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Engine & cooling

2017 Kia Sedona Engine problems

Owners have filed 62 complaints about the 2017 Kia Sedona's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 46% of all its complaints, most recently on August 17, 2026. They describe 0 crashes, 3 fires and 4 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
62
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
4
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & cooling

on 8/6/26 my wife was driving home when the Sedona Van began emitting white smoke and started making a whining noise. Little did we know the head bolts had pulled out of the engine causing the head gasket to blow and coolant to leak and total engine failure. Safety risk was engine could have seized in the middle of my wife driving home which could have caused a sudden crash. Vehicle was taken to dealership which confirmed total engine failure due to the well-documented engine failures of the 3.3L V6 Lamda - II...

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engines. Dealership stated my VIN # was NOT included in the extended warranty that the NHTSA mandated KIA provide due to this well-documented problem. I was told the extended warranty covered vehicles through 2016 model years, my Sedona is a 2017. Therefore, there was NOTHING they could do. However, this is the SAME issue that has been documented over and over with this engine. But because mine is a 2017 I am being told it is not covered for the total engine replacement by KIA. I was told to call the KIA customer care line which I did. They confirmed my vehicle is NOT covered, but agreed it is the same engine issue that has been seen in the 2013-2016. I was told that I could file a Goodwill case that will be escalated to KIA corporate to see if there is anything they can do to help me. I am now waiting for them to get back to me. I was quoted $13,206 for the engine replacement and likely may need radiator replaced too so probably closer to $15,000 when all done. I am told this is purely mechanical failure and a manufacturer defect. I am waiting for KIA's response but want to file this complaint to see what help is available if they come back and deny covering my engine replacement. simply because it is a 2017. This vehicle has been great so far, has 157,000 well cared for miles until this issue erupted without warning. Dealership said have not seen this on a 2017 Sedona, but it happened, my van is currently dead and will there be more 2017's w/ this issu

Filed Incident Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11757573
Engine & coolingFire

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the contact the oil light illuminated, and the vehicle decelerated independently. The contact mention he pulled over to the right side of the road, exited the vehicle and when he lifted the hood of the vehicle, he noticed flames coming from the engine. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention. There was no police report filed. The fire department did not show at the scene to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was not destroyed. The vehicle is currently still at the scene. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 146,658.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11736979
Engine & cooling

Same defect on NHTSA (Investigation PE23-019) my vehicle is 1 month outside of the manufacturing date listed, having the same issues, but they will not cover it-even though the same engine is in it. KIA bulletin WTY039 Vehicle is overheating, coolant is bubbling

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11731432
Engine & cooling

There was an unusual amount of oil "slug" created by the engine which caused the engine to be inoperable. Therefore, we had to replace the engine.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11731057
Engine & cooling

My vehicle would not start, after jumping and idling for a few moments, all dash lights started flashing and vehicle wouldnt go into gear. I shut it off as it started making a hum and smelled like something wasnt right. A mobile mechanic who came to my rescue after breaking down did a diagnostic of my engine. I was told I had low to no oil. I asked how was this possible as I had only driven around 2,000 miles since my recent oil change at the KIA dealer ( Wesley Chapel, FL). He said the tech may not have put...

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recommended oil amount or the engine is consuming the oil. I told him I would contact the dealer regarding this matter. Long story, short I broke down to needing a new battery and alternator. I don't know if this was the exact cause of the latter 2 needing to be repaired. However, since speaking to others this is common with some models. I even had 1 individual state there were recalls and engines were being replaced as the engine could potentially lock up or fail. I am not finding a recall. Is this an issue that has been reported and I am missing something. Also, there was a recall on the sliding doors at 1 point. I am still having issues with the drivers side yet tge dealerships want to charge me a diagnostic fee. How do I go about seeing if this is an ongoing issue.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11730765
Engine & coolingFuel system

137,000 Miles, regular oil changes every 4,000 miles,even adding 2 quarts during the 4,000 miles it would still come up short by 1 quart. Started throwing p0018 timing code,high pressure fuel pump on front blew off the valve cover,Im assuming due to jumping out of timing,as the high pressure pump sits ontop of one of the Camshaft rollers. Engine started knocking and is now useless.

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11729795
Engine & cooling

Vehicle Information: 2017 Kia Sedona VIN: [[redacted]] Engine: 3.3L GDI Mileage at failure: 186,000 miles Complaint: I am filing this complaint regarding sudden engine failure in my 2017 Kia Sedona equipped with the 3.3L GDI engine. The vehicle had approximately 186,000 miles at the time of failure and had just undergone a routine oil change prior to the incident. While driving on the highway, a warning light illuminated on the dashboard. Shortly after the warning light appeared, the engine began making a...

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loud knocking sound. The knocking rapidly worsened, indicating internal engine damage. The failure occurred while the vehicle was in motion at highway speed, creating a serious safety risk due to potential loss of power and reduced ability to accelerate or maneuver safely. The vehicle was diagnosed as requiring a full engine replacement. The estimated cost provided was $5,758.05 for the engine, plus an additional $1,800 core charge, not including labor costs. This represents a substantial financial burden. It is my understanding that Kia has prior knowledge of widespread issues involving GDI engines, including premature internal bearing failure and engine seizure in multiple models. Despite this knowledge, the 2017 Kia Sedona with the 3.3L GDI engine has not been adequately addressed. Sudden engine failure at highway speeds poses a significant safety hazard and increases the risk of collision. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the 3.3L GDI engine used in the 2017 Kia Sedona for potential manufacturing defects related to premature engine failure and internal component damage. Thanks, [[redacted]] [[redacted]] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11721656
Engine & cooling

My husband and I originally bought our White 2017 Kia Sedona LX on 9/12/18 from Hertz automotive sales. Since that time we had had no engine issues. We maintained our brakes, and standard upkeeps on the car. Eight years in and still our car had given us no issues. Our most recent oil change was on 9/13/25 and it was inspected during that oil change and no issues were noted. The car had since that time been driven as expected to school for kids and work for myself and activities on the weekend for family time....

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There was no weird smells, discolored smoke from the tail piper or anything. The car was running fine. At no time were any warning signals on, flashing or intermittently coming on and off. Then on Thursday, 1/22/26 evening I stopped by the gas station to get gas before turning into my neighborhood for home. Upon leaving the gas station, I noticed and felt the engine seemed off and vibrating with soft tremor like shaking and as I pressed on the gas for power it was soft power, and at that moment only did I see the check engine light on solid (not flashing). I called my husband and a few mins later we made it home, he came out to check the car, and saw now that the engine light was flashing over and over. We read up on what this meant and new we had a problem. We dropped the car off on Saturday to the mechanic and on Monday, 1/26/26 a diagnostic was made and was given the bad news that the engine had complete failure. $18,000 bill to fix all the issues. But here is a short synopsis: Multiple codes found in ECM Metal found in oil, oil is also 1 or more quarts low P0300 (Random misfire), P0302 (CYL #2 misfire), p0304, (CYL#4 misfire) p0306. (CYL#6 misfire) p0175, (bank 2 rich) p0018 (crank - cam correlation) Engine has internal failure, failing piston rings allowing oil in combustion chamber, causing misfire, rich condition and engine shaking This was a shock and we had to sell it for nothing to a salvage company.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11716567
Engine & cooling

Engine with around 107K miles has had regular maintenance done to it. Went out one morning to start my van and there was a knocking noise coming from under the hood. We then had it towed to an engine/transmission repair shop to have it looked at and was told that we needed a new/used engine and the price was thru the roof. this is a very trusted shop so took there advice. To have the engine replaced is going to cost more than what the vehicle is worth. This is a known issue with some kia engines as they with no signs of failure prior to the noise. We had not one warning light on the dash, it just went poof.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11710621
Engine & coolingFire

The contact owned a 2017 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that after parking in his driveway, there was white smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact is handicapped and was assisted by his wife to exit the vehicle safely. The vehicle later caught on fire, and flames were visible in the front passenger side that spread to the rear of the vehicle. No warning lights illuminated before or after the failure. The contact stated that the front of the house was damaged, as well as the garage siding, along...

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with an older truck parked in the driveway. The fire was extinguished by the fire department with water, and a police officer was on scene and tried to extinguish the rear with an extinguisher, but was unsuccessful. There was a fire report filed. The vehicle was towed a week after the fire to the insurance tow lot. The vehicle was deemed destroyed by the insurance company. No injuries were sustained. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11707879
Engine & cooling

Excessive oil consumption

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11705212
Engine & cooling

Oil Control valve failed and oil leaking

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11694305
Engine & cooling

Burning through oil faster than it should, needing to feel up oil every week, has been confirmed by an auto repair shop.⁸

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11687085
Engine & cooling

On [[redacted]], while driving my 2017 Kia Sedona on a road trip through Killeen, Texas, the engine suddenly began making a loud knocking noise without any prior warning, leading to catastrophic engine failure and complete loss of motive power. The vehicle became inoperable and was towed to University Kia in Waco, Texas. The day prior, on [[redacted]], the vehicle underwent a thorough pre-trip inspection and full synthetic oil change at Sun Auto Tire & Service (5117 Golden Triangle Blvd., Keller, TX 76244),...

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confirming it was roadworthy with no issues detected initially, though oil was found leaking afterward (maintenance records attached). University Kia confirmed the catastrophic engine failure, likely related to the 3.3L Lambda engine's known oil pressure switch (OPS) defects, as the OPS had been previously replaced under warranty. Kia Motors America (Case [[redacted]]) denied liability unless I pay $3,000 for a teardown inspection to prove the failure was due to the OPS, despite the vehicle's eligibility under the WTY026 extended warranty (15 years/150,000 miles). This failure aligns with similar complaints and NHTSA investigations into 3.3L Lambda engine issues, such as oil starvation and sudden seizures. Due to the failure, we missed a prepaid hotel stay in San Antonio, incurred additional hotel stay charges as our trip had to be extended, and incurred costs for a rental vehicle to complete the trip. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11685326
Engine & cooling

I was driving and my engine seized and my car is now undrivable. I immediately looked up recalls and see that there were several recalls and recalls surrounding the engine as well. I am told I now need a brand new engine and was referred to file a report as the issue experienced should not have been happening.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11678952
Engine & cooling

Engine stared clattering at the end of a 2 hour drive home. Engine died entering a round about 1-1/2 miles from home. It restarted and limped to my home. Arranged to have it towed to mechanic shop. They informed me there is issues with rod bearings and that Kia has a class action suite but Kia is telling me that my vin is not involved.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11678706
Engine & cooling

Without warning lights coming on my engine started knocking on May 15, 2025. Turns out the bearing between the top of the motor and the bottom of the motor is stripped. 5 months before this happened they replaced the 2 fuel pumps, cvvt, cam shaft sensor and assembly, timing chain and spark plugs. Again I had no warning about that work that the dealership said I needed. Now I need a new motor and they won't do anything for me except charge over $10,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11675598
Engine & cooling

I heard a knocking sound in my car which I thought was coming from the engine towards the end of May. It was really bad on May 29, 2025, so I did not drive it again. I called my local dealership and scheduled an appointment for June 2, 2025. The vehicle had to be towed from my house to the dealership as it did not seem safe to drive. The battery had died when I tried to start it, so I called AAA for a tow. They were able to jump start the car, but I still did not feel safe driving it with the loud knocking noise. I...

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had AAA tow my car to the dealership. This is what they found: LOWER ENGINE KNOCK, METAL IN THE OIL, LOWER ROD BEARING FAILURE. No lights were on at the time the severe knocking occurred. How and why was my VIN not included in the recall notice on the engines? This was clearly a safety hazard. This problem SHOULD BE COVERED by the engine recall. Now I have to get a new vehicle with extremely limited funds.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11664626
Engine & cooling

Catalytic converter system failure

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11662481
Engine & cooling

On [[redacted]] my family and I were on our way to Oklahoma. Luckily we were on a highway instead of interstate when our Kia motor blew. There were no oil warning lights illuminated, nothing. My husband luckily was able to steer the van to the side of the road safely. My vehicle had to be towed and when codes were run on it by the oil changers, NO CODES POPPED UP and there were metal shaving in my oil filter. My husband contacted the dealer, they said the only issue they could find was not a recall, but an...

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extended warranty for an oil pressure switch, but that with it not working it "would not make an engine blow." However, another mechanic said it absolutely would. This van does have the 3.3 engine that has been recalled in other models, but not the 2017. We had to rent a UHAUL to have my van pulled by another vehicle. In the picture you can see all the oil which was lost. How was our safety at risk? We had to pull on the side of the road on a main highway (not interstate), but there wasn't much room between the road side and our vehicle, not to mention the traffic right behind us who could have parked in our trunk when the failure occurred. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11655621
Engine & cooling

Using lots of oil

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11645215
Engine & cooling

All maintenance performed at same manufacturer authorized dealership. My engine is currently full of sludge due the oil pressure switch under the recall not operating correctly before and after repair The was reported to dealer in October 2023 who engaged the manufacturer who authorized the repairs in May 2024 when vehicle would not hold oil at all.Car has not maintained oil level since repair .It has been in dealers since October 2024 seeking assistance from the manufacturer Recall MC-10210267-0001

Filed Incident Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11642728
Engine & cooling

I own a 2017 Kia Sedona with approximately 120,000. It has the 3.3L V6 engine. While driving, the vehicle lost power and would not run. The lights and the dashboard would come on, but it would not turn over to start. I took it to a mechanic, and they confirmed that the engine had seized up and would have to be replaced costing $11,000. I then had it towed to the dealership that I purchased the vehicle. They also confirmed that the engine had seized up and would have to be replaced at a significant cost. I had no...

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warning that anything was wrong with my vehicle as the check engine light did not come on. I did hear a slight knocking the day before this happened. My husband checked the oil and added a quart of oil, which was unusual since we had not seen any oil on our driveway. I did have a warranty, but it lapsed due to being over the mileage cap by 2,000 miles.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11639812
Engine & coolingBody, doors & structure

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to immediately start and was experiencing rough driving with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact of the head gasket, head gasket bolts, fuel pump, and fuel injector failures. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Additionally, the passenger's side electronic sliding door failed to properly latch due to a faulty electrical locking mechanism....

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The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failures, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in an undisclosed Extend Warranty Coverage for the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 11630586
Engine & cooling

The Engine failed at 63,758 miles. Lancaster KIA in Lancaster, PA indicated the engine has metal shavings everywhere.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11628499

Kia Sedona engine complaints by year

Sedona engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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