AI Damage2019 KIA Sedona: common problems
Owners of the 2019 KIA Sedona filed 39 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and structure. The maker issued 54 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 39
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 54
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 31% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 23% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 12 complaints (31% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Structure: 9 complaints (23% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 28.
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.3 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 39 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 12 | 0 | 8 |
| Structure | 9 | 0 | 10 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 28 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Air bags | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 0 | 7 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The driver-side and passenger-side air bags did not deploy. After the impact, the contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed. The paramedics evaluated everyone at the scene of the accident. The contact and his family were not injured. The vehicle was towed to a towing yard.
Side impact airbag didn't deploy causing head injury to driver. Van was hit at high speed by impaired driver who ran a red light. Van has hit from the driver's side in the engine compartment just in front of the driver. The engine was basically laying in the street after the impact.
We have had them do oil consumption tests multiple times and each time they tell us it’s considered normal. They have also told us that an oil warning light would come on if it’s too low, but that has never happened. We have had zero warning lights and have had to constantly monitor the oil level and top it off.
Our coolant never needed to be topped off until our engine stalled and died on a regular drive home. Our engines internal temperature never increased beyond reasonable/expected levels even in the heat of the summer.
The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the engine overheated. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the engine head bolts had failed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced.
The contact stated that the heat and A/C control knobs had melted twice, and the contact had purchased and personally replaced the entire control panel. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an abnormal strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated.
Both sliding doors will not open using door buttons. Both doors stopped latching on their own before this occurred. Needed to push doors manually for the door to latch.
This is an safety issue as anything hanging out the window would be crushed (such as a child's head or extremity). We have done a fuse reset as suggested by Kia, then also replaced the motor and the actuator, and it still opens too far which broke the motor again.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 974 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 46% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sedona has 92 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 39, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC365) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting an important Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: This bulletin provides the procedure to update the emissions‑related logic of the Engine Control Unit (ECU) system software on certain 2019–2020MY Sorento (UMa) and 2019–2021MY…
- SC365_STKR
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN COMPLETION LABEL/STICKER
- SC365_POC
PROOF OF CORRECTION CARD
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
QUESTION AND ANSWER (SC365) – This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign SC365.
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (SC365) - This document is the announcement to dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting an important Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the…
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (SC365) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting an important Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated…
- CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method has been made…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY…
- PITSTOP
TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides…
NHTSA lists 54 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 KIA Sedona?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, structure, electrical system. Total complaints: 39. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (23%), oil leak or consumption (10%), jerking, harsh shifts (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 KIA Sedona?
NHTSA lists 54 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 KIA Sedona from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.