2012 Kia SEDONA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
107 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 81 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 107 complaints (29.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 14.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 12.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.9% |
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 | 32 |
| Engine | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Structure:Body | 15 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
Electrical System: 32; Engine: 18; Unknown Or Other: 16; Structure:Body: 15; Air Bags: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Power Train: 7; Service Brakes: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 9
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 26 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2011: 3; 2012: 5; 2013: 5; 2014: 9; 2015: 12; 2016: 8; 2017: 7; 2018: 11; 2019: 11; 2020: 17; 2021: 5; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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 10435337 · 2011-11-12 (November 12, 2011)
IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE WHILE DRIVING ON A DAILY BASIS TO NOT STEP ON THE BRAKES WHILE ALSO DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR SIMULTANEOUSLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, SINCE I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 42 YEARS AND HAVE DRIVEN DOZENS UPON DOZENS OF MAKES AND MODELS AND NEVER ONCE ENCOUNTERED AN ISSUE WHERE THE BRAKE & ACCELERATOR ARE POSITIONED IN SUCH A WAY THAT, UNLESS YOU PICK UP YOUR FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND DELIBERATELY REPLACE IT TO THE FAR LEFT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THEN YOU FIND YOURSELF PRESSING BOTH AT ONCE CAUSING THE CAR TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10439344 · 2011-12-11 (December 11, 2011)
LET ME BEGIN BY PREFACING THAT THIS IS OUR 2ND SEDONA, AND WE PURCHASED BOTH BRAND NEW. WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS, AND IT ONLY HAS APPX. 6000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL SIDE STREET I APPROACHED THE A STOP SIGN, I BEGAN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, AND THERE WAS A CAR AT THE STOP SIGN IN FRONT OF ME, WAITING TO TURN LEFT. AS I CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE, THE VAN'S ENGINE, OUT OF NOWHERE, BEGAN TO REV CONTINUOUSLY AT FULL THROTTLE. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE, AND DESP…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10439344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455118 · 2012-04-13 (April 13, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ELECTRICAL BOX WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO REMAIN AT THE DEALER DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING UNAVAILABLE. THE ESTIMATED ARRIVAL DATE FOR THE PART WAS APRIL 21, 2012. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,600. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10596100 · 2014-06-04 (June 4, 2014)
I BOUGHT THIS 2012 KIA BRAND NEW IN 2011 WELL, A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE TOOK IT IN FOR AND OIL CHANGE AND IT WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISES IN THE ENGINE, THEY FIX IT. ALSO A PART FEEL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH SECURES THE SIDE DOOR THEY ORDERS THE PART AND WE HAD TO KEEP CALLING THEN TO SEE IF THEY GOT THE PART IN FINALLY THEY DID I TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE LIGHTS NOT TURNING OFF AFTER WE TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND HAS RAN THE BATTERY DOWN SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY THEY CHECK IT OUT AND COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM THEY HAD TO CALL …
Owner-reported narrative. 63,926 miles reported. Look up ODI 10596100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10449039 · 2012-02-23 (February 23, 2012)
WHILE ACCELERATING, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE UP POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE THROUGH A COMBINATION OF BRAKING AND SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL UNTIL THE PEDAL CAME BACK UP ON IT'S OWN. TIME ENCOMPASSED WAS APPROXIMATELY 60 SECONDS. TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD WAS LIGHT WHICH MADE THE SITUATION MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10449039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10732176 · 2015-07-06 (July 6, 2015)
ABOUT 18MO AFTER OWNING THE VAN WE STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH SHIFTING FROM PARK TO OTHER GEARS. IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. NOW I HAVE HAD TO REMOVE THE SHIFT NOB AND DEPRESS THE LINKAGE TO GET IT OUT OF AND INTO GEAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10732176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10505825 · 2013-04-10 (April 10, 2013)
WHILE TURNING ONTO ANOTHER STREET THE VAN STALLED. I PUT ON MY FLASHERS AND STOPPED, PUT THE VAN IN PARK AND STARTED IT AGAIN. IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER WHEN I HIT THE GAS, SO I TURNED IT OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT RAN NORMAL, EXCEPT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. ON THE WAY HOME IT ALMOST STALLED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY. WE CALLED THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN ON MONDAY. A WEEK OR SO BEFORE THE VAN DID THIS I NOTICED THE RPM'S GOING UP AN DOWN …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,534 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11019147 · 2017-08-23 (August 23, 2017)
ONE THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN A ONE WEEK PERIOD, THE KIA SEDONA STALLED RANDOMLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THIS OCCURRED ONCE ON A GRAVEL ROAD, ONCE IN TOWN, AND ONCE ON WHILE MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE WERE TOLD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHEN WE EXPRESSED THIS SAFETY CONCERN TO KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE, WE HAVE BE COMPLETELY STONEWALLED AND CANNOT EVEN RECEIVE A RETURNED PHONE CALL FROM THE CASE MANAGER. I WISH I COULD SUPPLY MORE INFORMATIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10592387 · 2014-05-19 (May 19, 2014)
WHILE I DRIVE A CAR. IT WAS VERY HUMIDITY CONDITION. SO I TURN ON AC TO WINDOWS. FEW MINUTES LATER THEN SUDDENLY AC STOP. THE WINDSHIELD ARE CLOUDED UP WITH STEAM. SO I CAN'T SEE ANY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. SO I STOP AND NEED TO WAIT TILL ITS GONE. SO I VISIT MY MECHANIC AFTER DAY. HE SAID AC PIPE LOCATED BEHIND STEERING HOSE IS ABRADED BY STEERING HOSE. SO AC GAS LEAKED AT ONCE. IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10592387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10896838 · 2016-08-18 (August 18, 2016)
KIA SEDONA RECALL ON HOOD LATCH AND FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS RELATED TO VIBRATION/STEERING. I EXPECT THE DEALER TO PICK UP, FIX AND RETURN THE VEHICLE. DEALER INDICATED THEY WOULD NOT. MY HAVING TO DELIVER AND PICK UP THE VEHICLE WOULD BE AN EXPENSE TO ME THROUGH NO FAULT OF MINE. RECALLS SHOULD COVER ALL EXPENSES INCLUDING PICK UP AND DELIVERY. MY DEALER IS 2 HOURS AWAY!
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10896838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11316246 · 2020-03-05 (March 5, 2020)
GAS SMELL IN CAR 11/2017 WHILE IN MOTION. EXPERIENCING A SORT OF 'HESITATION', LIKE WANTING TO STALL. BROUGHT TO DEALER. DEALER IDENTIFIED ISSUE- CRACK IN FUEL RAIL, LEAKING ON ENGINE. ITEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND QUOTED AT JUST UNDER $1K TO REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED ME TO SIGN A WAIVER SAYING I KNEW MY CAR WAS A FIRE HAZARD SINCE I COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY THEIR RATES FOR THE REPAIR. TOLD ME I WOULD END UP IN THE NEWS IF I DIDN'T GET IT FIXED THERE. I REFUSED, AND TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE I PAID FOR THE REPAIR.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11316246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11326612 · 2020-05-30 (May 30, 2020)
CAR WAS DELIVERED TO KIA OF SOUTH AUSTIN FOR REPAIR AS PER SC165A (AIRBAG RECALL) AND FOR SC188 (FUEL RAIL RECALL) ON MONDAY MAY 25TH. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS A FUEL LEAK AT THE FUEL RAIL LOCATION. DEALER WAS INSTRUCTED BY KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA TO DISABLE THE CAR UNTIL A REMEDY IS AVAILABLE. IT IS NOW SATURDAY MAY 30TH AND THERE IS NO REMEDY TIMELINE FOR THE FUEL LEAK AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO CONDUCT THE AIRBAG REMEDY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 92,631 miles reported. Look up ODI 11326612 at NHTSA ↗