2018 Kia SEDONA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
48 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
16,895 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 48 complaints (43.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 10.4% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 4.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 21 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
Engine: 21; Electrical System: 11; Air Bags: 6; Structure:Body: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Exterior Lighting: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 34 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2018: 3; 2019: 5; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 4; 2023: 5; 2024: 12; 2025: 10; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11101192 · 2018-06-11 (June 11, 2018)
VEHICLE MPG IS NOT ACCURATE. STATES 18-24 MPG. WE ARE GETTING 17 MPG ON AVERAGE WITH SOME HIGHWAY DRIVING. FILLING UP TANK EVERY 4-5 DAYS ABOUT 15 GALLON OF FUEL EACH FILL UP. VAN IS NEW AND HAS 2500 MILES. FEEL THAT MILEAGE CLAIM IS NOT ACCURATE. 3.3L ENGINE. 2018 KIA SEDONA EX.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11101192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11110837 · 2018-07-11 (July 11, 2018)
IF YOU REMOVE PRESSURE FROM THE ACCELERATOR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WANTS TO SHIFT SOMETIMES THERE IS A LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE WILL START SLOWING DOWN WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING WITH NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AT APPROX. 2, 9, 19, 25, 40, 55 AND 62 MPH. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ACCELERATOR BECOMES DISABLED, THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW. TAPPING THE BRAKE WILL SLOW THE VEHICLE FASTER AND THE ACCELERATOR IS OK/ENABLED.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,293 miles reported. Look up ODI 11110837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11153048 · 2018-11-21 (November 21, 2018)
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 T…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,990 miles reported. Look up ODI 11153048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11183515 · 2019-03-01 (March 1, 2019)
WE PURCHASED BRAND NEW A 2016 KIA SEDONA FROM THE DEALERSHIP. WITHIN THE 2 YEARS WE OWNED IT WE HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES BECAUSE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON, OR WOULD FLICKER OFF AND ONE AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEY FOUND IT TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THEY REPAIRED IT THE FIRST THREE TIMES AND THE LIGHT WOULD STAY OFF FOR A WHILE. THE FOURTH TIME WE TOOK IT IN THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO TRY REPLACING THE WHOLE SEAT TO SEE IF THAT HELPED. WE DECIDED THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO RISK IT HAPP…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,883 miles reported. Look up ODI 11183515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11208350 · 2019-05-17 (May 17, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER SLIDING DOOR SENOR FAILED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO GET TRAPPED BETWEEN THE DOOR. THE FAILURE HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. ANCIRA KIA (6139 BANDERA RD, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78238 [phone removed]) DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE SLIDING DOOR SENOR BUT THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11208350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11241300 · 2019-08-02 (August 2, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SEDONA EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO CRUGEN PREMIUM TIRES, SIZE: 235/65R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,040 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,040 miles reported. Look up ODI 11241300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11277470 · 2019-11-01 (November 1, 2019)
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, [phone removed]), 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11277470 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11279424 · 2019-11-11 (November 11, 2019)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11279424 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V338000 · Structure:Body:Door | Electrical System:Software
Reported: 2018-05-23 (May 23, 2018)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Kia Sedona vehicles equipped with a power sliding door (PSD). The PSD may not auto-reverse when its closing is obstructed.
Consequence: If the door closes on an occupant, there is an increased risk of an injury.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PSD module software, free of charge. The recall began on June 18, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC164.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V109000 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2019-02-19 (February 19, 2019)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Sedona vehicles equipped with manually-adjusted front passenger seats. Over time, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) wiring harness located underneath the front passenger seat may break from the seat being occupied.
Consequence: If a child is in a child seat in the front seat, a broken ODS wiring harness will not prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the wire harness clip to prevent the wiring harness from breaking. If the harness is found damaged, the front passenger seat cushion will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC175.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V031000 · Air Bags
Reported: 2022-01-25 (January 25, 2022)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
NHTSA campaign record ↗