Kia Sedona Complaints (2016)

297 consumer complaints on file.

#11693607October 15, 2025
ENGINE
Van completely locked up on me. Oil dipstick no oil, seems this is an issue and a Kia problem. Seems I need a new engine. Regular oil changes with no issues prior to this happening to me.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693362October 14, 2025
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle from the dealer, the air bag warning light illuminated while driving, and the front passenger’s seat detection system failed to detect a passenger. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V109000 (Electrical System). The contact was also informed that a diagnostic test was needed to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693488October 14, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Engine replacement KIA had it for 8 months got it back and engine blew up again.. now they want service records on the first when it is the second motor. Trying to get away from replacing the motor.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11691312October 3, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
My White Kia Sedona Van's paint is flaking and peeling off all around the vehicle. This is not due to poor car of the vehicle or accident due to making contact with any other vehicles or objects. It is literally just falling off of the vehicle. It started about a year ago and is getting significantly worse.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11690730October 1, 2025
ENGINE, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle lost motive power and drove forward about the length of the vehicle before the vehicle stalled. The contact and the occupants were stranded for an hour. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who replaced the starter and informed the contact that the piston or tie rod was fractured. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 222,627.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11690097September 27, 2025
ENGINE
I was driving in normal operating conditions, with no traffic when suddenly the engine seized. After contacting a towing company to get my vehicle home, I started checking for anything I could find and noticed that it had zero oil and no visual signs of a leak anywhere. There were never any warning lights or sounds until it abruptly stopped. I have not had it looked at by anyone other than myself and a neighbor whom is a mechanic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11687471September 15, 2025
AIR BAGS
I am filing a formal complaint against Kia regarding Recall SC175 affecting this vehicle Kia has refused to perform this recall on my vehicle, claiming that the work was already completed. However, after reviewing the official campaign documentation (NHTSA Campaign Documentation – SC175), it is evident that the corrective work specified by the recall was not performed on my vehicle. My vehicle continues to exhibit the issue addressed by Recall SC175, confirming that either the recall was not carried out or was performed incorrectly. Despite this, Kia maintains that no further action is necessary because their records indicate completion. At this time, Kia is refusing to address a known safety recall. I am documenting this with NHTSA so that it is formally recorded that Kia is declining to remedy a required recall on one of their vehicles. Please advise on what steps I may take next to ensure compliance and resolution.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11687480September 15, 2025
ENGINE
Engine overheating and check engine light went on. Vehicle would not start after shutting down.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11681934August 20, 2025
ENGINE
My 2016 Sedona’s engine is not operational. At this moment it is sitting at the dealership after having a diagnostic completed in which I was informed that it will cost me $21,000+ to replace my engine. I am SHOCKED to be informed of this! I love my car! It is our family car full of precious memories! There were no warnings that something was wrong with my engine. Not a single one came on - believe me I would have taken a picture of it to inform the mechanic for it to be serviced. I have had it serviced repeatedly for oil changes; more oil changes than what should be done for the age and milage according to the manual. It is not due to my lack of competence and poor maintenance. I've done my part. Now to find out that I can't drive it. Now to find out that I don't have anything reliable to get my children to school, is unacceptable! This is a major issue that should be covered by Kia, not out of my own pocket. The engine and its ability to function properly is your responsibility as a company. Engine problems with this model have been noted by others, and resolved. Please resolve this issue as soon as possible. I look forward to hearing from you.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11681268August 18, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact owned a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the vehicle was traded for another vehicle at the used car dealer while the mileage was 220,000; however, the used car dealer later listed the mileage as 180,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11679600August 9, 2025
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SEAT BELTS
In Feb of 2023, my van had no known issues and out of nowhere it started making a terrible noise, every light in the dash came on, my power steering stopped working and then my engine shut off. I had it towed to a mechanic shop, they said it needed an engine. I had it towed to our local KIA dealership. They said it did not need an engine, it only needed a timing chain. That was $8000. We decided to get it done. 4 weeks later exactly from when we picked it up, I was on the interstate and the exact thing happened. I had it towed back to our local KIA. They stated it now needed an engine and it would be a used engine because they do not manufacture the engine anymore. It had over 60K miles on it and it would be $13K not including shipping or labor. We decided not to do this. After further investigation, this should have been under warranty the entire time and we never should have spent any money on it. This has been a terribly unreliable “family car”. I will NEVER buy a KIA again. My family is still suffering from paying $8K+ to have it “fixed”.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11679107August 7, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Was traveling along Interstate 95 when the engine failed without any warning signs!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677966August 2, 2025
AIR BAGS
My vehicle has a recall 19V109000. The description of the issue is "Over time, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) wiring harness located underneath the front passenger seat may break from the seat being occupied." This issue has been diagnosed as having this very specific problem, Kia claims that this problem was previously fixed in my car, however it has not been fixed. I have been trying for sometime to get Kia and my local Kia Dealer to fix it but they just keep responding that this was already fixed. A closer look and its obvious this was never done. I don't have the exact date of when I first noticed it, the harness is damaged and the issue goes away from time to time, and my attempts to fix it have gone back a couple of years, and have gotten nowhere when trying to work with Kia.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676407July 26, 2025
ENGINE
Engine Failure
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675783July 24, 2025
ENGINE
Timing Chain Failure/Cam Shaft Failure/Bank 2 Failure/drastic loss of engine oil. Got home before engine seized, could have crashed if engine failed on freeway. Codes confirmed techs suspicion. No warning lights or notifications appeared on dashboard.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673557July 15, 2025
ENGINE, STEERING, AIR BAGS
I have a 2016 kia sedona. Engines on the vehicle have been known to be bad and I already had 1 engine replaced under their extended warranty that covers to 150000 miles after a blown head gasket. I got a new engine 11/2024 however car overheats & coolant leak everywhere&bust hoses. I was told to replace radiator and all cooling/heater hoses, but video show coolant bubbling car still overheating. Replaced one loose hose under warranty. Car overheats again was told to replace relay switch for fan another. Dealer crash my car waited a month for parts and they never repaired damages to my bumper and airbag light. 2 month later car overheats again now coolant spraying into trunk and hose pop again now at heater core. There is no light notice of when car overheating tiil very hot. Or someone tells me my car is smoking by then it is followed by a loud noise and coolant leaking everywhere again. This time the overheating bust the heater core hose in my trunk and was spraying coolant all in trunk while I was getting ready to get of freeway. Very scary. I pulled over just in time for noise and coolant to leak out everything from resovoir again. This is my family car and have 5 kids under 18 and feel very unsafe now. Despite paying for everything kia suggest every 1-2 months they still fail to find cause of overheating and constant hoses breaking or coming loose after the pressure build up and I am scared this car will catch fire or stall one day with my children in car. Already noticed sometime its like car struggles to accelerate despite a supposed new engine but car been constantly overheating even after engine replacement and it also still causes sludge in hose& had 4 coolant flushes in a year and new hoses and now seems people working on car not sure what they doing because I was told I needed new heater hoses 2months later they didn't know my heater core was at back car so didn't replace so this hose burst despite kia recommendation to replace. Please help b4 it too late
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11671688July 7, 2025
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 50 MPH, the contact heard a knocking sound coming from the engine and the vehicle lost power. The contact was able to pull over to the right side of the road, turned off the vehicle for several minutes, restart the vehicle, and the vehicle worked as intended. There were no warning lights illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case; however, the case number was not available. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 88,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671227July 4, 2025
ENGINE
In October 2024 we broke down on the highway outside of DesMoines, IA. The van slowed considerably in the midst of 11am traffic on I [XXX] from a lack of power, not from applying the brakes. Cars behind us had no warning, but no one hit us. The 4-way flashers and turn signals would not engage. There was no warning from the dashboard of a pending issue. Trent’s Garage in Clive, IA determined the main reason was an internal oil leak that damaged the alternator, which they replaced along with the right-side valve cover gasket. There was an earlier incident that I attributed to a service mistake. Shortly after Napleton Elmhurst Kia in IL serviced the vehicle in June 2023, it began to hesitate and become unresponsive while we were driving. There was no indication from the dash lights or from our garage floor that the engine was leaking any fluids or was low on oil, but I checked the oil at a suggestion from my wife. It barely registered on the dipstick. I added oil and the van ran fine. I now monitor the oil level regularly and add a quart of oil every 1000 miles. There is still no visible oil leak. Napleton Kia Service told me nothing could be done short of replacing the engine, and that I should change the oil more frequently (April 2025) than their original recommendation of every 5000 miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670277June 30, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Rain water continually collects in both brakelight/taillight assemblies at the rear of the van. This causes the bulbs for the turn signal and brake light to burn out. This has been an issue since we purchased the vehicle in 2016. Initially, we could change the bulb(s) and they would last a while but now the passenger side bulb(s) can be replaced and burn out immediately! We have burned through dozens of bulbs since owning the van. On 6/17/25 I took the van to Valvoline in Circleville, Ohio for an oil change and replacement of the rear passenger turn signal bulb. On inspection he informed me that both brake lights were out as well as the right turn signal. He was able to replace the left brake light after dumping water out of the casing but the right side was so full of water he wouldn't even touch the bulbs because he said it would do no good. He recommended I get new casings/housing assemblies for both sides. In reading about this issue, it appears to be a problem not only for me but for many others. It was noted that several owners had holes drilled in the housing as "drain" holes and that the issue was corrected and/or improved in the later models. I believe this to be a huge safety issue due to the fact that it involves braking and turning and the increased risk of getting hit from behind.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669611June 26, 2025
ENGINE
in June 2026 sever engine knocking at startup and during slight acceleration lead us to have vehicle inspected. there were no warring lights on and no other indicators of issues. An independent mechanic as well as a Kia dealer performed inspections and indicated a lifter bearing failure due to inadequate oil delivery. at the time the oil level was within range and within 3,500 miles since the previous oil change. Dealer indicated a complete engine replacement was needed due to the bearing failure and damage to the lifters.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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