PITSTOP: SMART PEDAL FEATURE - THE SMART PEDAL IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS) FUNCTIONALITY WHICH MONITORS AND PREVENTS THE SIMULTANEOUS ACTIVATION OF ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS. WHEN ENGAGED, THE FEATURE REDUCES ENGINE POWER TO IDLE. MOST CUSTOMERS WILL NEVER NOTICE THE SMART PEDAL FEATURE WHEN ACTIVE, HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS WHO TEND TO REST THEIR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING MIGHT DESCRIBE A HESITATION OR DELAY SYMPTOM AND NOT REALIZE THAT THE EMS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE IS INTERVENING, AS DESIGNED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Kia Sedona cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Kia Sedona have filed 7 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Sedona | 34 |
| 2009 Sedona | 5 |
| 2010 Sedona | 3 |
| 2011 Sedona | 3 |
| 2012 Sedona (this page) | 7 |
| 2014 Sedona | 3 |
| 2016 Sedona | 3 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 7 cruise control complaints filed for the 2012 Kia Sedona, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Let me begin by prefacing that this is our 2nd sedona, and we purchased both brand new. We have had this vehicle for 4 months, and it only has appx. 6000 miles on the odometer. I was driving down a residential side street I approached the a stop sign, I began depressing the brakes to slow down, and there was a car at the stop sign in front of me, waiting to turn left. As I continued to slow down…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2012 Kia Sedona?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2012 Kia Sedona?
It's a meaningful issue. 7 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 7 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 70,464 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Kia/Sedona.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.