Skip to content
Kia SedonaModel year report

2011 Kia Sedona Problems

Compared with other Kia Sedona years

Typical for this model

39/100 0.8× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2010, 2014

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
65filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
79,660miles, 42 complaints with mileage
Recalls
6campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Kia Sedona (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this 2011 Sedona most often report a cracked fuel rail with a strong gasoline smell, sliding or swinging doors that fail to latch or open while driving, and front suspension corrosion or breaking. Many complaints come in at higher mileage (median around 80,000), and fuel-rail reports often involve an engine-compartment fuel smell noticed after parking or while driving rather than a visible puddle on the ground.

  1. Fuel system

    Cracked fuel rail and gasoline smell

    • 14 complaints (22%)
    • median 125,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • filed 2017–2026

    Owners describe a strong raw gasoline smell, often noticed through the vents while driving or after the van is parked, sometimes with fuel visible pooling on top of the engine. Several say a mechanic found a crack or split in the fuel injector rail, at times directly above the engine. Complaints also describe difficulty getting the recall repair scheduled because of parts availability. Mostly reported between roughly 70,000 and 200,000 miles, often noticed after the engine has been running or shortly after parking.

    Recall 20V101000

    What to check: Ask whether the fuel rail recall repair was completed and check for a fuel smell under the hood or near the injectors after a test drive. A cold start with the engine cover off is a simple way to look for weeping or pooling fuel.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving on interstate 40 west when ny wife & I smelled gas coming through the air vents. After getting to greensboro, nc, discovered that we had a gas leak in in front fuel rod. After checking online I discovered that we were not the only Kia Sedona owners that are having this same issue. The fuel rod is made of plastic and is under pressure.”

    NHTSA complaint #11194948, filed 2019-04, 106,900 miles

    “Starting about feb 10, 2020, a raw gasoline smell was noticed when my 2011 Kia Sedona lx vehicle stopped at stop lights or when engine turned off after returning home. Smell dissipated after several minutes with engine off. Raw gasoline smell got progressively worse whenever car engine was running. Smell came inside car with heater fan operating. No leaks on ground were noted at any time. Took car to my mechanic on feb 19, 2020. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11311975, filed 2020-02, 138,000 miles
  2. Engine

    Engine stalling, knocking or oil loss

    • 10 complaints (15%)
    • median 82,500 mi at 7.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2011–2020

    Owners describe knocking noises, sudden loss of power, smoke and engines that would not restart, with some told the engine had failed. Others report oil leaks traced to the oil pressure sending unit or a leaking seal, along with the oil light coming on. Complaints also include stalling with the check engine light on and codes relating to the throttle. Spread from about 65,000 to 200,000 miles, with several reports near 100,000 miles.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Listen for knocking on a cold start and check the oil level and for leaks around the sending unit. Ask for service records and whether the oil pressure switch has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “At 101,000 miles the engine blew up. As I was driving I heard a loud knocking sound and all the lights on the dashboard illuminated. I immediately pulled over. I had our van towed to the nearest Kia dealership where I was told, 3 days later, that our engine blew up. I came across a recent recall for the same issue from Kia with the sorento.”

    NHTSA complaint #10971191, filed 2017-04, 101,000 miles

    “The oil light came on while I was idling. I had it looked at and was told that the oil sending unit/ oil sensor switch was leaking oil. The oil leaks out faster than you can put it in. It's a 3 book hour job to replace. The part cost is between $30-$60. They need to take the intake off to get to the bad part. I'm sure it will be about a $500 fix. I'm not the only one experiencing this problem. If you google search this vehicle you will find that many other vans are having the same issue.”

    NHTSA complaint #10759004, filed 2015-08, 68,000 miles
  3. Body and structure

    Sliding and passenger doors fail to latch

    • 12 complaints (18%)
    • median 74,282 mi at 4.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2012–2026

    Complaints describe the sliding doors or rear doors refusing to latch, opening on their own while driving, or the dash giving no warning that a door is not closed. Some owners report door handles breaking and power locks not working in hot weather. Dealers often replaced latches, sensors or handles, and some owners say the problem came back. Reported from very low mileage up to about 100,000 miles, with several at 45,000 to 85,000 miles.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Open and close every door several times, including the power sliding doors, and confirm the dash shows them as closed. Check whether the door handles feel loose and whether the power locks work.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I went to take a family member out to eat get the place open the door and now the door will not latch to keep it closed took it to the Kia dealer in jamestown n.y. And was told I need to replace the latch and told that the other latch is going bad also and needs to be replaced asap at the present time I have to strap my door closed”

    NHTSA complaint #10725112, filed 2015-06, 83,129 miles

    “Right passenger slide door on minivan opened while my son was in the car and would not close. There is a recall on this and extended 15 year warranty but Kia wouldn’t honor the electronic controller that burnt out but warranted the motor. Passenger can fall out or something can hurt them. Kia dealer confirmed this and I had to pay a large repair bill for there recall defect. I am afraid to take the car anywhere except local. I feel there recall repair caused this problem. First I took it in for the recall. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11491682, filed 2022-10
  4. Electrical system

    Power loss and electrical faults

    • 12 complaints (18%)
    • median 67,500 mi at 6.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2012–2024

    Complaints describe the van losing all power or shutting off while driving, with battery, brake and check engine lights coming on, and repairs that included repeated alternator and battery replacements. Others report an ignition switch that becomes very hot to the touch, or ABS and ESC warning lights that stay on. Reported from about 55,000 to 200,000 miles, and one owner noted the ignition switch heat after an hour or more of driving.

    Recall 13V1140002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check that all warning lights go out after starting and take a longer test drive to see whether the ignition switch or key gets unusually warm. Ask whether the brake light switch recall was completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Any time there is buddle of water on the road at low speed under 15 I lost control of steering and power you can't turn the steering and has power warning on the dash sometime on car wash I have to push gas to get power on again”

    NHTSA complaint #11172060, filed 2019-01, 1 miles

    “The ABS system module/pump of my Kia Sedona 2011, have a leak and I want to know if my Kia have a recall. I put the VIN number on the recall section of the Kia web page, a the system cant find the VIN. I call today and talk to a representative of Kia and she ask me for the VIN #, once a give to her, she told me that my car isn't register. I'm the first owner of that car and I buy then new, 0 miles in a Kia authorize dealer in pr. I need some help. Thanks in advance.”

    NHTSA complaint #10971218, filed 2017-04
  5. Suspension

    Front suspension corrosion and control arm breakage

    • 13 complaints (20%)
    • median 133,500 mi at 9.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2025

    Owners report clunking or shaking from the front end, and in some cases the lower control arms or their mounts were found badly rusted or broken. Some describe a strut spring breaking and damaging a tire. Dealers or shops replaced control arms and related parts, and some complaints note that recall parts were not available when requested. Mostly reported well past 100,000 miles, with a number around 145,000 to 200,000 miles.

    Recall 16V387000Recall 13V550000

    What to check: Have the front control arms, bushings and subframe mounts inspected for rust, especially on vehicles from salt-belt states. Ask whether the control-arm recall work was done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I had no prior knowledge of this problem. When backing my van out of the garage my front driver side tire blew out. This was caused by the strut spring breaking and poking a hole through the sidewall of the tire. I also discovered that the bottom control arm needed immediate replacement as it has rusted so much that a failure was imminent. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11536638, filed 2023-08

    “both control arms broke and the front tires were ruined. The tow truck driver said they are lucky , they didn't get hurt because if they were going faster , they would have lost control and rolled the van.”

    NHTSA complaint #11501818, filed 2023-01

Buying note. Give the van a careful pre-purchase inspection focused on the fuel rail, front suspension rust and door latches, and ask for documentation of completed recall work. Service records showing regular oil changes and any engine repairs help judge how well the van was maintained.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 65 consumer complaints for the 2011 Kia Sedona. 42 of the complaints include a mileage, and 31% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 79,660 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 79 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 10 Kia Sedona model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 39 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Latches, locks and linkages (3), Transmission and drivetrain (3), Electronic stability control (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Steering (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “Check engine light came on when I started the car in the morning, and the gas door would not open. Went to dealership for service . They found #1 fuel canister/canister close the valve has a possible crack and #2 fuel door button and actuator needs to be replaced . They popped the gas door open so I can refill.”

NHTSA complaint #11302720, filed 2020-01, 130,000 miles

Electrical system: “Parking sensor failed and my husband was in a accident, in our now 3 week old 2011 Kia Sedona, they sold us the floor model, which had to be jumpstarted we thought nothing of it, took it in bc low gas milege, and bc the door was lose, then 2 days ago my husband was backing out of a spot the alarm never sounded, he is fine so is the other driver, well we went to walmart and went to back out and th esensor was going crazy, so I got out and nothing was there but when I sttood directly behind the car the alarm never sounded, then I backed my husband out and hoped in, the alarm started to sound…”

NHTSA complaint #10416309, filed 2011-07, 600 miles

Engine: “Excessive noise coming from the engine compartment, most notably on cold start or starting a few hours apart. The oil changed in accordance with the manufacturers recommendation, never the less the oil pressure switch blew twice and was changed with dealer part each time. The last time it was changed by the dealer.”

NHTSA complaint #11351031, filed 2020-08, 1 miles

Suspension: “The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 40 MPH, she heard a loud squealing sound coming from the front tires. The contact stated her daughter pulled off the road into a parking and heard a loud crack. The contact stated that her daughter had not been aware of any warning lights. The contact stated that her husband had the vehicle towed to the residence. The contact stated that the control arms on both sides of the vehicle were corroded and had fractured. The contact's husband made the repairs to the vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #11491347, filed 2022-10, 195,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

31% of the 42 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 23,383 and 109,500 miles.

10%0–1017%10–255%25–5017%50–7517%75–10026%100–15010%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (42 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 79,660 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’11’13’15’17’191010’22’24’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2011 Kia Sedona. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Sedona · VAN FWDnot rated———4 · 13.6% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 Kia Sedona version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Sedona FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182421$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2011 Kia Sedona → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 79 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 79 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Sedona

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2021106,8000521—Not enough data
20202065,2451521—Rising
20193930,000252113 · FewerRising
20184916,895352028 · FewerRising
201713440,000452054 · TypicalRising
201629769,000452084 · MoreRising
201514055,000352050 · TypicalRising
20143960,00015200 · FewerFalling
201210870,0005—2165 · MoreFalling
20116579,6606—2139 · TypicalFalling
20103279,8455—1914 · FewerStable
20094845,7125—1852 · TypicalFalling
200817052,8465—1884 · MoreFalling
200715770,6746—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200638583,2507—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200518525,0002—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200417645,0002—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200316348,0004—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200219850,0003—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Kia Sedona model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Sedona?

Owners of this 2011 Sedona most often report a cracked fuel rail with a strong gasoline smell, sliding or swinging doors that fail to latch or open while driving, and front suspension corrosion or breaking. The issues reported most often: Cracked fuel rail and gasoline smell; Engine stalling, knocking or oil loss; Sliding and passenger doors fail to latch.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Kia Sedona have?

NHTSA recorded 65 consumer complaints for the 2011 Kia Sedona as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Kia Sedona is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 13 complaints (20% of the total), followed by electrical system with 12.

Has the 2011 Kia Sedona been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Kia Sedona get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Kia Sedona (Sedona, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Kia Sedona reported?

Among the 42 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 79,660 miles and the middle half falls between 23,383 and 109,500 miles; 31% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.