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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

295 reports
55,657 miles · Oct 30, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

10-26-19 DRIVING ON HWY AT 60 MPH ON SAT. NIGHT AND I COULD TELL THE CAR HAD LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE. COASTED TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. TRIED TO CRANK. IT WOULD CRANK AND THEN DIE. LIGHTS STILL WORKED. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN TRYING TO CRANK. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 60 MILES TO HOME. TRIED TO CRANK THE FO…

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10-26-19 DRIVING ON HWY AT 60 MPH ON SAT. NIGHT AND I COULD TELL THE CAR HAD LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE. COASTED TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. TRIED TO CRANK. IT WOULD CRANK AND THEN DIE. LIGHTS STILL WORKED. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN TRYING TO CRANK. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 60 MILES TO HOME. TRIED TO CRANK THE FOLLOWING DAY AND SMOKE BILLOWED OUT OF THE EXHAUST. GASOLINE SMELL EXTREMELY STRONG.

NHTSA ODI #11277054

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

75,000 miles · Oct 20, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

OUR VEHICLE HAS THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY LIGHT, ABS, LIGHT ON. IT OVER HEATS IF SITTING STILL. THE COOLING FAN IS NOT WORKING REPLACED THE FUSE RELAY. FOR THE COOLING FAN, STILL NO COOLING FAN. CONSTANTLY FILLING THE COOLANT. IT SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL BUT I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR A PRO TO SEE IF IT IS RECALL RELATED. WHEN THE LIGHT…

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OUR VEHICLE HAS THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY LIGHT, ABS, LIGHT ON. IT OVER HEATS IF SITTING STILL. THE COOLING FAN IS NOT WORKING REPLACED THE FUSE RELAY. FOR THE COOLING FAN, STILL NO COOLING FAN. CONSTANTLY FILLING THE COOLANT. IT SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL BUT I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR A PRO TO SEE IF IT IS RECALL RELATED. WHEN THE LIGHT FIRST CAME ON WHILE THE VAN WAS IN MOTION 55 MPH, THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND WENT OFF THREE TIMES FOR STAYING ON. " ABS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, THIS IS WHEN THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM STARTED WHILE IDLING.

NHTSA ODI #11269601

40,000 miles · Oct 4, 2019
Electrical System

I HAVE NEEDED TO HAVE THE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR MOTORS REPLACED (ONCE IN 2018, CURRENTLY WORKING ON IT A SECOND TIME 2019) AS THE DOORS WOULD NOT FULLY LATCH. THEY WOULD CLOSE INTO POSITION IN THE FRONT LATCH BUT WOULD NOT PULL COMPLETELY SHUT IN THE BACK PART OF THE DOOR. ONCE THE DOOR IS PUSHED SHUT, IT STAYS SHUT, BUT YOU …

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I HAVE NEEDED TO HAVE THE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR MOTORS REPLACED (ONCE IN 2018, CURRENTLY WORKING ON IT A SECOND TIME 2019) AS THE DOORS WOULD NOT FULLY LATCH. THEY WOULD CLOSE INTO POSITION IN THE FRONT LATCH BUT WOULD NOT PULL COMPLETELY SHUT IN THE BACK PART OF THE DOOR. ONCE THE DOOR IS PUSHED SHUT, IT STAYS SHUT, BUT YOU NEED TO PUSH IT TO CLOSE IT. I HAVE A VIDEO BUT I CANNOT UPLOAD IT.

NHTSA ODI #11266163

70,000 miles · Aug 16, 2019
Electrical System

THE PASSENGER MOTORIZED SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT ALWAY LATCH CLOSED. THERE IS A SERVICE ADVISORY TO REPAIR BUT NO RECALL. VEHICLE FAILING TO LATCH COULD CAUSE THE DOOR TO OPEN WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI #11244322

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2019
Unknown Or Other

SIGNAL LIGHTS DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK WHEN THEY TURNED ON. IN SOME INSTANCES IF I TURN SIGNAL ON TO GO RIGHT, LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT COMES ON. HEADLIGHTS CAN ALSO TURN OFF UPON TURNING ON SIGNAL LIGHTS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11231418

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2019
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND THE REAR DOORS UNLOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE RADIO SHORTED IN AND OUT. CENTURY KIA OF TAMPA (4340 W HILLSBOROUGH AVE, TAMPA, FL 33614, (844) 757-2536) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND THE REAR DOORS UNLOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE RADIO SHORTED IN AND OUT. CENTURY KIA OF TAMPA (4340 W HILLSBOROUGH AVE, TAMPA, FL 33614, (844) 757-2536) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO RECEIVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11219299

50,000 miles · May 21, 2019
Unknown Or Other

I WAS USING MY BLUETOOTH AND MY RADIO AND BLUE TOOTH STOPPED WORKING. IT SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. WHEN I TRIED TALKING THE PEOPLE ON THE PHONE COULD NOT HEAR ME AND I COULD NOT HEAR THEM. WHEN I SHUT OFF THE BLUETOOTH THE PERSON COULD HEAR ME AND I COULD HEAR THEM. IF I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON IT STIL…

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I WAS USING MY BLUETOOTH AND MY RADIO AND BLUE TOOTH STOPPED WORKING. IT SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. WHEN I TRIED TALKING THE PEOPLE ON THE PHONE COULD NOT HEAR ME AND I COULD NOT HEAR THEM. WHEN I SHUT OFF THE BLUETOOTH THE PERSON COULD HEAR ME AND I COULD HEAR THEM. IF I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON IT STILL WOULDN'T WORK. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES IT STARTED WORKING LIKE IT SHOULD AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #11208880

74,000 miles · May 16, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS EVERYDAY, AND AT NIGHT. TWO THINGS, ONE THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT ENGAGE, YOU'LL PUSH THE STALK UP/DOWN TO INDICATE A LEFT OR RIGHT-HAND TURN, AND THE EXTERNAL SIGNALS DO NOT LIGHT. EITHER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL OR PUSHING THE TURN SIGNAL STALK BACK TO THE CENTER POSITION AND THEN PUSHING THE STA…

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THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS EVERYDAY, AND AT NIGHT. TWO THINGS, ONE THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT ENGAGE, YOU'LL PUSH THE STALK UP/DOWN TO INDICATE A LEFT OR RIGHT-HAND TURN, AND THE EXTERNAL SIGNALS DO NOT LIGHT. EITHER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL OR PUSHING THE TURN SIGNAL STALK BACK TO THE CENTER POSITION AND THEN PUSHING THE STALK BACK TO THE DESIRED LEFT/RIGHT INDICATOR. ALSO AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES. YOU USUAULLY HAVE TO RAPIDLY WORK THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THE END OF THE TURN SIGNAL STALK TO GET THEM TO TURN BACK ON. THIS IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT, AND KIA REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11208005

23,000 miles · May 15, 2019
Engine

WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A SPONTANEOUS EXPLOSION FROM UNDER THE HOOD ACCOMPANIED BY A GUSH OF OIL FROM UNDER THE CAR. THE CAR DID NOT CATCH FIRE BUT THERE WERE SPARKS. THE OIL THAT SPILLED FROM UNDER THE CAR CAUSED THE CAR TO SLIP OUT OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #11207823

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.