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.
2018 Kia Sedona engine problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
2fires
What stands out
Engine accounts for 37% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 3 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2018 Kia Sedona with the 3.3L V6 engine carries serious risk of catastrophic engine failure without warning between 90,000–120,000 miles due to oil starvation and rod bearing damage. Multiple owners report complete engine seizure at highway speed with no dashboard alerts, creating a safety hazard; Kia has declined warranty coverage in many cases despite documented maintenance.
The 2018 Kia Sedona's 3.3L V6 GDI engine is failing catastrophically in ways that catch owners off guard. Most common is sudden engine seizure at highway speed. Owners describe the sequence clearly: engine knocks lightly, then squeals loudly, then quits dead—no check engine light, no oil pressure warning, nothing on the dash to tell you something's wrong. One driver heard the tapping 10 miles before shutdown; another noticed the noise only seconds before the engine locked up. The diagnosis in every case is the same: rod bearing failure or internal seizure from oil starvation.
The root cause is excessive oil burn. Owners who change oil faithfully report the dipstick reading empty between scheduled services. One tech told an owner the Sedona is "notorious for burning through oil." By the time the engine seizes, oil level is critically low or empty. Owners report seizures between 90,000 and 122,000 miles; one caught fire at only 120 miles after an oil change.
Secondary failures include blown head gaskets, cracked blocks, and a handful of engine fires—one vehicle fully engulfed within 15 minutes of smoke appearing. Two owners report CVVT or oil control valve faults with intermittent check engine lights and power loss.
Kia dealerships have refused warranty coverage citing "sludge" in engines despite owner maintenance records, or denying claims on second-owner vehicles. One owner waited five months for an engine that turned out to be discontinued.
Same Kia Sedona engine reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Rod bearing failure / engine seizure
Internal rod bearing damage causes abrupt engine seizure. Owners report sudden loss of power at highway speed with minimal warning—typically a light tapping sound 10 miles before failure, then loud squealing immediately before shutdown. No dashboard warning lights alert drivers to the impending catastrophe. Engine seizes and will not crank. Diagnosis confirmed by independent mechanics and dealership inspections.
When: Between 90,000–122,000 miles; one case after only 120 miles driven since last oil change
Symptoms owners cite: Light tapping noise from engine, progressing to loud squealing; Sudden loss of power at highway speed; Complete engine seizure; crankshaft will not turn; No warning lights or dashboard indicators before failure; Difficulty steering and accelerating due to loss of power
Codes mentioned: Engine seized (mechanical diagnosis, not OBD code)
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required. Owners cite discontinued engine availability and costs in the thousands. One owner reported waiting 5 months for engine availability at dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia dealerships and Kia America decline responsibility for repair despite maintenance records provided. Warranty claims denied due to second-owner status or manufacturer claim of poor maintenance despite documented oil changes. Class action lawsuit mentioned by one owner.
Excessive oil consumption / oil starvation
Engine burns through oil faster than normal despite routine oil change intervals and manufacturer recommendations. Oil level drops significantly between services, sometimes to empty, starving the engine of lubrication and leading to rod bearing wear and seizure. Service technicians report the 3.3L V6 Lambda II GDI engine is notorious for this issue.
When: Emerges within first few years of ownership; oil depletion accelerates engine failure between 90,000–122,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level drops to low or empty despite regular oil changes; Knocking or tapping noise in engine (early warning of bearing wear); Lack of power and throttle lag when oil burns down; No oil warning light on dashboard despite low oil condition
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (P-codes for oil control valve, CVVT issues mentioned in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Oil service technicians advise more frequent oil changes than Kia recommends. One owner was told to service every few weeks instead of per manufacturer interval. Root cause is engineering defect in the GDI engine design.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia recommends increasing service frequency but does not recall or address the underlying design flaw. No TSBs or warranty programs mentioned by owners.
Blown head gasket and cracked engine block
Head gasket fails, allowing coolant to leak into combustion chambers and cause internal engine damage. Block cracks as a secondary effect. Occurs without warning and typically discovered only during inspection for other symptoms (antifreeze smell, lack of power).
When: Between 64,000 and 72,000 miles on one vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Antifreeze smell from engine; Loss of power and throttle response; No warning lights before failure becomes critical; Coolant leak into engine (discovered on inspection)
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (code not specified)
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty company inspected vehicle but claim outcome not stated by owner.
Engine fire
Smoke begins pouring from engine compartment under normal driving or idle conditions, followed by flames visible at grille within minutes. Engine fully engulfed in flames within 15 minutes. Causes may relate to excessive fuel consumption, oil breach, or electrical ignition of leaking fuel.
When: On short 10-mile trip after years of normal service; one vehicle caught fire while idling
Symptoms owners cite: White smoke pouring from engine compartment; Smell of excess fuel inside cabin; Flames visible at grille; Complete engine compartment fire within 15 minutes
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle total loss. Insurance covered replacement.
CVVT assembly and oil control valve malfunction
Oil control valve or continuously variable valve timing assembly fails, triggering check engine light and reducing engine power. Intermittent malfunction: light turns off for days then returns, accompanied by throttle lag. May be early warning sign of broader oil-starvation issue.
When: Occurs intermittently; timing not specified by owner
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light comes on and off intermittently; Lack of power and throttle lag when malfunction occurs; No other warning lights
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (CVVT Assembly and Oil Control Valve fault)
Repairs/costs cited: CVVT assembly and oil control valve replacement recommended; dealership warns complete engine replacement may be necessary if internal damage detected.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
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.
Blown engine at 108,000. Known issues with 3.3-liter V6 engine . Kia refises to repair.
Engine failed. Replacement is required. Currently at dealership where auto was purchased. Dropped off 30 JUL '24. Waitng for replacement.
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.
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…
108,000 miles failed engine due to know rod issues with this engine
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…
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…
Had engine trouble with your 2018 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 engine problem on the 2018 Kia Sedona?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2018/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.