Kia Sedona Reviews

By the end of the day, the KIA service manager called me and said I needed a new engine due to lack of oil changes. He explained to me that I needed receipts to prove that proper care was taken in regards to this vehicle. Receipts have been given. This is now the 13th of September and I am still going back and forth between the KIA dealership and KIA warranty company. If anyone out there is looking to buy a car, don't buy a KIA! BTW, as of today, 10/03/2012, I'm still fighting with warranty company, Paul Cereme KIA.

I was told they would look into it. I have heard nothing further. I bought and paid for a new van, so if the theft protection device isn't factory installed I asked by whom and when was it installed. When I bought the van, it had 1200 miles on it, but I was told that was allowable for a new vehicle. I believe I was sold a previously sold van that was returned to the dealer and resold as new.

I bought a Kia oil filter brought it to my oil change place and they told me that their filter doesn't have one either. I then brought the van back to the dealer and they quickly changed their story to as long as it goes away when pressure builds it is ok.

Well now at 80k miles, it is louder and lasts longer than it ever has. I brought it to a repair shop and they told me of a huge problem and multiple TSB referring to this problem. To make the long story short, the tensioners are going bad too early and come to find out it is almost a $2,000 job to get it replaced.

I called Kia and they basically told me to go to hell, they weren't going to do anything about it because it is under warranty. Well this was my first Asian vehicle and will be my last for sure. Did anyone else get screwed by Kia for this?

I felt if they knew there was a problem they should have fixed it. I cannot be good to have the chain turning without oil on every startup. They didn't even offer to split the cost when this was brought up. The exact reply was "we aren't gonna do that, it's out of warranty and it's your problem".

I brought my van to a dealer and parked it until I saw someone looking at Sedona’s and then I started it. The look on their faces was worth it. The customers left immediately after I told them the vehicle only had 80k and Kia wouldn't help with the repair. Shortly thereafter, the police showed up and told me to leave.

I bought it in Delaware and lived in MD. Since I moved to WV, I have to take it to Clarksburg WV Kia and they are worthless. They don’t know what they’re doing and the service manger doesn’t give a crap about my problem. So I drove it back to Delaware now and taking it to them. Let’s see what’s wrong now! I will never by Kia again. I’m sticking to Chevy. I won’t recommend them to anyone

Dealer will not cover anything. Nothing but the run around. This van is a piece of cheap crap. Can't even call it metal because its made out of titanium. Cheap cheap cheap. Do not buy. If you have one get rid of it while you can.

April 2009 -- Huyndai KIA is recalling 139,844 MY 2006-2007- Sedona, Sportage, Sorento and MY Rondo and Amanti vehicles. The stop lamp switch in the affected vehicles may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause the brake lights to remain illuminated when the brake pedal is released. A stop lamp switch malfunction may also affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature so the transmission shifter would not be able to be shifted out of the park position. It may also cause the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate, and it may not deactivate the cruise control when the brake pedal is depressed. Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, may lead to a crash. Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during May and June of 2009.

I called the local dealership in our nearby town of Jonesboro Arkansas and they made an appointment for it to be repaired at no charge, however when I left my van there, they called me and said my VIN # showed that my van was not within the production time of the recalled vehicles. In the meantime, we can fix it for XXXX amount! I rejected and I have contacted the KIA Consumer help number and nothing, no help!

I have three kids and my husband works out-of-town. I stated that I needed to get a courtesy car. They stated that they did not have those cars but I could rent a car. I feel Kia should have paid for this rental. We finally heard back late Friday afternoon and was told that it was going to be covered under warranty but the part would not be in until Monday morning, forcing me to retain the rental car through the weekend. I feel that they should pay for the rental or reimburse us for it. The repairs were covered under warranty. It was not our fault that no one in the warranty department called back until a day later which happened to be the weekend.

I contacted the Service Department and Customer Department. Both were not helpful and pretty much told me sorry about my luck but we can't help you. Our vehicle will be paid for in one month and had planned on trading it in for another Kia. We will not be doing that now thanks to the wonderful service and attitude we received. I think it's poor business when a car tears up through no fault of your own and the dealership makes you pay for another car while they take their sweet time fixing it.

Within a few minutes of driving out of the lot, the check engine light came back on again which is one of the original problems that the car was brought in for. Loose sway bar links on front and all 4 subframe bushings may be a problem in the future needs repair at a cost of $529. The car received a tune up with new plugs, etc. at a cost of $199.95. Tires were mounted and balanced and two new tires were purchased. My daughter, Danna, paid $1736.33 by check on a bill which totaled $2028.11. She and my wife are listed as owners of the Kia Sedona. Danna feels that she wasn't treated very well and was taken advantage of by running up the costs of repairs. Her additional warranty noted as aftermarket will pay some of the costs related to this repair/service. The check engine light came back on within blocks of the dealer. It is not likely that she will return to the dealer for service. Poor communication, loss of the use of the car, inflated bill, second opinion sought due to the lack of confidence in the service, treated with a lack of respect. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

It's very scary and they say this is okay or they can not find a problem. Also, as you are driving it accelerates or decelerates oddly. The vehicle only has 62,000 miles and we have replaced brakes twice.

Therefore, the warranty didn't cover the broken axle or the bearings. Kia of Keene also told me I would need a new battery before winter. That was 2 harsh Vermont winters ago and I still have not replaced the battery. I sent a scathing 3-page letter to Kia Motors and they sent me a form letter saying they turned it over to the manager at Kia of Keene and if I had any further questions to contact him directly. Despite all the ** and feeling totally ripped off by the Kia dealer, I have grown sort of attached to the old Kia van and plan to drive it until it dies.

I've had to take several days off work, because they do not provide a loaner car and have also had to pay out of pocket for a rental. This time, they have agreed to pay 1/2 the rental.

In the past 6 months, we've sunk almost $4000 dollars into this lemon, and as I write this, it is again at the dealership, awaiting $1150.00 just to get it running! And this amount doesn't include fixing the power steering that has suddenly died or the 8 other issues they found with the vehicle that need to be addressed. Plus, as mentioned by a previous poster, all the paint on our car is bubbling off, and the car is literally rusting from the inside out. Our local dealership gives us a clean bill of health each time we leave, then, 4 weeks later when we come back, they hook it up again and find another boatload of problems. The local dealership is no help.

I've begun complaining about the quality of the car and the many problems, and they just shake their heads and tell me it "must be your car because we don't get these complaints from anyone else. " Baloney! I've had it with this car, and have been warning friends to stay away from KIA. With luck, the car will be traded in today for a more reliable vehicle, as I simply refuse to spend any more of my hard earned money repairing this piece of garbage. In the past 6 months of paying for this car's repairs, we have had to juggle our budget to the point of some bills going into collections. We can't pay bills unless we can get to work, and to get to work, you need a running car. Thus, money has been poured into this lemon. Plus, we have fallen behind on the payments for this car while trying to keep it running!

Since I began researching this problem on the internet, I learned that there are many people who have experienced this same problem with their Kia Sedona Van. Their complaints are the same-- door handles that have fallen off and Kia refusing to fix them. This is obviously a manufacturer's defect. I know many people who own antique vehicles. All their vehicles still have their original door handles. I have never heard of door handles falling off a vehicle, let alone three! I contacted both our local Kia dealership and the Kia Corporation.

The Kia Corporation of America's (800-xxx-xxxx) Consumer affairs assistant sounded like a robot. She told me that this was not a recall item. The time for reporting a manufacturing defeat was over and that nothing would be done! She did say that if we wanted them to look at the vehicle, we could bring it into the dealership, pay for diagnostics but they would still not pay to fix this problem. This is just throwing good money after bad! Why would I pay them to tell me again they are not going to fix this vehicle?

When I spoke to the Kia dealership in St. Augustine, they were sympathetic to our problem. However, they explained that they could not absorb the cost of this repair since Kia Corporation would not reimburse them. I can understand their dilemma. From the tone of our conversation, but without saying it, I believe they agree with me. While the Kia Sedona issue is certainly not at the danger level as the run away Toyota problem, the potential for a tragic ending is there none the less. Why is an auto maker allowed to produce dangerous, inferior products and then refuse to fix their problem or better yet, charge us to fix their mistakes? When will they be held accountable? Please help us and the other Kia Sedona owners resolve this issue.

After a couple of weeks, we called them; and they had forgotten to order the wheel. Two weeks later, we got no call and they said that they would order it for a fee. We then were so fed up that we called 1800lemonlaw. This was a mistake, as they have given us the runaround for at least a year, switching us from attorney to attorney, court appearance after court appearance. In the end, they (Lemon Law) told us that we should take the offer of four thousand, 50% to them, and be happy. I am so mad that I purchased a lemon and had an attorney fight for me only to screw me over. So much for the consumer. We are now driving the KIA. Still, it is pulling. I had the wheels changed twice and two sets of brakes, and it's not even 50k yet. Do not buy a KIA, and do not call 1800lemonlaw.

I was later told that the red light for the seat belt was for the airbag module. They have not seen this issue before and not sure of any previous year’s record. This is what they typed in my invoice quote, "Scan tool unable to communicate with airbag control module. Module has internal failure and requires replacement." I declined this repair hoping to find some more answers and info, and do my research with other drivers and dealers to look into why. My van that has only 50k miles (9months over 5 year warranty period), could have a part that is important with a National Car Safety Rating of 5 star, could go bad in such a short period of time?

I looked and researched on the internet and did not find any other consumer experiencing the same issue. If anyone out there had seen the same issue with their van, please update this blog. I am reaching out to other dealers for help as well. Lee Johnson is a good dealership, but I do not get it why this part has gone defective in such a short run mileage? I believe it is the manufacturer lemon part. And they have some responsibility and vested value to investigate why their part went bad so quick. That part does not qualify for 5 star rating does it? I am reaching out to manufacturer, dealers, individual owners, in this nation to answer my call for help. Thanks.

Once taken to the dealership, they stated that my engine was knocking because the third party entity did not use the right filter or sealant and this was causing my engine to knock. They also recommend an additional maintenance. I had everything done. I then took my car to get an oil change about 4 months later which was outside of the 3,000 mile range and they stated that my engine knocks since I did not get the oil changed at 3,000 miles.

I asked how can this be fixed and he stated that the knocking was not going to do anything to my engine and that as I get the oil changed on a more regular basis, the knocking would cease. Well, 4 months later, I was driving down the road and the van just stopped. After having them to tow the vehicle, which is still under their so-called warranty, they were not able to look at it until the following Tuesday since it stopped on a Friday afternoon.

After looking at the vehicle, they stated that since I did not get my oil changed every 3,000 miles, my engine went out. My van only has 46,000 miles on it. They refuse to honor the warranty and stated that it would be $8,500 for me to replace the engine. I do admit that I may not always get the oil changed at 3,000 miles but this is not the first vehicle I have owned when I did something similar. This has never happened to any other vehicle I have owned of which I have had almost 100,000 miles or more.

What kind of engine gets shot at 46,000 miles with no sign, no oil light (since it was full of oil), nothing? The truth is the engine must have been faulty to begin with and they are looking for almost any excuse not to honor the warranty. I have paid for services through Kia a couple of times and every time, I wind up spending about $100.00 just for their recommended maintenance.

If I had not agreed to those recommended services, they probably would not have honored my warranty either. I have not owned my vehicle for two years and the engine is now gone. This is the worst service I have ever received. I will continue to advocate to consumers not to buy Kia. The warranty is a hoax. It is an advertising tactic. They depend on human error or lack of attention to detail to cover their faulty equipment. Do not buy Kia! The warranty is really a warning!

However, the fix was temporary. Each summer, the AC has failed to dispense cold air. The compressor clutch assemblies keep burning out. We are not the only owners who have had this same problem. There are hundreds of current and former 2002 Kia Sedona owners who have had this same history. Since the warranty expired, we are now having to have a third compressor installed. And it will most likely only last six months and will need to be replaced again. The master mechanic we are using now says the condensers on the 2002 Kia Sedonas are too small, causing the compressor clutch to constantly be engaged and subsequently burn out.

In Arizona, average summer temperatures exceed 105 degrees daily and remain in the hundreds as late as 10 p.m. We are having to spend $500 to $1200 every year now to try to keep our Sedona EX properly cooled for our family of seven. We feel the original problem with the AC has never been resolved and we are seeking a suitable solution to this defective Air Conditioning problem prevalent among the 2002 Kia Sedonas.

So, after a $95 cab ride to the hotel, we were in scramble mode. We had to do something with the kids, our dog, and figure out what we were to do until Monday. First thing Monday, I called the dealer and told them the situation we were in and that the tow company was going to have the van first thing. We had to catch another cab to the dealer because they would not come pick us up. Our van finally arrived at the dealer at noon! At about 3:30, I asked the service writer if he knew anything. He said it might be the next day before it was ready.

I asked for help with a rental car because we had children and jobs that we had to get home to. He tried really hard for us but Kia wouldn't help and Avis wanted $600. The service writer finally said that we could make it home in the van but the check engine light would stay on. As he was checking for a rental car, I or anyone for that matter, could hear the tech's saying I had put the wrong gas in the van to save money. They were saying how cheap I was and an idiot. I got so mad that I told the service, "Just let us have our van." We had to get home. I finally arrived home at 10:30 pm. My van still has grease in it from the tech. I bought this van because of all the commercials about the great warranties. If you have to use them, they treat you like dirt.

I have been corresponding now for over seven months with no resolution in sight. At this point, I want a refund of the full purchase price of this totally misrepresented vehicle or replace it for another new 2008 van that can have running boards installed. I feel I have been discriminated against because of disability, used, abused, and lied to.

The next BIG problem I have had and am still having is the low beam light. They are lasting about 6 months or less and then they burn out. Usually, one side will go out and not long after I replace one side, the other side will burn out. These bulbs are not cheap; they cost about $21.00 apiece, and if you take that times 4 on each headlight, that adds up to $168.00 (it might be more).

The next problem was the sliding door latch on the passenger door. The lock will not let the door shut all the way, so I had it looked at and they say there was nothing wrong with it. So I took it home and it still did it, and I called and raised Cain with them and they looked at it again and they replaced the door latch, but it still won't shut and they said they had done all they can. Now my check engine light can't on, and the stupid thing lunges forward when I come to a complete stop, and it doesn't want to run at all when I press on the accelerator. It is one thing after another...the thing is not worth the problems, and I still owe $10,000 on it. I would rather ride a bike than to keep putting up with these problems on an ongoing basis...BIG WASTE OF MONEY. I will never buy another Kia vehicle again!!!

Oh, I forgot something: when I purchased the van in 2002, we took out an extended warranty on the van, and when we were having all these problems, the service guy at Anderson Ford told me that my van was not under any factor warranty anymore. I told him that I had an extended warranty and I told him the extended warranty company's name. He told me that they went out of business. I told him it wasn't right that they didn't tell me about this issue. Anderson Ford in St. Joseph, Mo. said that they would honor the warranty, but when I got work done on it, they told me my warranty won't cover the problem. Why have an extended warranty if I can't use it? These are my complaints, and as you can tell, I am not one bit satisfied with Kia and the dealers who sell them, especially St. Joseph, Mo.

At the end of the day, they had not called my wife, so she called to ask them when it might be done. They told her it would have to be kept overnight. I don't think they cared enough to let us know she wasn't going to have a ride home from work. Luckily I was still in town. They then said that they had messed up and a piece had actually seized up in the chassis and the whole segment would have to be replaced. So, we waited another four days, but this time they rented her a smoke-filled rent-a-car. The sound persisted and finally in December of this year, they replaced the sway bar. I am not sure if it is on too tight or what, but now the vehicle makes a loud thump noise at the end of all left and right turns.

I finally brought it in yesterday for my 8:30 appointment and they had me drive it into the mechanic's bay. The repairman, George, then said, "Do you mind leaving it overnight because we want to give it special attention and make sure it is really fixed this time?" I told them of my frustration civilly and agreed. Today, I had not heard from them at 11:30am and was getting a bit anxious, so I called to ask about the status of my vehicle. George seemed irritated with me and said they were getting ready to look at it right now. Twenty-six hours after my "Special attention" was promised! I asked what had taken so long since it was already in the bay, and he said they got backed up, and he was extremely condescending. I got off the phone, irritated, but feeling totally at the mercy of the repairman. I mean, what choice did I have?

Two hours later at 1:30pm, I called again and believe it or not, he actually told me they were getting ready to test drive it for the first time!! "What about the last two hours?" I protested. "We're looking at it right now, what can I tell you?!" he said. I am still waiting... 2:30pm to find out if I will have a car this weekend. I cannot begin to explain my frustration with this dealership. Their service department is terrible and only outshines their customer service. The Sedona is their second leading seller!! If they can't fix their own van, what are they there to do??

I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and with KIA Consumer Affairs. The dealership has since closed its doors temporarily. I have no way of contacting Tommy Parker and I have no idea about the location of the minivan that I traded in. My credit report shows that I am 3 months behind in payments, even though I no longer own the car.

I've committed to losing Kia at least 1,000,000 in sales here in the UK by relaying our story to everyone I know and asking them to promise to never buy a Kia. If the average car sells for 10,000 it would take only 100 people to reach this goal! Please join the Facebook group which I have set up to show your support!

Last winter the transmission went out and they would not cover it because I didn't change the tranny fluid 2 times. I have replaced the starter and the power steering motor as well. My van only has 78000 miles on it. This van has cost me 1800 for a new transmission (70,000 miles), 250.00 for a new starter (71,000) and the cost of a new power steering motor and I am looking at anywhere from 600.00 to 2000.00 to fix a wheel that per the recall list should be covered - but they conveniently left my VIN number off of the recall list.

They agree that the hood needs to be replaced. The cost for repair is $1102.64 and their offer is that we each pay 1/3!!! Dealership 1/3, KIA Canada 1/3, customer 1/3. I also only have a limited time to accept this offer?? I've owned cars for over 30 years and have had rust problems with some of them but have never heard of this. They insist that this is an isolated problem, even after I sent them pictures of 5 other 2004 Sedona vehicles with identical rust marks and a promise to send more in the coming weeks. After doing some limited research, I found rust problems on earlier models but we were assured that these problems had been resolved in newer models. Any suggestions are welcome.

Also please be aware that if you do have a Sedona around this age, make sure you insist that they check the REAR COOLANT LINES. These are also starting to rust out and I already know of one person who recently replaced his engine when the line broke. KIA is aware of this and will repair under warranty but only if you INSIST that they check this. They will not check this as part of their regular inspection.