Is the 2016 Kia Sedona a bad year?
297 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 150, 13× a quiet Sedona year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 13× the complaints of a quiet Sedona year, spread over 56k–117k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Sedona owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 88,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 150 (51%) | 56k–117k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 46 (15%) | 43k–141k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Exterior lighting | 37 (12%) | 53k–96k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 25 (8%) | 24k–75k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 19 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 13 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 88,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 297 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 14 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 12 say the car was towed.
35 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Check engine light is on, had plugs replaced and injector 6 replaced the codes read P0278 and P0306. P0278 still comes on.
We have a 2016 Kia Sedona, bought in 2017 as a Kia certified. We have had several recalls since our ownership.
10-26-19 driving on hwy at 60 MPH on sat. Night and I could tell the car had lost power to the engine. Coasted to an empty parking lot.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 88,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Kia Sedona: 4
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. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
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. A turn signal activating in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
Over time, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) wiring harness located underneath the front passenger seat may break from the seat being occupied. 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.
The PSD may not auto-reverse when its closing is obstructed. If the door closes on an occupant, there is an increased risk of an injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 86
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Kia Sedona. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Warranty extension campaign (WTY039)
Technical service bulletin oil pressure switch (Ops) replacement
ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable…
Harsh upshift after performing TSB tra 058/SA208 - KMA has recently identified an increase in techline cases with a complaint related to a/t up-shifting hard…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
3.3L Engine Loss of Motive Power (LOMP)
Neighbouring years
2015 Sedona: 140 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2017 Sedona: 134 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Kia Sedona year
2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · All Sedona years side by side
Other Kia models: Kia Amanti · Kia Cadenza · Kia Carnival · Kia EV6 · Kia EV9 · Kia Forte · Kia K5 · Kia Niro · Kia Optima · Kia Optima Hybrid · Kia Rio · Kia Rondo · Kia Seltos · Kia Sephia · Kia Sorento · Kia Soul · Kia Spectra · Kia Sportage · Kia Stinger · Kia Telluride. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2016 Kia Sedona a bad year?
297 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 150, 13× a quiet Sedona year. At 88,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 13× the complaints of a quiet Sedona year, spread over 56k–117k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia Sedona?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (150), electrical system (46), exterior lighting (37), body structure (25), air bags (19). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 56k–117k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Sedona have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 22V-612), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 21V-725), Electrical system (NHTSA 19V-109), Body structure (NHTSA 18V-338). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.