2016 KIA Sedona
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Vehicles › KIA › Sedona › 2016
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
These records cover every 2016 KIA Sedona. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
4 recalls name the 2016 KIA Sedona. Newest first.
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.
A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
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.
A turn signal activating in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
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.
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.
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.
If the door closes on an occupant, there is an increased risk of an injury.
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.
In January 2026, I brought my vehicle to a Kia dealership specifically complaining that it was "burning oil." The dealership documented this exact complaint on the invoice, but only repaired external leaks. They failed to perform an oil consumption test, failed to diagnose the internal burning issue, and failed to warn me of any ongoing risk. Approximately four months later, while 400 miles from home en route to vacation and with no warning lights appearing, the engine suffered catastrophic oil starvation and seized. Forced to pay out of pocket for towing, emergency logistics, and an immediate replacement vehicle to continue the trip. An out-of-pocket engine teardown confirmed the internal failure, and my extended warranty denied coverage due to the low oil condition.
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 local Kia dealership Dutch Miller in barboursville WV, however there is no answer and I’ve left two voicemails and still have heard nothing back from them. From my research for engines it stated there was issue with the oil leaking into the coolant without any indications or lights warning due to head bolts loosening over time which was a manufactured part issue, I saw also there was a campaign concerning this and wanted to include my problems with your agency.
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.
Total engine failure at 120k miles, no warning signs.
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 airbag system might not work as it should in the event of a crash. The problem is that the dealership would not repair the issue after diagnosing it without me having to pay for the repairs at my own expense, which by the way I was charged by the dealership for the initial diagnosis. The reason they gave me for that decision is that the issue was already allegedly fixed before I took ownership of the vehicle. They advised me to contact Kia America or Kia Customer Care and ask them to consider authorizing the repair. When I contacted Kia Customer Care, they said that they would not authorize the repairs because my vehicle is out of warranty and that the cost of repairs would be on myself. I asked to speak with a supervisor and they said that there was another way to request a consideration. I later learned that the consideration is called something goodwill. After Kia’s review, I was recently informed that they denied me assistance through goodwill. I requested a denial letter from both the dealership and Kia Customer Care. I have not heard from the dealership at this moment and Kia Customer Care answered my request with an email that said that I would need to get the letter through the dealer, that they don’t give out denial letters. So I decided to escalate this issue to NHTSA.
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.
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.
2016 Kia Sedona with power sliding doors. Both rear power sliding doors fail to completely latch upon closing. Doors make loud clicking sounds while attempting to close and require manual pushing to latch. Kia of Attleboro diagnosed and confirmed in writing that both rear door roller arm assemblies are completely missing the roller, and that this condition is contributing to the latching failure. Both power sliding door motors and rear door latches also need replacement. This is a safety hazard as the doors may appear closed but are not fully latched, posing a serious risk of doors opening while driving, particularly with children as passengers. The condition has been confirmed in writing by a Kia dealership. Kia Motors America issued Warranty Bulletin WTY019 in March 2021 specifically extending coverage for this exact latching condition on 2015-2017 Sedona vehicles to 15 years/unlimited miles. The covered components (motors and latches) have been approved for warranty replacement. However, Kia America has denied coverage for the roller arm assemblies despite their own dealer's written confirmation that these parts are directly contributing to the covered latching failure. Components are available for inspection upon request. No warning lamps appeared prior to failure. Problem developed gradually with increasing noise before doors failed to latch completely.
Engine experienced mass, sudden oil consumption with no warning of any sort, resulting in significant engine damage. Oil had been changed apx 800 miles prior to incident, and vehicle showed no signs of leaks or oil consumption following the oil change. No oil leaks or wetness were found around oil filter or drain plug. Vehicle drove perfectly fine one day, and when started to leave a store it began horrendously knocking, despite operating as normal on the drive to the store. Dipstick was completely dry. No engine warning light was triggered, no low oil warning, etc. I contacted Kia America directly, as I had found examples of this same issue reported online and hoped for some cooperation, and was given a generic response to haul it to the nearest Kia dealership for diagnosis and repair, out of my own pocket.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the climate control panel became inoperable, failing to distribute heat and air conditioning. While the middle and third-row climate systems functioned, an abnormal burning odor was detected. The fan speed adjustment button experienced an electrical short, and upon removing the climate control panel, the wiring harness was found burnt. The contact stated that the climate control panel was previously replaced. Additionally, the power sliding door was inoperable. No warning lights illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V109000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure was caused by the climate control panel. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,259.
The Styrofoam is cracked in half on two sides and it's losing pieces when I contacted the manufacturer. They said they were sending me tape and I don't feel that's very safe. That is the only solution they are offering me. This has had a recall previously. They said this is what you've approved as a fix to the recall. I just wanted to check on this because I don't feel it's very safe for me to tape my child car seat back together especially since there's pieces missing chunks and the Styrofoam is completely cracked in half. I could separate the two pieces and they're telling me to tape it back together.
Engine failure due to loud knocking as a result if high oil consumption. No warning lights ever. Needs replacement. Regular maintenance records available. Original owner with only 63900 miles in less than 10 years. Vehicle supposed to be under powertrain warranty (10 years/ 100000 miles). Kia and dealership keep denying warranty claim despite providing all records to prove regular maintenance.
While driving car gas tank blew a hole and started on fire. Car then lost power while on fire while I was in traffic, luckily I was able to cut into a parking lot and people that were in traffic with me call 911. Fire department confirmed there was a hole in gas tank which sits right underneath driver side. Fire was only contained to where the gas tank and lines are. I have pictures.
Oil was changed and within a month was completely dried with no visible leak and without any warning or lights the engine shut off while driving and seized Turner Kia performed a thorough diagnostic and determined that will cost $13,508.90 to replace the engine.
This concerns an unresolved airbag safety issue that went undetected due to a negligent recall inspection at a Kia dealership. On March 16, 2026, I brought my vehicle to Ed Voyles Kia of Chamblee, GA for a recall inspection to determine whether damaged wiring under the passenger seat was causing my airbag warning light to remain on. I dealt with the service advisor throughout the process. After the appointment, I was told the inspection was complete and no wiring damage was found. Upon leaving the dealership, I immediately noticed that my exterior and interior lights, radio, seatbelt indicators, and numerous other systems had stopped working, none of which were issues before my appointment. I contacted the dealership the same day and returned on March 17, 2026. The service advisor relayed the technician's position that these failures were pre-existing and unrelated to the service. After I pushed back, the manager became involved and pointed to a separate BCM recall to explain the replacement, rather than acknowledging that the BCM had failed immediately after their service. My BCM had been functioning normally before the appointment. The service advisor and manager continued to deny any wiring damage. On April 20, 2026, I personally inspected the area under the passenger seat while cleaning my vehicle I immediately found visibly damaged wires, the exact area the technician had examined during the recall. I found this damage within minutes. The damaged wiring under the passenger seat is the very issue this recall was designed to identify. The technician failed to find it, leaving a known safety hazard unresolved. My airbag warning light has been on since before the appointment and remains on today. I have been driving my family in this vehicle with a compromised airbag system. I have photo evidence of the damaged wires and request that NHTSA log this as a formal safety complaint and investigate if this reflects a broader pattern of incomplete recall inspections
Engine has multiple engine miss fires. Loss of coolant into exhaust. Engine knocking.
Since the day a bought the car I have had to constantly deal with oil leaks and burning up oil. We had to check the vehicle every Sunday for oil replacement. The vehicle on one day just stopped in the middle of the street. It had a complete engine failure. I had to pay thousands of dollars. I contacted Kia with out help. They claim my vehicle was not part of their class action settlement of engine failure. And I can’t sell the car because all mechanics know the engine is trash and the vehicle is worth nothing. And Kia won’t help at all.
I am the original owner of a 2016 Kia Sedona, purchased new from the DeMontrond Kia dealership in Houston, Texas, in August 2016. The vehicle currently has 63,400 miles and has been maintained according to standard schedules. Two weeks ago, I noticed a slight knocking sound and took the car to the dealership for an inspection. I was informed that there is sludge buildup in the engine and was told the repair would not be covered under warranty due to alleged owner neglect. The dealership quoted $10,000 for an engine replacement. Prior to this, there were no warning lights or indicators of any issues, and there have been no oil leaks. I have retained most of the records and receipts for the oil changes performed on the vehicle.
Engine started knocking loosing power just like our 4cylinder GDI engine. These engines are also not safe to be operating
Engine Failure due to rod and bearing failure
Oil leak caused engine to fail.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 107,000. It was later discovered upon checking a Carfax Report that the mileage was 187,000.
I was driving my car, all of a sudden there was a loud knocking sound. The car suddenly wouldn’t accelerate. I was in the middle of a busy intersection with kids! I am 95 pounds, I can’t push the van! After being hit. I managed to get it moved with help. My van only had 108,000 miles on it! Took it to a mechanic, said needed an engine as there was no oil in it. How is that possible? We just changed it a month prior. It’s out of warranty by 8000 miles so Kia will not do anything! I’m sorry, but there are numerous complaints about this, yet nothing is being done! Now I’m having to pay 5000+ to replace an engine because Kia is just terrible!
My family and I were all driving in the car. We were at a stoplight, and fully stopped as it was a red light. All of a sudden, we heard a weird noise, and all of the dash lights on our car appeared, and then the car fully turned off. We could not get the car back on, and it would not start. Prior to this, it was driving totally fine, and we had no lights on our dashboard indicating something was wrong. Just stopped out of nowhere. If we were on the freeway, and our car just immediately turned off, we could have been in a major, life-threatening accident. After 2-3 times of trying to restart the car, we were able to turn it on, and at least get it into neutral so we could move it off the side of the road. We were able to get it towed to a Kia dealership in which they diagnosed it as engine failure and said we would need to replace the whole engine. This car is around 10 years old and has less than 130,000 miles. It has been meticulously maintained according to Kia standards, and there should be no reason that a well maintained car should need a new engine at this point. We had frequent oil changes, and even had an oil leak that we had to repair just a couple months ago.
Motor Blew
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
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.
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.