2016 Kia Sedona Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2016 Kia Sedona has 296 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 100 (the highest of any Sedona year), and 4 recalls. It ranks worst of all 17 model years and carries an Avoid verdict, driven mainly by engine problems reported by 51% of complainants.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 17 Sedona years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 296
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 10
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 14
- Injuries
- 10
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 18 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 10 / 2
Top 2016 Kia Sedona problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine152 (51%)
- Electrical System74 (25%)
- Structure & Body36 (12%)
- Other34 (11%)
- Airbags19 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain13 (4%)
- Fuel System10 (3%)
- Brakes8 (3%)
- Seat Belts8 (3%)
- Steering6 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Engines have caught fire while driving, sometimes preceded by a rattling noise or sputtering before flames appeared from underneath the vehicle.
- Some owners report unintended forward lunges at low speed (5 mph or less) with the foot on the brake, in one case pushing the vehicle into another car or a garage door.
- Power sliding doors have made loud screeching noises and failed to close or lock fully, even after the recall software reprogramming was performed.
- Airbags have failed to deploy properly during a crash, raising concerns for occupant safety.
- A fuel system failure was linked to a fire that fully engulfed a vehicle after a collision.
- Water intrusion into the electrical system has caused turn signals and other components to stop working correctly.
2016 Kia Sedona recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V612000Aug 10, 2022Transmission & Powertrain28,065 vehicles
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.
Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
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.
- NHTSA 21V725000Sep 17, 2021Electrical System88,576 vehicles
Electrical system:software
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: A turn signal activating in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
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.
- NHTSA 19V109000Feb 19, 2019Electrical System94,389 vehicles
Electrical system:wiring
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: 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.
2016 Kia Sedona fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other Sedona years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Kia Sedona reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 Sedona ranks worst of all 17 model years with a complaint index of 100 and carries an Avoid verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia Sedona?
- Engine problems make up 51% of complaints (152 of 296), followed by electrical system issues at 25% and structure/body issues at 12%. The median mileage at engine failure was 81,950.
- Does the 2016 Kia Sedona have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2016 Sedona, covering the transmission shift lever assembly, Smart Junction Box software affecting turn signals, a seat occupant detection wiring harness, and the power sliding door auto-reverse function.
- Are there engine fires reported for the 2016 Kia Sedona?
- Yes, NHTSA complaints include 14 fires for this model year, several involving the engine catching fire while driving, including one case where a rod reportedly broke through the oil pan.
- What year Kia Sedona should I avoid?
- The 2016 Sedona has the highest complaint index (100) and worst rank (1st of 17) among Sedona model years, making it the year with the most reported problems and recalls.