona is affected by Safety Recall SC175 (Front Passenger Seat Occupant Detection System Wiring Harness), documented here: [XXX] . Kia and the servicing dealer, Rick Case Kia, report to NHTSA that this recall was completed in 2019. However, the defect described in SC175 is still present and easily reproducible. The dealer continues to insist the repair was completed, but the symptoms match the recall description exactly and the issue now poses a clear safety risk to the front passenger. I have repeatedly informed Rick Case Kia that the recall was not performed correctly or was never performed at all. Despite this, the dealer refuses to inspect or correct the issue and Kia Corporate refuses further action based solely on the dealer’s claim. This has made it impossible for me to obtain the required recall remedy. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer multiple times between 2019 and before the vehicle reached 10 years of age for other safety recalls. If SC175 had truly been completed, the issue should not be present. If it had NOT been completed, the dealer should have been notified in their system during those visits. This suggests that misrepresentation or incorrect reporting may have occurred. Because Kia Corporate relies entirely on the dealer’s incorrect reporting, I cannot obtain the required repair from any Kia dealer, and the safety defect remains unresolved. I am requesting NHTSA review this case as a potential recall-completion misrepresentation that is preventing me from receiving the mandated safety repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- 11/28/2025· ENGINE
With a 140000 miles and the timing chain and component already failing my mechanic told it could die anytime soon local or on the highway
- 11/27/2016· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINECrash
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, SHE HAD COME TO A STOP. AFTER STOPPING THEN RESUMING A VERY SLOW SPEED (5 MPH OR LESS), WHILE HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD IN TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FRONT-END DAMAGE AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS, I WAS IN THE VEHICLE IN MY FRONT YARD AT A STAND STILL, ENGINE RUNNING AND TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO BE MOVING IT SLIGHTLY, AND IT SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT I HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG, BUT NOW WITH A SIMILAR THING HAPPENING WITH A DIFFERENT DRIVER, AND SUCH EXTREME DAMAGE, THERE MUST BE A BIGGER PROBLEM. *TR
- 11/26/2025· POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed, and the gear shift lever was moved to Park(P) but failed to lock in place. The contact stated that the vehicle started to roll backwards. The contact used force to lock the gear shift lever in Park(P), and the vehicle came to a complete stop after several attempts. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a faulty automatic transmission shift lever. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V612000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
- 11/25/2024· ENGINE
Regularly serviced vehicle (2016 Kia Sedona SXL 3.3L) within recommended intervals; most recently on 9/10/2024 at ~117k miles. Invoice indicates dealer put in full capacity of oil (6qt). Vehicle also received multipoint inspection including checking all fluids; non were reported low or in need of flush/replacement. Vehicle had begun to make extra engine noise (rattle/growl) on startup, not sure precisely when; I estimate just in the last few months, maybe September or October. Took 220 (one way, ~440 total) mile trip on 11/5-11/7/2024; vehicle performed well other than aforementioned startup noise. [XXX], vehicle noise had increased significantly and "engine control system" message with CEL was present on the dashboard which was later extinguished after an engine restart. No other warning/error indications were present before or since. Onboard vehicle diagnostics run by the owner (Kia "eServices" app) on 11/12 did not indicate any issues. It was decided we better not drive it and service was scheduled for 11/22. On the same day (11/12) we found the oil to be low by 4.5 qts. Filling the oil to "full" removed a significant amount of the engine noise but (layman's) inspection did not reveal any oil leakage and no other signs of oil burning had been noted previously. One additional trip of ~16 miles made on 11/19 and 6 miles to service on 11/22 (now at 121k miles). Dealer upon inspection stated rod bearings were bad and engine needed replaced. Retrieving the vehicle from service and driving home, it catastrophically failed losing all power in highway traffic and could not be restarted. I'm reporting this because I saw DP24-001 and PE23-019 which seem to be very similar to my issue. I see no reason why a regularly serviced engine could fail so quickly other than a possible manufacturing defect. The engine/components have not been touched since the dealer appointment on 11/22. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- 11/24/2024· ENGINE
Description of Incident: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine of my 2016 Kia Sedona seized due to a lack of oil. The oil pressure warning light, which is designed to alert the driver to low oil pressure or oil-related issues, did not illuminate to indicate any problem. The engine is still available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? While the engine seizure did not occur while driving, it created a potential hazard for future operation of the vehicle. Had the issue occurred during the 20-mile drive home or on future trips, it could have led to a sudden loss of power, putting the driver, passengers, and others on the road at risk. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The Kia dealership confirmed that the engine seized due to a lack of oil. However, they have not provided a detailed diagnostic report or explanation for why the oil pressure warning light failed to illuminate. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by Kia but has not been examined by third parties such as insurance representatives or law enforcement. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure. The oil pressure warning light, which should have alerted us to the issue, did not illuminate at any point. Best assessment: My assessment is that the oil pressure warning system failed to function as designed, leading to the engine seizing without warning. This malfunction prevented us from addressing the oil issue in time to avoid catastrophic engine damage.
- 11/24/2021· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The rear passenger sliding door will open and close on it's own while moving and the only way to close completely is to close from the outside while pushing it closed. When using the button in the back it will close then open right up again and make a loud noise. The button above the windshield in from will cause it to close then open back up too while making a loud noise. It has to be closed from the outside by pushing on the door. There is nothing obstructing the door either. This VIN number was not part of the recall according to the nhtsa website. This has been ongoing for years, so there is no specific dates
- 11/21/2016· VISIBILITY/WIPER
SINCE THE LEASE FROM NEMET KIA STARTED IN JUNE 2016 THE EXTERIOR OF WINDSHIELD HAS HAD A FILM THAT SMEARS THE WINDOW AND OBSTRUCTS DRIVER VIEW IN THE RAIN. WHEN DRY THE WINDOW IS CLEAR BUT IN THE RAIN THE FILM BECOMES AN ISSUE. THERE WASN'T MUCH RAIN DURING THE SUMMER SO I DEALT WITH IT HOPING IT WOULD WEAR OFF THROUGH REGULAR USE OF THE WIPERS. I HAVE ALSO CLEANED THE GLASS NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. WHEN THE CAR CAME IN FOR THE FIRST SERVICE IN SEPT. 2016 THE TECH TRIED TO REMOVE THE FILM BUT THEY COULD NOT ADDRESS IT PROPERLY (NOTED ON WORK RECEIPT) AND THE FILM IS STILL THERE. DURING THE HEAVY RAINS OF THE LAST FEW DAYS THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DUE TO THE SMEARED WINDSHIELD. THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN. KIA DEALER KEPT CAR FROM OCTOBER 11-14 2016 AND ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN WINDOW AND VERIFIED THE PROBLEM REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF WINDSHIELD. AS OF NOVEMBER 21, 2016 THE WINDSHIELD HAS YET TO BE REPLACED. KIA AND DEALER KEEP PUSHING BACK REPLACEMENT DATE AND THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. KIA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEY ASSIGNED THE ISSUE CASE #K3296615.
- 11/16/2023· ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
No warning lights ever came on. We took the vehicle to the KIA dealer because the fan stayed on when we shut off the engine and the heat stopped working. The KIA dealer said the vehicle needs a new engine due to head gasket leakage. This vehicle clearly has a major engine defect that could cause the vehicle to breakdown at any time with a failed engine. How does an engine fail without the engine light ever coming on? The vehicle has been properly maintained with timely oil changes and fluid checks.
- 11/16/2017· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMCrash
WHILE PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY GOING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD INTO MY GARAGE DOOR WHICH WAS CLOSED AND DAMAGED ANOTHER CAR PARKED IN THE GARAGE. IF THE OTHER CAR WAS NOT THERE TO STOP IT I MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED. I REPORTED THIS TO KIA AND THE INVESTIGATION ONLY SHOWED A BLOWN FUSE WHEN THEY CONNECTED IT TO THE TESTER. THERE ARE TWO OTHER ACCIDENTS THAT I KNOW OF WITH SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR LOSES MONEY DUE TO SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT. BY THE WAY I WAS TURNING RIGHT INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND MY HUSBAND WAS BACKING OUT IN HIS CAR WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE AND HE SAW THE WHOLE THING.
- 11/15/2019· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR DIRECTIONALS FILL WITH RAIN WATER AND STOP FUNCTIONING.
- 11/13/2017· VISIBILITY,VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFFREY KIA (30900 GRATIOT AVE, ROSEVILLE, MI), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000. *BF UPDATED 8/13/18*JB
- 11/12/2016· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, EXPERIENCED LOUD "BUMP" ON SMOOTH HIGHWAY SURFACE WITH SUDDEN AND TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE SPEED. PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART ENGINE. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AT THAT TIME. CRUISE CONTROL WAS OPERATIVE LATER IN THE DAY AFTER ENGINE STOP AND RESTART. TOOK VEHICLE NEXT DAY TO DEALER. DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE.
- 11/04/2023· SERVICE BRAKES
Q: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A:Brake shift lock. Yes, available for inspection upon request. Q: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A: Rolled backwards in driveway, injured foot and brake trying to stop vehicle from passenger side; vehicle rolled into neighbor's driveway before rolling forward to complete halt in the middle of the street. Incident on video occurred Sun 11/4 @ 9:51pm CDT. Q: Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? A: No. Not as of yet on Sun 11/4 @ ~11pm CDT. Q: Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? A: No. Not as of yet on Sun 11/4 @ ~11pm CDT. Q: Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? A: No.
- 11/03/2024· ENGINE
Thursday, October 31, 2024, the engine blew on our Sedona. Approximately 164,000 miles on the engine. We maintained regular maintenance on the engine and oil changes. Left us stranded on a main highway. State Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer protected us until county sheriff could respond. The engine light warning was on.
- 11/01/2022· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Car has a strong gas smell coming from front area through vents, when opened hood strong gas is smelled. Car is now stalling when starting. Afraid that car will burst into flames and explode. I have read that there was a recall due to cracked fuel rail but my 2016 does not fall within the model years. This is ridiculous that it’s the exact same thing happening to my 2016 sedona. The smell of gas is excessive and I had to take all of my kids out of the car and now do not trust to drive it. My car was completely fine and how can something randomly crack and cause this. No light or warning indicates this issue.
- 11/01/2019· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2016 KIA SEDONA AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT EITHER ON THE FREEWAY OR CITY STREET MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON, SOMETIMES THEY WON'T TURN BACK ON UNTIL I TURN THE LIGHTS SWITCH. IT STARTED 2 YEARS AGO BUT NOW IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. ALSO, WHILE MY VAN IS PARKED AND THE ENGINE IS OFF THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNING ON BY THEMSELVES. I KEEP MY SWITCH ON AUTO. I MAKE SURE MY LIGHTS TURN OFF BEFORE LEAVING THE VAN BUT THEN I COME BACK AND THEY ARE ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS DONE THAT. I HAVE TO CARRY A BATTERY CHARGER NOW JUST IN CASE I WON'T BE ABLE TO START MY VAN.
- 11/01/2018· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR FAILS TO LATCH AND LOCK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KING KIA (953 N FREDERICK AVE, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879 (301) 948-3333) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DOOR LATCH WAS NOT BINDING AND THE SLIDING DOOR WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
- 10/30/2019· ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
10-26-19 DRIVING ON HWY AT 60 MPH ON SAT. NIGHT AND I COULD TELL THE CAR HAD LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE. COASTED TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. TRIED TO CRANK. IT WOULD CRANK AND THEN DIE. LIGHTS STILL WORKED. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN TRYING TO CRANK. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 60 MILES TO HOME. TRIED TO CRANK THE FOLLOWING DAY AND SMOKE BILLOWED OUT OF THE EXHAUST. GASOLINE SMELL EXTREMELY STRONG.
- 10/29/2025· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The hitch lifts have went bad. When you open the back hatch it goes all the way up and then immediately goes back down about half way. It’s a huge safety concern. I have been hit in the head numerous times.
- 10/29/2025· ENGINE
My 2016 Kia Sedona had complete engine failure. I was driving home from work in January 2025 with both my young daughters and the vehicle completely died out of nowhere no warning light no check engine light no oil light I was stranded alongside the road with a four year-old and a six year-old in January temperatures for hours. I just had to have the engine completely replaced along with several other parts that needed replaced due to the engine failure. I had just gotten the oil changed less than 30 days before this incident and I’m just now getting the vehicle back after $3500 in repairs. Also, the vehicle is still being financed. I had it about six months when this happened and I currently still owe $10,000 on it! I’m being told to get rid of it as soon as possible because there was an extreme problem of even trying to locate an engine for this vehicle because there is so many problems with this model. This has been an incredible financial burden on me as a single parent. Kia is doing nothing to accommodate the situation. I will add documentation of the repair bill as soon as it is sent to me.
- 10/29/2025· ENGINE
I was driving down the highway and the engine light came on. The car suddenly wouldn't accelerate or go above 1500 rpm. There was also a rattle noise. I limped home and checked the oil. It was bone dry. I get regular oil changes every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. The car burned oil way too fast and gave no warnings that the oil was low and there was no leaking. I'm unsure of the extent of the damage. I'm adding oil and taking it to a mechanic for inspection. I fear I may need a new engine.