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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

Seat Belts complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2025
EngineSeat BeltsUnknown Or Other

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 …

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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”.

NHTSA ODI #11679600

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2021
Air BagsSeat 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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11442938

45,000 miles · Dec 2, 2020
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSeat 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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11377600

119,000 miles · Oct 21, 2019
Air BagsSeat Belts

AIRBAGS - THE SENSOR LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AT RANDOM TIMES, THEN WILL TURN OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN COME BACK ON. THERE IS NOT ONE CERTAIN THING THAT CAUSES THIS (IE BUMPS, BREAKING, ACCELERATION, ETC). NOT SURE IF THIS IS A BAD SENSOR ISSUE OR WHAT IT COULD BE. SEATBELTS - FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT WILL 'LOCK' INTO P…

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AIRBAGS - THE SENSOR LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AT RANDOM TIMES, THEN WILL TURN OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN COME BACK ON. THERE IS NOT ONE CERTAIN THING THAT CAUSES THIS (IE BUMPS, BREAKING, ACCELERATION, ETC). NOT SURE IF THIS IS A BAD SENSOR ISSUE OR WHAT IT COULD BE. SEATBELTS - FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT WILL 'LOCK' INTO PLACE WHILE DRIVING (LIKE AFTER YOU WOULD STOP SUDDENLY), AND THE ONLY WAY TO UNDO IT, IS TO RELEASE THE SEATBELT.

NHTSA ODI #11270102

36,400 miles · Sep 12, 2018
Seat Belts

CENTER SEAT BELT IN THE MIDDLE BACK ROW WHICH PULLS DOWN FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE FAILED WHEN MAKING A QUICK STOP TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT DUE TO ANOTHER CAR IMPROPERLY CHANGING LANES INTO OUR LANE. SPEED OF TRAVEL WAS 45MPH ON THE STRAIGHT AWAY ON A CITY STREET. THE PASSENGER'S HEAD WAS AIMING FOR THE CENTER CONSOLE AND WAS BUF…

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CENTER SEAT BELT IN THE MIDDLE BACK ROW WHICH PULLS DOWN FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE FAILED WHEN MAKING A QUICK STOP TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT DUE TO ANOTHER CAR IMPROPERLY CHANGING LANES INTO OUR LANE. SPEED OF TRAVEL WAS 45MPH ON THE STRAIGHT AWAY ON A CITY STREET. THE PASSENGER'S HEAD WAS AIMING FOR THE CENTER CONSOLE AND WAS BUFFERED BY THE PASSENGER EXTENDING HIS HANDS TO NOT HIT THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE SEAT BELT APPEARS TO BE WORKING NOW, BUT WE CANNOT BE SURE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY OR IF THE OTHERS MAY ALSO WORK INTERMITTENTLY IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA ODI #11129079

28,500 miles · Oct 18, 2017
Air BagsSeat Belts

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF FREQUENTLY WITH NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF WITH NO PASSENGER AND NOTHING IN THE SEAT. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OR AT START UP OF THE VEHICLE THE LIGHTS MAY STAY ON. I FEAR THAT IF NEEDED MY AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #11034238

Mileage unknown · Dec 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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10937169

3,000 miles · Apr 8, 2016
Seat Belts

FRONT SEAT BELT UNLATCHES AND RETRACTS WHEN OBJECT ACCIDENTALLY SLID OFF CONSOLE BETWEEN FRONT SEATS AND FELL ONTO SEATBELT LOCKING MECHANISM. THIS OCCURRED DURING A LEFTWARD TURN. REPRODUCIBLE BY DROPPING CELL PHONE ONTO MECHANISM.

NHTSA ODI #10854452

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.