CSR

Kia · NHTSA safety record

2012 Kia Sedona

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

107

Complaints

5

Crashes

5

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Kia Sedona have filed 107 safety complaints with NHTSA between November 2011 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 33 of them (31%). The typical failure was reported at 70,000 miles, the median across the 81 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (5)

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

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 107.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 33 31%
ENGINE 18 17%
STRUCTURE 18 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16 15%
AIR BAGS 9 8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 7 7%
POWER TRAIN 7 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 7 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 7 7%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 4 4%
STEERING 4 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 17.

2011 2020 2026
2011 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.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 2,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT, CRASHED INTO A CURB, AND ROLLED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CHIN INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 10658791. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

1 injured · 46,000 miles

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

NHTSA complaint 11342963. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · towed · 170,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, HE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO A PARKING LOT, WHERE FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED, STOOD A DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA WAS BURNT AND DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE VEHICLE SINCE THEY SAID THEY DID NOT COVER FIRES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA complaint 11317227. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

fire · towed · 190,102 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11445252. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

200,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11751498. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

235,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11735079. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · towed

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 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

NHTSA complaint 11694345, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 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

NHTSA complaint 11684328, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

crash · towed · 213,000 miles

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 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

NHTSA complaint 11634335, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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.

NHTSA complaint 11591671. 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
2011 65 6
2010 32 5

Other 2012 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