Kia Sedona: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Kia Sedona problems by model year, from 927 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2016 (67%, 160 drivetrain complaints), 2017 (57%, 63 drivetrain complaints) and 2018 (56%, 22 drivetrain complaints). 7 of the 9 Kia Sedona years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2010 (27%) and 2014 (29%). 2010 and 2014 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2014 (29%) to 2015 (50%), up 21 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (160 of 389 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Kia Sedona year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Sedona | no elevated signal | 27% | 7 | 32 | 9/9 | 5 |
| 2011 Sedona | high | 44% | 27 | 65 | 5/9 | 6 |
| 2012 Sedona | elevated | 33% | 32 | 107 | 7/9 | 5 |
| 2014 Sedona | no elevated signal | 29% | 10 | 39 | 8/9 | 1 |
| 2015 Sedona | high | 50% | 55 | 139 | 4/9 | 3 |
| 2016 Sedona | very high | 67% | 160 | 296 | 1/9 | 4 |
| 2017 Sedona | high | 57% | 63 | 134 | 2/9 | 4 |
| 2018 Sedona | high | 56% | 22 | 48 | 3/9 | 3 |
| 2019 Sedona | elevated | 39% | 13 | 38 | 6/9 | 2 |
| 2020 Sedona | too few to score | – | 7 | 20 | – | 1 |
| 2021 Sedona | too few to score | – | 1 | 9 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Kia Sedona years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Kia Sedona transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Kia Sedona involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2020 | 20V101000 | fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail | 2011–2012 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V612000 | power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift | 2016 |
11 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2013 | 13V114000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2010–2011 |
| Nov 2013 | 13V550000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2010–2012 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V387000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2010–2012 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V389000 | latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 |
| May 2018 | 18V338000 | structure: body: door | 2015–2018 |
| Jun 2018 | 18V363000 | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 2011–2012 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V109000 | electrical system: wiring | 2015–2018 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V207000 | seat belts: rear/other: buckle assembly | 2019 |
| Feb 2020 | 20V088000 | electrical system | 2010 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V725000 | exterior lighting: turn signal | 2015–2017 |
| Jan 2022 | 22V031000 | air bags | 2017–2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Kia Sedona
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars 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.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Kia Sedona
What are the worst years for the Kia Sedona?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Kia Sedona years are the 2016 (67% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2017 (57% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2018 (56% of relevant complaints, high). 7 of 9 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Kia Sedona?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Kia Sedona years are the 2010 (27%) and the 2014 (29%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Kia Sedona have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 9 scored years, 389 of 750 relevant NHTSA complaints (52%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Is the Kia Sedona reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 7 of 9 Kia Sedona years we score have an elevated complaint share and 2 do not. Pooled across those years, 52% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Kia Sedona?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Kia Sedona years we track, out of 13 in total: 20V101000 (Feb 2020, 2011–2012), 22V612000 (Aug 2022, 2016). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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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 model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.