YearToAvoid

2016 Kia Sedona Engine Problems

Engine problems account for 152 of 296 complaints (51%) filed on the 2016 Kia Sedona, the highest engine complaint share of any Sedona model year. NHTSA logs 11 fires and 4 injuries tied to these complaints, with a median failure mileage of 81,950 miles, and no related recall is listed.

Engine complaints
152
51% of 296
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
11
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
81,950 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engines throw a rod through the oil pan, sometimes preceded by a rattling or knocking noise with no dashboard warning lights.
  • Sudden engine fires start while driving, in some cases after owners report low or empty oil despite regular maintenance.
  • Vehicles catch fire while parked and unattended, with owners saying Kia denied a parts defect after inspection.
  • Complete loss of engine power occurs on the highway, sometimes preceded by knocking sounds and followed by a small fire in the engine bay.
  • Cooling fan electrical connectors melt and overheat, triggering white smoke from the exhaust.

When 2016 Kia Sedona engine complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 12, 2016, latest Sep 24, 2026.

2016 Kia Sedona engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter172016 Q42019 Q22020 Q42022 Q22023 Q22024 Q22025 Q22026 Q2
152 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q2 (17).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Kia Sedona

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Sedona model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20104 (13%)
  2. 201118 (28%)
  3. 201226 (24%)
  4. 20130 (0%)
  5. 201411 (28%)
  6. 201553 (38%)
  7. 2016152 (51%)
  8. 201763 (47%)
  9. 201822 (46%)
  10. 201911 (29%)
  11. 20205 (25%)
  12. 20213 (33%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2016 Kia Sedona?
Engine issues make up 152 of the 296 total complaints filed for the 2016 Sedona, or 51% of all complaints for that model year, the highest engine share among all Sedona model years listed.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Kia Sedona engine?
NHTSA data provided here lists no related recalls tied to this engine complaint category.
Do 2016 Kia Sedona engines catch fire?
Yes. NHTSA complaints for this model year include 11 fire incidents and 4 injuries connected to engine-area failures.
At what mileage do 2016 Sedona engine problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine complaint group is 81,950 miles, though some owners reported failures both earlier and later than that.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.