Kia

Sedona (3rd)

2015-2021 · Minivan ยท 1 engine
Best Engine โŒ Avoid (1.0)
640 NHTSA Complaints
7 Recalls
28 Fire Reports
19 Crash Reports
View all 3 generations of the Kia Sedona → ๐Ÿ“‹ Inspection checklist

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (13.0% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (13.0% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (13.0% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (13.0% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (13.0% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (13.0% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (13.0% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: No

Engine Reliability Ratings

DOHC GDI LAMBDA II

3.3L
โŒ Avoid (1.0)
616 complaints 88.0 per year Gasoline
25 fire reports 2 fatalities
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
274
electrical
110
body
73
exterior
68
safety systems
54

Known Issues

Engine Issues (274 complaints)
Typical onset: 82,956โ€“118,500 mi Est. repair: $950โ€“$9,478 (43 reports)
Electrical System Issues (110 complaints)
Typical onset: 24,000โ€“107,000 mi Est. repair: $775โ€“$1,050 (8 reports)
Body/Trim Issues (73 complaints)
Typical onset: 27,420โ€“68,500 mi

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Kia Sedona regardless of engine variant.

Engine Issues (274 complaints)
engine critical
Electrical System Issues (110 complaints)
electrical critical
Body/Trim Issues (73 complaints)
body critical
Exterior Issues (68 complaints)
exterior critical
Safety Systems Issues (54 complaints)
safety_systems critical

Recalls (7)

22V031000Jan 24, 2022serious
Air Bags

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.

22V612000Oct 7, 2022serious
Powertrain

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.

21V725000Sep 16, 2021serious
Exterior Lighting

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.

20V399000Aug 6, 2020serious
Electrical System

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.

19V109000Feb 18, 2019serious
Electrical System

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.

19V207000Mar 17, 2019serious
Seat Belts

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."

18V338000May 22, 2018serious
Structure

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.

Alternatives in Minivan

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2015-2021 Kia Sedona problems?

The 2015-2021 Kia Sedona has accumulated 640 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Engine, Electrical System, Body/Trim. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Kia Sedona engine is most reliable?

The 2015-2021 Kia Sedona was offered with 1 engine option. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 3.3L ?-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona a good used car?

The 2015-2021 Kia Sedona can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 640 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona have?

The 2015-2021 Kia Sedona has 640 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2015-2021 Kia Sedona?

There are 7 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2015-2021 Kia Sedona vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN โ€” check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Kia Sedona?

Before buying a used Kia Sedona, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Engine, Electrical System, Body/Trim, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or 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. 640 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-04-07.

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