CSR

Kia · NHTSA safety record

2011 Kia Sedona

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

65

Complaints

3

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Kia Sedona have filed 65 safety complaints with NHTSA between December 2010 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 12 of them (18%). The typical failure was reported at 79,660 miles, the median across the 42 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 6 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (6)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

20V101000 · February 21, 2020

The defect
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 remedy
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.

Kia Motors America · up to 51,465 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

18V363000 · June 1, 2018

The defect
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 remedy
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.

Kia Motors America · up to 507,587 vehicles across all model years covered

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

16V389000 · June 1, 2016

The defect
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 remedy
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.

Kia Motors America · up to 219,800 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

16V387000 · June 1, 2016

The defect
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 remedy
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.

Kia Motors America · up to 97,884 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

13V550000 · November 5, 2013

The defect
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 remedy
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.

Kia Motors Corporation · up to 79,867 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

13V114000 · April 1, 2013

The defect
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
The risk
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

Kia Motors Corporation · up to 980,377 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Air bags may be disabled during crash

PE18003

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened March 16, 2018 · closed August 30, 2019 · led to recall 18E043000

the air bags, the seat belts

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE18-003 on 3/16/18 to investigate incidents involving crashes, resulting in significant collision related damage, where the frontal airbags failed to deploy. ODI reviewed complaint data, available design, test, and field data on the model year (MY) 2011 Hyundai Sonata, MY 2012-2013 Kia Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. ODI also evaluated data from the automotive air bag system supplier, ZF-TRW (ZF), to review vehicles that may contain the same air bag control unit (ACU) used in the subject vehicles. Hyundai Motor America (HMA) issued recall No. 18V-137 for MY 2011-2013 Sonata and MY 2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. Kia Motors America (KMA) issued recall No. 18V-363 for MY 2010-2013 Kia Forte and Forte Koup, MY 2011-2013 Optima, MY 2011-2012 Optima Hybrid, and MY2011-2012 Sedona vehicles. The two recalls address vehicles containing ACUs manufactured without adequate circuit protection by installing a wire harness filter kit to prevent internal damage to the ACU. In the event of a crash, ACU damage may result in the disablement of the vehicle's airbags. Each respective manufacturer has mailed letters to affected vehicle owners informing them of the remedy and its availability. ODI plans to evaluate the susceptibility of the subject ACU to electrical signals, as well as other vehicle factors that can either lead to, or reduce the likelihood of, an electrical overstress event in other vehicles manufactured with the subject ZF ACU.Accordingly, this Preliminary Evaluation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-001), to expand the scope of the investigation to include the Tier-one supplier and any manufacturers who installed the subject ACU in production vehicles. Additional information is available with the closing resume available at NHTSA.gov (see Associated Documents).The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.NHTSA.gov under the following ODI identification numbers: 10781050, 10849839, 11099038, 11080341.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 65.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12 18%
ENGINE 11 17%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 10 15%
SUSPENSION 9 14%
STRUCTURE 8 12%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5 8%
AIR BAGS 4 6%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 3 5%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 3 5%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 3 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 10.

2010 2019 2026
2010 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

1 injured · 45,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED ON A DOWNWARD HILL, THE REAR PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BUT THE DOOR SLAMMED INTO THE PASSENGER, PINNING HER INTO THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A SAFETY DEFECT AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO ACT IN THE MANNER IN WHICH IT DID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 12/20/13*CN

NHTSA complaint 10551566. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · towed · 200,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS SON WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER STATED HE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DRIVER STATED LATER ON THEY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V101000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER REGAL KIA LOCATED AT 1025 BARTOW RD, LAKELAND, FL 33801, (863) 342-5239, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE

NHTSA complaint 11326986, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

crash · 600 miles

PARKING SENSOR FAILED AND MY HUSBAND WAS IN A ACCIDENT, IN OUR NOW 3 WEEK OLD 2011 KIA SEDONA, THEY SOLD US THE FLOOR MODEL, WHICH HAD TO BE JUMPSTARTED WE THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT, TOOK IT IN BC LOW GAS MILEGE, AND BC THE DOOR WAS LOSE, THEN 2 DAYS AGO MY HUSBAND WAS BACKING OUT OF A SPOT THE ALARM NEVER SOUNDED, HE IS FINE SO IS THE OTHER DRIVER, WELL WE WENT TO WALMART AND WENT TO BACK OUT AND TH ESENSOR WAS GOING CRAZY, SO I GOT OUT AND NOTHING WAS THERE BUT WHEN I STTOOD DIRECTLY BEHIND THE CAR THE ALARM NEVER SOUNDED, THEN I BACKED MY HUSBAND OUT AND HOPED IN, THE ALARM STARTED TO SOUND AGAIN. WE HAVE 3 CHILDREN, WE GOT THIS CAR BC WE NEW IT WOULD BE A SAFE CHOICE BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD IT

NHTSA complaint 10416309, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

crash

2011 KIA SEDONA IS THE FIRST KIA I HAVE PURCHASED. ON JUNE 22, 2012, I WAS RETURNING HOME; LIVING ON A HILL I SLOWLY (LESS THAN 10 MPH) TURNED TO THE RIGHT INTO MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING, THAT VAN ACCELERATED MAKING A LOUD ROAR. I STOOD ON THE BRAKES WITH LITTLE EFFECT AND THE VAN CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE KNOCKING DOWN THREE 4X4 POSTS EMBEDDED IN CONCRETE, CROSSING THROUGH A GARDEN AND THEN INTO A BUSH. THE VAN WAS HEADED TO A 20 FEET DROP AT THE EDGE OF MY PROPERTY. FORTUNATELY, A TALL BUSH, AND BAMBOO THICKET HAD BEGUN BUILDING UP UNDER AND IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO STOP ITS PROGRESS. THE VAN STOPPED JUST SHORT OF THE DROP OFF, UNABLE TO GO FURTHER. IT REQUIRED A SPECIAL

NHTSA complaint 10480361, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My fuel rail assembly in my 2011 kia sedona is cracked and leaking causing a gas smell. I'm confused why only some of the kias from 2011 got recalled when it seems like a lot more have this issue.

NHTSA complaint 11748681. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
In getting the ACU recall fixed, it was found that the Airbag Module is not responding. The ACU cannot be fixed unless the airbag module is fixed. It is my understanding that this is the part before the ACU. This is at a cost of $959 and not covered under the current recall.

NHTSA complaint 11743437. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The sliding doors do not latch/close all the way. The light on the dash does not show the doors are not closed. The doors have opened while driving with children in the back seat. The same for the trunk.

NHTSA complaint 11743442. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Recall appointment was set with Ken Ganley Kia auto iNew Port Richey , FL. It was set for two weeks out. They told us what the recall was before we got there. They didn’t order the part to fix it. Now It’s been since March 23rd and we have never heard from them. I feel they’ve had ample opportunity to get the part required to fix it. Since this is a safety issue I am very aggravated . On top of that, my husband wasted an entire day and they gave us a $10,000 estimate on a car worth maybe $1000. It is my opinion they have done nothing required by law to fix this. Since it is regarding a safety concern I wanted to report this issue..

NHTSA complaint 11732212. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

116,102 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the hood latch fractured, and the hood unexpectedly flew open and crashed into the front windshield. The contact stated that the hood was wrapped around the vehicle. There were no reported injuries. The driver was able to pull over safely. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V389000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The failure mileage was 116,102.

NHTSA complaint 11674060. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
PURCHASE A 2011 KIA VAN FROM AUTO CONNECTION NORFOLK VIRGINIA THE VAN STARED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT UP PROPERLY SOMETIMES IT WOULD TAKE 10 to 15 TO SHUT UP STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WAS TOLD BY A LOCK SMITH THAT THE VAN HAD SOME MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES START LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ADDING A QUART A DAY TOOK IT TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOP WAS INFORMED THE VAN BRAKE LINES WAS IN BAD SHAPE ALSO THE VAN HAD A BUSTED CV JOINT ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE THE VAN ALSO HAD A STRONG ODOR OF BLACK MOLD LIKE IT HAD BEEN IN A FLOOD ASK DEALERSHIP TO TRADE ME OUT WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO THAT ASK THEM FOR A LOANER THEY SAY THEY COULD NOT DO THAT EITHER THE VAN IS SITTING IN

NHTSA complaint 11568497, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Kia Sedona

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2020 20 1
2019 36 2
2018 48 3
2017 132 4
2016 291 4 2
2015 137 3
2014 38 1
2012 107 5
2010 32 5

Other 2011 Kia models

Every Kia on this site — 176 vehicles, 208 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst