2018 Kia Sedona Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2018 Kia Sedona has 48 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 31, ranking 12th out of 17 model years and earning a Good verdict. Engine complaints (46% of the total, with 4 fires) are the top concern, alongside 3 recalls covering airbags, electrical wiring, and power sliding doors.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 31/100
- #12 of 17 Sedona years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 48
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 18 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2018 Kia Sedona problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine22 (46%)
- Electrical System12 (25%)
- Airbags6 (13%)
- Structure & Body6 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (8%)
- Other3 (6%)
- Brakes2 (4%)
- Fuel System2 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (4%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report engine compartment smoke and fire starting while driving or idling, in some cases spreading within minutes.
- Some describe the transmission losing acceleration briefly during shifts at various speeds without triggering a warning light.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in a crash, leading to injury.
- Power sliding doors reportedly opened or closed on their own, or trapped an occupant between the door.
- Steering wheel reportedly shook violently at highway speed due to tire tread separation.
- Windshield wipers reportedly stopped working during winter driving conditions.
2018 Kia Sedona recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V031000Jan 25, 2022Airbags410,619 vehicles
Air bags
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
- 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.
- NHTSA 18V338000May 23, 2018Structure & Body106,428 vehicles
Structure:body:door
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: If the door closes on an occupant, there is an increased risk of an injury.
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.
2018 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.
2018 compared with other Sedona years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Kia Sedona reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2018 Sedona has a complaint index of 31 and ranks 12th out of 17 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other Sedona years.
- What is the top problem area for the 2018 Kia Sedona?
- Engine complaints make up 46% of all complaints for this year, including 4 reported fires, making it the top problem area.
- Does the 2018 Kia Sedona have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls: an airbag control unit issue, an electrical wiring harness issue affecting occupant detection, and a power sliding door that may not auto-reverse.
- How does the 2018 Sedona compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 31, the 2018 Sedona ranks better than years like 2016 (index 100, Avoid) and 2017 (index 75, Avoid), but not as low-risk as 2020 or 2021 (Best verdicts).