Kia Sedona Complaints

2,536 consumer complaints on file.

#11729795April 7, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
137,000 Miles, regular oil changes every 4,000 miles,even adding 2 quarts during the 4,000 miles it would still come up short by 1 quart. Started throwing p0018 timing code,high pressure fuel pump on front blew off the valve cover,Im assuming due to jumping out of timing,as the high pressure pump sits ontop of one of the Camshaft rollers. Engine started knocking and is now useless.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729090April 3, 2026
ENGINE
I am the original owner of a 2016 Kia Sedona, purchased new from the DeMontrond Kia dealership in Houston, Texas, in August 2016. The vehicle currently has 63,400 miles and has been maintained according to standard schedules. Two weeks ago, I noticed a slight knocking sound and took the car to the dealership for an inspection. I was informed that there is sludge buildup in the engine and was told the repair would not be covered under warranty due to alleged owner neglect. The dealership quoted $10,000 for an engine replacement. Prior to this, there were no warning lights or indicators of any issues, and there have been no oil leaks. I have retained most of the records and receipts for the oil changes performed on the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727513March 27, 2026
ENGINE
The vehicle is a 2018 Kia Sedona with approximately 122,000 miles that experienced a catastrophic engine failure resulting in complete engine seizure. The failure has been identified by an independent mechanic as a rod bearing issue. The engine remains intact and is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle is currently not operational and the battery has been disconnected. This vehicle is a family vehicle that regularly transports our four children. At the time of the incident, our [XXX] child was in the vehicle with us. The failure created a serious safety risk. While traveling on the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost power without warning, creating a hazardous situation in active traffic and increasing the risk of a collision. The presence of a young child in the vehicle further heightened the severity of the safety risk. The issue was preceded by a light tapping noise that began approximately 10 miles prior to the failure. Within about one minute before total failure, a loud squealing noise occurred, followed immediately by complete engine shutdown and loss of power. There were no meaningful warnings that would indicate imminent catastrophic failure in time to safely prevent the incident. The problem has been confirmed by an independent repair facility, which diagnosed the engine as seized due to internal failure consistent with rod bearing damage. A Kia dealership and Kia America have both been contacted and declined responsibility for repair. The vehicle has been regularly maintained, with routine oil changes performed as expected. The most recent oil change was completed approximately 2,000 miles prior to the failure. Insurance has confirmed this incident is not covered, as it is a mechanical failure and not the result of an accident or external damage. The vehicle has not been physically inspected by the manufacturer. Police were not involved. This type of failure is consistent with widely reported engine defects across Kia vehicles i INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFOR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727091March 25, 2026
ENGINE
Engine started knocking loosing power just like our 4cylinder GDI engine. These engines are also not safe to be operating
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11726605March 24, 2026
ENGINE
Engine Failure due to rod and bearing failure
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723849March 12, 2026
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle was suddenly rear-ended when the other vehicle failed to stop. As a result, the vehicle was pushed into the vehicle in front. The driver-side and passenger-side air bags did not deploy. After the impact, the contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed. The paramedics evaluated everyone at the scene of the accident. The contact and his family were not injured. The vehicle was towed to a towing yard. A lawyer was contacted, and the lawyer would inform the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723019March 9, 2026
ENGINE
Oil leak caused engine to fail.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11722402March 6, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 107,000. It was later discovered upon checking a Carfax Report that the mileage was 187,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11721656March 3, 2026
ENGINE
Vehicle Information: 2017 Kia Sedona VIN: [XXX] Engine: 3.3L GDI Mileage at failure: 186,000 miles Complaint: I am filing this complaint regarding sudden engine failure in my 2017 Kia Sedona equipped with the 3.3L GDI engine. The vehicle had approximately 186,000 miles at the time of failure and had just undergone a routine oil change prior to the incident. While driving on the highway, a warning light illuminated on the dashboard. Shortly after the warning light appeared, the engine began making a loud knocking sound. The knocking rapidly worsened, indicating internal engine damage. The failure occurred while the vehicle was in motion at highway speed, creating a serious safety risk due to potential loss of power and reduced ability to accelerate or maneuver safely. The vehicle was diagnosed as requiring a full engine replacement. The estimated cost provided was $5,758.05 for the engine, plus an additional $1,800 core charge, not including labor costs. This represents a substantial financial burden. It is my understanding that Kia has prior knowledge of widespread issues involving GDI engines, including premature internal bearing failure and engine seizure in multiple models. Despite this knowledge, the 2017 Kia Sedona with the 3.3L GDI engine has not been adequately addressed. Sudden engine failure at highway speeds poses a significant safety hazard and increases the risk of collision. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the 3.3L GDI engine used in the 2017 Kia Sedona for potential manufacturing defects related to premature engine failure and internal component damage. Thanks, [XXX] [XXX] 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
#11721501March 2, 2026
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving in sunlight, the contact became aware of bubbles on the windshield, causing blurred vision while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720047February 23, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Auto dealer fraud 8/3 2024 dealership sold me a title washed lemon with major safety hazards Defective unrepairable components Discovered later after purchase P0885 limp mode Fire hazard the vehicle may catch on fire when parked Went back to the dealership that I purchased from for a P0885 on December 4 2024 Returned Back to me march 18 2025 with a blown motor I asked the tow truck driver to be a witness to me firing up the vehicle for documentation Rey Prado of Prado towing located in Delaware he can verify my account Of events will give statement Dealership breached a bonded contract from a November 2021 purchase a 2004 ford f 250 super duty pick up truck vin# [XXX] and placed the title on the loan for the 2006 Kia Sedona without my prior knowledge the vehicle was purchased August 8 2024 with the cosign on August 21 2024 the dealer and staff purposely held the the buyer’s and purchasing agreement to pack the loan , the purchase agreement was finally given to me December 13 2024 after months of delay from the owners and staff . Owner finally told me on a march 17 2025 phone call he kept my title as a vested interest after I paid it off full in our contract agreement 8 months after the contract was signed the dealership operated in a Criminal Civil Rico fashion with me and is and has been extremely uncooperative with since I have been demanding all the original contracts for both vehicles , on February 20 while reviewing documentation that I was told was my title release forms I noticed a difference in dates they had me sign and date at the bottom 12/13/24 but the top of of the document it had a date of 12/2/2024 I didn’t realize this at first because they had me so confused about the van deal the truck title it seemed very systematic and intentional like they were purposely trying to confuse me about both contracts and my title it’s been a nightmare since then Please please please some one help my my mind and body are suffering because of this INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719444February 20, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owned a 2008 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked at a friend’s residence, the contact exited the vehicle and took the baby she was caring for inside the residence of the friend. Upon returning outside, the contact became aware that the vehicle was on fire and the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The Fire Marshall informed the contact that the fire had started in the engine compartment. Additionally, a Fire Report was filed; however, the information was unavailable. The fire caused damage to the friend residence. The contact stated that the fire melted the aluminum siding on the house. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was covered under a liability insurance policy. The vehicle was a total loss. The homeowners insurance Fire Inspector tagged the vehicle and requested that the vehicle remain on the premises. The vehicle was still located at the residence, as per the Fire Inspector. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 315,465.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717582February 12, 2026
ENGINE
I was driving my car, all of a sudden there was a loud knocking sound. The car suddenly wouldn’t accelerate. I was in the middle of a busy intersection with kids! I am 95 pounds, I can’t push the van! After being hit. I managed to get it moved with help. My van only had 108,000 miles on it! Took it to a mechanic, said needed an engine as there was no oil in it. How is that possible? We just changed it a month prior. It’s out of warranty by 8000 miles so Kia will not do anything! I’m sorry, but there are numerous complaints about this, yet nothing is being done! Now I’m having to pay 5000+ to replace an engine because Kia is just terrible!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717253February 11, 2026
ENGINE
My family and I were all driving in the car. We were at a stoplight, and fully stopped as it was a red light. All of a sudden, we heard a weird noise, and all of the dash lights on our car appeared, and then the car fully turned off. We could not get the car back on, and it would not start. Prior to this, it was driving totally fine, and we had no lights on our dashboard indicating something was wrong. Just stopped out of nowhere. If we were on the freeway, and our car just immediately turned off, we could have been in a major, life-threatening accident. After 2-3 times of trying to restart the car, we were able to turn it on, and at least get it into neutral so we could move it off the side of the road. We were able to get it towed to a Kia dealership in which they diagnosed it as engine failure and said we would need to replace the whole engine. This car is around 10 years old and has less than 130,000 miles. It has been meticulously maintained according to Kia standards, and there should be no reason that a well maintained car should need a new engine at this point. We had frequent oil changes, and even had an oil leak that we had to repair just a couple months ago.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716567February 8, 2026
ENGINE
My husband and I originally bought our White 2017 Kia Sedona LX on 9/12/18 from Hertz automotive sales. Since that time we had had no engine issues. We maintained our brakes, and standard upkeeps on the car. Eight years in and still our car had given us no issues. Our most recent oil change was on 9/13/25 and it was inspected during that oil change and no issues were noted. The car had since that time been driven as expected to school for kids and work for myself and activities on the weekend for family time. There was no weird smells, discolored smoke from the tail piper or anything. The car was running fine. At no time were any warning signals on, flashing or intermittently coming on and off. Then on Thursday, 1/22/26 evening I stopped by the gas station to get gas before turning into my neighborhood for home. Upon leaving the gas station, I noticed and felt the engine seemed off and vibrating with soft tremor like shaking and as I pressed on the gas for power it was soft power, and at that moment only did I see the check engine light on solid (not flashing). I called my husband and a few mins later we made it home, he came out to check the car, and saw now that the engine light was flashing over and over. We read up on what this meant and new we had a problem. We dropped the car off on Saturday to the mechanic and on Monday, 1/26/26 a diagnostic was made and was given the bad news that the engine had complete failure. $18,000 bill to fix all the issues. But here is a short synopsis: Multiple codes found in ECM Metal found in oil, oil is also 1 or more quarts low P0300 (Random misfire), P0302 (CYL #2 misfire), p0304, (CYL#4 misfire) p0306. (CYL#6 misfire) p0175, (bank 2 rich) p0018 (crank - cam correlation) Engine has internal failure, failing piston rings allowing oil in combustion chamber, causing misfire, rich condition and engine shaking This was a shock and we had to sell it for nothing to a salvage company.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713242January 25, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My 2017 Kia Sedona has has regular oil changes about every 3000 miles. I was not due for an oil change quite yet and a ticking noise coming from the engine started to occur. I made an appointment at the Kia dealership right away. Just a few days before my appointment there was no warning light for the oil or engine until the engine failed, went limp and I lost power steering control, the brakes went stiff and all of the lights came on at once. It was very scary for me and my two children to lose that control of the vehicle. It can be inspected at Berlin City Kia where it currently sits and is in need of a replacement engine. After much research I have seen that this is a known issue for Kia engines and for some reason the 2017 Sedona is not included in any extended warranty's. Please investigate this. I did ask Kia for help in covering the replacement engine but was denied by the woman who I spoke to on the phone. I still put in a claim online anyway. It has been inspected by Berlin City Kia and they said there was "significant rod knocking". They are quoting me $9880 to replace the engine. After regular oil changes for the time that I have owned this vehicle and especially after I has the oil pressure sensor leak addressed as well over the last few years, it should not have died prematurely as it did. I am worried that the oil leaking so badly at that time may have pooled in the back of the engine which could have led to the rods wearing which in turn led to them knocking in the future. What else could cause this to happen? And so many other customers have complained about this exact issue. Please investigate this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712246January 20, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My Husband was driving my van with me and my 2 children inside the vehicle and the vehicle lost all power and stalled in the middle of the road and would not restart there was no warning light no noise from the motor or anything. The problem has been confirmed by a independent garage and a Kia dealer this happened on 12/20/25
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711006January 14, 2026
WHEELS:RIM, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sedona. While driving approximately 30 MPH on a main road, the steering wheel started shaking abnormally and became difficult to control. The vehicle was driven to a tire shop and then to an independent mechanic. Additionally, the sliding doors failed to open as needed, the steering wheel occasionally seized, there was tread separation in the tires, and the wheels were bent. The mechanic inspected the tires and steering system, performed a safety inspection, and determined that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The tires were replaced, and the wheels were repaired; however, the sliding doors were not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,245.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710621January 13, 2026
ENGINE
Engine with around 107K miles has had regular maintenance done to it. Went out one morning to start my van and there was a knocking noise coming from under the hood. We then had it towed to an engine/transmission repair shop to have it looked at and was told that we needed a new/used engine and the price was thru the roof. this is a very trusted shop so took there advice. To have the engine replaced is going to cost more than what the vehicle is worth. This is a known issue with some kia engines as they with no signs of failure prior to the noise. We had not one warning light on the dash, it just went poof.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710095January 10, 2026
ENGINE
Motor Blew
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Sedona