Sedona (3rd)
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
DOHC GDI LAMBDA II
3.3LView details
Complaint Breakdown
Kia Sedona Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Sedona, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
What to check on a used 2015-2021 Kia Sedona
On a used 2015-2021 Kia Sedona, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the engine (301), the electrical system (127) and the body and structure (88). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 301 owner complaints on the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona about the engine.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 127 owner complaints on the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona about the electrical system.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the trunk or hatch. Check the latches, the seals and the gaps between panels.Minor. NHTSA has 88 owner complaints on the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona about the body and structure.
- Check every exterior light, the wipers, the washers, the mirrors and the glass.Safety. NHTSA has 72 owner complaints on the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona about the exterior lighting.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 57 owner complaints on the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
Recalls (7)
Kia 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.
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.
Kia 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.
Kia Motors America (KIA) is recalling certain 2020 Sedona vehicles. The battery positive (B+) terminal nut on the alternator may not have been tightened properly during assembly, possibly causing it to loosen over time.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Sedona vehicles equipped with an 8-passenger seat arrangement. The seat belt buckle for the second-row middle seat may have been improperly installed on the wrong side of the seat, preventing the proper use of the 3-point seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Show 2 older recalls
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.
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2015-2021 Kia Sedona complaints?
Owners have filed 684 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona. The systems they name most often are the engine, the electrical system and the body and trim.
Is the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 684 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona have?
NHTSA has 684 owner complaints on file for the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona?
NHTSA lists 7 recalls covering some 2015-2021 Kia Sedona vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Kia Sedona?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the engine, the electrical system and the body and trim, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Sedona?
The 2021 Kia Sedona received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (13.0% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Optional. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 684 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.