2012 KIA Sedona Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 2, 2026 · 108 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Sedona years
Fewer complaints than other years 11th of 20 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 KIA Sedona. That ranks 11th out of 20 Sedona model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (33 complaints, 31%), typically at around 72,218 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 5 fires, 2 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2012 KIA Sedona problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System33 · ~72,218 mi
Engine18 · ~89,000 mi
Structure18 · ~79,000 mi
Unknown or Other16 · ~72,218 mi
Air Bags9 · ~65,000 mi
Power Train8 · ~68,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion System7 · ~72,000 mi
Service Brakes7 · ~48,500 mi
Vehicle Speed Control7 · ~14,125 mi
Fuel System, Gasoline4 · ~135,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System3331%72,218——
Engine1817%89,000——
Structure1817%79,000——
Unknown or Other1615%72,218——
Air Bags98%65,000——
Power Train87%68,000——
Fuel/propulsion System76%72,000——
Service Brakes76%48,500——
Vehicle Speed Control76%14,125——
Fuel System, Gasoline44%135,000——
Steering44%12,000——
Exterior Lighting33%96,963——
Latches/locks/linkages33%47,500——
Equipment22%70,000——
Visibility/wiper22%80,000——
Back Over Prevention11%35,000——
Engine and Engine Cooling11%190,102——
Forward Collision Avoidance11%210,000——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic11%50——
Suspension11%———
Tires11%60,310——
Wheels11%62,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2020, with 17 complaints
2011: 3201132012: 552013: 5201352014: 992015: 122015122016: 882017: 7201772018: 11112019: 112019112020: 17172021: 5202152022: 442023: 3202332024: 222025: 3202532026: 33

n = 108 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2012 KIA Sedona recalls (5)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel railFeb 21, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V101000 · 51,465 vehicles

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.

Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of fire.

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.

Air bags: air bag/restraint control moduleJun 1, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V363000 · 507,587 vehicles

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.

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.

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.

Suspension:front:control arm:lower armJun 1, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V387000 · 97,884 vehicles

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.

Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latchJun 1, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V389000 · 219,800 vehicles

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.

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.

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.

Suspension:front:control arm:lower armNov 5, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V550000 · 79,867 vehicles

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.

Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Air bags may be disabled during crash (PE18003) — opened Mar 16, 2018, closed Aug 30, 2019, led to recall 18E043000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

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…

Power Train · received Oct 2, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11768509

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…

Electrical System · received Jul 20, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11751498

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…

Fuel System, Gasoline · received May 1, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11735079

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…

Service Brakes · received Oct 18, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11694345

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…

Electrical System · received Sep 1, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11684328

Other KIA Sedona years

← 2011 Sedona · 2013 Sedona →

See all KIA Sedona problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2012 KIA Sedona?

Owners most often report electrical system, engine, structure problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 33 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2012 KIA Sedona?

Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2012 KIA Sedona a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sedona model years, the 2012 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.