2011 Kia SEDONA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
65 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
79,660 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 42 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 65 complaints (16.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 13.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 10.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 6.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Suspension | 9 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
Electrical System: 11; Engine: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Suspension: 9; Structure:Body: 6; Unknown Or Other: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Air Bags: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 23 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2017: 5; 2018: 9; 2019: 10; 2020: 10; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10458720 · 2012-05-16 (May 16, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOOSE AND WOULD SWAY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A WELD ON THE BREAK PEDAL ASSEMBLY FRACTURED AND THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12, 000.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10480361 · 2012-10-10 (October 10, 2012)
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 BUIL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10480361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11124159 · 2018-09-03 (September 3, 2018)
THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND INJECTORS (AS COUNTING FROM THE SERPENTINE BELT SIDE OF ENGINE). MY WIFE AND I NOTICED THIS ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2018 BECAUSE OF A STRONG GAS SMELL AFTER OUR VAN WAS PARKED. I REMOVED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THINKING A FUEL INJECTOR SEAL HAD FAILED BUT DISCOVERED THE CRACKED RAIL INSTEAD. THE CRACKED RAIL WAS ALLOWING FUEL TO PUDDLE ON TOP OF THE ENGINE AND THE FUEL WAS BOILING OFF WHEN THE VAN WAS HOT.
Owner-reported narrative. 128,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11140219 · 2018-10-14 (October 14, 2018)
THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT GAS SMELL COMING THROUGH AIR VENTS. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE INDICATION OF FUEL LEAKAGE. THE SOURCE WAS A CRACKED FUEL RAIL. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE ENGINE AND RUNNING GEAR WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTEE BUT THE RAIL WAS NOT INCLUDED.
Owner-reported narrative. 79,320 miles reported. Look up ODI 11140219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10626237 · 2014-08-19 (August 19, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THE SLIDING DOOR BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE MANUAL AND ELECTRICAL SWITCH FAILED TO RELEASE THE SLIDING DOOR. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF SENSORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURED WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11331909 · 2020-07-01 (July 1, 2020)
WHEN YESTERDAY JUNE 30TH 2020 THE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WAS BECAUSE I HAD NEVER APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE I HAD THE BATTERY CHECK OIL ALL FLUIDS AND THEY SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOOD THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL I DO NOT HAVE THE BRAKE ON MATTER OF FACT I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO PUT IT ON CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME IT ISN'T DOING ANYTHING WEIRD IT'S JUST SCARING ME BECAUSE THE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AND IT'S NOT JUST THE BRAKE LIG…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11331909 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11172060 · 2019-01-25 (January 25, 2019)
ANY TIME THERE IS BUDDLE OF WATER ON THE ROAD AT LOW SPEED UNDER 15 I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND POWER YOU CAN'T TURN THE STEERING AND HAS POWER WARNING ON THE DASH SOMETIME ON CAR WASH I HAVE TO PUSH GAS TO GET POWER ON AGAIN
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 11172060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11563973 · 2024-01-06 (January 6, 2024)
First, the fuel pump was acting up was told the relay was going bad replaced the relay, Than we have "ESC" and ABS light come one for a bout a week took it to get the code read and they said all four wheel sensors (abs) were not transmitting signals ans that my steering angle sensor was bad which I dont think it is equipped with one now today as of 1/6/2024 ESC, ABS and BRAKE all light up and solid at the same time and tI lost my brakes. no we had no inspections we had warning lights the ESC ABS & BRAKE with a warning alarm
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11563973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11192050 · 2019-03-27 (March 27, 2019)
WHILE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, ONCE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, IT RANDOMLY REFUSES TO MOVE INTO PARK. MUST KEEP FOOT ON BRAKE WHILE FIGHTING WITH VEHICLE TO TRY TO GET IT INTO PARK. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY BUT RANDOMLY. IT WOULD BE EASY TO RUN OVER A PERSON OR OBJECT IN FRONT OF THE CAR WHILE FIGHTING THE CAR TO MOVE IT INTO PARK. THIS FAILURE ALSO HAPPENS WHILE IN PARK -- IT WILL RANDOMLY REFUSE TO MOVE INTO REVERSE. WITHOUT WARNING, FROM ONE TIME TO THE NEXT IT WORKS PROPERLY THEN LATER IN THE SAME DAY IT WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY -- SOMETIMES JUST …
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11192050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11283158 · 2019-12-01 (December 1, 2019)
VEHICLE KEEPS LOSING ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING. THIS LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TURNING ONTO A BUSY STREET! THE FIRST TIME THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. THAT LASTED 3 DAYS. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART SO HE REPLACED IT. THAT LASTED ANOTHER THREE DAYS UNTIL WE LOST ALL POWER AGAIN. THIS TIME THE MECHANIC DID SOME MORE RESEARCH AND REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ALONG WITH A THIRD ALTERNATOR. THE VAN RAN FOR TWO DAYS THIS TIME. AS OF WRITING THIS MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS. THE MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME…
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11283158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10371928 · 2010-12-21 (December 21, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SEDONA LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AND OTHER TIMES IT ACCELERATED FASTER THAN NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS IT SHOULD. UPDATED 3/14/11 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN STOPPING ON AN UPHILL OR DOWNHILL GRADE. UPDATED 05/05/11
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10371928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478769 · 2012-10-05 (October 5, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND RESTARTED IT AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT A CODE READ P2106 LIMITED HOME MODE AND P0638 THROTTLE ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INFORMATI…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478769 at NHTSA ↗