MYRModel Year Report

2012 Kia Sedona

● Typical for this model
2012 Kia Sedona
RENDERED 2026-11-01T12:54:26.521Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
108
Recalls
5

Campaigns on file for 2012

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Electrical system

31% of complaints

Complaints per year

2002: 198 complaints 2002 2003: 163 complaints 2004: 176 complaints 2005: 185 complaints 2005 2006: 385 complaints 2007: 157 complaints 2008: 170 complaints 2008 2009: 48 complaints 2010: 32 complaints 2011: 65 complaints 2012: 108 complaints 2012 108 2013: 0 complaints 2014: 39 complaints 2015: 140 complaints 2016: 297 complaints 2017: 134 complaints 2017 2018: 49 complaints 2019: 39 complaints 2020: 20 complaints 2020 2021: 10 complaints
2002: 198 complaints 2002 2003: 163 complaints 2004: 176 complaints 2004 2005: 185 complaints 2006: 385 complaints 2006 2007: 157 complaints 2008: 170 complaints 2008 2009: 48 complaints 2010: 32 complaints 2010 2011: 65 complaints 2012: 108 complaints 2012 108 2013: 0 complaints 2014: 39 complaints 2014 2015: 140 complaints 2016: 297 complaints 2016 2017: 134 complaints 2018: 49 complaints 2018 2019: 39 complaints 2020: 20 complaints 2020 2021: 10 complaints
2002: 198 complaints 2002 2003: 163 complaints 2003 2004: 176 complaints 2004 2005: 185 complaints 2005 2006: 385 complaints 2006 2007: 157 complaints 2007 2008: 170 complaints 2008 2009: 48 complaints 2009 2010: 32 complaints 2010 2011: 65 complaints 2011 2012: 108 complaints 2012 108 2013: 0 complaints 2013 2014: 39 complaints 2014 2015: 140 complaints 2015 2016: 297 complaints 2016 2017: 134 complaints 2017 2018: 49 complaints 2018 2019: 39 complaints 2019 2020: 20 complaints 2020 2021: 10 complaints 2021

2012: 108 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
2002198
2003163
2004176
2005185
2006385
2007157
2008170
200948
201032
201165
2012108
20130
201439
2015140
2016297
2017134
201849
201939
202020
202110

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical system

31% · 33 reports

Most commonly citing alternator/generator/regulator.

CRASHFIRE
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2025-10-18

Also filed under Service brakes

Last September 6TH, 2018, Sedona was almost caught fire while driver was with her children. Onwer saw a huge smoke after she looked at dashboard tempature guage that reached overheat, quickly parked, turned it off, and opened the hood.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-09-17

Also filed under Engine

My son was driving the car with my grandson in the front passenger seat. Smoke came out of the air conditioning vents and a fire started in the wiring below the dash on the passengers side.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-10-09

Engine

17% · 18 reports
FIRE

Structure

17% · 18 reports

Most commonly citing body and support device/strut.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2011-12-09

Air bags

8% · 9 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Kia Sedona. While driving 30 MPH in rainy weather conditions, the vehicle veered to the right, crashed into a curb, and rolled over. The air bags failed to deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-11-18

I was rear ended by an 18 wheeler, which caused me to hit the car in front of me. There was significant damage to the front of my car. My airbags did not deploy. Photos can be provided.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-05-01

Power train

7% · 8 reports
Show complaint excerpts

The gear shifter is very difficult to move from Park to Reverse to Neutral to Drive. It's very difficult to press in the lever to move in between the gears.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-10-02

Safety timeline

5 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2013-12-20Suspension13V550000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2016-07-27Suspension16V387000 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,...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2016-07-27Latches/locks/linkages16V389000 Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through April 04, 2014.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    2018-03-16Preliminary evaluationClosed 2019-08-30 Air bags may be disabled during crash
  5. R
    2018-09-28Air bags18V363000 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.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2020-06-16Fuel system, gasoline20V101000 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: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2012 Kia Sedona — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Electrical system: 33 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine: 18 reports on file for this year.
  • Structure: 18 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 13V550000 · Suspension
  • Recall 16V387000 · Suspension
  • Recall 16V389000 · Latches/locks/linkages
  • Recall 18V363000 · Air bags
  • Recall 20V101000 · Fuel system, gasoline
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2012 Kia Sedona reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2012 Kia Sedona is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Sedona?
The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 31% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2012 Kia Sedona have?
5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-31 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.