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2016 Kia Sedona problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
67% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Kia Sedona are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 88% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 56 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 54%).
Does the 2016 Kia Sedona have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 160 of 240 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Sedona concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (67%), and the largest group is filed under engine (147). For comparison, the 2015 scores 50% and the 2017 scores 57%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Kia Sedona years
Of the 9 Kia Sedona years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the worst on engine and transmission share (67%). The best is the 2010 (27%). By volume, the 2016 drew 296 complaints (160 drivetrain), against 139 for the 2015 and 134 for the 2017.
Kia Sedona years to avoid and best years →
2010 Sedona problems · 2011 Sedona problems · 2012 Sedona problems · 2014 Sedona problems · 2015 Sedona problems · 2016 · 2017 Sedona problems · 2018 Sedona problems · 2019 Sedona problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Kia Sedona
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Kia Sedona said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 160 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Kia Sedona transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Kia Sedona involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Kia Sedona? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2016 Kia Sedona
Does the 2016 Kia Sedona have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 160 of 240 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Sedona concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (67%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Kia Sedona?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Kia Sedona is engine: 147 of 296 complaints (50%) name it, followed by electrical system (46) and exterior lighting (37). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Kia Sedona reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 67% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 88% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 9 Kia Sedona years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Kia Sedona?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Kia Sedona involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 22V612000 (power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Kia Sedona years are better?
Among the Kia Sedona years we track, the 2010 (27%), the 2014 (29%) and the 2012 (33%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (67%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/kia-sedona
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.