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
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, the most serious being a fuel rail that can crack from engine heat and leak fuel, raising the risk of an engine fire.
Front suspension is another significant concern, with two recalls covering the lower front control arms on vehicles registered in certain northern and rust-belt states. Road salt and corrosion can weaken the control arms to the point of fracturing, and a broken control arm can cause the driver to lose steering and directional control without warning. Because the two filings cover overlapping but distinct groups of states, owners should check whether their vehicle's registration history puts it in scope. The hood latch is also affected: the secondary latch can bind and stay unlatched even when the hood appears closed. If the primary latch then releases while driving, the hood can fly open and block the driver's view entirely. On the safety equipment side, the airbag control unit can short-circuit in a crash, which may prevent the front airbags and seatbelt pretensioners from firing at the moment they are needed most, leaving occupants without the full benefit of the restraint system.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel rail can crack from engine heat, causing fuel to leak.
What the fix does
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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 →
Dealers will replace the fuel rail at no cost to you.
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.