KiaSedona2016Overview/kia/sedona/2016/base/

2016 Kia Sedona

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Sedona.

Body VANTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2016 Kia Sedona is a van whose engine and 6-speed automatic transmission deliver EPA fuel economy ratings of 18 city, 24 highway, and 20 combined mpg. Accumulating 289 total owner complaints predominantly focused on that engine alongside four recalls, this model year occupies a middling position in the nameplate's reliability history spanning 2002 to 2021. While it avoids the peak trouble of the 2006 model year's 385 complaints, its engine-centric issues mean it remains a year with meaningful reliability concerns compared to the 2021 low of just eight complaints.

Model year202120202019201820172016201520142012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy18/24/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tire sizeP235/60R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.0 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length201.6 in
Overall width78.3 in
Overall height68.5 in
Wheelbase120.5 in
Curb weight4414 lb
Track (front / rear)68.5 / 68.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 24 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sedona of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.80 sec — 2016 SX
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016SX 3.3L V67.80 sec16.00 sec276 hpFWD
2015SXL 3.3L V67.40 sec15.80 sec276 hpFWD
2015SXL 3.3L V67.80 sec16.10 sec276 hpFWD
2015SXL 3.3L V67.80 sec16.00 sec276 hpFWD
2015SXL 3.3L V67.90 sec16.10 sec276 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.2
Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity12.2

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts53-56 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts36
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs15-17 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts17.4-24.6 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)550-750 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerKia
Spark Plug Gap.039-.043 in
Spark Plug Torque11-18 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing5 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance10 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.35-2.50 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity6.75-7.45 oz

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)68-74 psi
Engine CompressionPSI 128 - 149 / Max Variation 14 psi
Intake Valve Lash0.0067-0.0090 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.0106-0.0129 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront or rear: 16-23 / 16-23
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 58-; Rear: 47-; Front: 58-; Rear: 47-
ABS Sensor Torque6 / NS
Minimum Pad Thickness0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.020; Rear: .370
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0002
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .001; Rear: .0012

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
148 inch lbs., Step 2: 84-10848 in
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120-23 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7020–23 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse any bolts. Coat new bolts with specified engine oil.

129.0 ft. lbs.29 ft. lbs
2120 degrees120 degrees
314.0-17.0 ft. lbs.14–17 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Kia Sedona stands out as a high-risk model year within its generation. Complaints more than doubled from 136 in 2015 to 289 in 2016, the highest count in the entire 2002–2021 record, before dropping sharply to 131 in 2017. The 2016 model also generated 14 fire complaints and 10 crash complaints, figures that are elevated relative to adjacent years, and the single investigation opened that year suggests regulators flagged specific concerns. Engine issues dominate the complaint profile with 117 reports, though the data does not specify a root cause. Recalls (4) are consistent with the surrounding years, but the complaint spike and fire risk make this a notably troubled entry. For a buyer, the 2016 Sedona is a year to avoid in favor of the lower-complaint 2017 or later models.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
112
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
289
Owner complaints
10 involved a crash · 14 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 289 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine117
Exterior Lighting24
Electrical System20
Unknown Or Other18
Structure14
Air Bags8
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting7
Power Train4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V338000Structure:Body:DoorReported 23/05/2018

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…

21V725000Exterior Lighting:Turn SignalReported 17/09/2021

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Sedona vehicles. The Smart Junction Box (SJB) software logic may not properly interpret the signals received from the multifunction switch, which could cause the… Remedy: Dealers will update the SJB software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 12, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 112 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
CS2312_TSB_R22026-06-08StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…
WTY026_TSB_R22026-03-18EngineTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OIL PRESSURE SWITCH (OPS)…
TSB_CS2312_R12026-02-18StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…
TSB_CS23122025-12-17StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…
WTY039_TSB_R72025-12-17EngineTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: ENGINE SUB ASSEMBLY INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY039 - REVISION…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sedona. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 Sedona have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sedona get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 24 highway / 20 combined mpg.