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2012 Kia Sedona problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
33% of relevant owner complaints on the 2012 Kia Sedona are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 11 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 30%).
Does the 2012 Kia Sedona have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 32 of 96 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Sedona concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%), and the largest group is filed under engine (18). For comparison, the 2011 scores 44%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Kia Sedona years
Of the 9 Kia Sedona years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (33%). The worst is the 2016 (67%), the best the 2010 (27%). By volume, the 2012 drew 107 complaints (32 drivetrain), against 65 for the 2011.
Kia Sedona years to avoid and best years →
2010 Sedona problems · 2011 Sedona problems · 2012 · 2014 Sedona problems · 2015 Sedona problems · 2016 Sedona problems · 2017 Sedona problems · 2018 Sedona problems · 2019 Sedona problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Kia Sedona
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Kia Sedona said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 32 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Kia Sedona fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Kia Sedona involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of fire.
Fix: 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.
4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Kia Sedona? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2012 Kia Sedona have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 32 of 96 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Sedona concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Kia Sedona?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Kia Sedona is electrical system: 33 of 107 complaints (31%) name it, followed by engine (18) and structure (18). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 33% of the relevant total.
Is the 2012 Kia Sedona reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 33% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 9 Kia Sedona years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Kia Sedona?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Kia Sedona involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 20V101000 (fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Kia Sedona years are better?
Among the Kia Sedona years we track, the 2010 (27%) and the 2014 (29%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (33%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/kia-sedona
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.