Problems · by component

2012 Kia Sedona electrical system problems

33 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Sedona cite electrical system, 31% of all 108 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
33
31% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that the battery drained unexpectedly, and the vehicle failed to start. The battery was replaced twice, and the vehicle was temporarily repaired. The contact’s son replaced the alternator; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was no longer operable. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 20, 2026Electrical systemODI 11751498
“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. The vehicle was totaled and was salvaged due to damages to the vehicle. The brake inspection failed. Today the braking system has has no control even after the master cylinder was repaired. The vehicle is currently sitting at a service station without being serviced for at least 2 months. Kia needs to be responsible and refund for the arm control repair and other related part failures. The electrical system does not work for the windshield wipers or the air conditioner or sliding doors.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2025Electrical system, Structure, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11694345
“There is a continuous leakage of oil from my van even after the dealer replaced valve cover gasket . When I complained they said it was the leftover oil. After a month again I complained . Then they re-checked and said it is my car's timing cover reseal leaking . Again after few days I had to complain as there was a leak. I got the same standard reply of leftover uncleaned oil is the cause. Few weeks later I took the van to them and they said they thoroughly cleaned and there won't be any leak. I sent them pictures of oil drops underneth the car like I did on earlier occassions. On August 11th this year they checked the car after my complaint and said there was no active leak. On 30th of this month I sent them the pictures of leaked oil spots which they are going to check on 18th September!. Since I got my first appointment on January 19 2025 I took the vehicle to the dealer 5-6 times. In between I complained to them about failure of door locks and wiper blades. They said they were fine and had no issues. A week ago passenger side door lock stopped working often . I took to a mechanic store run by AAA. Their response after few days was that the electrical…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2025Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11684328
“Unknown. I've replaced the alternator and battery. The alternator many times and still having lights come on. Mostly the "brake and battery " lights. It's sitting till further notice. Not drive able.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2023Electrical system, EngineODI 11552507
“THIS IS UNRELATED TO THE SAFETY RECALL FOR THE FUEL RAIL The electronic door locks fail, (mine are not fully automatic, but when you turn on the key you can hear the safety locks trying to engage before permitting the vehicle to move - they do not work. Worse even with the key, the doors will not consistently lock or unlock. Doors can become locked to the point that you can not manually open them, creating a fire hazard for occupants. Additionally, there is NO safety or emergency release on the back hatch. if you are inside when this locking aberration occurs, you must exit via a side (if it HAPPENS to be working) or front door (again, if it happens to be working. I fail to understand why this is not a major safety issue and why no recall has been issued. There are literally 1000s of such reports on various car forums. With at least one registered here: CS1603A (https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2016/MC-10090051-5448.pdf Confirmed via independent service center. Records available upon request. No insurance inspection and no warning alerts occur.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2021Electrical systemODI 11418383
“REPORTED AS FAR BACK AS AND PAID FOR REPAIR OF BOTH SLIDING DOORS STARING IN 2015-2021 DOORS AT FIRST WOULD NOT OPEN ON BUTTON PRESS NO MATTER WHICH BUTTON USED KEY FOB OR INSIDE VEHICLE HAD TO FORCE PULL THE HANDLES TO OPEN AND EVENTUALLY TO CLOSE. JUST A WEEK AGO APRIL 2021 WHILE TAKING MY ELDERLY MOTHER TO STORE WHILE PARKED AFTER LEAVING THE STORE, THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND NO AMOUNT OF FORCE NOR BUTTON PUSH WOULD CLOSE IT. IN MARCH OF 2021 I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM KIA OF LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION (WTY018) WHICH SPECIFICALLY LISTS POWER SLIDING DOOR LACTCHING FOR 2011 TO 2014 SEDONA'S. I REPORTED THE DOOR NOT CLOSING AT ALL WHICH HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY WHEN PARTS WAS LIKELY CLOSING FOR THE DAY AND WHEN I FINALLY GOT THROUGH TO THEM ON MONDAY DROPPED THE CAR OFF TO MY SAME KIA DEALERSHIP THAT HAS DONE ALL OF THE REPAIRS AND PLACE OF PURCHASE THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED ME THEY WERE NOT SURE THE ROLLER WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND I WOULD BE CHARGED $750 AND ONLY THE THE LATCH AND MOTOR OF THE DOOR WAS COVERED (ALL PARTS OF THE SAME MECHANISM) I DECLINED THE REPAIR BEING THEY WANTED ME TO PAY RENTED…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2021Electrical system, Structure, Unknown or otherODI 11414576

Showing 6 of 33 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.