KnownCarProblems2016 Kia Sedona Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 297 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Sedona, most often about the engine (51% of complaints, typically around 88,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Sedona model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2016 Kia Sedona problems
Engine
150 complaints · 51%Half of these problems showed up before 88,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, engine.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate with an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine mounts failed and needed to be replaced. The…
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 50 MPH, the contact heard a knocking sound coming from the engine and the vehicle lost power. The contact was able to pull over to the right side of the road, turned off the vehicle for several minutes, restart the vehicle, and…
Electrical
46 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel.
While driving at night my headlights will often flicker off for one to three seconds when I'm either activating the turn signal (either right or left) or attempting to turn on my high beams. I always drive with the headlights in "auto", so I have not experienced the issue with any other setting.
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…
Lights
37 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: turn signal, headlights, back up lights.
While driving at night my headlights will often flicker off for one to three seconds when I'm either activating the turn signal (either right or left) or attempting to turn on my high beams. I always drive with the headlights in "auto", so I have not experienced the issue with any other setting.
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…
Other or unspecified
32 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles.
Power sliding doors make loud grinding noises when closeing and opening. In addition the power sliding doors continued to close on me while I was trying to push it back open. Car was parked in the driveway and off, my front passenger pressed the overhead psd button before he realized the kids hadn't finished climbing…
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…
Body and structure
25 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 63,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
This is an ongoing incident and issue. The motor on the sliding doors is not high quality and goes out very quickly. In my case in less than 2 years, in other cases I have read online some are in less than a year. When the motor is going out, the doors will make a loud noise upon closing and appear closed. However…
The sliding door motor does not close the door properly. This is not a warranty issue only a safety issue not covered by Kia. The proper closing of the side door is not their concern.
Air bags
19 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
We purchased brand new a 2016 Kia Sedona from the dealership. Within the 2 years we owned it we had to take it into the dealership four times because the airbag light would come on and stay on, or would flicker off and one as I was driving down the road. They found it to be an issue with the passenger airbag. They…
Air bag light comes on and off frequently with no explanation as to why. The passenger seat belt light blinks on and off with no passenger and nothing in the seat. This happens while driving the vehicle or at start up of the vehicle the lights may stay on. I fear that if needed my airbags may not deploy properly.
Transmission
13 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Driving at 70 MPH with cruise control on, experienced loud "bump" on smooth highway surface with sudden and total loss of engine speed. Put vehicle in neutral and was able to restart engine. Cruise control was not working at that time. Cruise control was operative later in the day after engine stop and restart. Took…
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that on various occasions, the gear shift lever seized. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the shift lever assembly needed to be replaced. The contact became aware of NHTSA campaign…
Fuel system
10 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 26,000 miles. Parts named most often: fuel injection system.
While pulling into my driveway going between 5-10 MPH I applied the brake and the vehicle lunged forward into my garage door which was closed and damaged another car parked in the garage. If the other car was not there to stop it I may have been killed. I reported this to Kia and the investigation only showed a blown…
I was driving going westbound on highway 84 in pennsylvania and hit a deer going 65mph. I pulled over to the side of the highway. I walked out to the mile marker and when I turned around my car was on fully engulfed in flames. Eventually my car blew up and I lost everything.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Kia Sedona recalls
Transmission: column shift
Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: software
Risk: A turn signal activating in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: wiring
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: software
Risk: If the door closes on an occupant, there is an increased risk of an injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
3.3l engine loss of motive power (lomp)
Summary
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.â in view of the open investigatio
Questions about the 2016 Kia Sedona
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia Sedona?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (150 complaints, typically around 88,000 miles); electrical (46 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles); lights (37 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Sedona have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 10, 2022 (transmission). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Kia Sedona?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Sedona model year since 2000, with 297 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.