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Kia Sedona problems
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Comments
"Next I found a spot of RUST on the tailgate, The dealer tells me that this was caused by a loose tailgate trim near the license plate. He is going to repaint the complete tailgate for me at no cost."
Thanks for that information. I posted not long ago concerning this same exact issue on the regular forum - rust around the sides of the Chrome plate above the license plate and no one else had experienced this. I am also glad to hear that your dealer was willing to fix that problem. I have not checked as of yet, but plan on doing so. It is quite ridiculous that it would rust so soon - only 4800 miles and bought in October. Your dealers seemed to handle this graciously as I hope mine will. Thanks.
Someone had suggested that it may be a manufacturers defect in installation causing this problem, so it would be covered under warranty. I'll let you know.
Seat springs are hard to compress when re latching the seats. I looked at the design and realized that these springs keep the seat latches from moving when the latches are engaged. Tough installation of a seat is a small price to pay for having a good heavy duty spring holding that latch closed.
They made these seats seriously heavy too. I almost stripped my gears lugging all four out of the van last weekend. I had the kid put the seats back in.
That's what teenagers are for....he he he
Also, IIHS shows the repair costs to be pretty high for Sedona. Anyone here been in a body shop ? How bad was the damage ? How much were the expenses ?
I have not taken mine in, but I plan to soon. It is rusting around the edges of that plates and underneath right above the license plate. It should not be rusting this soon - especially since I washed it at least twice a month during the winter and just bought it in October.
As a side note, I saw a Sedona parked at the mall. I got close enough to inspect its hatch, and saw that it too had the same rust spots as I witnessed on mine.
I suspect this is an issue that Kia will have to address in short time, as I am certain that this is a widespread problem.
I was pleased, although slightly incovenienced for two days while the vehicle was fixed, to see that my dealer took care of the problem without a fuss.
goesks - thanks for that information. I will take it to the dealer and tell him what another dealer has said.
I don’t have a personal experience yet because got mine just 2 weeks ago but surfing the net I stumbled into a German Kia board where many of them mentioned to have the same rust problem on the rear hatch of their ’02 Carnival II, which is your Sedona. Some also mentioned rust around the radiator grill.
This problem did not appear on the first model (which you guys did not get) which had a different grill and hatch. When referring to a 5 year existence of the Sedona you have to take into account the model change that took place with the MY '02. US sales only started with this one.
The cause of the problem seems to be related to a poor fit of the grill and the trim which does not follow correctly the actual shape the body panels. Some edges present on the hatch trim moulding seem to cut through the paint layer and vibration of the grill causes wear of the paint in the contact areas.
I don’t believe there’s a factory fitted gasket under the hatch trim because these Germans reported that under warranty they got the hatch re-sprayed, the trim grinded and a gasket (home made) placed.
Here you are: the web address is www.kiaboard.de and, as you guessed, the discussions are in German.
Steve, Wirt
http://www.freetranslation.com
Steve, Hoffen Sie, daß dies Mitglied Abkommen Regeln nicht übertritt (Got this from the above site :-)
Steve, Host
I was told that they have seen several already with this problem. - not so good news!
I will let you know what actually happens.
If they fix it properly, then it should quite some time before it comes back, but if not, then I'll simply take it back to fix again.
Bob Rohrman Kia of Waukegan, Il. As of 3 weeks ago, Kia was sending him every bushing in the front end of a Sedona and he was going to change them out one at a time till he found the problem. I have to call him today about the recall bolts, (didn't have them in stock) and will report back.
My previous vehicle was a 2000 ford expedition which I drove for 3 years and never had so much as a single second of thought regarding whether or not there was anything wrong with it. So, uh, maybe my expectations are a little out of whack.
Here are my questions - I'm hoping someone can shed some light on them:
1) The van emits a really really "hot" smell after it's been running - yet the temperature gauges aren't at all in the high area. At first I thought it was just because it was brand new but - now I'm wondering....is this normal??? If so, after how many miles should it disappear?
2) Today, my THIRD day driving it, and after only putting 90 miles on it total I suddenly heard a weird noise - it was sort of high pitched and at first I thought it was in the song I was listening to. Then, as I braked, it got really loud - I hit the mute button on the radio and heard this high pitched sound that almost sounded like a horn as I pressed on the brake pedal. It sort of freaked me out - there was an overall odd hum and squeal to the engine too so I pulled over - tried moving into and out of Park, Drive, Reverse etc. - but it didn't go away so I shut the engine off altogether. When I restarted it - the noise was gone......but now I'm worried there's a problem....any ideas??!!
3) After #2 episode above - I noticed that my sunroof started malfunctioning. The sunroof has two options, open all the way, or "tilt" - My problem is that, if you open it all the way, then close it, then try to hit the "tilt" button - it won't work. You can press that button over and over and over and over and nothing happens. After a few minutes - it will finally "tilt" - ditto going in the opposite direction from tilt to fully open. I'm starting to worry I have an electrical problem. Anyone else have sunroof problems??
4) I cannot believe how weak the keyless entry remote is. I have to be standing - no - almost leaning up against the vehicle for it to unlock the door. Then, I have to continue to hit the button maybe 8 or 10 times for it to unlock the other doors. My Ford used to lock or unlock through WALLS! - I could literally stand inside my house and check to see if my doors were locked by hitting the button enough times to make the horn honk. I would also do the same thing from the street level of my parking garage at work with my Ford on the 4th floor! I'm really unhappy with this crappy keyless system. What's the point if you have to be standing next to the dang door anyway? Might as well just get your key out and do it the old fashioned way! Again, I'm wondering if this is normal and maybe my expectations are just too high because of my previous experience. Oh, one more keyless entry question - is the horn supposed to honk at you every stinkin' time you close a door and the van is locked? major annoyance.....
Your questions:
1) Ours had a similar smell. It diminished over time. Hopefully, your smell will as well.
2) Don't have a cue on that one.
3) Definitely, something wrong with the sunroof.
4) Our remote will unlock the car from inside the house at a distance of 30 feet. Your problem sounds similar to problems associated with the 2002s. I forget the exact solution whether it was fresh batteries (should be fresh on a new car) or a better grounding plate.
Did not quite understand your last complaint. On ours, if you have doors open when you lock the vehicle, it will honk when the final door is closed (assuming all doors are making complete contact.) What I was not clear on was if you have more than one door open does it honk after each door closes or only on the final one.
Our only "problem" (knock on wood) has been the fake chrome ring around the 6" speaker on the driver door. There is a piece of clear plastic over the top of it, and that has snagged. I am not sure whether it happened on its own or whether my shoe tore it getting in or out.
Sorry that you are having these problems - we have really enjoyed ours.
It appeared after having covered about 1600 miles and really scared me. Switched off the engine and restarted again. No problem and it hasn’t happened again. Completed my trip and I am now at 3200 miles and nothing wrong. I plan to stop by the Dealer’s work shop and talk with their Chief Mechanic.
Anyway, because of the pulsating feeling I got when pressing the brake panel, I just have the impression that the ABS unit went nuts but their was no malfunctioning light coming up on the dashboard when it happened.
i just purchased a new kia sedona ex with leather and sunroof and had a strange experience. the first one i bought and within 24 hours there was an oil leak in my driveway and no lights were on when i went back in to the vehicle. i immediately called the dealership and after a few hours they told me the cylendar in the engine was cracked and it was a manufacture defect. i demanded a new van with the same options and they finally agreed to put me into a new one. i had only owned the van for about 12 hours and 50 miles. ok i thought this is a one in a million chance and they thought so too and now a week later i hear a weird noise when i go over bumps and am not sure what it is. i complained to kia and opened a case to let them know that i feel very unsure with my new purchase and i felt like if i did not push it with my dealership they would have let me stay with the first van and had the repairs on a new vehicle that was 12 hours old. I guess my question is are there known problems with noises on the sedona ex 2003. i am going to listen again and check the seats and the abs system but i am disgusted already. i was driving a 2000 dodge caravan that ran good i just did not get power when i bought it. so i decided to trade it in. i need someone to make me feel better. thanks in advance.....JoeDav
Recommend check list...in motion, not in motion...turn on/off a/c, try to isolate each system to see if it is fan/electrical related, or suspension.
BTW, believe I'm having A/C fan noise from front end when compressor kicks in. Anyone else?
My fully loaded 2002 EX is now 6 months old and has 6k miles. The only "problem" I have is the ash tray does not always stay closed. Occasionally when I go over a speed bump to fast it opens up. Does anyone else have this problem?
Other than that I LOVE my van.
If I have to I will go to another dealer..there's a new one that opened about 30 mins. from us.
I've probably put on 1500-2000 patches over the years when I worked for my father. Tires differ greatly in their ability to hold them. Michelins used to be very hard to patch, as they had a very thin liner.
BTW,if you use the tire goo (green stuff) or inflate a flat can to recover from a roadside flat, virtually NO tire repair place will do anything but plug your hole. Patches won't stick well, and they don't want the liability.
I found that out the hard way after deciding to use the emergency inflate a flat can I keep for the Mrs. to repair a flat on my truck one rainy night late when I found out I had a flat. On further reflection, wish I'd know that in advance...I might have still crawled under the truck. I plugged the hole myself, and it has held for 3 yrs now. (Knock on wood). Goodyear original equipment tire on a Ford F150. No idea how the Korean tires hold plugs.
Also - be reminded that most of the electronic systems are not KIA specifi items. The standard cruise control module is clearly marked " DELHPI Electronics".
Be usre to raise your tire pressure if you have to KUMHO tires , to 40-44 PSI. This is the reccomended pressure from the sidewall of the tire. I have been doing that for a year now and it has helped greatly.
Enjoy your van and relax, your going to have smooth sailing now.
Sean