The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that after driving 70 MPH, and pulling into a parking lot, he noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and upon opening the hood of the vehicle, he saw that the engine compartment was on fire. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A fire…
2012 Kia Sedona engine problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 13 engine complaints filed for the 2012 Kia Sedona, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ 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 engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2012 Sedona has multiple serious engine issues reported by owners: throttle body failures causing stalling and limp mode, sludge buildup leading to catastrophic engine failure, engine fires at highway speeds, oil pressure sensor leaks, timing chain tensioner problems, and unexplained stalls. Even with regular maintenance, owners faced engine replacement costs of $8,000–$9,500 that dealers refused to cover under warranty.
Owners report a cluster of distinct engine failures in the 2012 Kia Sedona. Throttle body problems cause stalling, loss of power (limp mode), and rough idle; the dealer reprogrammed one vehicle and replaced the throttle body assembly in another. Multiple owners describe white smoke at startup followed by catastrophic engine failure—one owner's engine quit on the highway without warning lights; others experienced excessive sludge buildup. Two owners reported engine fires while driving at highway speeds with flames visible in the engine compartment. Oil pressure sensor failures appear repeatedly: some owners replaced the sensor multiple times at their own expense; others found their VINs excluded from recall 19V101 despite matching symptoms. One oil filter installation (non-OEM WIX filter) allegedly caused oil overpressure, forcing all oil out of the engine and damaging VVT components and the exhaust manifold. Timing chain tensioners are reported to bleed down pressure when the vehicle sits, causing chain slap at startup; Kia acknowledges this in a TSB but claims it's normal. Unexplained stalling without warning lights occurred at 30–40 mph in two separate incidents on one vehicle. Engine replacement costs cited by owners range from $7,500 to $9,500; some dealers denied warranty coverage citing owner neglect or improper maintenance despite regular oil changes.
Same Kia Sedona engine reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Throttle Body Malfunction
Throttle body actuator develops internal faults causing stalling, loss of power, and limp mode. One owner's RPMs fluctuated at idle; another lost all power response requiring multiple restarts.
When: Early ownership; one incident at 25 mph
Symptoms owners cite: stalling while turning; loss of power when accelerating; check engine light; rough idle with RPM fluctuation; limp mode restricting speed to 10 mph; power restored only after restart and sitting
Codes mentioned: throttle body fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer reprogrammed throttle body; later replaced throttle body assembly
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer updated throttle body software; assembly replacement performed
Engine Sludge Buildup and Catastrophic Failure
Owners report white smoke at startup progressing to complete engine failure. Despite regular maintenance and extended warranty, dealers denied coverage claiming owner neglect. Engine replacement quoted at $8,200–$9,500.
When: After several years; one failure at highway speeds with 56k miles on engine
Symptoms owners cite: white smoke from engine at startup; no warning lights before sudden failure; engine quits without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required at owner expense; costs $8,200–$9,500
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia corporate denied warranty coverage citing improper maintenance; dealer kept vehicle 2–6 months during dispute
Engine Fire
Two owners reported flames visible under the hood while driving at highway speeds. One fire occurred at 40 mph; another at 70 mph and pulling into a parking lot. Both vehicles were totaled.
When: At 170,000 miles and 190,102 miles respectively
Symptoms owners cite: black smoke coming from under hood; flames visible in engine compartment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles totaled; no repairs attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Neither owner contacted dealer or manufacturer; fire department reports filed
Oil Pressure Sensor Leaks
Oil pressure sensors leak oil and fail prematurely. Some owners replaced the sensor multiple times at their own expense. Recall 19V101 covers 2011–2012 Sedona for this issue, but some 2012 VINs were not included despite identical symptoms.
When: As early as 40,000 miles; repeated failures in same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: oil leaking from sensor area; oil pressure warning light on and off; warning light illuminates while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor replacement costs quoted at $800; owners paid out-of-pocket for multiple replacements
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 19V101 issued but not all 2012 VINs covered; dealer quoted $800 repair outside powertrain warranty
Timing Chain Tensioner Pressure Loss
Timing chain tensioners bleed down pressure when the vehicle sits for hours, causing chain slap at startup. Owners report Kia acknowledges a TSB for this issue but denies it as abnormal, claiming chain slap is normal operation.
When: After vehicle sits for several hours
Symptoms owners cite: audible chain slap noise at startup; chain slap against engine walls
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB issued by Kia; manufacturer claims chain slap is normal until tensioners build pressure
Non-OEM Oil Filter Overpressure Damage
Aftermarket WIX oil filter (advertised as OEM replacement) had different internal design than Kia filter. Filter caused oil overpressure, forcing all oil out of engine and damaging VVT system, cam, and exhaust manifold.
When: Immediately after oil change; vehicle not driven beyond 20 miles
Symptoms owners cite: oil forced out top of engine; oil pooled in V6; check engine codes P0024, P0014
Codes mentioned: P0024, P0014
Repairs/costs cited: Oil switch and pressure sending unit replacement; all oil forced out of engine requiring flushing and repair
Unexplained Stalling Without Warning
Vehicle stalled and came to complete stop without warning lights illuminating. Occurred twice in same vehicle at 30–40 mph. No check engine light or any indicator before failure.
When: October 2019 and January 2020 at 30–40 mph
Symptoms owners cite: unexpected stall; complete stop with no warning lights; vehicle restarted normally after pulling over
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2012 Kia Sedona?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 74,000 and 154,000 miles, with the median around 120,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 74,000; a quarter make it past 154,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.