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2016 Kia Sedona

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sedona years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Kia Sedona are substantially higher than the model-year median of 120.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

100 reports with mileage · 195 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 146 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports14 fire reports9 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

37 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2022
Exterior Lighting

Headlights will randomly turn off and flicker on and off. Has happened multiple times and on dark roads

NHTSA ODI #11496530

100,000 miles · Oct 24, 2022
Exterior Lighting

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s side low-beam headlight failed to operate. The contact stated that the front driver's side low-beam headlight intermittently illuminated and then failed to operate as designed. The contact stated that he was unsu…

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The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s side low-beam headlight failed to operate. The contact stated that the front driver's side low-beam headlight intermittently illuminated and then failed to operate as designed. The contact stated that he was unsure what repair was performed; however, the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The contact then stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s and passenger side low-beam headlights failed to operate. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the headlight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000

NHTSA ODI #11490608

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2022
Exterior Lighting

The tail lights continue to stay on even when the car is parked and no one is pressing the brakes. The driver needs to press multiple times the brake pedal to turn them off. I constantly have to buy light bulbs for the rear-end brake lights because of this issue. The Kia Dealership Service Center check the issue and couldn't fin…

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The tail lights continue to stay on even when the car is parked and no one is pressing the brakes. The driver needs to press multiple times the brake pedal to turn them off. I constantly have to buy light bulbs for the rear-end brake lights because of this issue. The Kia Dealership Service Center check the issue and couldn't find anything other than the light bulb was out. This safety issue confuses drivers behind because it doesn't know if the person driving is braking or what.

NHTSA ODI #11480140

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2022
Exterior Lighting

we received notice for safety recall that the tail lights and turn signal lights could fail and they needed to change something to do with computer.we took it in and left with lights working and 3days later they stopped working again.Kia is refusing to fix it on the recall but it is the same issue.

NHTSA ODI #11452946

136,758 miles · Dec 8, 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 lig…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11443162

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2021
Exterior Lighting

There are two issues I believe both are connected. Number 1. Sometimes when I put on the left blinker either nothing happens at all or the wrong blinker (right side) will go on instead of the left. Number 2. Sometimes when I put on my left blinker the headlights will turn off. It can be really scary when this happens on a da…

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There are two issues I believe both are connected. Number 1. Sometimes when I put on the left blinker either nothing happens at all or the wrong blinker (right side) will go on instead of the left. Number 2. Sometimes when I put on my left blinker the headlights will turn off. It can be really scary when this happens on a dark highway at night.

NHTSA ODI #11427538

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2021
Exterior Lighting

The problem is the multi function switch. In the AUTO mode, the head lights go off randomly. This is a super dangerous at night. Also, when the left turn signal is activated, sometimes the flasher doesn't work and you have to jiggle it or turn it off and on again and sometimes the right flasher goes on. The dealer service could …

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The problem is the multi function switch. In the AUTO mode, the head lights go off randomly. This is a super dangerous at night. Also, when the left turn signal is activated, sometimes the flasher doesn't work and you have to jiggle it or turn it off and on again and sometimes the right flasher goes on. The dealer service could not confirm the problem and did nothing. These problems happen at random times and have been ongoing for about 18 months.

NHTSA ODI #11425932

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2021
Exterior Lighting

Malfunctioning indicator stalk/switch. Left blinker either won't function or will cause right blinker to indicate. Dangerous because creates confusion to other drivers and is a distraction.

NHTSA ODI #11424914

104,000 miles · May 27, 2021
Exterior LightingCrash

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 mph and while making a left turn, the vehicle made slight contact with a second vehicle. While viewing the second vehicle's video dashcam it was discovered that the driver's side rear signal light did not illuminate. Upon inspection, th…

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The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 mph and while making a left turn, the vehicle made slight contact with a second vehicle. While viewing the second vehicle's video dashcam it was discovered that the driver's side rear signal light did not illuminate. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that water had leaked into the rear light housing and the bulb was submerged in water causing the bulb to become inoperable. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. During the crash, no injuries were reported and a police report was taken at the scene. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #11418760

70,000 miles · Apr 18, 2021
Exterior LightingStructure

DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. MUST PUSH ON BACK SIDE FOR IT TO CLOSE. BLINKERS DON'T WORK PROPERLY. PUT ON LEFT BLINKER AND RIGHT BLINKER TURNS ON. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL WORK CORRECTLY. I HAD THE DOOR RECALL FIXED AND THE SERVICE PERSON THOUGHT IT WOULD FIX ALL THE PROBLEMS BUT IT DID NOT. THEN A FEW MONTHS …

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DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. MUST PUSH ON BACK SIDE FOR IT TO CLOSE. BLINKERS DON'T WORK PROPERLY. PUT ON LEFT BLINKER AND RIGHT BLINKER TURNS ON. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL WORK CORRECTLY. I HAD THE DOOR RECALL FIXED AND THE SERVICE PERSON THOUGHT IT WOULD FIX ALL THE PROBLEMS BUT IT DID NOT. THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER THE BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. ONLY THE TOP BRAKE LIGHT WORKS ON THE WINDOW.

NHTSA ODI #11408604

Official recalls

4

22V612000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Aug 10, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.

Remedy: 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.

21V725000 · Electrical System:software; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

Sep 17, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A turn signal activating in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

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.

Consequence: A turn signal activating in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

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.

Consequence: A turn signal activating in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

19V109000 · Electrical System:wiring

Feb 19, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

18V338000 · Electrical System:software; Structure:body:door

May 23, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the door closes on an occupant, there is an increased risk of an injury.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

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.

Consequence: If the door closes on an occupant, there is an increased risk of an injury.

Remedy: 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.

Structure:body:door

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.

Consequence: If the door closes on an occupant, there is an increased risk of an injury.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP24002 · 3.3L Engine Loss Of Motive Power (lomp)

Opened Feb 27, 2024 · Closed Mar 5, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on February 20, 2024, requesting the opening of an investigation into an alleged defect of the "engine" on the following vehicle model stated by the petitioner: 2016 Kia Sedona vehicles equipped with the 3.3L V-Shaped GDI Lambda-II engine. The petitioner raised the issue of a Loss of Motive Power. On November 13, 2023, ODI opened PE23-019 to address allegations of loss of motive power, on the 3.3L V6 Lambda-II engine for 2016-2017 Kia Sorento and included the 2016 Kia Sedona as a peer vehicle. This investigation is ongoing and addresses the potential safety-related defect raised by the petitioner.  In view of the open Investigation, PE23-019, ODI considers the petition moot and is closing this action.  The closing of the petition does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.  The Agency reserves the right to make that determination at the close of PE23-019.