2012 Kia Sedona — Full Specifications
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Running gear matters most — before anything else, UK: check tyre prices at TirendoUS: check wheel & tyre prices at WheelHero for this car's fitment.
The 2012 Kia Sedona is a van/minivan powered by a 3.5L 6-cyl regular gasoline engine. It returns around 25 mpg (UK) / 21 mpg (US EPA) combined. Owners often keep a Kia Sedona workshop manual to hand for servicing and repairs.
Compared with the 2011 Kia Sedona: Fuel economy is essentially unchanged at around 25 mpg (UK) combined. The engine line-up listed by EPA is unchanged.
Full Specifications
| Engine | 3.5L 6-cyl |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Automatic 6-spd |
| Fuel Type | Regular Gasoline |
| Powertrain | Conventional |
| Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Body Style | Van/Minivan |
| Fuel Economy (UK) | 25 combined / 22 urban / 29 extra-urban mpg |
| Fuel Economy (US EPA) | 21 combined / 18 city / 24 highway mpg |
| CO₂ Emissions | 263 g/km |
| EPA Est. Annual Fuel Cost | $3,200 (15,000 mi/yr, US prices) |
Engine & Transmission Options
EPA lists 1 configuration for the 2012 Kia Sedona, all with the 3.5L 6-cyl engine. The headline figures at the top of this page describe the most fuel-efficient configuration.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG (UK) | MPG (US) | CO₂ g/km | Fuel cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 21 (18/24) | 263 | $3,200 |
MPG (US) shows combined, with city/highway in brackets. Highlighted row = the configuration used for the headline figures. Source: US EPA fueleconomy.gov.
Owner Essentials for the 2012 Kia Sedona
Running Costs: 2012 Kia Sedona
Covering around 8,000 miles a year in a 2012 Kia Sedona at 25 mpg combined, expect roughly 1,455 litres of fuel annually — multiply by your local price per litre for a cost estimate. For US owners, the EPA estimates about $3,200 a year in fuel for the most efficient configuration (15,000 miles, national average prices). Work out exact fuel costs with the fuel cost calculator on 247Calculators.
Convert between MPG and L/100km with the unit converters on 247QuickTools. Not sure what tyre size fits? 247TyreCheck explains tyre sizing.
Planning a road trip? Grab a road trip packing list. Only need this car occasionally? See our buy vs rent comparison.
2012 Kia Sedona Safety Ratings (NHTSA)
No NHTSA crash-test rating is on record for this model year. The NHTSA rates only a subset of vehicles each year; you can browse every rated vehicle on our NHTSA Safety Ratings hub.
Recalls & Owner Complaints (NHTSA)
NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns that include the 2012 Kia Sedona (as of 6 October 2026). Most affected areas: Suspension (2), Fuel system (1), Air bags (1). A campaign often covers several model years or models, so check your own VIN to see whether your car is affected.
- Fuel system — campaign 20V101000, reported 21 February 2020. Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of fire.
- Air bags — campaign 18V363000, reported 1 June 2018. Risk: If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety…
- Suspension — campaign 16V387000, reported 1 June 2016. Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Latches/locks/linkages — campaign 16V389000, reported 1 June 2016. Risk: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Showing the 4 most recent of 5 campaigns.
Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Sedona. The most-reported areas are Electrical system (33), Engine (18), Structure (18). Complaints include 5 reported crashes, 5 reported fires, 2 reported injuries. That is well above the median of 48 complaints across the 11 Kia Sedona model years in our data.
Used-buyer checklist for the 2012 Kia Sedona
Based on where NHTSA recalls and owner complaints cluster for this model year, these are the areas worth checking before you buy:
- Electrical system (33 owner complaints) — Test every switch, window, light and warning lamp on a test drive, and ask about battery or alternator replacements.
- Engine (18 owner complaints) — Listen for unusual noise on a cold start, check for warning lights and ask for the service records.
- Body structure (18 owner complaints) — Inspect for corrosion and for subframe or body-panel damage, especially underneath.
- Suspension (2 recall campaigns) — Listen for knocks over bumps and check tyre wear for signs of alignment problems.
Source: US NHTSA recall and consumer-complaint databases, retrieved 6 October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects. Check any vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, and see our guide to checking a used car for recalls.
How It Compares
How does the Kia Sedona compare to similar van/minivans? Van/Minivans in our database average around 24 mpg (UK) combined — this model sits close to that average, within 1 mpg. Its 263 g/km CO₂ figure is 29 g/km lower than the 292 g/km average for van/minivans on this site. This comparison is based on 157 van/minivans in our dataset.
Kia models in our database average about 34 mpg (UK) combined on their most efficient configuration; the 2012 Kia Sedona's 25 mpg is 9 mpg below that make average. Its 263 g/km CO₂ figure is 56 g/km higher than the 207 g/km Kia average.
Of the 11 Kia Sedona model years we cover, the 2012 is the most economical on its best configuration (25 mpg UK combined). See every Kia Sedona year side by side.
Last updated: · Data: US EPA (fueleconomy.gov) and NHTSA safety ratings 18 July 2026; NHTSA recalls and complaints 6 October 2026; Wikidata & curated EU catalogue 18 July 2026; European generation and engine data from Wikipedia 7 October 2026
Vehicle data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Always verify with your vehicle handbook or a qualified mechanic. This is a reference tool, not professional advice.
Recommended Accessories for the 2012 Kia Sedona
Frequently Asked Questions
What engine does the 2012 Kia Sedona have?
It's fitted with a 3.5L 6-cyl regular gasoline engine, paired with a automatic 6-spd transmission.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Kia Sedona?
The most efficient configuration returns around 25 mpg (UK) combined, or 21 mpg on the US EPA cycle.
How much does the 2012 Kia Sedona cost to fuel per year?
The US EPA estimates about $3,200 a year in fuel for the most efficient configuration, based on 15,000 miles of mixed driving and national average fuel prices. Your own cost will depend on mileage and local prices.
Does the 2012 Kia Sedona have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns that include the 2012 Kia Sedona (as of 6 October 2026). Most affected areas: Suspension (2), Fuel system (1), Air bags (1). A campaign often covers several model years or models, so check your own VIN to see whether your car is affected.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2012 Kia Sedona?
Among the 108 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported areas are Electrical system (33 complaints), Engine (18 complaints), Structure (18 complaints). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects, and raw counts rise with how many cars were sold.
Is the Kia Sedona's fuel economy good for a van/minivan?
Yes — it returns around 25 mpg (UK) combined, against a same-body-style average of roughly 24 mpg among the van/minivans we track.