Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 296 safety complaints
about the 2016 Kia Sedona with the US government. Of those, 10 describe a crash, 14 mention a fire, 10 people were injured and 2 deaths are recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.
The most complained-about system is the engine,
named in 147 complaints, 50% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 69,000 miles,
the median across the 100
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers April 2016 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
296 complaints on file
296
Complaints
10
Describe a crash
14
Mention fire
10
People injured
2
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 147 · 50%
147 50%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 46 · 16%
46 16%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 37 · 13%
37 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 32 · 11%
32 11%
STRUCTURE 25 · 8%
25 8%
AIR BAGS 19 · 6%
19 6%
POWER TRAIN 13 · 4%
13 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9 · 3%
9 3%
SEAT BELTS 8 · 3%
8 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 7 · 2%
7 2%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 6 · 2%
6 2%
STEERING 6 · 2%
6 2%
062123
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 296.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2024 at 64.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2016 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2016 Kia SEDONA, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
VAN FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
13.0%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Recall campaigns
4 on file
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
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.
The risk
A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
The 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 America, Inc. · up to 28,065 vehicles across all model years covered
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.
The risk
A turn signal activating in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
The 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 · up to 88,576 vehicles across all model years covered
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
19V109000 · February 19, 2019
The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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 · up to 94,389 vehicles across all model years covered
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
18V338000 · May 23, 2018
The defect
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.
The risk
If the door closes on an occupant, there is an increased risk of an injury.
The 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.
Kia Motors America · up to 106,428 vehicles across all model years covered
Defect investigations
1 on file
An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A
preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering
analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.
3.3L Engine Loss of Motive Power (LOMP)
DP24002
Closed defect petition · opened February 27, 2024 · closed March 5, 2024
the 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.
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
AIR BAGS
2 deaths · crash · 7,267 miles
MY MOTHER AND HER FRIEND WERE DRIVING APPROX. 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WENT OFF THE ROAD CAUSING THEM TO GO INTO THE FRYING PAN RIVER IN BASALT, CO. THERE WAS APPROX. 42.1 DEGREE SLOPE. MY MOTHER WAS THE PASSENGER. WE RETRIEVED HER PICTURES AND VIDEO. SHE WAS VIDEO TAPING WITH HER CELL PHONE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER WINDOW WAS DOWN. SHE SAID, "OH [XXX]", AND APPEARED TO REACH TO REMOVE HER SEATBELT. THEY WENT INTO THE RIVER. THEY WERE FOUND AT 4:30 PM WITH CAR SUBMERGED IN WATER AND BOTH DROWNED. NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THE SIDE AIRBAGS HAD GONE OFF AND THE FRONT WINDOWS WERE UP WITH THE AIRBAGS STICKING OUT WHEN THEY WERE FOUND. THE FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT …
NHTSA complaint 10903653, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
2 injured · crash · towed
1)The airbags failed at time of accident, yes is available for inspection. 2)This is a family car (KIA Sedona 2016) with kids in the car ..if the airbags not working at time of an impact, could and up in deadly/fatality accident. 3) No. 4)The vehicle has been inspected by police and insurance. 5) no warning or issues show anywhere to advise of issue, this car has not been involve in any accident before. Last time took the car to dealer was 1 month ago… November 2022
NHTSA complaint 11500025. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
1 injured · fire · towed · 73,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH there was raddling noise and then flames. The check engine light came on. The engine immediately caught on fire. The contact was able to pull over safely and exit the vehicle quickly with her son the passenger. The police arrived on the scene first and informed the fire department that the flames had deteriorated automatically; therefore the fire department did not arrive. Unknown if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to several dealers; however, the last dealer diagnosed the failure to be hole blown engine. There were no major injuries or medical reports. The manufacturer was notified of …
NHTSA complaint 11463531, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 injured · crash · towed · 1,041 miles
RENTED A CAR FROM THE AIRPORT IN DENVER AND IT WAS THE LAST 4 CARS ON THERE LOT. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR LOST IN DENVER CAR WAS PULLING TO THE CENTER OF THE CARON BOTH SIDES. I SAID THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I WAS LOOKING FOR STREET SIGNS ABOUT 20 MPH AND THE CAR TOOK OFF AND HIT 2 CARS THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF I LET GO OF STREEING WHEEL AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SALVAGE LOT IN 20 DAYS RENTAL PLACE NEVER CONTACTED ME PUT MONEY BACK IN MY ACCT AND NEVER GAVE ME MY THINGS IN TRAVEL. NOW I HAVE TO GET A LAWYER TO DEFEND ME. AND I AM BLESS I HAVE A BROKEN SCREW IN MY FUSION AND I COULD OF BEEN PARALYZED THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint 11001982. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
While driving my van I had stopped to put car in reverse to park and as I was putting van back into drive to finish parking the engine quit, I was unable to restart the vehicle, just a click sound. All the lights doors everything electric worked, still purchased a new battery in case that was the issue. There were no service engine lights, oil lights or any other warning signal on the dash. My brother assisted me and checked my oil which was depleted and gummy on the tip. I reached out to a mechanic to see about an engine replacement and after telling him the issue stated I should check with Kia because there has been some issues noted with that particular engine, I have reached out to my …
NHTSA complaint 11766747, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
Total engine failure at 120k miles, no warning signs.
NHTSA complaint 11762875. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Both Sliding door on left and right side wouldn’t close and stayed open for a short period of time. Now the door can’t be opened because it doesn’t latch.
NHTSA complaint 11762919. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
I purchased the minivan as a used car last year and I noticed that the airbag light turned on when a passenger would sit on the front passenger seat. I tried to get a diagnosis ever since but many shops that I brought my minivan to didn’t work with airbags. So I eventually brought my minivan to a Kia dealership, Luther Bloomington Kia in Bloomington, Minnesota, and got 2 diagnostics: the first one was on 7/9/26, and the second one was on 8/26/26. Both diagnostics found and confirmed that there is an issue with the occupant seat detector or ocs mat defect, code B149000 dtc (occupant classification system). This matches the Kia recall SC175. This issue is a serious safety concern because the …
NHTSA complaint 11762031, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
1 injured · 155,326 miles
The vehicle radiator exploded while driving on the freeway. Towed to mechanic radiator replaced and housing. Problem persosted. With a simple pressure test the coolant in the reservoir began to boil immediately meaning there's a cracked engine block.
NHTSA complaint 11758359. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Pearl white paint peeling, there is an extension for a warranty through Hyundai for the same paint but not through Kia. Please advise what to do.
NHTSA complaint 11755797. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed August 10, 2022.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst