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2012 Kia Sedona Engine Problems

13 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data

13
Complaints
2
Fires
Jan 2019Dec 2021
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (13)

criticalENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FireFiled: Dec 2021

After driving at highway speeds and pulling into a parking lot, you noticed smoke coming from under the hood of your 2012 Kia Sedona. When you opened the hood, you discovered the engine compartment was on fire. The fire department had to help extinguish it, and the vehicle was deemed a total loss. While no one was injured, this represents a serious engine compartment fire that required emergency response.

NHTSA #: 11445252
highENGINE
Filed: Mar 2022

Your engine is leaking oil around the oil pressure sensor, which you've already replaced twice at your own cost. Kia has issued a recall (19V101) for this exact problem on 2011-2012 Sedona models, but your vehicle's VIN wasn't included in the recall coverage. You're concerned that other 2012 Sedanas may have the same defect but won't be notified. The fix typically involves replacing the oil pressure sensor and inspecting the engine for oil leaks.

NHTSA #: 11455241
mediumENGINE
FireFiled: Mar 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, HE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO A PARKING LOT, WHERE FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED, STOOD A DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA WAS BURNT AND DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE VEHICLE SINCE THEY SAID THEY DID NOT COVER FIRES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA #: 11317227
mediumENGINE
Filed: Feb 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE ENGINE CEASED WITH SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DELAND KIA 2322 S WOODLAND BLVD, DELAND, FL 32720-2322 (386) 734-7800, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT OFFERED FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA #: 11309052
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2020

TWICE, THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AND COME TO A COMPLETE, UNEXPECTED STOP WITH NO WARNING: IN OCTOBER 2019 AND JANUARY 2020. IN BOTH CASES, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 30-40 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE, NOR DID ANY OTHER LIGHT. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS, BUT FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY,

NHTSA #: 11302504
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jul 2019

OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, TOOK IT TO MY DEALER. THEY ARE SAYING THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR IS BAD AT ONLY 74,000 MILES. WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $800 NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY

NHTSA #: 11231831
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2019

HAD PURCHASED A 2012 KIA SEDONA. WORK OUT FINE FOR THE FIRST FEW YRS OF OWNERSHIP. STARTED NOTICING WHITE SMOKE AT ENGINE START. DIDNT KNOW WHY IT WAS DOING IT CAUSE WE HAD ROUTINE OIL CHANGES DONE TO THIS CAR REGULARLY. .TOOK CAR TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON AN EMISSIONS PART AND THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OFF THE ISSUE. SAME ISSUE CONTINUED, FINALLY VAN CAME TO A DEAD STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OIL LIGHT OR ANY LIGHT TO GIVE US A WARNING THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING ON. WAS LUCKY THAT MY WIFE WASNT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN THIS HAPPENED.SHE WAS DRIVING HM AND ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE DECIDED TO QUIT WORKING. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER AND AFTER 2 MONTHS AT THE DEALER AND THAT WAS ONLY AFTER I CALLED TO CHECK WHY IT WAS TAKING SO LONG TO GIVE ME AN ANSWER,....WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OFF $7500 TO $9500 FOR A NEW ENGINE. NO LUCK HAVING DEALER COVER THE COST CUASE THEY SAID IT WAS OWNER NEGLECT ON MY PART. NOW IM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT IS NOT DRIVABLE AND USELESS. OH, AND WORST PART IS THAT I WAS STILL MAKING A MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON THE CAR.

NHTSA #: 11165445
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jun 2018

ENGINE OIL SENSOR LEAKING OIL AND ENGINE OIL LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON. ANY TIME ENGINE IS RUNNING.

NHTSA #: 11100313
mediumENGINE
Filed: Apr 2017

LARGE PLUMES OF WHITE SMOKE FROM EXCESSIVE ENGINE SLUDGE BUILDUP IN MOTOR, TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CLAIM IMPROPER MAINTENANCE IS THE ISSUE. TALKED TO KIA CORPORATE AND DESPITE OTHER KNOWN SLUDGE ISSUES ON OTHER VEHICLES THE SAY THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE ISSUE. THEY'VE NOW HAD MY VAN FOR 6 MONTHS WHILE FIGHTING TO GET THEM TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. BOUGHT IT WITH 29K MILES IT NOW ONLY HAS 56K MILES ON THE ENGINE, I'VE OWNED IT FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF. I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE THAT'S WORTHLESS AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE RIGHT NOW. HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES DONE AND BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE WE PLANNED ON HAVING IT FOR A LONG TIME. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE REPLACEMENT COSTING $8200 FOR A VEHICLE I PAID $13000 FOR. THIS S NOT EXECUTABLE AND DON'T BELIEVE THEIR STORY. I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE IF I HAD KNOWN I'D BE ON THE HOOK FOR ANOTHER 8 GRAND IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. SO ANGRY!!!

NHTSA #: 10971659
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2016

UPON SERVICE STATION OIL CHANGE ENGINE WARNING CODES P0024,P0014 SHOWED IMMEDIATLEY NEXT MORNING. WIX FILTER, MGD MGL 10082, BOUGHT BY MY MECHANIC FROM ORIELLYS AUTO PARTS HAD NO RESEMBLANCE TO ORIGINAL FILTER EVEN THOUGH ADVERTIZED AS OEM REPLACEMENT. THIS HAD PERFORATED METAL SHELL AND SOLID RUBBER TOP AND BOTTOM WHEN KIA VERSION IS FAN FOLDED PAPER ALL OVER IT DAMAGED ENGINE VVTI, CAM EXHAUST MANIFOLD WARNING SINCE THIS IS A OIL TIMED ENGINE . I DID NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL FIXED, OIL SWITCH, AND PRESSURE SENDING UNIT. 100% PERCENT OF OIL HAD BEEN FORCED OUT TOP OF ENGINE AND POOLED IN THE V6. SEVERAL TECHNICAL SITES SAY THESE FILTERS DESIGN HAVE FAILED INCLUDING REDESIGN. NOW ORIELLYS AND WIX ARE DRAGGING THIER FEET IMN FIXING THIS AND REIMBURSING ME FOR EXSPENSE. NOT EVEN THIER PRODUCT. I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE LESS THAN 20 MILES

NHTSA #: 10911076
mediumENGINE
Filed: Aug 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ENGINE OIL LEAKED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE OIL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA #: 10898461
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2015

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 CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL TO HEAR THE CHAIN SLAP AGAINST THE ENGINE WALLS UNTIL THE TENSIONERS BUILD PRESSURE OVER SEVERAL SECONDS.

NHTSA #: 10779235
mediumENGINE
Filed: Apr 2013

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 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. ON THE WAY HOME IT ALMOST STALLED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY. WE CALLED THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN ON MONDAY. A WEEK OR SO BEFORE THE VAN DID THIS I NOTICED THE RPM'S GOING UP AN DOWN WHEN I WOULD BE AT A STOP JUST IDLING. THE DEALER CHECKED THE CODES FOR THE THROTTLE BODY AND FOUND AN UPDATE SO THEY REPROGRAMMED IT ACCORDING TO THEIR PAPERWORK. ON FRIDAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND WHEN I GOT TO THE TRAFFIC LIGHT I LOST POWER. I THOUGHT IT HAD STALLED AGAIN, BUT IT DIDN'T. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS IT DID NOT ACCELERATE , AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 10 MPH. I GOT IT OFF THE STREET AND SHUT IT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT. IT WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS. I TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND LET IT SIT FOR A COUPLE MINUTES AND THEN WHEN I RE-STARTED IT, IT RESPONDED WHEN I ACCELERATED. ONCE AGAIN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALER AND DROVE IT RIGHT TO THEM. ACCORDING TO THEIR PAPERWORK THEY CHECKED AND FOUND AN INTERNAL FAULT WITH THE THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR. THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AND KEPT IT A FEW DAYS TO SEE IF IT WOULD LOSE POWER AGAIN. ACCORDING TO THEM IT DID NOT AND I PICKED IT UP. THIS IS THE FIRST DAY I HAVE HAD IT BACK AND SO FAR IT HAS RUN FINE. I AM DRIVING CHILDREN AROUND IN THIS VAN ALL THE TIME AND NOW I NEED TO BE CONCERNED THAT IT IS GOING TO STALL OR GO INTO "LIMP MODE" AS THE DEALER CALLED IT WHEN I PULL OUT ONTO THE BUSY ROADS WHERE I LIVE. I HOPE THEY FIXED IT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10505825

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