NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel rail can crack from engine heat, causing fuel to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel rail at no cost to you.
This page covers 5 recalls, 106 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Kia Sedona.
21 mpg combined
11.2 L/100km
Minivan - 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
Electrical faults are the most commonly reported issue with the 2012 Kia Sedona, with owners describing a range of failures including backup camera malfunctions, wiper system failures, and various electrical components going unresponsive. Engine complaints are the second most frequent category, where owners report persistent oil leaks, often from the valve cover gasket or timing cover area, that prove difficult to resolve after multiple repair attempts. A smaller but notable cluster of structural complaints also appears. On the engine side, a few owners describe unexpected acceleration events, reporting that the vehicle surged forward with minimal accelerator input and without any warning lights appearing beforehand.
106
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Kia Sedona has 5 recalls, with the most serious being a fuel rail that can crack from engine heat and leak fuel, raising the risk of a fire under the hood.
Two recalls address the same front lower control arm issue on vehicles registered in high-corrosion states: the arms can corrode and break, causing sudden loss of steering control. There is also a hood latch concern where the secondary latch can stick in the open position; if the primary latch is then accidentally released, the hood can fly up while driving and block the driver's view. On the safety equipment side, the airbag control unit can short circuit in a crash and prevent the front airbags and seatbelt pretensioners from deploying, leaving occupants without full crash protection at the moment they need it most.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel rail can crack from engine heat, causing fuel to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel rail at no cost to you.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag control unit may short circuit during a crash, stopping the front air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
What the fix does
Dealers will install an extension wire harness kit to the air bag control unit connectors to restore proper function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The secondary hood latch can stick and fail to fully latch when the hood is closed, leaving it unsecured.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace or clean and lubricate the secondary hood latch at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front lower control arms may break due to corrosion from road salt exposure in vehicles registered in northern and salt-belt states.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace front lower control arms on 2006-2007 models, or replace or add anti-corrosion coating on 2008-2012 models, at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front lower control arms can break due to rust damage from salt exposure in certain climates, affecting steering and vehicle control.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the control arms for corrosion and either apply rustproofing or replace them at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.