2012 Kia SEDONA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Kia SEDONA has 146 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sedona. while the vehicle was parked the contact removed the key from the ignition and noticed the ignition and the key were extremely hot. the failure occurred after driving approximately thirty miles or more. the contact measured the temperature of the key and state. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.
146
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.8x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ELECTRICAL
32 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND NOTICED THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WERE EXTREMELY HOT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MILES OR MORE. THE CONTACT MEASURED THE TEMPERATURE OF THE KEY AND STATE
- • 2014 KIA SORENTO LIMITED SAFETY ISSUE: THE ELECTROLUMINESCENT SPEEDOMETER ISN'T READABLE DURING DAYLIGHT OPERATION. THIS CAUSES A VERY REAL SAFETY SITUATION WHEN THE DRIVER HAS TO TAKE HIS EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR 3 OR 4 SECONDS TO FIGURE OUT HOW FAST HE IS GOING. THE DISPLAY IS ENTIRELY PROGRAM
- • 2012 KIA SEDONA DOORS FREEZE SHUT AND WILL NOT OPEN IN COLD WEATHER WHEN DOORS FINALLY OPEN THEY DO NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY AND ALARM SOUNDS ENTIRE TIME DOORS ARE PARTIALLY OPEN. MY CHILDREN ARE AT RISK IN THIS VAN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED TO FIX PROBLEM. MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE WITH NO PERMANENT SOLUT
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND NOTICED THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WERE EXTREMELY HOT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MILES OR MORE. THE CONTACT MEASURED THE TEMPERATURE OF THE KEY AND STATE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
19 complaints- • 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 TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS BLEED DOWN PRESSURE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS SET FOR A FEW HOURS CAUSING CHAIN SLAP AT START UP WHICH OVER TIME WILL DAMAGE INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENTS UP TO AND INCLUDING TIMING ISSUES THAT COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. WHILE THERE IS A TSB FROM KIA ON THIS KNOWN ISSUE KIA CLA
- • MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 68K MILES ON IT, AND BEGAN LEAKING OIL WITHIN THE PAST MONTH (AND DISPLAYING THE LOW PRESSURE ERROR LIGHT). THE LEAKS THEMSELVES VARIED BETWEEN SMALL DRIPS TO SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS LEFT IN PARKING LOTS. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO EVEN RUN THE HEATER FOR EXT
“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 ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
18 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SLIDING DOORS AND THE REAR HATCH DOOR OPENED HAPHAZARDLY. THE DEALER MADE TWO ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY ALONG WITH THE REAR PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ACTUATOR ON THE REAR PASSENGE
- • REAR HATCH WON'T OPEN WHEN SITTING OUT IN THE SUN FOR 4-5 HOURS. AFTER IT COOLS DOWN, IT WILL OPEN. WHEN SITTING FOR LONGER THAN 3 HOURS, IT WILL NOT OPEN. *TR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SLIDING DOORS AND THE REAR HATCH DOOR OPENED HAPHAZARDLY. THE DEALER MADE TWO ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
18 complaints- • WE HAD A FLAT TIRE ON OUR 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHEN MY HUSBAND PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE JACK TO CHANGE THE TIRE, THE JACK CRUMPLED LIKE AN EMPTY SODA CAN. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME THAT THIS FACTORY PROVIDED JACK HAD EVER BEEN USED. IF MY HUSBAND HAD BEEN UNDER THE VEHICLE RETRIEVING THE DONUT, HE
- • 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 L
- • 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.
“WE HAD A FLAT TIRE ON OUR 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHEN MY HUSBAND PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE JACK TO CHANGE THE TIRE, THE JACK CRUMPLED LIKE AN EMPTY SODA CAN. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME THAT THIS FACTORY PROVIDED JACK HAD EVER BEEN USED. IF MY HUSBAND HAD BEEN UNDER THE VEHICLE RETRIEVING THE DONUT, HE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
11 complaints- • I PURCHASED MY 2012 KIA SEDONA ON 8-11-2018 & FOUND OUT THAT THEY SOLD ME A VEHICLE ON THE RECALL LIST. I SAID THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE ON A RECALL LIST & AFTER BATTLING CANCER & AN 8 MONTH SURVIVOR, I DON'T WANT THIS VEHICLE THAT COULD CAUSE MY DEMISE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE KIA DEALERSH
- • WE DISCOVERED A FUEL LEAKAGE AFTER GETTING GAS, BUT DID NOT DISCOVER THIS LEAK UNTIL AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM THE GAS STATION. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AND WE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WENT DOWN RATHER QUICKLY. AFTER GETTING HOME FROM THE GAS STATION, WE NOTICED THE SMELL OF GAS WAS STI
- • 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 WAIV
“I PURCHASED MY 2012 KIA SEDONA ON 8-11-2018 & FOUND OUT THAT THEY SOLD ME A VEHICLE ON THE RECALL LIST. I SAID THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE ON A RECALL LIST & AFTER BATTLING CANCER & AN 8 MONTH SURVIVOR, I DON'T WANT THIS VEHICLE THAT COULD CAUSE MY DEMISE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE KIA DEALERSH”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 146 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND NOTICED THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WERE EXTREMELY HOT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MILES OR MORE. THE CONTACT MEASURED THE TEMPERATURE OF THE KEY AND STATE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SLIDING DOORS AND THE REAR HATCH DOOR OPENED HAPHAZARDLY. THE DEALER MADE TWO ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: WE HAD A FLAT TIRE ON OUR 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHEN MY HUSBAND PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE JACK TO CHANGE THE TIRE, THE JACK CRUMPLED LIKE AN EMPTY SODA CAN. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME THAT THIS FACTORY PROVIDED JACK HAD EVER BEEN USED. IF MY HUSBAND HAD BEEN UNDER THE VEHICLE RETRIEVING THE DONUT, HE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia SEDONA — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 146
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 8
- Crash reports
- 7
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Kia SEDONA