
2019 Kia SEDONA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2019 Kia SEDONA has 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: purchased new. @ 7400 miles while driving on the highway it smelled like something was burning. took it to dealership who stated cylinder head was leaking antifreeze. entire engine had to be rebuilt (all heads/gaskets exchanged). 7800 miles fluid levels bottomed out. dealer stated car hadn't 'burped. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
45
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
9 complaints- • PURCHASED NEW. @ 7400 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHO STATED CYLINDER HEAD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT (ALL HEADS/GASKETS EXCHANGED). 7800 MILES FLUID LEVELS BOTTOMED OUT. DEALER STATED CAR HADN'T 'BURPED
- • SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION WHICHEVER WHICH ONE IT IS I DO NOT KNOW I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 5 OR MORE TIMES THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR THE OR THEY SAY IT'S OPERATING AS ASSIGNED HOW'S THE CAR OPERATING AS DESIGNED WHEN THE VEHICLE SOON AS YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER AND SPUTTERED AND JERKED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PITRE KIA (9640 EAGLE RANCH RD
“PURCHASED NEW. @ 7400 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHO STATED CYLINDER HEAD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT (ALL HEADS/GASKETS EXCHANGED). 7800 MILES FLUID LEVELS BOTTOMED OUT. DEALER STATED CAR HADN'T 'BURPED”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
8 complaints- • Sliding door does not always latch. Have to manually close it to latch properly.
- • Drivers side power sliding door does not close. Grinds and beeps and door shows open on display. When you disengage the power feature the door does NOT open manually.
- • Right power sliding door stopped closing all the way and would constantly beep. Now, power sliding door opens too far which has broken the motors causing the beeping to resume. This is an safety issue as anything hanging out the window would be crushed (such as a child's head or extremity). We have
“Sliding door does not always latch. Have to manually close it to latch properly.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
4 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND, AT TIMES, THE RPMS INCREASED TO 4,000. AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD DURING THE FAILURE. THE
- • SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION WHICHEVER WHICH ONE IT IS I DO NOT KNOW I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 5 OR MORE TIMES THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR THE OR THEY SAY IT'S OPERATING AS ASSIGNED HOW'S THE CAR OPERATING AS DESIGNED WHEN THE VEHICLE SOON AS YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER AND SPUTTERED AND JERKED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PITRE KIA (9640 EAGLE RANCH RD
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND, AT TIMES, THE RPMS INCREASED TO 4,000. AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD DURING THE FAILURE. THE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
4 complaints- • PURCHASED NEW. @ 7400 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHO STATED CYLINDER HEAD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT (ALL HEADS/GASKETS EXCHANGED). 7800 MILES FLUID LEVELS BOTTOMED OUT. DEALER STATED CAR HADN'T 'BURPED
- • I had to replace the left brake light 4 times already. I see other Kia Sedonas that have the same brake light out all the time.
- • I have needed to replace the drivers side brake light almost every 3 months. I have seen many Kia Sedonas with that brake light out
“PURCHASED NEW. @ 7400 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHO STATED CYLINDER HEAD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT (ALL HEADS/GASKETS EXCHANGED). 7800 MILES FLUID LEVELS BOTTOMED OUT. DEALER STATED CAR HADN'T 'BURPED”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
3 complaints- • What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Left side rear door. Yes it is available for inspection How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Door is hard to open sometimes does not open, I have to do a lot of force for it to ope
- • Door cable binds up and causes the door not to shut back leaving occupants either stranded or having to drive with the door open. This has happened 3 times even after being fixed
- • I was shutting the door and my hand was still in the door way. Sensor failed and closed my hand into the door and latched. I had to press the open door button to get it to release my finer. I had to go to ER and orthopedic doctor, resulting in a break in two parts of my finger. If it would have been
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Left side rear door. Yes it is available for inspection How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Door is hard to open sometimes does not open, I have to do a lot of force for it to ope”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 45 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: PURCHASED NEW. @ 7400 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHO STATED CYLINDER HEAD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT (ALL HEADS/GASKETS EXCHANGED). 7800 MILES FLUID LEVELS BOTTOMED OUT. DEALER STATED CAR HADN'T 'BURPED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BODY/STRUCTURE: Sliding door does not always latch. Have to manually close it to latch properly.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND, AT TIMES, THE RPMS INCREASED TO 4,000. AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD DURING THE FAILURE. THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: PURCHASED NEW. @ 7400 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHO STATED CYLINDER HEAD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT (ALL HEADS/GASKETS EXCHANGED). 7800 MILES FLUID LEVELS BOTTOMED OUT. DEALER STATED CAR HADN'T 'BURPED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia SEDONA — Year Comparison
How does 2019 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 45
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 4
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2019 Kia SEDONA