2018 KIA Sedona Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sedona years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 13th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 KIA Sedona. That ranks 13th out of 20 Sedona model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (21 complaints, 44%). Complaints mention 1 crash, 4 fires, 1 injury. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 48owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 KIA Sedona problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 21 | 44% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 11 | 23% | 14,750 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 13% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 6% | 2,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 4% | 6,293 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 4% | 59,292 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 4% | 21,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 2% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 2% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 2% | 19,040 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | 6,293 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 2% | 8,990 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 KIA Sedona recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:wiring
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Structure:body:door; electrical system:software
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
2018 Kia Sedona lx stalled while my wife was driving on the highway. No warning lights were on until the vehicle lost all power. Luckily my wife was able to pull the car safely to the side. The vehicle only has 36960 miles. Brought vehicle to the dealer and they said engine was seized. That Kia…
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the air bag and the check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to start and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with alternator failure; however, the battery was replaced. Additionally, the contact stated…
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Check Auto Emergency System" was displayed and the brake warning light illuminated. Additionally, an unknown fluid was leaking near the front passengerâs side wheel. The vehicle was…
The vehicle is a 2018 Kia Sedona with approximately 122,000 miles that experienced a catastrophic engine failure resulting in complete engine seizure. The failure has been identified by an independent mechanic as a rod bearing issue. The engine remains intact and is available for inspection upon…
My [XXX] son pulled the seatbelt so tight it got wrapped around his neck. When I pulled over to unbuckle it, it was stuck. I turned the car off and on again to try and loosen it, but it didn't work. In the emergency, I had to cut the seatbelt with scissors. It's the passenger seatbelt in the second…
Other KIA Sedona years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Sedona | 9 | 0 |
| 2020 Sedona | 20 | 1 |
| 2019 Sedona | 38 | 2 |
| 2018 | 48 | 3 |
| 2017 Sedona | 134 | 4 |
| 2016 Sedona | 297 | 4 |
| 2015 Sedona | 139 | 3 |
| 2014 Sedona | 39 | 1 |
| 2013 Sedona | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 Sedona | 108 | 5 |
| 2011 Sedona | 65 | 6 |
| 2010 Sedona | 32 | 5 |
| 2009 Sedona | 48 | 5 |
| 2008 Sedona | 170 | 5 |
| 2007 Sedona | 157 | 6 |
| 2006 Sedona | 385 | 7 |
| 2005 Sedona | 185 | 2 |
| 2004 Sedona | 176 | 2 |
| 2003 Sedona | 163 | 4 |
| 2002 Sedona | 198 | 3 |
See all KIA Sedona problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 KIA Sedona?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, air bags problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 21 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 KIA Sedona?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 KIA Sedona a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sedona model years, the 2018 has far fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.