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2018 Kia Sedona

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Kia Sedona are lower than the model-year median of 120.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 14 of 48 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

48 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2023
Unknown Or Other

Something came through the front grill and damaged the a/c condenser. Grill is open holes and doesn’t provide enough protection to the condenser and radiator.

NHTSA ODI #11504405

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2022
Steering

Steering wheel became stiff and it's not steering. Yes, vehicle is available for inspection. Driving on freeway with my children in the vehicle when wheel became stiff. Was able to get off ramp and get home. Incident happened on 10/02/2022, currently on 2 hour hold with Kia (800-333-4542). Called local dealership, but was sent…

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Steering wheel became stiff and it's not steering. Yes, vehicle is available for inspection. Driving on freeway with my children in the vehicle when wheel became stiff. Was able to get off ramp and get home. Incident happened on 10/02/2022, currently on 2 hour hold with Kia (800-333-4542). Called local dealership, but was sent to voice mail for service department. No, vehicle has not been inspected. There were no warning lamps or messages at time of incident nor prior symptoms. Turned vehicle on this AM (10/03/2022) and no warning lights nor messages have appeared. Checked power steering fluid level and it is at the recommended level.

NHTSA ODI #11487739

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2022
Electrical SystemEngineForward Collision AvoidanceFire

Our 2018 Kia Sedona SXL caught on fire in the engine compartment while driving. IT almost killed my wife (driver) and my 4 year old son. Car had been driven only 2 blocks after picking up my son from daycare. The car started to produce black smoke incessantly from the engine compartment that made visibility almost impossible. By…

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Our 2018 Kia Sedona SXL caught on fire in the engine compartment while driving. IT almost killed my wife (driver) and my 4 year old son. Car had been driven only 2 blocks after picking up my son from daycare. The car started to produce black smoke incessantly from the engine compartment that made visibility almost impossible. Bystandards were waving with their arms up and trying to warn my wife and she managed to stop in a parking lot and run away with my son. Car got very hot. Despite of keeping regular maintenance, car has had a myriad of issues: electrical components going off and not working anymore (cruise control, rear view camera, navigation system), booming sound from air conditioner like an old airplane is inside the cabin..etc.There were no warning lights suggesting any problem before car caught on fire. Please help.

NHTSA ODI #11471701

73,000 miles · Apr 12, 2022
Air Bags

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and an unknown software was updated however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the air bag needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was n…

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The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and an unknown software was updated however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the air bag needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

NHTSA ODI #11460521

48,000 miles · Apr 11, 2022
Latches/locks/linkages

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the street, the smart lift automatically engaged and the contact was tramped in between her vehicle and another parked vehicle. The lift does not disengage when sensing a person when lifting or descending. The contact stated that she hear…

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The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the street, the smart lift automatically engaged and the contact was tramped in between her vehicle and another parked vehicle. The lift does not disengage when sensing a person when lifting or descending. The contact stated that she heard the censor but could not move. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000.

NHTSA ODI #11460448

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2021
Wheels

AT 18,870 MILES THE LEFT FRONT TIRE OF MY 2018 KIA SEDONA SX LIMITED (ORIGINAL TO VAN KUMHO CRUGEN 235/55/R19) BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. WENT TO LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER. THEY PLACED THE TIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND PULLED TO RIGHT. THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO THE KIA DEALER TO HAVE CAM BOLTS ADJUSTED. WENT…

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AT 18,870 MILES THE LEFT FRONT TIRE OF MY 2018 KIA SEDONA SX LIMITED (ORIGINAL TO VAN KUMHO CRUGEN 235/55/R19) BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. WENT TO LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER. THEY PLACED THE TIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND PULLED TO RIGHT. THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO THE KIA DEALER TO HAVE CAM BOLTS ADJUSTED. WENT TO KIA DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VAN. THEY WERE NO HELP REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE. WENT BACK TO FIRESTONE AND PURCHASED A NEW KUMHO CRUGEN 235/55/R19 TIRE AND HAD IT PUT ON.UPON EXAMINING THE TIRE THEY SAID THE STEEL BELTS HAD SHIFTED. CONTACTED KIA DEALER WITH NO RESPONSE. CONTACTED KIA CORPORATE AND RECEIVED A REFUND FOR COST OF NEW TIRE. AT 39,444 MILES AGAIN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE (ORIGINAL TO VAN KUMHO CRUGEN 235/55/R19) BEGAN TO PULL SEVERELY TO THE LEFT DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. WENT TO LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER. THE STEEL BELTS HAD SHIFTED SEVERELY MISHAPING THE TIRE. AT THIS POINT I PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES OF A DIFFERENT BRAND.

NHTSA ODI #11414432

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2021
Electrical System

RADIO AND REAR CAMERA NOT WORKING

NHTSA ODI #11396091

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2021
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

2018NKIA SADONA HAVING ISSUES STARTING UP AFTER SITTING OVER NIGHT GET IN TRY TO START NO START BUT LIGHTS ON DASH TURN ON ENGINE NO CRANK. AFTER DOING ON AND OFF LOCK UNLOCK IT TENDS TO START .. CANNOT CHECK WHAT'S GOING ON DUE TO INTERMITTING ISSUES OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME. ITS NOT ALL THE TIME SOME TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11390707

21,000 miles · Sep 25, 2020
Wheels

2 OF THE 4 KUMHO CRUGEN PREMIUM 235/60R18 TIRES ON OUR KIA SEDONA HAVE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. 21,000 MILES ON THE CAR SO FAR. CAR WAS IN MOTION AND EXPERIENCED RATTLING AND SHAKING EACH TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11361133

14,750 miles · Aug 16, 2020
Electrical System

VEHICLE DIES IF NOT DRIVEN FOR 5-6 DAYS. I BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR AS THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T USE THE SLIDING DOOR. POTENTIALLY RELATED TO RECALL 18V338000. VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 NEW BATTERIES, SO NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY. VEHICLE DIED AT THE DEALERSHIP AFTER B…

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VEHICLE DIES IF NOT DRIVEN FOR 5-6 DAYS. I BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR AS THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T USE THE SLIDING DOOR. POTENTIALLY RELATED TO RECALL 18V338000. VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 NEW BATTERIES, SO NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY. VEHICLE DIED AT THE DEALERSHIP AFTER BEING PARKED WITHOUT USE FOR 5 DAYS. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DIAGNOSE ISSUE, AND SAYS THE ANSWER IS TO DRIVE THE VAN EVERY DAY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE WITHOUT A RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ODI #11349652

Official recalls

3

22V031000 · Air Bags

Jan 25, 2022

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.

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)

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.

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.