Third generation (YP)
2016 Kia Sedona
The most reported problem on the 2016 Kia Sedona is engine failure, with 91 complaints, usually around 108,000 miles.
- 296owner complaints
- 4recalls
- 10involved a crash
- 75,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Sedona doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2016 model year.
Is the 2016 Kia Sedona reliable?
The 2016 Kia Sedona has 296 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 411 for 2016 minivans on this site. Of the 7 Sedona model years since 2014, it has the most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 27 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs 2.0 times the 2017 (13). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Engine failure leads with 91 of the 296 complaints (31%), ahead of stalling at 38. It's a high-mileage complaint: half of the 37 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure were past about 108,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 28 of the 296 complaints (9%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 10 reports mention a crash, 14 mention a fire and 10 people were hurt. The reports record 2 deaths.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as engine failure, stalling and misfire. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2024 at 64 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 53. So far in 2026, 26 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine failure, knocking or rod bearing, 91 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
296 complaints is 1.2 times the median 2016 model on this site and 1.4 times fewer than the median 2016 minivan. Among the 3 Sedona model years here it ranks 1st for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2016 Kia Sedona
Kia filed 112 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Kia Sedona. 11 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car, 2 of those a warranty extension. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Check engine light or misfire 1 bulletin · 34 complaints
PITSTOP: DTC P0315 CRANKSHAFT POSITION (CKP) SENSOR VARIATION NOT LEARNED - WHEN ENCOUNTERING A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF ENGINE MISFIRE WITH A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT (MIL) ON IN THE DASH, CHECK FOR THE PRESENCE OF DTC P0315 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CKP) VARIATION NOT ...
Headlights too dim or fail 2 bulletins · 20 complaints
INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly.
HALOGEN HEAD LAMP LOW BEAM BULB CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT This bulletin provides information regarding the procedure to repair the bulb connector on some 2010MY~ vehicles listed on the table below, which may exhibit a bulb connector concern. To correct this concern, replace the connector with a new and improved part.
Head gasket fails or coolant leaks into the engine 5 bulletins · 15 complaints
ENGINE SUB ASSEMBLY INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY039 REVISION 7) - This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY039) to diagnose a coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket area and, if necessary, replace the engine sub assembly on 2014-2015 MY Sorento, 2014-2017 MY ...
ENGINE SUB ASSEMBLY INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY039 REVISION 6) This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY039) to diagnose a coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket area and, if necessary, replace the engine sub assembly on 2014-2015 MY Sorento, 2014-2017 MY Cadenza, and ...
3 more on this problem
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN (WTY039) This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY039) to diagnose a coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket area and, if necessary, replace the engine sub assembly on 2014-2015 MY Sorento, 2014-2017 MY Cadenza, and ...
ENGINE SUB ASSEMBLY: INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY039) This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY039) to diagnose a coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket area and, if necessary, replace the engine sub assembly on 2014-2015 MY Sorento, 2014-2017 MY Cadenza, and ...
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: ENGINE SUB ASSEMBLY INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY039) This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY039) to diagnose a coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket area and, if necessary, replace the engine sub assembly on 2014-2015 MY Sorento, 2014-2017 MY Cadenza, and ...
Doors, latches or locks fail 1 bulletin · 13 complaints
PARTIAL REPAIR: POWER SLIDING DOOR LOCK RELEASE ACTUATOR AND/OR MANUAL LOCK/UNLOCK ACTUATOR This bulletin provides the repair procedure to replace the sliding door lock/unlock release actuator on manual and power sliding doors on some 2015 - 2021MY Sedona (YP) vehicles produced from July 24, 2014~ to present, which may exhibit an inoperative door ...
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 2 bulletins · 5 complaints
COMBINATION TSB / SERVICE ACTION: A/C DISCHARGE HOSE REPLACEMENT (SA267) This bulletin provides information about the A/C discharge hose replacement on certain 2015-2016MY Sedona (YP) vehicles produced from March 1, 2015 through March 29, 2016, which may exhibit a refrigerant leak due to poor heat resistance at the swaging spot of ...
PITSTOP: HVAC RECEIVER/DRYER DESICCANT REPLACEMENT - IN THE EVENT OF A HVAC SYSTEM CONCERN IN WHICH METAL PARTICLES OR SHARDS HAVE CONTAMINATED THE SYSTEM, THE DESICCANT OR THE ENTIRE A/C RECEIVER/DRYER ASSEMBLY MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED.
Complaints filed by year
64 complaints came in 2024, 2.1 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
3.3l engine loss of motive power (lomp). Closed mar 5, 2024.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2016 Kia Sedona
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
All 4 recalls on the 2016 Kia Sedona, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2016 Kia Sedona?
Engine failure, with 91 of the 296 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 108,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2016 Kia Sedona problems start?
Of the 144 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 42,000 miles and half by about 75,000.
Is the 2016 Kia Sedona better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has more complaints than the 2017: 27 a year against 13.
How many 2016 Kia Sedona complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
28 of them (9%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2016 Kia Sedona?
No recall on file for the 2016 Kia Sedona is on the same system as engine failure. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.