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2016 Kia Sedona

Gas
Minivan - 2WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
78 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA295
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA21 mpg
202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Kia Sedona is sold in the U.S. as a gas minivan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sedona SX, is EPA-rated at 21 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 295 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Sedona SXGasFWD3.3L 6-cyl182521$2,950
SedonaGasFWD3.3L 6-cyl182420$3,100
Sedona SXLGasFWD3.3L 6-cyl172219$3,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36058, 36057, 36059.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Kia Sedona is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Power Train

SC246
28,065 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.FixDealers 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 campaign 22V612000reported Aug 10, 2022Kia America, Inc.
○minor

Exterior Lighting

SC217
88,576 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA turn signal activating in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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 campaign 21V725000reported Sep 17, 2021Kia Motors America
▲high

Electrical System

SC175
94,389 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskIf 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.FixKia 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 campaign 19V109000reported Feb 19, 2019Kia Motors America
○minor

Electrical System

SC164
106,428 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskIf the door closes on an occupant, there is an increased risk of an injury.FixKia 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.
NHTSA campaign 18V338000reported May 23, 2018Kia Motors America

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine — 3.3L Engine Loss of Motive Power (LOMP) closed

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.  In view of the open Investigati

Opened Feb 27, 2024 · closed Mar 5, 2024 · action DP24002

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
295complaints filed

10 involved a crash · 14 a fire · 10 injuries · 2 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 9 · 2017: 9 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 22 · 2020: 23 · 2021: 22 · 2022: 27 · 2023: 31 · 2024: 64 · 2025: 53 · 2026: 25

Most-cited components

Engine146
Electrical System46
Exterior Lighting37
Unspecified32
Structure25
Air Bags19

What owners describe

“While driving I smelled a burning odor. Then my heat started blowing cold air. I immediately went to a car shop and when they opened the hood, there was white smoke. After getting 3 separate opinions, all agreed that the engine was fried and needs to be replaced. There were no warning signs, lights, etc... and this cou…”Feb 24, 2022 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“we received notice for safety recall that the tail lights and turn signal lights could fail and they needed to change something to do with computer.we took it in and left with lights working and 3days later they stopped working again.Kia is refusing to fix it on the recall but it is the same issue.”Feb 19, 2022 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA owner report
“Lower brake lights not functioning. Fuse is fine (swapped with good fuse, no change). Bulbs are fine (replaced with new anyway). Top brake light bar is fine. Only L and R rear brake lights not coming on. Dealer in Anchorage, Alaska confirmed all. No warning lamps came on. Car operates fine otherwise.”Feb 17, 2022 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
VAN FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆13%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Sedona model years

A

2021 Kia Sedona

0 recalls · 9 complaints

B

2020 Kia Sedona

1 recalls · 20 complaints

B

2019 Kia Sedona

2 recalls · 37 complaints

C

2018 Kia Sedona

3 recalls · 48 complaints

C

2017 Kia Sedona

4 recalls · 133 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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