Reliable Auto DB

2018 Kia Sedona reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Kia Sedona holds 48 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 3 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Sedona years here — over the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Air bags, Wiring, and Door.

2012 Kia Sedona
Photo by DoulosBen, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0
Complaints

48

Per year

3

Recalls

3

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (21 of 48), then Electrical system (11) and Air bags (6). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Sedona has 134 complaints, 6 per year, and the 2019 has 38 complaints, 3 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Kia Sedona. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall Air bags 2022-01-25 · NHTSA campaign 22V031000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall electrical system, wiring 2019-02-19 · NHTSA campaign 19V109000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall structure, body, door 2018-05-23 · NHTSA campaign 18V338000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (48 total)

Engine
21
Electrical system
11
Air bags
6
Structure
3
Exterior lighting
2
Fuel and propulsion system
2
Powertrain
2
Seats
2
Wheels
2
Forward collision avoidance
1
Hydraulic brakes
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Seat belts
1
Service brakes
1
Speed control
1
Steering
1
Suspension
1
Tires
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 11 more Show less
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

4

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

32018520192202032021420225202312202410202542026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "2018 Kia Sedona lx stalled while my wife was driving on the highway. No warning lights were on until the vehicle lost all power. Luckily my wife was able to pull the car safely to the side. The vehicle only has 36960…"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-02
  • "The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the air bag and the check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to start and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with…"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-07-02
  • "The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Check Auto Emergency System" was displayed and the brake warning light illuminated. Additionally, an…"
    Hydraulic brakes · filed 2026-04-15
  • "The vehicle is a 2018 Kia Sedona with approximately 122,000 miles that experienced a catastrophic engine failure resulting in complete engine seizure. The failure has been identified by an independent mechanic as a rod…"
    Engine · filed 2026-03-27
  • "My [XXX] son pulled the seatbelt so tight it got wrapped around his neck. When I pulled over to unbuckle it, it was stuck. I turned the car off and on again to try and loosen it, but it didn't work. In the emergency, I…"
    Seat belts · filed 2025-11-30

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Kia Sedona VAN FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Sedona 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 18 24 20 MPG $3250
Sedona SX 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 18 25 21 MPG $3100
Sedona SXL 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 17 22 19 MPG $3400

Specs and fitment

3rd generation (YP), 2015–2021
Body styles Minivan
Oil 5W-30 (all temps); 10W-30 above -18°C (3.3L) , 6 qt capacity
Tire size 235/65R17, 235/60R18, 235/55R19 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V-338 covers certain 2015-2018 Kia Sedona vehicles equipped with a power sliding door (PSD): the PSD may not auto-reverse when its closing is obstructed. Dealers reprogram the PSD module software. Recall 19V-109 covers certain 2015-2018 Sedona vehicles with manually-adjusted front passenger seats where the Occupant Detection System wiring harness under the seat may break over time. Recall 21V-725 covers certain 2015-2017 Sedona vehicles where Smart Junction Box software may interpret multifunction switch signals incorrectly so the turn signal activates in the opposite direction.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Kia Sedona Next year 2019 Kia Sedona See every Kia Sedona model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Kia Sedona reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Kia Sedona holds 48 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 3 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Sedona years here — over the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Air bags, Wiring, and Door.

What are common problems with a 2018 Kia Sedona?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (21 of 48), then Electrical system (11) and Air bags (6). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2018 Kia Sedona more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 Sedona has 134 complaints, 6 per year, and the 2019 has 38 complaints, 3 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Kia Sedona been recalled?

The 2018 Kia Sedona has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Kia Sedona?

Owners have filed 48 complaints about the 2018 Kia Sedona with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Kia Sedona get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Kia Sedona is 20 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Kia Sedona take?

Viscosity and capacity depend on engine and model year; use the generation specs here and confirm in the owner's manual.

What generation is the 2018 Kia Sedona?

3rd generation / YP (2015-2021).

What tire sizes does a Kia Sedona use?

Common US sizes include 235/65R17, 235/60R18, and 235/55R19 depending on trim.