KIA Sedona Engine Problems
Owners have filed 398 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the KIA Sedona across 19 model years. The 2016 model year has the most (148). The words owners use most often: “engine failed” (7% of reports).
- 398engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 8mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $8,450typical repair cost reported by owners
- 43%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine failed: mentioned in 26 of 398 complaints (7%)
- Head gasket: mentioned in 25 of 398 complaints (6%)
- Fire department: mentioned in 22 of 398 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the KIA Sedona at $8,450, and half of them between $3,500 and $10,400.
Based on 28 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 127 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 398 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 47 a fire, 8 an injury.
KIA Sedona engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Sedona | 2 | 20% | — |
| 2020 Sedona | 5 | 25% | 50,500 |
| 2019 Sedona | 12 | 31% | 7,400 |
| 2018 Sedona | 21 | 44% | — |
| 2017 Sedona | 60 | 45% | 106,000 |
| 2016 Sedona | 148 | 50% | 88,000 |
| 2015 Sedona | 50 | 36% | 82,000 |
| 2014 Sedona | 9 | 23% | 61,780 |
| 2012 Sedona | 18 | 17% | 89,000 |
| 2011 Sedona | 11 | 17% | 99,000 |
| 2010 Sedona | 1 | 3% | 106,000 |
| 2009 Sedona | 3 | 6% | 45,423 |
| 2008 Sedona | 6 | 4% | 74,000 |
| 2007 Sedona | 10 | 6% | 80,000 |
| 2006 Sedona | 16 | 4% | 102,288 |
| 2005 Sedona | 11 | 6% | 129,000 |
| 2004 Sedona | 6 | 3% | 100,100 |
| 2003 Sedona | 5 | 3% | 130,000 |
| 2002 Sedona | 4 | 2% | 117,750 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the KIA Sedona. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
This vehicle has been consuming oil at a fast rate. We have had them do oil consumption tests multiple times and each time they tell us itâs considered normal. They have also told us that an oil warning light would come on if itâs too low, but that has never happened. We have had zero warning…
This vehicle is burning oil at an alarming rate. Between oil changes it has lost 4 quarts before. I constantly have to check and add oil and have experienced stuck pistons and rough idle due to the oil not being at a safe level. Kia service advisors have admitted there have been reports of this…
In January 2026, I brought my vehicle to a Kia dealership specifically complaining that it was "burning oil." The dealership documented this exact complaint on the invoice, but only repaired external leaks. They failed to perform an oil consumption test, failed to diagnose the internal burning…
In XXX, my 2004 Kia Sedona caught fire shortly after I arrived at work in [XXX]. My [XXX] daughter was with me because she was sick. After parking, I removed her from the back seat and went inside the salon. Minutes later, I returned and saw smoke coming from the engine. Within seconds, the front…
While driving my van I had stopped to put car in reverse to park and as I was putting van back into drive to finish parking the engine quit, I was unable to restart the vehicle, just a click sound. All the lights doors everything electric worked, still purchased a new battery in case that was the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all KIA Sedonas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 398 owner complaints about engine for the KIA Sedona. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the KIA Sedona engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the KIA Sedona?
Owners report a typical cost of $8,450 (half paid between $3,500 and $10,400), from 28 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the KIA Sedona?
The most frequent phrase is “engine failed”, in 26 of 398 complaints, followed by “head gasket” (25).
Other KIA Sedona problems
See all KIA Sedona problems.