2015 Kia Sedona Engine Problems

The check engine light illuminated with diagnostic code P0018 (crankshaft/camshaft position correlation, Bank 2), first recorded on a scan XXX. The vehicle was taken to a franchised Kia dealership in [XXX] on XXX at 88,719 miles. The dealer performed an engine teardown and provided a written diagnosis on XXX: metal debris on the exhaust camshaft position sensor, damaged camshaft phasers, a sheared camshaft pin, and metal contamination throughout the engine. The dealer states the engine requires either a major timing-system repair or complete engine replacement. This failure mode can cause sudden loss of motive power while driving. There was no crash, no injury, and no fire. The engine remains disassembled at the dealership and is available for inspection upon request. The problem was confirmed by a franchised Kia dealer in writing. NHTSA previously examined loss of motive power in this 3.3L V6 engine family in PE23-019, which named 2015-2021 Kia Sedona vehicles with 3.3L engines as peer vehicles. Warning prior to failure: check engine light only. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11755079

Incident

Jul 30, 2026

Was driving down the road with zero issues known, no check engine light, and only 114K miles. There was a sudden noise that was quiet so I turned down the radio, and then within 2 seconds or so a loud bang occurred, followed by a lot of smoke. I looked in the side mirrors and noted flames coming from underneath the van. Pulled over and got my family out.

NHTSA ID

11749889

Incident

Jul 10, 2026

Our 2015 Kia Sedona VIN [XXX] developed CAN Bus fault codes U0001 U0100 U0101 rendering it completely undrivable following an incomplete warranty extension repair under WTY019 by Kia of Des Moines on [XXX] RO# [XXX]. The power sliding doors have been a persistent safety concern. The incomplete warranty extension repair left the sliding door not closing properly creating a safety hazard. The vehicle subsequently developed CAN Bus communication faults making it completely undrivable. After 28 days at Kia of Des Moines from May 4 to June 1 2026 under RO# [XXX] the CAN Bus fault was never diagnosed or addressed. The power sliding door still does not function after two warranty extension repairs. Upon retrieval June 1 2026 the vehicle continues to exhibit active CAN Bus warnings BDS warning lights flickering humming sound and rough driving. We believe the sliding door safety issues and CAN Bus failure are directly connected and represent a safety concern for other 2015-2017 Kia Sedona owners. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11741708

Incident

Jun 2, 2026

Van was well cared for. Engine failure occurred while on interstate, causing immediate high-pitched squealing. Problem with 2015 models seems to be known to Kia, and they told us we'd have to replace the engine entirely. No warnings, messages, or symptoms prior to or following failure. Still turns on but afraid to hurt engine further while driving with the terrible noise. We are crushed that such a good vehicle, having been well taken care of and serviced, should have such a distinct, unavoidable, and irreversible loss. Grateful that we were able to pull over, despite the numerous cars surrounding us, and to be safely towed. Won't trust Kia the same way in the future.

NHTSA ID

11696575

Incident

Jul 10, 2025

Engine burned up all oil. No check engine lights. No active leaks confirmed by dealership. Engine is now damaged

NHTSA ID

11693901

Incident

Mar 13, 2025

The car has 107,000 miles, and one day while driving, the coolant temperature suddenly spiked. I scheduled an appointment at Kia service (Glassman Kia Michigan), and the available appointment was in four weeks. The local mechanic checked the water pump and, after removing it, determined it was good, but he installed an aftermarket gasket because that's the only one available in local stores. At Kia, they replaced the pump with a new one, but the overheating problem persisted. After the car spent five weeks at the service center, they determined it was the head gasket. They offered me an engine replacement (costing $10,000). They never contacted Kia headquarters about a warranty replacement. Engines in 2015-16 Kia Sedonas have head gasket problems, and apparently, this is covered for 150,000 miles. Why do I have to pay for engine replacement?

NHTSA ID

11690423

Incident

Jul 4, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the thermostat gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a cracked head gasket. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty because the mileage was over the limit. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 182,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11685132

Incident

Jul 10, 2025

Mileage

182,000 mi

The auto will go into safe mode when driving on the highway. You have to try to get to the side of the road without getting run over. This is a recall for most Kia's, but the dealer said my year car is not one of them. But it is doing the same as the ones under recall.

NHTSA ID

11662254

Incident

Sep 1, 2024

Engine blew a rod without warning or service light indication. The vehicle is available for inspection. My two children and I were put at risk due to the nature of the engine failure and being able to safely navigate the vehicle off of the highway. The vehicle was inspected by the mechanic of the shop that towed the vehicle. No warning lamps or symptoms of the engine failure until it happened. Low oil was suspected but made no sense since the oil had just been changed a month prior and no leaks detected.

NHTSA ID

11661763

Incident

May 12, 2025

A few months ago we became aware that our Sedona was burning through coolant and oil very quickly. We began to monitor closely and were adding coolant and oil frequently. We did not see any oil leaking on the engine or driveway. We brought the car into the Cherry Hill Kia service center to get checked. We were aware of a recall involving coolant and oil and thought this could be related. I told the mechanic we were checking the coolant and oil every week because it would run low and the check engine light would come on. We would add both oil and coolant and the check engine light would go out soon after. The Kia mechanic told us we needed new radiator hoses and an alternator. I pressed the mechanic because I did not understand how that would affect the oil consumption. We paid for the diagnostic and oil change and took our car to another mechanic and they replaced the entire radiator and alternator. This was in October, 24. In January of 25 we were driving on a 45 mph road with no shoulder when the lights on the dashboard lit up and we began to lose power. The vehicle stopped and we could not even get the hazard lights to function. My children were in the car. The police had to be called to stop traffic so we could safely push the car off the road until it could be towed. The vehicle is currently at Burlington Kia and we have been informed we need a whole new engine. We have always been diligent about maintaining our cars. I have no doubt that this is the result of poor engineering and design and puts families like ours in danger. Please help us and by holding Kia accountable.

NHTSA ID

11641296

Incident

Jan 12, 2025

All of a sudden my vehicle has started consuming large amounts of oil. My wife was driving with my two small children when a check engine light went on and she pulled over and there was no oil left in the engine! i am unsure of the scale of the problem or if any significant damage has occurred. I worry that the car is at 149k that I will go over the 150k and be out of luck for a recall claim. I know that this was a complaint with other kia engines, but the 3.3 GDI Lambda seems to have the same issue. Please take care of it!

NHTSA ID

11638209

Incident

Jan 19, 2025

In 2021 we purchased the van and within hours the motor blew. The car dealer had the motor rebuilt and it has been good until recently. It seems the head gasket is blown as it’s using coolant and blowing white smoke. It’s also burning oil. This should not happen every couple years

NHTSA ID

11636571

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

Driving at approx. 45 mph the engine locked up and failed causing the van to die and not be able to restart. There was no warnings, lights etc before failure. Luckily the road was empty to be able to navigate to the side of the road to avoid a dangerous situation. Should it have been a busy highway it would have put everyone at risk with a disabled vehicle not being able to move at speed. Kia Dealership investigated the failure and although there was lower oil and coolant level the manifold gasket test failed to meet the requirements for a Kia failure and remedy was a $9000 new engine.

NHTSA ID

11634775

Incident

Nov 14, 2024

Rod failure, was told there was fuel mixing with the oil and caused the oil to break down and cause complete engine failure while driving down the highway with my kids. Kia will not do anything about it. How can this be right. I know a lot of people with the same issues.

NHTSA ID

11626061

Incident

Oct 5, 2024

Complete engine failure, knocking like crazy, fuel smell in the oil, The shop said the fuel in the oil broke it down and allowed the motor to fail. We were driving down the highway when it happened with family and kids which was not safe at all. No warning message at all, no check engine light, the shop has inspected and said it’s failed. The kia dealership has said many of the Kia’s have been recalled for engine failure but not ours? But others with the same motor have been.

NHTSA ID

11621658

Incident

Oct 7, 2024

While driving through an intersection with my family in the car, the engine suddenly failed without warning, leaving us stranded in a dangerous situation with incoming traffic. The engine began smoking, shaking violently, and emitting a strong odor, making the vehicle undrivable. We also received a notification to have the engine checked, and the check engine light was blinking. The vehicle is currently at a dealership in Belvidere, IL. KIA informed us that our VIN is not included in any existing recalls or lawsuits. This situation has caused significant hardship, as we now have no car to drive for work or daily activities.

NHTSA ID

11609056

Incident

Aug 14, 2024

Engine popped started to shake would not go over 2000 rpm. Pulled over and had car towed home.

NHTSA ID

11605319

Incident

Jun 7, 2024

We were going down the highway when the engine suddenly stalled. We had to shift lanes during heavy traffic without assisted steering or braking and no way to accelerate. This almost caused an accident just to get the car off the main traffic lanes. We were able to coast out an exit where the car came to a stop and had to be pushed of the road. When trying to restart the engine, it immediately seized. There were no warning lights or any indicators before the incident. The engine had been running perfectly fine before with no abnormal oil consumption, overheating problems or any other issues. The car was towed to a shop where the next day a terminal engine failure was diagnosed and we were informed that the engine would have to be replaced for about $8,000. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

NHTSA ID

11604600

Incident

Jul 20, 2024

Car engine overheated without any warning indicating that it was overheating. It just started smoking. Car is available for inspection upon request. Our safety was put at risk because in 95-degree weather, warm air was coming from AC when car sat idle. The root of the problem has not been confirmed by the dealer. Vehicle pictures were sent to insurance. No warning appeared before failure.

NHTSA ID

11594061

Incident

Jun 1, 2024

Engine light came on while in route for an oil change. Walmart automotive changed the oil and checked the light. Read p0014. Engine light went away after oil change. Drove fine for 4 days then went haywire on the interstate. Oil light started flashing then engine light. Lost all power. Had it towed home. It started with a loud knocking noise. Towed to Kia and there are metal fragments in my oil. Engine blown.

NHTSA ID

11587371

Incident

May 2, 2024

July 2021 family of 6 driving on vacation. 3 hours from home car started losing power. Dash lights were coming on and no lights were on at anytime before this. Vehicle had 68,000 miles at the time. Lost power would not accelerate for several minutes and car started smoking under the hood. Coolant was spraying everywhere. Family stuck on side of highway in middle of Pennsylvania and no exit for 15 miles. Had to walk to an unknown home to ask them to fill several bottles of water. Put water in the car. It would run about 5 minutes and overheat again. Finally got to a rest stop. Took to O'Reilly auto parts where we had new thermostat, coolant and fluid and other minor parts installed spending about $700. Drove 15 minutes car broke down again overheating. Trucker mechanic stopped to help but no luck. This was on a Sunday where everything was closed. We could not get a ride or a rental. Continued driving about 3 minutes at a time and constantly adding fluids made it to a hotel. Had to store the van for the week at the hotel. They agreed to keep it while we rented a van and went to Virginia beach. Van had to be towed home. Took to a garage near home where the mechanic said the heads needed replaced. Replaced head gaskets, head bolts. New thermostat, spark plugs, heli coil, coolant,oil and labor. They gave us a discounted rate of $2087.00. Drove home worked for few days and needed towed. Broke down again overheating on a main 3 lane busy road near home. This time repair shop said it would need a while new engine. While we paid $700 in parts on way to vacation. Had $1200 in car rental fees. $2100 in head gaskets shop repair fees. $600 in towing fees. And they were wanting $6000 for a new engine. I sat the van in my driveway for months paying the payments and eventually had to voluntarily repo at 70K miles. Car had 1 owner before us and car was regularly serviced. We had free service and oil for the first year we owned. Now being sued for the balance. Help!!!

NHTSA ID

11585352

Incident

Jul 18, 2021

Unknown.. it’s currently in the shop and not repairable with 119k miles

NHTSA ID

11585349

Incident

Mar 7, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact added oil to the vehicle and the vehicle was able to be restarted, but the contact immediately observed a loud knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11581866

Incident

Dec 1, 2023

Mileage

130,000 mi

After driving 3 miles on 2/1, the engine fan ran after the engine was turned off- which never happens. We called Kia for service but nothing was available for 2 weeks; all Kia dealers were similar. No check engine light was illuminated. My husband popped the hood, saw the coolant cap was open and the coolant fluid level in the normal range (slightly above the minimum line). Closing the cap, he test drove the car. Although driving fine, he took the Sedona to a shop where the hood was again popped- the coolant level was showing now above the max fill line, no coolant had been added; as no fluid was seen by the mechanic and since no check engine light was lit, an appointment was made to bring the car back for a full diagnostic. On 2/2/24, after driving 3 miles and making a turn, I thought I saw smoke. But, it was a rainy day so I thought it was condensation from the concrete. After 1 mile, again while slowing to turn, I thought I saw smoke again; I pulled down the window and smelled burning. At this point I was near my home and the check engine light now turned on. Since there was nowhere to safely stop, I proceeded to the front of my home and summoned my husband. He opened the hood and noticed smoke and extreme heat from the engine, but fortunately no fire. After a couple of days, we decided to tow the car to a shop for diagnostics instead of waiting 2 weeks for Kia- we were told the engine had failed. Stunned by the rapidity of these events, we contacted Kia Customer Support and towed the car to our Kia dealer. I have been told the head bolt stripped causing coolant to mix with oil and the engine to fail; the engine itself will cost $8,148 and, and, with ancillary repairs, the total repair will be over $12000. The car has 125k miles and has been fully serviced at Kia over 9 years, lastly 4 months ago which included coolant service. No check engine light was triggered until smoke and extreme heat were emanating from a blown engine, despite progressing degradation.

NHTSA ID

11575211

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

Mileage

124,943 mi

Vehicle is regularly maintenenced. Driving down a road it had random loss of power and lost power steering. Was able to restart and it drove fine no check engine lights nothing. Got closer to my destination and my engine light popped at the same time a horrible metal on metal sound came from my rather quiet engine. Immediately lost power and power steering again. Able to coast off the road to safety, upon expecting the vehicle we found a hole and oil leaking out. A rod randomly blew thru the side of the block and there was no indication there was any engine problem beforehand. Cause unknown. I was advised after that these 3.3 motors are becoming know for random disintegration.

NHTSA ID

11575011

Incident

Feb 11, 2024