2019 Kia Sedona Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2019 Kia Sedona has a complaint index of 44 and ranks 10th out of 17 model years, earning a "Good" verdict. It has 38 complaints, 2 recalls, and its top problem area is the Engine at 29% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 44/100
- #10 of 17 Sedona years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 38
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2019 Kia Sedona problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine11 (29%)
- Structure & Body9 (24%)
- Electrical System4 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (11%)
- Brakes3 (8%)
- Fuel System3 (8%)
- Other3 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (8%)
- Airbags2 (5%)
- Steering2 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report the engine seizing or stalling suddenly at highway speed, in one case followed by smoke and fire near the engine bay.
- Owners describe hesitation, jerking, or hard downshifts during acceleration or braking, sometimes with RPMs spiking without the vehicle moving forward.
- Several owners report steering wheel shaking or the vehicle pulling to one side at low mileage, making it hard to keep the vehicle straight.
- Side and driver airbags reportedly failed to deploy in crashes, including a rear-end collision and a high-speed side impact.
- One owner reported a coolant leak from the cylinder head shortly after purchase that required a full engine rebuild.
2019 Kia Sedona recalls
2 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 19V207000Mar 18, 2019Seat Belts197 vehicles
Seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Sedona vehicles equipped with an 8-passenger seat arrangement. The seat belt buckle for the second-row middle seat may have been improperly installed on the wrong side of the seat, preventing the proper use of the 3-point seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: A seat belt that cannot be properly used increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt installation, and reinstall the seat belt buckle to the correct side if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 8, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia 's number for this recall is SC177.
2019 Kia Sedona fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,100
- 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.
2019 compared with other Sedona years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Kia Sedona reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2019 Sedona a complaint index of 44, the 10th highest out of 17 model years, and it carries a "Good" verdict relative to other Sedona years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2019 Kia Sedona?
- Engine issues make up 29% of complaints, followed by structure and body issues at 24% and electrical system issues at 11%, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2019 Kia Sedona have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2019 Sedona: one for an airbag control unit issue and one for an improperly installed second-row seat belt buckle. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2019 Sedona compare to other Sedona years?
- The 2019 model ranks better than years like 2016 (complaint index 100, Avoid) and 2006 (complaint index 94, Avoid), but is not as low-risk as 2020 or 2021, which both earned "Best" verdicts.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Kia Sedona?
- EPA rates the 2019 Sedona at 21 mpg combined (18 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100.