Kia · Sedona · 2012
5
Recalls
105
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2012 Kia Sedona has 5 recalls and 105 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: electrical system (13 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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.
Remedy Status
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 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.
Remedy Status
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 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.
Remedy Status
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 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.
Remedy Status
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 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.
Remedy Status
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.
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 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.
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 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 [XXX] 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)
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.
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 or the air conditioner or sliding doors.
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 [XXX] 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 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 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 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TO JIM MARSH KIA (8555 W CENTENNIAL PKWY, LAS VEGAS, NV 89149) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED A MONTH PRIOR TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. ADDITIONALLY, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V101000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2012 Kia Sedona has 5 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 105 owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Kia Sedona.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2012 Kia Sedona.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2012 Kia Sedona are electrical system (13 reports), engine (12 reports), unknown or other (8 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 5 recalls on record for the 2012 Kia Sedona. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.