2012 Kia Sedona Powertrain (other) Problems

The gear shifter is very difficult to move from Park to Reverse to Neutral to Drive. It's very difficult to press in the lever to move in between the gears. I almost had to have to car towed because I was unable to put the car into Park into Reverse and then into Drive. There is something wrong with the gear shifter in the automatic transmission van. I took the car to my independent mechanic and he agreed that the car is very difficult to move through the gears. He suggested I call KIA to see if it was under a recall. I did call KIA and there in no recall for this issue. My mechanic tells me it will cost around $1300 to fix this issue. I feel the car isn't safe because I cannot get it easily into PARK, REVERSE, DRIVE of NEUTRAL.

NHTSA ID

11768509

Incident

Sep 23, 2026

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN PARK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NO LONGER DEPRESSED, IT WENT INTO REVERSE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR HAD TO BE FORCEFULLY PUSHED INTO THE PARK POSITION AND A LOUD NOISE WAS DETECTED FROM THE GEAR LEVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11141856

Incident

Oct 21, 2018

Mileage

78,000 mi

DROVE HOME FROM CHURCH AND TRIED TO GO SOMEWHERE AND THE VAN IS STUCK IN PARK. WILL NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR WHEN YOU PUSH IN ON THE BUTTON. MADE SURE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. BEEN RUNNING GREAT JUST CRAZY HOW THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11120843

Incident

Aug 18, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT FROM THE PARK POSITION TO ANY DESIRED SELECTION UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,491.

NHTSA ID

10882051

Incident

May 9, 2016

Mileage

91,491 mi

MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 68K MILES ON IT, AND BEGAN LEAKING OIL WITHIN THE PAST MONTH (AND DISPLAYING THE LOW PRESSURE ERROR LIGHT). THE LEAKS THEMSELVES VARIED BETWEEN SMALL DRIPS TO SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS LEFT IN PARKING LOTS. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO EVEN RUN THE HEATER FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME DUE TO THE FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN FROM THE BURNING OIL. WITH 3 KIDS UNTIL 12YRS, IT WAS VERY UNSAFE. UPON BRINGING IT IN FOR SERVICE, I WAS ADVISED THAT NOT ONLY THE OIL PAN GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE REAR MAIN SEAL AS WELL. THIS IS ALARMING SINCE THE REAR MAIN TYPICALLY DOES NOT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS OVER/NEAR 100K MILES. THANKFULLY, MY WARRANTY IS COVERING THE REPAIRS, AS THIS COULD HAVE COST ME OVER $1K TO REPLACE (DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION NEEDING TO BE REMOVED TO GET TO THE SEAL).

NHTSA ID

10840442

Incident

Feb 27, 2016

Mileage

68,000 mi

ABOUT 18MO AFTER OWNING THE VAN WE STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH SHIFTING FROM PARK TO OTHER GEARS. IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. NOW I HAVE HAD TO REMOVE THE SHIFT NOB AND DEPRESS THE LINKAGE TO GET IT OUT OF AND INTO GEAR.

NHTSA ID

10732176

Incident

Apr 17, 2013

Mileage

12,000 mi

KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. PARKED MINI-VAN, CANNOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. WHILE TURNING COUNTER CLOCKWISE, STOPPED AT ACC POSITION. CAN TURN KEY CLOCKWISE, RESTART ENGINE, TURN OFF ENGINE, KEY WOULD NOT TURN COUNTER CLOCKWISE PAST ACC POSITION. TOOK TO DEALER, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. COST $170. 2 DAYS AFTER PICK UP MINI-VAN FROM DEALER, WIFE DROVE TO GROCERY STORE, COULD NOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. CHECKED INTERNET, SEEMS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM GOING ON SINCE 2006 WITH NUMEROUS KIA VEHICLES BUT NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS. I WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT ONCE. I COULD NOT TURN KEY COUNTER CLOCKWISE PAST ACC, WHEN I TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE ROCKED SLIGHTLY, HEARD CLICK AND SAW GEAR SELECTOR LEVER SHUDDER. NOW COULD TURN KEY AND REMOVE FROM IGNITION. I THINK SOMETHING WRONG WITH SHIFTER LINKAGE NOT RELEASING MICROLOCK IN IGNITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683552

Incident

Feb 5, 2015

Mileage

22,466 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION INDEPENDENTLY AND THE SPEED WOULD NOT INCREASE TO 30 MPH WHEN THE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE OVER A PERIOD OF A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR FOR THE THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ODOMETER READING WAS INCORRECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ID

10577934

Incident

Jul 9, 2012

Mileage

42,000 mi