The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating a reported issue associated with the 3.3-liter GDI Lambda-II engine found in the 2016 Kia Sedona, stirring some concerns among owners.
On February 20, a petition regarding the minivan’s 3.3-liter V6 engine was filed, claiming that it s susceptible to a loss of power that can lead to engine seizure. It says that before an engine fails, there may be a knocking sound, a sudden loss of all oil, and no warning lights. The petitioner has requested a defect investigation into the alleged flaw with the engine.
The federal agency estimates that approximately 50,076 Sedona models in the United States are fitted with the subject 3.3-liter GDI Lambda-II engine and has opened the defect petition to determine whether to grant or deny it.
Read: NHTSA Looking Into Claim That Hyundai’s 3.3-Liter V6 Is Prone To Failing
This is not the only investigation launched into claims about issues with the Lambda-II engine being prone to seizing. In mid-February, the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation received a petition requesting an urgent investigation into all Hyundai vehicles installed with this same powerplant and sold in the United States.
In this petition, the owner of a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe claimed that the 3.3-liter V6 is susceptible to engine knocking, “followed by the potential for complete engine seizure without any accompanying warning lights or indicators.” Although Hyundai issued a recall for 2017 Santa Fe models with this same engine six years ago to address specific VINs, the petitioner emphasized that “broader concerns about the reliability of the 3.3L Lambda II engine persist.”
Furthermore, the Kia Sorento is also facing scrutiny for problems related to its Lambda-II engine, with at least 11 class action lawsuits filed against Hyundai and Kia. These lawsuits allege that defective GDI engines “pose risks of stalling or catching fire.”
