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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Kia SEDONA: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior913.8%
Fuel system concerns710.8%
Electrical and battery issues46.2%
Steering behavior34.6%
Transmission and shifting23.1%
Engine operation23.1%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System11
Engine11
Fuel/Propulsion System10
Suspension9
Structure:Body6
Unknown Or Other5
Vehicle Speed Control5
Air Bags4

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00011
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9997
100,000 to 149,99911
150,000 and above4

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20101
20113
20124
20132
20143
20155
20162
20175
20189
201910
202010
20222
20232
20242
20251
20264

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

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 10390688 · 2011-03-10 (March 10, 2011)

HEAD REST FORCES HEAD DOWN WHEN SITTING STRAIGHT DUE TO BACK PAIN. CONTACTED KIA AND THEY SAID NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THE CHOICE FOR A DRIVER WITH BACK ISSUES THAT REQUIRE SITTING UP STRAIGHT ARE TO REMOVE THE HEAD REST OR DRIVE WHILE EXPERIENCING BACK PAIN. NEITHER OPTION IS SAFE.

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390688 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10416309 · 2011-07-29 (July 29, 2011)

PARKING SENSOR FAILED AND MY HUSBAND WAS IN A ACCIDENT, IN OUR NOW 3 WEEK OLD 2011 KIA SEDONA, THEY SOLD US THE FLOOR MODEL, WHICH HAD TO BE JUMPSTARTED WE THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT, TOOK IT IN BC LOW GAS MILEGE, AND BC THE DOOR WAS LOSE, THEN 2 DAYS AGO MY HUSBAND WAS BACKING OUT OF A SPOT THE ALARM NEVER SOUNDED, HE IS FINE SO IS THE OTHER DRIVER, WELL WE WENT TO WALMART AND WENT TO BACK OUT AND TH ESENSOR WAS GOING CRAZY, SO I GOT OUT AND NOTHING WAS THERE BUT WHEN I STTOOD DIRECTLY BEHIND THE CAR THE ALARM NEVER SOUNDED, THEN I BACKED MY HUSBAN…

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10416309 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10432741 · 2011-10-25 (October 25, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO MONITOR THE SITUATION BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER A POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURE THAT THE DEALERS COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF …

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432741 at NHTSA ↗

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 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 ↗

Owner report 10479780 · 2012-10-11 (October 11, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SEDONA. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND HEARD A LOUD BANG AND GRINDING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE POWER WINDOWS AND REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR INSPECTION AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL WOULD HAVE …

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479780 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 ↗

Recall history

6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

13V114000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch

Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
13V550000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm

Reported: 2013-11-05 (November 5, 2013)

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.

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

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V387000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm

Reported: 2016-06-01 (June 1, 2016)

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.

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

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V389000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch

Reported: 2016-06-01 (June 1, 2016)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V363000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module

Reported: 2018-06-01 (June 1, 2018)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V101000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail

Reported: 2020-02-21 (February 21, 2020)

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.

Consequence: A fuel leak increases the risk of fire.

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗