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ProblemsByVin Index / 2018-KIA-SEDONA / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2018 Kia Sedona owner complaints

46 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 1 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

engine 9 complaints shown

17 total in this category · severe · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
12/16/2024 ODI #11630950.0

Head gasket blew and caused coolant to leak into the engine. We broke down on the side of the interstate. Our vehicle sat at the dealer for 5 months awaiting a new engine to be put in. No warnings beforehand.

11/27/2024 ODI #11627705.0

Engine in my 2018 Kia has failed. This should be covered under warranty as van only has 90k miles on it but because I am the second owner they are telling me it is not covered. Several other 2018 Kia’s have already been recalled for engine failure. My car was burning oil. This is a manufacturing issue and I am very stressed about paying to get it fixed out of pocket.

11/18/2024 ODI #11626070.0

Blown engine at 108,000. Known issues with 3.3-liter V6 engine . Kia refises to repair.

11/06/2024 ODI #11623832.0

Engine failed. Replacement is required. Currently at dealership where auto was purchased. Dropped off 30 JUL '24. Waitng for replacement.

10/15/2025 ODI #11693717.0

While driving under normal conditions and normal operation, the engine lost power, began using excessive fuel, the inside of the vehicle smelled like fuel and white smoke began pouring out of the exhaust.

10/03/2024 ODI #11617981.0

I took the vehicle to get serviced to check the engine light coming on. The Kia dealership stated that the CVVT Assembly and Oil Control Valve had to be replaced. The entire engine would have to be replaced if there was engine damage. The check engine would turn off for a couple of days and then turn back on. When the light would turn off, there was a lack of power, causing a lag in the throttle control.

08/15/2024 ODI #11608711.0

108,000 miles failed engine due to know rod issues with this engine

08/13/2024 ODI #11608210.0

While driving at highway speed all the dashboard lights came on and the engine instantly quit. I managed to pull the wheel and coast to the side of the road, which was difficult with no power steering. I tried restarting the engine, but it would not stay running. I had to have the car towed to the mechanic who, upon inspection, found the engine seized due to no oil. An engine replacement was required. All routine maintenance performed on this engine and records were provided. The dealership where I purchased the vehicle refused to replace the engine under warranty, 92330 miles, stating the engine showed "sludge" and was not maintained, this despite my providing maintenance records. This catastrophic engine failure was caused by a manufacturing/engineering defect in the GDI engine causing t

08/11/2025 ODI #11679912.0

Engine failed…driving down the road with five small children and without warning all the lights came on and started smoking, leaking fuel, power doors failed, steering, acceleration and more. We had to have the car towed to a shop. A when looking into what’s happening apparently many others are having to spend thousands to fix this issue and I’m afraid that’s where we are. An investigation needs to be opened as this is clearly an ongoing issue for many families

electrical 3 complaints shown

10 total in this category · severe · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
11/11/2019 ODI #11279424.0

This is [xxx] my phone number [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

11/01/2019 9,000 mi ODI #11277470.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Kia sedona. The contact stated that the passenger side sliding door would open and close on its own. The contact took the vehicle to bill cole automall (located at 10005 big laurel hwy, bluefield, wv 24701, 304-327-0511), but they could not duplicate or diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 9,000.

08/16/2020 14,750 mi ODI #11349652.0

Vehicle dies if not driven for 5-6 days. I believe this is related to an electrical issue in the passenger side sliding door as this does not happen if you don't use the sliding door. Potentially related to recall 18v338000. Vehicle has had 3 new batteries, so not an issue with the battery. Vehicle died at the dealership after being parked without use for 5 days. Dealership cannot diagnose issue, and says the answer is to drive the van every day. Vehicle has been to dealership 3 times for this issue without a resolution.

seatbelts 1 complaint shown

11/30/2025 ODI #11702065.0

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 row, next to the window. I reported the incident to Kia in Puerto Rico by phone. They never called me back. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

visibility 1 complaint shown

11/21/2018 8,990 mi ODI #11153048.0

We only had our vehicle 5 months and my husband was sitting in traffic during a snowstorm and the wipers stopped working. We took the vehicle to the dealer and they told us it's not a manufacturer's defect so we would have to pay $507 out of pocket to replace the wiper motor. They claim that happened from someone moving heavy snow off the windshield without clearing off the windshield first. My husband has an ice scraper and he told me he used it, not to mention, he kept the heat on the window the entire time. I think it's ridiculous for them to have us to believe that on the first snowstorm of the year, the wiper teeth got ruined from snow, what's the purpose of the wipers? It has been almost a week since we left the dealer and they had no conscious about us driving out of there with no w

airbags 1 complaint shown

4 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags cluster analysis →
10/24/2025 ODI #11695448.0

In 2022, our airbag light came on. On 5/10/2022 am Airbag recall was issued and it was fixed. The airbag computer/module was fixed. We got into an accident in August of 2022, and our airbags never went off. And the airbag light has never shut off since it was “fixed” May 2022. It’s now October 2025. They said nothing was wrong with it, after bringing the vehicle in multiple times. And now after bringing it in, again in August 2025, they said the entire passenger airbag unit needs to be replace and isn’t related to the airbag recall. It’s $800+ and Kia won’t do it since the warranty has expired and it’s “not related”. Still fighting with them over it. As the airbags recall in 2022 included a defect where the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) cover can contact a memory chip, potentially deactivatin

steering 1 complaint shown

10/03/2022 ODI #11487739.0

Steering wheel became stiff and it's not steering. Yes, vehicle is available for inspection. Driving on freeway with my children in the vehicle when wheel became stiff. Was able to get off ramp and get home. Incident happened on 10/02/2022, currently on 2 hour hold with Kia (800-333-4542). Called local dealership, but was sent to voice mail for service department. No, vehicle has not been inspected. There were no warning lamps or messages at time of incident nor prior symptoms. Turned vehicle on this AM (10/03/2022) and no warning lights nor messages have appeared. Checked power steering fluid level and it is at the recommended level.

wheels 1 complaint shown

09/25/2020 21,000 mi ODI #11361133.0

2 of the 4 kumho crugen premium 235/60r18 tires on our Kia sedona have had tread separation. 21,000 miles on the car so far. Car was in motion and experienced rattling and shaking each time.

body 1 complaint shown

09/21/2025 ODI #11688733.0

Driver Side door stuck in the closed position. Electric Motor does not work.

suspension 1 complaint shown

09/14/2025 Fire ODI #11687226.0

There was a fire under my minivan as my husband was driving it, creating smoke and flames. He lost power to the van and had to coast to the right side of the highway where he came to a stop with the flames occurring. This is the family vehicle and I have small children. We had no warning lights or any indication that there would be a fire in my vehicle as the van had been running smoothly, and I had kept up with all recommended maintenance (see Carfax report). On July 31st, I was told by Kia America that there was a fire in the engine compartment and that it was inconclusive and they could not determine what started the fire. On August 15th, my father and husband went to Castrucci Kia (where the car was) and were shown that there were holes in the engine block, and the service repres

Showing 300 of 46 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Kia/Sedona#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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