Which is cheaper to maintain, the Kia Sedona or the Kia Sedona?

Based on 5-year routine maintenance labor at a $150/hr indie shop rate, the Kia Sedona is cheaper to maintain — about $5,017 less over 60,000 miles. Parts cost is not included.

What's the labor difference between the 3.5L Lambda II V6 and the 3.8L V6?

Across 30 common maintenance jobs, hours vary by drivetrain and engine layout. See the side-by-side table on this page for each job's labor hours and estimated cost.

Are there any active recalls on the Kia Sedona or Kia Sedona?

The Kia Sedona has 13 open NHTSA recalls. The Kia Sedona has 1 open recall. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.

2011–2021 Kia Sedona vs 2014 Kia Sedona — Labor Times, Costs & Recalls

Specifications

Year

2011–2021

2014

Engine

3.5L Lambda II V6

3.8L V6

Drivetrain

FWD

Transmission

automatic

Fuel

gas

Powertrain

Engine output, acceleration, top speed, handling, braking — and Nürburgring if either car ran one.

Horsepower

—hp

Torque

—lb-ft

0–60 mph

—

Quarter Mile

—

Top Speed

—

Skidpad

—

60–0 Braking

—

70–0 Braking

—

MPG · City

17.9

—

MPG · Highway

23.9

—

MPG · Combined

20.5

—

Performance specs synthesized from manufacturer figures and instrumented magazine tests (Car and Driver, Motor Trend, Road & Track). MPG from EPA fueleconomy.gov. Numbers flagged as "low confidence" by AI generation are conservative estimates from related platforms.

Cost of Ownership

★ WINNER

5-Year Maintenance

$21,996

0.37 $/mi

5-Year Maintenance

$27,013

0.45 $/mi

🏆

ADVANTAGEKia Sedona — Saves you $5,017 over 5 years (23% less in routine maintenance labor)

Routine maintenance only. Cost = labor hours × $150/hr × estimated 5-yr frequency. Parts cost not included.

Maintenance Breakdown

Hours per common service. Lower is faster (and cheaper) at the shop.

Catastrophic Engine Bearing and Piston Failure (3.5L V6)

— hrs

— hrs$2,538 / 5yr

Oil & filter change

0.4 hrs$1,200 / 5yr

Tire rotation

0.5 hrs$600 / 5yr

Differential fluid

1.5 hrs$530 / 5yr

Head Gasket Failure (Post-Overheating)

— hrs

— hrs$1,050 / 5yr

Front brake pads

1.0 hrs$460 / 5yr

Rear brake pads

1.0 hrs$440 / 5yr

Spark plugs

1.5 hrs$305 / 5yr

Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks

— hrs

— hrs$585 / 5yr

12V battery

0.5 hrs$275 / 5yr

0.3 hrs$245 / 5yr

Wiper blades

0.2 hrs$240 / 5yr

Brake fluid flush

0.6 hrs$210 / 5yr

0.8 hrs$270 / 5yr

Intake manifold gasket

4.5 hrs$230 / 5yr

Timing belt service

— hrs

5.0 hrs$460 / 5yr

Water pump

3.5 hrs$226 / 5yr

Cabin air filter

0.3 hrs$210 / 5yr

Coolant flush

0.8 hrs$170 / 5yr

1.0 hrs$200 / 5yr

Fuel filter

0.5 hrs$210 / 5yr

0.3 hrs$150 / 5yr

Valve cover gasket

2.5 hrs$174 / 5yr

1.5 hrs$114 / 5yr

Oil pan gasket

3.5 hrs$144 / 5yr

Engine air filter

0.2 hrs$120 / 5yr

Alternator

1.2 hrs$120 / 5yr

Transmission Mount Failure

— hrs

— hrs$228 / 5yr

Serpentine belt

0.5 hrs$110 / 5yr

Fuel Filter Clogging (Early Build Dates)

— hrs

— hrs$193 / 5yr

Power steering flush

0.5 hrs$95 / 5yr

Starter motor

1.5 hrs$85 / 5yr

Thermostat

1.2 hrs$77 / 5yr

PCV valve

0.3 hrs$65 / 5yr

Hood Latch Assembly Failure

— hrs

— hrs$23 / 5yr

Active Recalls

Open NHTSA Recalls

13 open

★ WINNER

Open NHTSA Recalls

1 open

🏆

ADVANTAGEKia Sedona — 12 fewer open recalls from the NHTSA

Fluid Capacities

Kia Sedona

ac_refrigerant · R-134a

brake0.80 qt · FMVSS 116 DOT 3 or DOT 4

coolant8.50 qt · Hyundai/Kia Long Life Coolant

engine_oil5.80 qt · API SM or higher

power_steering1.00 qt · Hyundai PSF-3

transmission_auto8.20 qt · SP-IV

washer4.20 qt · Windshield washer fluid

Kia Sedona

ac_refrigerant · R-134a

brake · FMVSS 116 DOT 3/4

coolant8.50 qt · Kia/Hyundai MS591-08

engine_oil5.80 qt · API SM or higher / ILSAC GF-4

power_steering1.10 qt · Kia PSF-4

transmission_auto8.60 qt · SP-IV or SP-IV-RR

washer4.00 qt · Windshield washer fluid

The Verdict

🏆

THE WINNER

2011–2021 Kia Sedona

3.5L Lambda II V6

Kia Sedona is cheaper to maintain (saves ~$5,017 over 5 years)
Kia Sedona has 12 fewer open NHTSA recalls

Based on objective maintenance and recall data. Driving feel, looks, brand loyalty, and ownership experience are separate (and very valid) considerations.

Open the full dashboard for either truck

Labor times, torque specs, fluid capacities, DTC codes, repair procedures, recalls, common platform problems.