2016 Kia Sedona engine problems
153 of the 296 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Sedona name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 31 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 153 reports a crash · 11 a fire · 3 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 13 · 2023: 20 · 2024: 54 · 2025: 40 · 2026: 15
Half of the 24 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 60,000 and 116,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
296 complaints in all about the 2016 Kia Sedona, 15 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Sedona engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was then towed the following day to the dealer.
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...
Oil sending unit failed after 100k miles. Had it not been a quick trip, I could have easily ran it dry and stalled the motor. No warning was given. There are many reports of this happening with other models and years of Kia V6's
My husband took the car for an oil change and the mechanic said he heard a noise in the engine. They did the oil change and advised to have it checked out. On the way home, while driving, the car stalled, thankfully in the neighborhood and not on the highway. An issue with the battery or oil change were suspected.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate with an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine mounts failed and needed to be replaced.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNHTSA investigation
- DP24002 3.3L Engine Loss of Motive Power (LOMP)opened Feb 27, 2024 · closed Mar 5, 2024
- 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 PE23-0…
31 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- WTY026_TSB_R2 Service bulletinMar 18, 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OIL PRESSURE SWITCH (OPS) REPLACEMENT (WTY026 REVISION 2) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information regarding the replacement of the Oil Pressure Switch associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Pr
- WTY039_TSB_R7 Service bulletinDec 18, 2025
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: ENGINE SUB ASSEMBLY INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY039 - REVISION 7) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY039) to diagnose a coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket ar
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0306 P0019 P0300 P0302 P0304 P0014 P0018 P0024
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Kia Sedona names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Kia Sedona?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 153 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (52% of everything owners filed about it), and 31 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2016 Kia Sedona?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 4 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Kia Sedona?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 88,000 miles; half of them between 60,000 and 116,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.