Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
1825–50K
2250–75K
1475–100K
17100–150K
11150K+
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
What owners actually said
295 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2021
Electrical System
Frequently, the turn signal will blink on the right when the turn signal switch is set to the left. This is a safety concern for myself and other drivers as they will expect the vehicle to go to the right when it is actually going to the left. I had this repaired at a dealership. This had been an issue for about a year, when …
Read full complaint
Frequently, the turn signal will blink on the right when the turn signal switch is set to the left. This is a safety concern for myself and other drivers as they will expect the vehicle to go to the right when it is actually going to the left. I had this repaired at a dealership. This had been an issue for about a year, when I finally had it repaired.
NHTSA ODI #11423537
150,000 miles · Jun 29, 2021
Electrical System
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving at low speeds, while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the battery post shim needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the fai…
Read full complaint
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving at low speeds, while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the battery post shim needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
NHTSA ODI #11422815
32,000 miles · Jun 21, 2021
EngineFirerelatedFire
The contact owned a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he felt the vehicle was bumping and thought there was a flat tire. The ESP fault and low tire pressure warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle to check the rear passenger tire. While the…
Read full complaint
The contact owned a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he felt the vehicle was bumping and thought there was a flat tire. The ESP fault and low tire pressure warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle to check the rear passenger tire. While the contact was on the phone with roadside assistance, he noticed there was smoke coming from under the hood then there were flames coming from under the hood. A police report was filed. No medical attention was received. The contact was unaware if the fire department extinguished the fire since he got transported by a bystander to her residence nearby. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 32,000.
NHTSA ODI #11421653
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2021
Unknown Or Other
Door grinds and will not shut properly. Gadgets say it’s shut but then once driving it beeps and does not turn off until you stop. So I do not know whether it is actually shut or not. Many forums say this is a known issue with Kia cars.
NHTSA ODI #11421640
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…
Read full complaint
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
3 miles · Apr 19, 2021
Unknown Or Other
TURN LIGHTS AND STICK SIGNALS MOST THE TIME DO NOT WORK APPROPRIATELY I TURN ON TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT SIDE COME ON SOME TIMES NOTHING HAPPENS SOME TIMES I TRY TO USE TO DE LEFT AND THE FOURTH WAY HAZARD COME ON. I REALLY SCARE TO HAVE A CRASH BECAUSE I SEND THE WRONG SIGNAL OR GET A TICKET
NHTSA ODI #11412939
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 …
Read full complaint
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
94,000 miles · Mar 29, 2021
Unknown Or Other
LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILS TO ACTIVATE. LEFT TURN SIGNAL ACTIVES RIGHT TURN INDICATOR. LEFT TURN SIGNAL STARTS TO ACTIVATE THEN FAILS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO INDICATE TURNING INTENTION. VEHICLE IN MOTION, ALL SPEEDS. VEHICLE STOPPED STATIONARY. ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ONGOING…
Read full complaint
LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILS TO ACTIVATE. LEFT TURN SIGNAL ACTIVES RIGHT TURN INDICATOR. LEFT TURN SIGNAL STARTS TO ACTIVATE THEN FAILS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO INDICATE TURNING INTENTION. VEHICLE IN MOTION, ALL SPEEDS. VEHICLE STOPPED STATIONARY. ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ONGOING. STARTED 18 MONTHS AGO, INTERMITTENTLY. NOW PERMANENT.
NHTSA ODI #11405459
54,000 miles · Mar 24, 2021
Electrical SystemCrash
ABOUT 1917 THE POWER SLIDING DOORS STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY. THE DOORS MAKE A LOUD SCREACHING SOUND WHEN CLOSING WHEN STOPPED. & IN MOTION. DOORS DO NOT CLOSE AND LOCK COMPLETELY AND HAVE TO BE CLOSE BY PUSHING IN THE BACK WHERE AND FRAM MEETS. GOT A RECALL ON SLIDING DOORS. WENT 3/22/21 AND ALL THAT WAS DONE WAS TO REPROGRAM T…
Read full complaint
ABOUT 1917 THE POWER SLIDING DOORS STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY. THE DOORS MAKE A LOUD SCREACHING SOUND WHEN CLOSING WHEN STOPPED. & IN MOTION. DOORS DO NOT CLOSE AND LOCK COMPLETELY AND HAVE TO BE CLOSE BY PUSHING IN THE BACK WHERE AND FRAM MEETS. GOT A RECALL ON SLIDING DOORS. WENT 3/22/21 AND ALL THAT WAS DONE WAS TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER. THIS DIDN T FIX THE PROBLEM AT ALL. CALL KIA AND WAS TOLD , HAVE TO FIX ON OWN. DID CALL ABOUT ISSUE IN 2017 TOLD IT WOULD COST OVER $1000.00, COULDN'T AFFORD. ALSO ASKED ABOUT WHY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON AND THAT THE GAS DOOR BUTTON DOESN T OPEN. HAVE TO GET OUT AND HIT GAS DOOR TO OPEN. THOUGHT THAT 100000 WARRENTY WAS TO COVER ANYTHING BUMPER TO BUMPER. WHY PAY THE EXTRA FOR NOTHING.
NHTSA ODI #11404698
57,000 miles · Mar 17, 2021
Exterior Lighting
AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON THE DRIVERSIDE TAILLIGHT WILL GO OUT AND WILL CAUSE THE MIDDLE AND PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT TO STAY ON. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF THE MIDDLE AND PASSENGER TAILLIGHTS WORK ONLY WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDDLE.I HAVE REMOVED THE TAIL LIGHT AND CHECKED IT FOR BEING BURNED OUT, CORROSION OR BE…
Read full complaint
AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON THE DRIVERSIDE TAILLIGHT WILL GO OUT AND WILL CAUSE THE MIDDLE AND PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT TO STAY ON. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF THE MIDDLE AND PASSENGER TAILLIGHTS WORK ONLY WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDDLE.I HAVE REMOVED THE TAIL LIGHT AND CHECKED IT FOR BEING BURNED OUT, CORROSION OR BEING LOOSE AND IT IS FINE. I PUT THE BULB BACK IN AND THE DRIVERS SIDE TAILLIGHT WORKS FINE AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK AS NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME AND I CHECKED THE BULB. AGAIN NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I CHANGED THE BULB WITH A NEW ONE. THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND NEW BULB IN THAT SOCKET. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING OR STANDING STILL WHILE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE ON. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN DECEMBER 2020. IT IS WORRISOME AS YOU ARE DRIVING WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING IF YOU HAVE YOUR HEADLIGHTS ON WHEN IT RAINS DURING THE DAY OR WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL KNOW IT'S HAPPENING IS IF YOU HAPPEN TO GET OUT OF YOUR CAR WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2016 Kia Sedona Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year