Engine experienced mass, sudden oil consumption with no warning of any sort, resulting in significant engine damage. Oil had been changed apx 800 miles prior to incident, and vehicle showed no signs of leaks or oil consumption following the oil change. No oil leaks or wetness were found around oil filter or drain plug. Vehicle drove perfectly fine one day, and when started to leave a store it began horrendously knocking, despite operating as normal on the drive to the store. Dipstick was completely dry. No engine warning light was triggered, no low oil warning, etc. I contacted Kia America directly, as I had found examples of this same issue reported online and hoped for some cooperation, and was given a generic response to haul it to the nearest Kia dealership for diagnosis and repair, out of my own pocket.
Kia Sedona knocking problems
66 of the 2,417 owner complaints about the Kia Sedona describe engine knocking or ticking, most of them for the 2016 model year.
- owner complaints
- 66
- worst model year
- 2016
- typical repair cost reported
- $9,880
- typical mileage
- 90,000
By model year
Often reported together
Engine failure 36Loss of power 13Check engine light 13Won't start 5Oil consumption 5Stalling 3Warning lights 2Fuel pump 2
Trouble codes mentioned
P0018 1P0014 1
What owners say
Engine failure due to loud knocking as a result if high oil consumption. No warning lights ever. Needs replacement. Regular maintenance records available. Original owner with only 63900 miles in less than 10 years. Vehicle supposed to be under powertrain warranty (10 years/ 100000 miles). Kia and dealership keep denying warranty claim despite providing all records to prove regular maintenance.
Engine has multiple engine miss fires. Loss of coolant into exhaust. Engine knocking.
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.
I am the original owner of a 2016 Kia Sedona, purchased new from the DeMontrond Kia dealership in Houston, Texas, in August 2016. The vehicle currently has 63,400 miles and has been maintained according to standard schedules. Two weeks ago, I noticed a slight knocking sound and took the car to the dealership for an inspection. I was informed that there is sludge buildup in the engine and was told the repair would not be covered under warranty due to alleged owner neglect. The dealership quoted $10,000 for an engine replacement. Prior to this, there were no warning lights or indicators of any issues, and there have been no oil leaks. I have retained most of the records and receipts for the oil changes performed on the vehicle.
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 bearing issue. The engine remains intact and is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle is currently not operational and the battery has been disconnected. This vehicle is a family vehicle that regularly transports our four children. At the time of the incident, our [XXX] child was in the vehicle with us. The failure created a serious safety risk. While traveling on the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost power without warning, creating a hazardous situation in active traffic and increasing the risk of a collision. The presence of a young child in the vehicle further heightened the severity of the safety risk. The issue was preceded by a light tapping noise that began approximately 10 miles prior to the failure. Within about one minute before total failure, a loud squealing noise occurred, followed immediately by complete engine shutdown and loss of power. There were no meaningful warnings that would indicate imminent catastrophic failure in time to safely prevent the incident. The problem has been confirmed by an independent repair facility, which diagnosed the engine as seized due to internal failure consistent with rod bearing damage. A Kia dealership and Kia America have both been contacted and declined responsibility for repair. The vehicle has been regularly maintained, with routine oil changes performed as expected. The most recent oil change was completed approximately 2,000 miles prior to the failure. Insurance has confirmed this incident is not covered, as it is a mechanical failure and not the result of an accident or external damage. The vehicle has not been physically inspected by the manufacturer. Police were not involved. This type of failure is consistent with widely reported engine defects across Kia vehicles i INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFOR
Engine started knocking loosing power just like our 4cylinder GDI engine. These engines are also not safe to be operating
Vehicle Information: 2017 Kia Sedona VIN: [XXX] 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 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 the federal safety agency 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, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was driving my car, all of a sudden there was a loud knocking sound. The car suddenly wouldn’t accelerate. I was in the middle of a busy intersection with kids! I am 95 pounds, I can’t push the van! After being hit. I managed to get it moved with help. My van only had 108,000 miles on it! Took it to a mechanic, said needed an engine as there was no oil in it. How is that possible? We just changed it a month prior. It’s out of warranty by 8000 miles so Kia will not do anything! I’m sorry, but there are numerous complaints about this, yet nothing is being done! Now I’m having to pay 5000+ to replace an engine because Kia is just terrible!
My 2017 Kia Sedona has has regular oil changes about every 3000 miles. I was not due for an oil change quite yet and a ticking noise coming from the engine started to occur. I made an appointment at the Kia dealership right away. Just a few days before my appointment there was no warning light for the oil or engine until the engine failed, went limp and I lost power steering control, the brakes went stiff and all of the lights came on at once. It was very scary for me and my two children to lose that control of the vehicle. It can be inspected at Berlin City Kia where it currently sits and is in need of a replacement engine. After much research I have seen that this is a known issue for Kia engines and for some reason the 2017 Sedona is not included in any extended warranty's. Please investigate this. I did ask Kia for help in covering the replacement engine but was denied by the woman who I spoke to on the phone. I still put in a claim online anyway. It has been inspected by Berlin City Kia and they said there was "significant rod knocking". They are quoting me $9880 to replace the engine. After regular oil changes for the time that I have owned this vehicle and especially after I has the oil pressure sensor leak addressed as well over the last few years, it should not have died prematurely as it did. I am worried that the oil leaking so badly at that time may have pooled in the back of the engine which could have led to the rods wearing which in turn led to them knocking in the future. What else could cause this to happen? And so many other customers have complained about this exact issue. Please investigate this.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Kia Sedona knocking
Which Kia Sedona years have engine knocking or ticking problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2016 (29 complaints), 2017 (13 complaints) and 2015 (6 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix engine knocking or ticking on the Kia Sedona?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $9,880 (median of 12 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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