- The problem
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Sedona vehicles. The fuel rail may crack from exposure to heat generated within the engine compartment, resulting in a fuel leak.
- The risk
- A fuel leak increases the risk of fire.
- The fix
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began June 16, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC188.
Vehicle safety record
2012 Kia Sedona Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 108 complaints about the 2012 Kia Sedona with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (33) and the body, doors & structure (21). Those complaints describe 5 crashes, 5 fires and 2 injuries. It is covered by 5 recalls, the latest in February 2020 for the fuel rail. For comparison, the 2011 has 65 and the 2013 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Sedona year, for its age
#89 most complained-about 2012 vehicle
- Complaints
- 108
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 5
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 2
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2012 Kia Sedona problems
Share of all 108 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2012 Kia Sedona recalls 5
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
- The risk
- If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
- The fix
- Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
- The problem
- Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through April 04, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
- The risk
- If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace the secondary hood latch or clean and lubricate the latch, depending on the vehicle's location and the condition of the latch. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall number is SC134.
- The problem
- Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through August 14, 2012 and originally sold in, or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may break due to corrosion from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
- The risk
- A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace the front lower control arms on 2006-2007 models. 2008-2012 models will either have their front lower control arms replaced or additional anti-corrosion coating will be applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC133.
- The problem
- Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through August 14, 2012 originally sold in, or currently registered in Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, West Virginia or the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may break due to corrosion resulting from prolonged exposure to salty environments.
- The risk
- A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Kia will notify owners and dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on December 20, 2013. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall number is SC100.
What owners say
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108 complaints about the 2012 Kia Sedona
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 5.
The gear shifter is very difficult to move from Park to Reverse to Neutral to Drive. It's very difficult to press in the lever to move in between the gears. I almost had to have to car towed because I was unable to put the car into Park into Reverse and then into Drive. There is something wrong with the gear shifter in the automatic transmission van. I took the car to my independent mechanic and he agreed that the car is very difficult to move through the gears. He suggested I call KIA to see if it was under a...
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recall. I did call KIA and there in no recall for this issue. My mechanic tells me it will cost around $1300 to fix this issue. I feel the car isn't safe because I cannot get it easily into PARK, REVERSE, DRIVE of NEUTRAL.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the battery drained unexpectedly, and the vehicle failed to start. The battery was replaced twice, and the vehicle was temporarily repaired. The contact's son replaced the alternator; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was no longer operable. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the engine was damaged while being repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V101000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while the dealer was replacing the fuel rail as per the recall remedy, pressure built up, causing a valve cover leak, which damaged the oil pressure sensor. The dealer replaced the valve cover gasket and the oil pressure sensor, but the head gaskets were damaged. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced but refused to replace the engine free of charge. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 235,000.
While driving the vehicle and applying the brakes the vehicle shifted to one side of the road. There was an accident 03/2024 after having the brake control arm serviced. The braking system failed. There was a recall on the front control arm 2016. The vehicle was totaled and was salvaged due to damages to the vehicle. The brake inspection failed. Today the braking system has has no control even after the master cylinder was repaired. The vehicle is currently sitting at a service station without being serviced for...
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at least 2 months. Kia needs to be responsible and refund for the arm control repair and other related part failures. The electrical system does not work for the windshield wipers or the air conditioner or sliding doors.
There is a continuous leakage of oil from my van even after the dealer replaced valve cover gasket . When I complained they said it was the leftover oil. After a month again I complained . Then they re-checked and said it is my car's timing cover reseal leaking . Again after few days I had to complain as there was a leak. I got the same standard reply of leftover uncleaned oil is the cause. Few weeks later I took the van to them and they said they thoroughly cleaned and there won't be any leak. I sent them...
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pictures of oil drops underneth the car like I did on earlier occassions. On August 11th this year they checked the car after my complaint and said there was no active leak. On 30th of this month I sent them the pictures of leaked oil spots which they are going to check on 18th September!. Since I got my first appointment on January 19 2025 I took the vehicle to the dealer 5-6 times. In between I complained to them about failure of door locks and wiper blades. They said they were fine and had no issues. A week ago passenger side door lock stopped working often . I took to a mechanic store run by AAA. Their response after few days was that the electrical system was failing due to bad alternator as the battery got depleted. They recommended me to the dealer again. I was searching google and realised that an oil leak can cause alternator to go bad leading to electric failure and even fire accidents. On [[redacted]] I noticed red flashing sign of alternator and some other (?) after 2 minutes drive from home. So I immediately turned back and went home and parked the van in the garage and waiting for September 18 for an inspection by the dealer. Last week drove to St Louis from Lexington, after the dealer confirmed there was no oil leak. In all their reports they mentioned vehicle is in good health! Each time when I sent a picture of a leak I requested managers at the receiving desk to park at a clean place and check the leak which they never did. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while attempting to parallel park and gear in drive, the vehicle independently accelerated violently while lightly depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning light illuminated. The contact crashed the front of the vehicle into the rear of a parked vehicle where it came to a stop. No police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed however the failure was unable to be replicated. The...
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vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact's wife mentioned that the failure had occasionally occurred in the past but was able to avoid a collision. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer for the previous incidents where it was confirmed that the vehicle performed as normal. The failure mileage was approximately 213,000.
Tha backup camera, windshield wipers stopped working. The car would no t go in reverse or drive forward without resistance. Oil began leaking from the engine.
The auto was diagnosed with a leaking ABS system which is an ongoing problem with this auto maker. The dealership stated there are currently no parts in the US to replace it. Not sure when they will be available. They want to charge me $2900 to buy the part not including labor costs. It seems this model is not currently under recall so I will have to pay. Told me not to drive the car or park it in the garage. They also refuse to give me a loaner car. I am sure this replacement part should be included with the other model recalls. They have a problem and want the consumer to pay. This is a safety issue with ALL their models.
Unknown. I've replaced the alternator and battery. The alternator many times and still having lights come on. Mostly the "brake and battery " lights. It's sitting till further notice. Not drive able.
Car immobilizer/Theft deterrent - The company is telling me that my KIA's VIN indicated that it does not have the immobilizer/Theft deterrent issue. We drove the car to the dealership with a backup key we made just for unlocking doors. This is a key with no chip or FOB and the car starts and ran fine. This seems to be a clear example of how the immobilizer is not working. However, they refuse to say anything other than the VIN is not on the list. How do I get any help with this? Thanks [[redacted]] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The power lock on the sliding door on the driver's side does not latch. In order to fully close the door, you must turn off the power lock for the door. Otherwise, it unlatches and dings the entire time you are driving. The door without the power turned on is very difficult to open and sometimes will not open. This is a safety concern. Other models have been recalled. Why has this one not been recalled?
The passenger door will not open from the inside by pulling on the handle or pushing the door open button. Pulling on the outside door handle will not open the door as well. The remote wont open them as well. This is a safety issue as passengers can't get out of car in case of accident. I have brought it to a Kia dealer and they said it works fine for them and if the problem doesn't occur when they have it they can't fix it. I have an extended warranty letter from Kia that there is a problem with the rear sliding doors. I am mystified as to why I can't get this problem fixed.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sedona. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V101000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a fuel odor detected. Additionally, the rear sliding door latches were inoperable. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
I have replaced my Oil Pressure sensor two times due to oil leaks since I have owned the vehicle at my own expense. I say a recall for the exact problem (19V101) for 2011-2012 KIA Sedona. My engine is leaking again so I call KIA about this and thy said that even though I have a 2012 Sedona that my VIN is not covered. Since I have already replaced this two times I find it hard to believe that my VAN is not having the same issues as the vehicles covered in the recall. If that is the case. That would mean that there are other 2012 Sedona's out there that may have the same problem but never get notified about the recall.
The headlamps quit working in unison, replaced bulbs lasted about a week then went out again. I have replaced them several times with same issue
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that after driving 70 MPH, and pulling into a parking lot, he noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and upon opening the hood of the vehicle, he saw that the engine compartment was on fire. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report and a police report were filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,102.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that upon purchase of the vehicle, the sliding door would not close as needed and would independently open while driving without warning. The contact also stated that the electrical power mirrors would also operate independently without warning. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V101000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and took the vehicle to the dealer for repair. The contact was also provided an estimate for the repair of other...
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vehicle failures. Two days after the repair while driving 50 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal as he approached a stoplight. The light turned green and the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle stalled in the middle of the intersection. The contact was forced to make an illegal U-turn. The contact turned the key to the off position; however, the engine continued to run with several unknown warning lights on the instrument panel. The contact saw steam coming from the engine and upon inspection, the contact saw the radiator cap blow off as the vehicle lost motive power. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where they informed him that the axle shaft, water pump, crankshaft pulley, alternator, oil pan gasket, drive belts, and battery all need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer and was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 69,107.
electronic locks (not power door controls) lock and will not unlock via manual key or key fob - this is a crash and or fire hazard & could result in death to passengers if trapped. The rear and side doors are effected.
THIS IS UNRELATED TO THE SAFETY RECALL FOR THE FUEL RAIL The electronic door locks fail, (mine are not fully automatic, but when you turn on the key you can hear the safety locks trying to engage before permitting the vehicle to move - they do not work. Worse even with the key, the doors will not consistently lock or unlock. Doors can become locked to the point that you can not manually open them, creating a fire hazard for occupants. Additionally, there is NO safety or emergency release on the back hatch. if...
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you are inside when this locking aberration occurs, you must exit via a side (if it HAPPENS to be working) or front door (again, if it happens to be working. I fail to understand why this is not a major safety issue and why no recall has been issued. There are literally 1000s of such reports on various car forums. With at least one registered here: CS1603A (https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2016/MC-10090051-5448.pdf Confirmed via independent service center. Records available upon request. No insurance inspection and no warning alerts occur.
Reported as far back as and paid for repair of both sliding doors staring in 2015-2021 doors at first would not open on button press no matter which button used key fob or inside vehicle had to force pull the handles to open and eventually to close. Just a week ago april 2021 while taking my elderly mother to store while parked after leaving the store, the passenger side sliding door stuck in the open position and no amount of force nor button push would close it. In march of 2021 I received notification from kia...
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of limited warranty extension (wty018) which specifically lists power sliding door lactching for 2011 to 2014 sedona's. I reported the door not closing at all which happened on a saturday when parts was likely closing for the day and when I finally got through to them on monday dropped the car off to my same kia dealership that has done all of the repairs and place of purchase they looked at the vehicle and informed me they were not sure the roller was covered under the warranty and I would be charged $750 and only the the latch and motor of the door was covered (all parts of the same mechanism) I declined the repair being they wanted me to pay rented my own out of pocket rental for a week because I am an essential worker while I contacted kia corporate directly by phone with my issues and how rude they were trying to explain how parts of the door would not be covered the car is undrivable being the door remains open going into week two out of my own pocket I finally got someone from corp to acknowledge something is wrong and was told they would fix it in "good will" four days ago I am still without a car while they wait for part they needed and called back today to corp who called the dealer and somehow part came in "last night" but they can't pick up till monday to fix again I am without my car and work for the county tax admin office.
When the abs brakes activate while going at a very slow speed during snowy or rainy weather the steering wheel locks and the dashboard lights come on. I have no control of the car. It's very scary. Very much a safety issue. I took it to the shop, but they didn't come up with anything. It has happened about 5 times over the past 2 years. The mileage varies. The most recent incident the vehicle had 210,000 miles
Side doors will not open unless you use the front control button sometimes the remotes work but not all the time sometimes shows on dashboard side doors are open and they are closed this was happening when previous owner had it and I'm new owner still happens
The sliding door on the passenger side would not latch via power control. It would close manually to the point where it was difficult to re-open again (required excessive force to pull the door open), however overhead lights remained on and the car was beeping. While driving the car door slid open 2x, both while making a left turn, slowly, on a side road. After the second time the door opened I engaged the child lock function which seemed to help. I was not comfortable driving on the highway and was able to get the...
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vehicle home driving slowly on side streets. I called roadside assistance and arranged a tow to the dealer for this weekend. I called kia consumer affairs and was notified my car had previously been fixed for a hood latch recall but that there were no recalls for a passenger door latch.
On june 5, 2020 and june 14, 2020, respectively, two yokohama yk580 225/70r16 tires installed on my vehicle experienced violent tread separation. The tires were approximately 4 years old with less than 30,000 miles on them (the warranty is for 60,000 miles). One event occurred while driving at 70 mph. Both tread separation events caused damage to the vehicle, the repair of which was estimated at $3,195. More importantly, the events put the safety of my family at risk. Yokohama refused to assume responsibility due...
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to the tires being unavailable for forensic examination. This was in spite of my providing photographs of both events clearly showing tread separation had occurred. I guess yokohama expected me to carry two damaged tires back from the vacation (and leave my family behind to not overload the vehicle?).
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sedona. The contact stated that while leaning into the rear section of the vehicle, the tailgate failed to remain in the open position. The contact was struck on the back by the tailgate. The contact stated that it was difficult to manually raise the tailgate. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,000. *Bf*jb
Kia Sedona: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 299 | 4 | F |
| 2015 | 140 | 3 | C |
| 2014 | 40 | 1 | A |
| 2013 | 0 | 1 | A |
| 2012 | 108 | 5 | C |
| 2011 | 65 | 6 | B |
| 2010 | 32 | 5 | A |
| 2009 | 48 | 5 | B |
| 2008 | 170 | 5 | D |
2012 Kia Sedona vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Kia Sedona | 108 | 5 | C | |
| 2012 Chrysler Town And Country | 634 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan | 584 | 6 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Honda Odyssey | 0 | 5 | C | Compare |
| 2012 Toyota Sienna | 0 | 9 | B | Compare |
| 2012 Kia Optima | 923 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Kia Sorento | 880 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Kia Soul | 516 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Kia Sportage | 392 | 5 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2012 Kia Sedona
Does the 2012 Kia Sedona have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 Kia Sedona: fuel rail (February 2020); air bag / restraint control module (June 2018); latch (June 2016); lower arm (June 2016) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Sedona?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (33), body, doors & structure (21), engine & cooling (19).
How many complaints has the 2012 Kia Sedona had?
108 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 12, 2011 and the latest on October 2, 2026. Of these, 5 describe a crash and 5 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2012 Kia Sedona a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 53 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Kia Sedona year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Kia Sedona years have the most complaints?
2006 (385), 2016 (299), 2002 (250). See every Kia Sedona year compared.
What should I do if my 2012 Kia Sedona has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data