TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, and the transmission oil cooler is transferred to the new transmission.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Kia Sedona powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Kia Sedona have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Sedona | 6 |
| 2015 Sedona | 4 |
| 2016 Sedona (this page) | 11 |
| 2017 Sedona | 4 |
| 2019 Sedona | 4 |
1crash
What stands out
Among the 10 model years of Kia Sedona in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, refer to applicable vehicles in the chart starting on page 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: - TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, refer to applicable vehicles on page 2. Refer to the shop manual on KGIS for the specific Kia model for the correct transmission fluid check/fill procedures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: DCT ACTUATOR ROD LENGTH ADJUSTMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to adjust the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) actuator rod lengths using the applicable SST on some 2016MY~ vehicles equipped with 6 speed DCT (D6KF1) or 7 speed DCT (D7UF1) in order to prevent unnecessary replacement of both the DCT clutch actuator and clutch set together.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a consistent pattern of powertrain failures. The shift lever issue appears most urgent: the gear shift can be moved out of Park without the ignition on or brake pedal depressed, causing parked vehicles to roll unintended. One parent's three-year-old child managed to shift the car into reverse while it was off, sending the van down a driveway with two children inside. Another owner had to use force to lock the shift lever in Park while the vehicle rolled backward in a parking lot. A recall (NHTSA 22V612000) exists for this issue, but some owners report their VINs were excluded despite experiencing the exact failure.
The 3.3L engine shows severe wear: owners report loud knocking at 90,000 miles, metal shavings in the oil, and camshaft timing faults requiring complete engine replacement. One owner's replacement engine failed within two days of return, requiring additional parts repair. Others experienced sudden loss of all engine power while highway driving—at 70 mph with cruise control, and on Interstate 95—with no warning lights, only metal shavings in the oil and low oil levels afterward.
Head gasket failure is also reported, causing ethylene glycol vapors to leak into the cabin through the air conditioning, exposing children and an asthmatic passenger to hazardous fumes with no prior warning light.
Failure modes owners describe
Shift lever does not lock in Park; vehicle rolls unintended
Gear shift lever fails to engage or lock in Park position, allowing the vehicle to roll even when parked. Can occur with ignition off and without brake pedal depressed. Incidents involve vehicles rolling down driveways and backwards while parked.
When: Various mileages; one case at 110,000 miles; one case at 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shift lever moves freely from Park without ignition on or brake applied; Shift lever seizes in certain positions; Vehicle rolls unintended when parked; Shift lever fails to lock in Park even after force applied
Codes mentioned: Check Engine light illuminated (one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Faulty automatic transmission shift lever assembly replacement required; one owner reports dealership refused to repair due to cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 22V612000 (Powertrain recall exists); Kia has not consistently included affected VINs; one complainant's VIN was excluded from recall despite matching failure mode
Engine knock and premature engine failure due to internal damage
Engine develops loud knocking or idling noise, metal shavings found in oil, and camshaft timing issues. Escalates to complete engine failure requiring replacement. In one case, replacement engine fails within 2 days of return, requiring additional parts replacement.
When: Around 90,000 miles in one case; 20,000 miles in another case; 99,631 miles at diagnosis
Symptoms owners cite: Loud engine knocking noise; Loud idling noise; Metal shavings in oil; Check Engine light with camshaft timing fault message; Engine will not start after prior replacement
Codes mentioned: Camshaft timing fault code
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement (3.3 Liter GDI DOHC); subsequent CVVT ASSY / CAMSHAFT ASSY-INTAKE replacement required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia dealership performs diagnosis and replacement; non-Kia shops gave vague warnings about Kia engine issues
Head gasket failure with coolant leakage and cabin exposure
Head gasket failure causes coolant leakage and ethylene glycol vapors to enter cabin through air conditioning system. No warning lights precede failure. Occupants exposed to noxious fumes.
When: Timing not specified by owner
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent smell of engine coolant in cabin when air-conditioning on; Noxious fumes in cabin containing ethylene glycol; Children felt nauseous; Adult with asthma experienced headaches and shortness of breath
Repairs/costs cited: Head gasket replacement confirmed by authorized Kia dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia acknowledges coolant smell may be experienced in 2016-2017 Kia Sorento equipped with 3.3L V6 engine (same engine as 2016 Sedona); no specific TSB or recall mentioned by owner
Sudden engine power loss on highway without warning
Complete loss of engine power while driving at highway speeds without any warning lights or indication. In one case accompanied by thick smoke from exhaust and loud ticking; in another case, low oil and metal flakes found in filter.
When: One case at 70 mph cruise control; one case unspecified mileage; one case on Interstate 95
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden total loss of engine speed at 70 mph; Loud bump sound before power loss; Thick smoke from exhaust; Loud ticking noise; Low oil level; Metal flakes in oil filter; Zero warning or indication of issues before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Low oil and metal flakes found; one case dealer could find nothing wrong; one case resulted in engine failure requiring inspection
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reports dealer found nothing wrong; no recalls or TSBs mentioned
Excessive oil loss during normal operation
Engine loses oil at rapid rate during normal driving with no apparent external leak or warning indication.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid oil loss; Excessive oil loss for amount of driving; No external leak visible
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
My 2016 Kia Sedona developed a loud engine knocking / idling noise around 90000 miles. Had at least one oil change at a non-Kia shop around that time and was given vague warning about Kia engines as to why I was hearing the louder idling. At the time of another oil change at 99631 miles I was told there were a large number of metal shavings found in the oil, and my Check Engine light was…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2016 Kia Sedona?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2016 Kia Sedona?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 51,667 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Kia/Sedona.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.