Kia reliability questions

Having been a two-time Sedona owner, the answer, to me, is an unquestioned
'yes.' There are some things to consider.

**I have NEVER used manufacturers oil change intervals, except possibly for
the "severe service" interval recommendations. I have usually let the oil
tell me when it needs changed. On both Sedonas, that has been at around
4000 miles. And with the recent report in Consumer Reports on a lot of
(especially foreign) engines sludging, I would stick to that closely. As an
additional suggestion, you should probably choose (as I have) synthetic oil
for your oil changes, especially if you can do them yourself.

**Like most import engines, the Sedona runs on a timing belt, a tedious
maintenance item that MUST be replaced by the recommended 60,000 mile
interval to keep the 100,000 mile warranty intact. With the wear on this,
apparently it is VERY unwise to go more than the 60,000 miles. So if you go
200,000 miles on this van, you will be replacing it three times. At my
dealer, it is a flat $450 just to replace the belt, or $800 as a part of the
regular 60,000 mile maintenance service.

**In the day of much longer life fluid level maintenance intervals, the
Sedona's are still rather short - 30,000 on the transmission (an extremely
EASY job), and about the same on the coolant.

But realistically, you can look at these same items hanging over just about
all vehicles. If you take care of them, they should take care of you. In
the case of the Sedona, it will.

The last item to consider is the fact that the '06 will be a complete
re-design coming in the Fall. The new van will be larger, more powerful,
with more convenience features. But to begin with, incentives will not even
come close to what you can get on an '05, especially if you plan to keep it
a long time. The decision between an older but established new van(meaning
the bugs have been worked out of it) and with incentives beyond excellent,
and a newly redesigned one that has better stuff but costs more and may not
have the kinks worked out of it is a decision you will have to make.

Hope this helps.

Thomas Wenndt
a.k.a. Green Valley Giant


"Tim Lapin" <timl DeleteThis @sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:timl-DCC832.10523218072005@nr-tor01.bellnexxia.net...
> In article <mtMCe.3176$Im3.848@trndny07>, "snow" <dlessard1 DeleteThis @verizon.net>
> wrote:
>
>> I am leaning towards purchasing a
>> Kia Sedona thanks to the current rebate
>> and sale plus the excellant warranty. My
>> major concern is long term reliabilty.
>> I usually keep a new vehicle for at least 10 years. Even with the 100,000
>> powertrain warantry, I still wonder about the long term life of the
>> Sedona.
>> Most of today's vehicles easily last 150,000 or more miles if maintained
>> properly. Is the Kia capable of this? Any opinions appreciated since thre
>> is
>> not much information on the internet on Kia long term reliability issues.
>
>
> Hi Snow,
>
> As I pointed out in my last response to your queries, there are several
> reviews out there dating back to 2002, the van's first year. That being
> said, 3 years is NOT what most people would call "long term" data so for
> any
> further info you will have to venture off the shores of North America.
> Kia
> has several cars which are not seen here and might be duplicates of the
> North American vehicles. Perhaps their "foreign" van has been around
> longer.
>
> As far as rebates go, I would simply contact a couple of dealers as well
> as
> the national office. By your email address, I take it you are American so
> why not give Kia America (or whatever it is called) a phone call?
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> --
> Tim Lapin
> timl DeleteThis @sympatico.ca
 >> Stay informed about: Kia reliability questions 

I own a '02 Kia Optima and will keep it a long time even thought I plan on purchasing an Amanti in another year or so. With Kia/Hyundai engines improving greatly over the years, reliability has become less of an issue when the vehicles are maintained according to Kia routine schedules for oil changes, timing belt, etc. I owned several Hyundai vehicles since 1986 including the infamous Excels. My last one was a '89 Sonata. I sold it with 89,000 miles on it and no problems. My '86 Excel was sold with 155,000 miles on. Keep in mind those engines weren't very good to begin with back then. The newer engines are very good and Kia is seeing better reviews now because reliability is going up. I don't worry about my Optima going 200,000. It should considering how I maintain it. I be very surprised if it doesn't!
 >> Stay informed about: Kia reliability questions 

Hi 'Snow"

Pray you never need anything but routine service!

We were raving fans of our 2003 Sedona until last September when the
battery blew up. Yes a Hydrogen Bomb under the hood. Check my posts
here from last month for the details. Here's the summary:

The car was in Kia garages for over 100 of 292 days (34%) and still is
not fixed - or safe to drive. And each time we received the car back,
within a day or two, the ORIGINAL problems continue: the car still
stalls frequently, sometimes many times an hour and the tachometer
still races without notice, lurching the car forward - once within
inches of a pertoleum truck!

We are still paying the lease but not driving the car for fear of
safety.

Kia has consistently demonstrtaed to us the model of how NOT to treat a
customer ... ever - right up to the CEO's office.

Example: the Kia representative from the CEO's office even called us
liars because their Kia diagnostics didn't register or confirm any of
our unsafe near-accidents. Until we delivered 47 witnessed incidents
over less than a month period. Months later they would reluctantly
admit their diagnostics COULD NOT pick up on corrossion related issues.

Excuse me ... Corrossion? That started when the battery blew up many
months earlier. Why did they only figure that out now?

Latest update:

The Kia Motors (Korean HQ) website invites you to write to them if not
receiving statisfaction from your dealer or country. Their response was
immediate, professional and helpful. Do write me at
kiafiasco RemoveThis @the-coach.com for the contact info for many Kia Motors HQ
senior people in Korea.

Except it got the locals angry we 'went over their heads' - even though
it was after 10 months of not receiving back a fixed car here. So now
they say they will only speak to us if we go to court or arbitration.

That's our sorry experience with Kia. We wish you and all motorists a
much safer, more customer-sensitive driving experience.

.... Paul Litwack
June 2005: Selected one of the 'Top 100 Corporate Coaches in the World'
 >> Stay informed about: Kia reliability questions 

Yes, things like that are worse than concerning - they are disgusting.

Sadly, my GM experience is much like that.

It seems the ability to try to get things fixed still starts with both the
competence and the willingness to do what it takes AT THE DEALERSHIP.

In my area, I have two Kia dealers (actually four, though I only have
experience with the two closest ones). The one has provided every nightmare
you describe and more - in fact, I haven't met a satisfied Kia customer from
them yet. The other has one of the best records anywhere in the country for
Kia sales, service and satisfaction. The two are less than 50 miles apart.

What gives? It seems to all start when you walk in. The two are as
different as night and day when you walk into them, be it their sales
department, service, parts or restroom.

I don't know if you have the luxury of being betwixt and between Kia dealers
like I am, and maybe your case has gotten a little too infamous in the Kia
system. I also have no guarantees that your next farther away Kia dealer
would be any better. But that is where I would start.

And if you lived in a proximity where you could get to this one that has
been SO good to its customers (in central Illinois), I am even in a position
to pre-call them, tell them about you and make SURE you get treated right.

I'm sorry about your problem, though I did note that there was something
about the batteries and the electrical systems in those '02's that were bad.
My battery didn't blow up, but it was hopelessly dead in 16 months. NO
problem in the '04.

If Kia can't help, maybe the people on this forum can.

Tom Wenndt


"plitwack" <googlegroups.RemoveThis@the-coach.com> wrote in message
news:1121790947.538544.121440@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> Hi 'Snow"
>
> Pray you never need anything but routine service!
>
> We were raving fans of our 2003 Sedona until last September when the
> battery blew up. Yes a Hydrogen Bomb under the hood. Check my posts
> here from last month for the details. Here's the summary:
>
> The car was in Kia garages for over 100 of 292 days (34%) and still is
> not fixed - or safe to drive. And each time we received the car back,
> within a day or two, the ORIGINAL problems continue: the car still
> stalls frequently, sometimes many times an hour and the tachometer
> still races without notice, lurching the car forward - once within
> inches of a pertoleum truck!
>
> We are still paying the lease but not driving the car for fear of
> safety.
>
> Kia has consistently demonstrtaed to us the model of how NOT to treat a
> customer ... ever - right up to the CEO's office.
>
> Example: the Kia representative from the CEO's office even called us
> liars because their Kia diagnostics didn't register or confirm any of
> our unsafe near-accidents. Until we delivered 47 witnessed incidents
> over less than a month period. Months later they would reluctantly
> admit their diagnostics COULD NOT pick up on corrossion related issues.
>
> Excuse me ... Corrossion? That started when the battery blew up many
> months earlier. Why did they only figure that out now?
>
> Latest update:
>
> The Kia Motors (Korean HQ) website invites you to write to them if not
> receiving statisfaction from your dealer or country. Their response was
> immediate, professional and helpful. Do write me at
> kiafiasco.RemoveThis@the-coach.com for the contact info for many Kia Motors HQ
> senior people in Korea.
>
> Except it got the locals angry we 'went over their heads' - even though
> it was after 10 months of not receiving back a fixed car here. So now
> they say they will only speak to us if we go to court or arbitration.
>
> That's our sorry experience with Kia. We wish you and all motorists a
> much safer, more customer-sensitive driving experience.
>
> ... Paul Litwack
> June 2005: Selected one of the 'Top 100 Corporate Coaches in the World'
>
 >> Stay informed about: Kia reliability questions 

snow:

Run, do not walk, from your Kia dealer. We bought a Sedona ('03 model)
a couple years back and it's been nothing but a headache ever since.
We're trading it in this week on a Honda CR-V (decided to go the cute
ute route). We likely won't get what we owe on it, but we're so
disgusted with the van that we just want it out of our hair.

Within 6K miles of buying it, we lost the A/C compressor, the
serpentine belt and a pulley of some sort, and it sat in the shop for
nearly two weeks while parts were ordered, repairs made. A few months
later, an inner tie rod end wore so badly it chewed up the front tires.
It was replaced and (supposedly) aligned. But a few thousand miles into
the new tires, the car had worked itself so badly out of alignment it
chewed up another set (no, we didn't hit any curbs, potholes, etc.--my
wife drives it gently and mostly on highways).

My wife's also experienced a few episodes of sudden acceleration with
the car in reverse. After the first time, she was careful to make a
mental note of where her foot was the next time it happened. When it
did, she's certain her foot was on the brake as the car bolted
rearward. Luckily, she didn't hit anything. The Kia dealer, of course,
won't believe anything we say unless their mechanic experiences the
problem first-hand. Good luck on that.

Now, something under the hood's squeaking again with the A/C running.
Probably on the verge of losing another compressor or pulley. This
time, it's going to be gone before it strands us on the side of the
road again.

Bottom line: You really do get what you pay for. Yeah, we were
impressed with all the standard features and long warranty you get for
less than 20K. But now we're regretting going the cheap route. The
Sedona's convinced us to make reliability the number one consideration
in our next purchase, which is why we're going with Honda. Between
Honda and Toyota, you can't get a more reliable car, by all accounts
we've heard.

Do yourself a favor and stay away from the Sedona.

mdcg

snow wrote:
> I am leaning towards purchasing a
> Kia Sedona thanks to the current rebate
> and sale plus the excellant warranty. My
> major concern is long term reliabilty.
> I usually keep a new vehicle for at least 10 years. Even with the 100,000
> powertrain warantry, I still wonder about the long term life of the Sedona.
> Most of today's vehicles easily last 150,000 or more miles if maintained
> properly. Is the Kia capable of this? Any opinions appreciated since thre is
> not much information on the internet on Kia long term reliability issues.
 >> Stay informed about: Kia reliability questions 

Sorry to hear about your Kia problems. However, all automobile companies have lemons and that is a fact. Go to any Honda or Toyota forum or newsgroup and you will find unhappy customers. Unfortunately, in this Kia forum you read problems like yours and automatically think it is only a Kia problem. I worked for Nissan. Believe me Nissan had it fair share of complaints with a/c, timing belts, tires wearing out over the years. Sure it is a quality company like Honda and Toyota but problems exists among the best automobiles. It is the nature of the business. Look at the NASA Shuttle and all that has gone wrong (and right) with it. That thing costed us Americans billions and it is still dropping tiles when a little piece of foam bounce off a tile!!!

I have owned Toyotas, Nissans. several Hyundais and some American over the years. I would put my Kia Optima right up there among the best automobiles I have ever owned. Why am I so lucky? Why are so many others so lucky? Why is Kia breaking world sales records? Why is Hyundai? Why if Kia is such a bad automobile that it hasn't gone out of business????? The answer is simple. Kia offers a good value at a good price. It isn't perfect but no auto is for everybody. Maybe you have a bad dealership. OR maybe you have a lemon. It happens among the best. In five years, Hyundai and Kia will be on par with the Hondas and Toyotas in probably every way.

My dealership is excellent. My automobile is a well built one. IT IS A KIA and I am a proud owner of it. Again, I am sorry for your Kia problems. Hope you will be happy with your Honda. I'm sure it will serve you well.
 >> Stay informed about: Kia reliability questions 

You've got that right! You get what you pay for. The KIAs need constant
repair and their service dept is abominable.

Bud


"mdcg" <cgrazian RemoveThis @earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:1122411791.126466.163450@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> snow:
>
> Run, do not walk, from your Kia dealer. We bought a Sedona ('03 model)
> a couple years back and it's been nothing but a headache ever since.
> We're trading it in this week on a Honda CR-V (decided to go the cute
> ute route). We likely won't get what we owe on it, but we're so
> disgusted with the van that we just want it out of our hair.
>
> Within 6K miles of buying it, we lost the A/C compressor, the
> serpentine belt and a pulley of some sort, and it sat in the shop for
> nearly two weeks while parts were ordered, repairs made. A few months
> later, an inner tie rod end wore so badly it chewed up the front tires.
> It was replaced and (supposedly) aligned. But a few thousand miles into
> the new tires, the car had worked itself so badly out of alignment it
> chewed up another set (no, we didn't hit any curbs, potholes, etc.--my
> wife drives it gently and mostly on highways).
>
> My wife's also experienced a few episodes of sudden acceleration with
> the car in reverse. After the first time, she was careful to make a
> mental note of where her foot was the next time it happened. When it
> did, she's certain her foot was on the brake as the car bolted
> rearward. Luckily, she didn't hit anything. The Kia dealer, of course,
> won't believe anything we say unless their mechanic experiences the
> problem first-hand. Good luck on that.
>
> Now, something under the hood's squeaking again with the A/C running.
> Probably on the verge of losing another compressor or pulley. This
> time, it's going to be gone before it strands us on the side of the
> road again.
>
> Bottom line: You really do get what you pay for. Yeah, we were
> impressed with all the standard features and long warranty you get for
> less than 20K. But now we're regretting going the cheap route. The
> Sedona's convinced us to make reliability the number one consideration
> in our next purchase, which is why we're going with Honda. Between
> Honda and Toyota, you can't get a more reliable car, by all accounts
> we've heard.
>
> Do yourself a favor and stay away from the Sedona.
>
> mdcg
>
> snow wrote:
>> I am leaning towards purchasing a
>> Kia Sedona thanks to the current rebate
>> and sale plus the excellant warranty. My
>> major concern is long term reliabilty.
>> I usually keep a new vehicle for at least 10 years. Even with the 100,000
>> powertrain warantry, I still wonder about the long term life of the
>> Sedona.
>> Most of today's vehicles easily last 150,000 or more miles if maintained
>> properly. Is the Kia capable of this? Any opinions appreciated since thre
>> is
>> not much information on the internet on Kia long term reliability issues.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Kia reliability questions 

Hi all - recall my earlier posts about the hydrogen bomb under the hood
last September.

Here is the update:

Kia Canada forced us to go to arbitration using CAMVAP (no lemon laws
here). At the hearing, Kia admitted negligence in not cleaning the
battery acid properly and even then only 27 hours after the explosion.
And they couldn't answer the question "If your Kia diagnostic equipment
cannot find the source of these electical issues, does that mean they
cannot be happening?" Recall we have lots of Affidavits (sworn legal
testemonies by dozens of passengers in the car when they DID occur).

The Arbitrator ordered an inspection by an independant, very
professional mechanic - when he returned the car after a two day check,
he admitted he had found 4 serious 'ghosts' and he himself felt unsafe
driving the car. He also noted the air bag light was on, making the air
bag system inoperable - a serious safety risk. My wife jokes: KIA =
Killed In Action.

Now here's the rub. That same air bag light has been reset multiple
times in this car since day 1, and most recently the arbitrator noticed
it himself when he test drove the car after the hearing.

He questioned the Kia mechanic (yes the same one who 'discovered' the
battery acid 8 months after the explosion) and was told he didn't have
the authority to fix it. Excuse me! the other 3 Kia people at the
hearing did have the authority. Except back in June when we had the
battery shelf repainted these same people PREVENTED the Kia dealer from
fixing the air bag problem while it was in their Kia garage.

Next time you think about Kia servicing your car and their interest in
passenger safety, remember us

We are now waiting for the arbitration ruling, hopefully in our favour.




BudE wrote:
> You've got that right! You get what you pay for. The KIAs need constant
> repair and their service dept is abominable.
>
> Bud
>
>
> "mdcg" <cgrazian.DeleteThis@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:1122411791.126466.163450@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> > snow:
> >
> > Run, do not walk, from your Kia dealer. We bought a Sedona ('03 model)
> > a couple years back and it's been nothing but a headache ever since.
> > We're trading it in this week on a Honda CR-V (decided to go the cute
> > ute route). We likely won't get what we owe on it, but we're so
> > disgusted with the van that we just want it out of our hair.
> >
> > Within 6K miles of buying it, we lost the A/C compressor, the
> > serpentine belt and a pulley of some sort, and it sat in the shop for
> > nearly two weeks while parts were ordered, repairs made. A few months
> > later, an inner tie rod end wore so badly it chewed up the front tires.
> > It was replaced and (supposedly) aligned. But a few thousand miles into
> > the new tires, the car had worked itself so badly out of alignment it
> > chewed up another set (no, we didn't hit any curbs, potholes, etc.--my
> > wife drives it gently and mostly on highways).
> >
> > My wife's also experienced a few episodes of sudden acceleration with
> > the car in reverse. After the first time, she was careful to make a
> > mental note of where her foot was the next time it happened. When it
> > did, she's certain her foot was on the brake as the car bolted
> > rearward. Luckily, she didn't hit anything. The Kia dealer, of course,
> > won't believe anything we say unless their mechanic experiences the
> > problem first-hand. Good luck on that.
> >
> > Now, something under the hood's squeaking again with the A/C running.
> > Probably on the verge of losing another compressor or pulley. This
> > time, it's going to be gone before it strands us on the side of the
> > road again.
> >
> > Bottom line: You really do get what you pay for. Yeah, we were
> > impressed with all the standard features and long warranty you get for
> > less than 20K. But now we're regretting going the cheap route. The
> > Sedona's convinced us to make reliability the number one consideration
> > in our next purchase, which is why we're going with Honda. Between
> > Honda and Toyota, you can't get a more reliable car, by all accounts
> > we've heard.
> >
> > Do yourself a favor and stay away from the Sedona.
> >
> > mdcg
> >
> > snow wrote:
> >> I am leaning towards purchasing a
> >> Kia Sedona thanks to the current rebate
> >> and sale plus the excellant warranty. My
> >> major concern is long term reliabilty.
> >> I usually keep a new vehicle for at least 10 years. Even with the 100,000
> >> powertrain warantry, I still wonder about the long term life of the
> >> Sedona.
> >> Most of today's vehicles easily last 150,000 or more miles if maintained
> >> properly. Is the Kia capable of this? Any opinions appreciated since thre
> >> is
> >> not much information on the internet on Kia long term reliability issues.
> >
 >> Stay informed about: Kia reliability questions 

We are now waiting for the arbitration ruling, hopefully in our favour.

Please keep us informed. I'm interested in the outcome as I am also in Canada and having a real nightmare of a relationship with KIA presently.
 >> Stay informed about: Kia reliability questions 

Greetings,
I have many things to say about my '02 sedona. I may have dumped it if
the warranty was not intact. A lot of peoples "issues" are caused by
inadequate auto technicians who are in their position to fill an empty
spot and have no knowledge. I originally purchased our van in Maryland
and can say, those folks didn't know a screw from a bolt. We had to
take our van in continuously for the same problem until they had
replaced every piece related to the problem. When we moved to Georgia
we got a good dealer. Now, when we take our van to the shop it is fixed
right every time. Here is a list of the items we have had go wrong with
our van. Subsequently, these items were replaced.

Cruise control (module, switch and the main control buttons on the
steering wheel)
Alternator
Multitude of sensors (Oxygen flow, TP sensor... Among about 5 others)
Wiper motor and chain
Inside door wire (that opens the door from the inside)
One headlight (expensive light mind you.)

I must point out that no major mechanical problems have occurred with
the van, most of these items fail on any vehicle around the same time
(with the exception of the alternator.) If I had a choice, and the
price were equal, I would probably purchase a Toyota or Honda though.


snow wrote:
> I am leaning towards purchasing a
> Kia Sedona thanks to the current rebate
> and sale plus the excellant warranty. My
> major concern is long term reliabilty.
> I usually keep a new vehicle for at least 10 years. Even with the 100,000
> powertrain warantry, I still wonder about the long term life of the Sedona.
> Most of today's vehicles easily last 150,000 or more miles if maintained
> properly. Is the Kia capable of this? Any opinions appreciated since thre is
> not much information on the internet on Kia long term reliability issues.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Kia reliability questions