Was driving home tonight and the check engine light flashed off & on a couple of times. Pulled into parking lot and shut off engine. Checked the "gas cap" but it was fine, filled up last night. Started van again and light now on steady. Called Kia's roadside assistance and they were very helpful. Dispatched service, only alternative was to tow. The manual says if light is on steady the van can be driven... so I cancelled the tow drove 2 miles to get home, van sitting in driveway. Dealer has Saturday service, hope its minor...is the honeymoon over ?? Only 700 miles on the van.. will update tomorrow.. keep fingers crossed.
Check out these posts for the best hitch at a great price. E-Trailer.com. Do a search on Kia Sedona $109 Best thing about this hitch is you can't see it and it's a piece of cake to install. Even my double amputee Viet Nam war buddy could do it with his prostethics tied behind his back..... Have it hard wired with a transformer, not the T-Connector. The transformer will insure against surges, which is something you do NOT want infiltrating into your computerized electronic system. The T-connector is unproven on the Sedona. Posts #506,512,638. Excelent3
Seems to me the spare tire was originally hung with the concave (outside) UP. I noticed the service guy replaced the spare after a rotation with the outside down. The manual doesn't specify how to do it. Should I reverse the wheel? I'm thinking I may leave it the way it is and store jumper cables (in a good plastic bag of course) in the handy space. What'cha think?
You are so right!! How could anyone buy a Sedona with that information. After all, say you drive 15,000 miles a year. In your Odyssey, you'll use about 833 gallons of gas. In a Sedona, they will use about 1000 gallons of gas. That is a savings of 167 gallons of gas a year for you. At, say, $1.25 a gallon, you will save a whopping $208.75 a year over the poor soul in the Sedona. So, if a guy saves about $5000 by buying a loaded Sedona EX over an Odyssey EX, your superior gas mileage will pay the difference in only 23.95 years! You sure showed them!
This isn't a comparison topic, but is a place for owners and potential owners to discuss the features of the Sedona. Thanks! Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Philliplc -- you are right. I checked the IIHS sight and they do move the vehicle into a fixed barrier (a post) for the bumper basher tests, unlike some test groups (like Consumer's Union) who use a "pendulum" bumper basher. I also noticed on the IIHS sight that they had the driver's window all the way down in the crash test. They said the dummy's head hit the steering wheel because it moved up in the crash and then the head bounced backwards into the "B" pillar. Since the steering wheel is adjustable, I wonder where they had it set before the crash. I also wonder what percentage of time people will be driving with the window all the way down (what with air conditioning and all) and how it would have affected the test if the window had been all the way up instead.
A note to all those folks who drive without their seatbelts at least some of the time and all those anecdotal stories of people you know who survived a crash while unbelted: Don't be stupid! The point is that wearing a seatbelt increases your likelihood of surviving a crash. Nothing is ever guaranteed in this life but it makes sense to have the odds in your favor. If you are really worried about being able to get out of the vehicle after a crash, you should be lobbying for manual door locks and windows, since failure of the electrical system after a crash is much more likely to trap you in the vehicle than seatbelts. You can also buy a simple tool that will slice through the seatbelt material if the lock is jammed. Get one if that will put your mind at ease and, for God's sake and the sake of your family--BUCKLE UP EVERY TIME!
Hi.. had Van towed to dealer this morning. The dealer's service only open til 2pm today and they weren't sure if they would get to it. My wife got a call from them about 1:30 saying that the engine is "mis-firing" and that they will look at the spark plug wiring initially and the distributor but they also said they haven't had a Sedona in with this kind of problem.. won't know anything till they start working on it on Monday. Could it be a fuel problem, bad gas ?? Has anyone had any issue with bad wires or distributor ?? What would cause the spark plugs to mis fire? Just hope its not anything serious.
I received Kia Sedona Owner letter, date 3/20/2002.
Key points: 1. Bragging about it's top performance status in NHTSA crash tests. 2. Down play IIHS crash test, 5mph bumper test do not reflect a real-world collision. 3. Kia check it's files and NHTSA's files, no complaints of low speed airbag deployments in the Sedona. 4. Kia took step of instituting a production running change in Sedona's airbag system so next time it would pass the test. (no mentioning of doing anything for the current Sedona Owner). 5. Use seat belt.
Exactly what I expected the response to be. This is not unusual if you look at the track record of any other automaker. In some cases, the goverment has had to sue automakers into issuing a recall once enough complaints had been registered.
I am disappointed that Kia has chosen to wait until someone gets hurt before doing anything constructive for current owners. All I require is some proof that this was a fluke. Is there any? It doesn't sound like it's in that letter.
I wonder if the hood protector does really protect the hood ?
Is it true that sport visors will reduce wind noise when the windows are open ?
If this is true then would they reduce the wind noise when the windows are closed ?
Thanks everybody for all the useful information that I found in this forum.
My fully dressed white Sedona with leather seats and sunroof (or moonroof) is now enjoying a train ride across Canada from Vancouver to Montreal.
I am a real estate agent and my car is my office, I almost live in it. I did a lot of research and found it to be the most suitable for my business. I will remove one of the back seats to accommodate my open house directional signes and all the tools and stationary that I carry around. Fully dressed for thousands less than all the basic vans. zero interest for three years, Five years power and train, five years (bottom to top) and five years roadside assistance. Sedona will be more suitable than my Jeep Cherokee. In the past few months I drove around two clients whom I was afraid that they will deliver their babies in my Jeep. Both delivered their babies few days after buying their new houses. Next client can deliver in my Sedona, it is large enough for that and the back seat that I left there can accommodate a midwife.
I hope somebody have the answers for my three questions.
The Edmunds Maintenance Guide says no timing belt replacement is needed until 105,000 miles (and then it should cost ~$305, depending on your location). Does the manual say something different? Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
The manual says inspect at 30K and replace at 60K; and that is for normal and severe service. I wonder how Edmund's Maintenance Guide came up with 105K??
I was a little disappointed to see the every-60,000 miles timing belt change interval. This is on the short side, relative to other vehicles. If you do change your timing belt every 60,000 miles and keep your vehicle a very long time, the additional expense vs. a 100k change interval would be noticeable. E.g. at 200k miles you will have changed the timing belt 3 times while the neighbor down the street with a different vehicle has changed his only twice.
Thanks for the correction. I didn't read the information extremely closely, and that was several days before I posted. One question: how could the dummy's head hit the steering wheel? Because the airbag provided insufficient cushion, and the dummy's head pushed all the way to the bottom of the airbag and bumped the steering wheel? Or was/is part of the steering wheel not covered by the deployed airbag? If it's the latter, then that is a little troubling.
Thanks for the manual info on the timing belt. I'll pass it along to the data people. Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
My guess is that the dummy's head hit the steering wheel because the airbag either inflated too early and was already deflating when the dummies head hit it or inflated too late and had not fully inflated when the dummies head hit it. There may be other factors at work here too because the steering wheel moved more than is desirable and it may also be that the dummy was allowed a little more freedom by the seatbelt than is ideal. The one thing that is certain is that Kia intend to make a running change and must therefore have identified a problem of some sort. A few years ago I recall a Lexus model (I can't remember which) was tested and achieved a 5 star rating. However it also drew a comment that it's airbag timing could have been improved and Lexus being Lexus they adjusted the timing and submitted another car for testing. Truly the pursuit of excellence but, of course, not at Kia prices.
Test drove the EX on Saturday and have some comments/questions for current owners (long post, sorry).
1) Who said it was under-powered and what were they smoking? It had plenty of power. Even my lead-footed wife thought so (she still longs for the days of her sports cars).
2) Does the heater ever heat up? We drove it about 20 minutes and never felt warm. Maybe I need the post # of how to run the controls correctly.
3) All we could find with ABS was with leather and sunroof. Do they make the EX with ABS and cloth? We really hate leather.
4) Two dealerships did not have any with ABS and told us that was because the MO Highway Patrol issued a report that ABS caused more accidents than prevented. Any thoughts on that?
5) Did you get used to the odd pedal placement. I had to put the seat back almost the entire way so my long legs could comfortably be on the pedals, then my arms were stretched.
Anyway, we were impressed, but if we cannot get ABS with cloth, we may have to look at an MPV.
Will be a tough combination to find. My gut feeling is that you could order one to your specs, but nobody who has tried that has reported the results on this board. Kia seems to be keeping the different vehicle configurations very simple, probably to save on manufacturing costs. I have not heard anyone mention seeing, or even hearing about, a Sedona EX with ABS and without leather.
ABS only helps is you use it right. Many people do not know the proper way to brake with ABS, so they end up not getting the benefits of the ABS.
I doubt Missouri has as many ABS Sedonas as everyone else. Unfortunately, ABS Sedonas seem to be pretty scarce. They are out there; you just have to look hard or get a dealer to find one for you.
The pedals being too close relative to the steering wheel and seat is one of my biggest gripes about our Sedona EX. I decided to keep the seat at a comfortable distance for my arms, and just try to get used to the too-close pedal placement. The main problem I have is with the gas pedal; the brake pedal is less annoying.
hoyahenry, I haven't quite decided exactly what to do regarding changing my own oil, using synthetic, etc. I've pretty much decided to NOT use synthetic oil. Because of significant recent improvements to conventional oils, I am no longer convinced that the marginal benefits of synthetic justify the disproportionately high cost. In particular, I am pretty high on Chevron Supreme petrol-based oil. It's really a synthetic blend at a conventional oil price ($1.09/qt at my local Wal-Mart), as are many or most of the new API SL-rated oils.
Regarding changing my own oil, I still need to CALL Kia USA. The email I received basically said this was not allowed (if you want to maintain warranty coverage), but a recent call to my dealer's service department produced the expected 'just keep your receipts and fill out the log in your glovebox, and you'll be fine' response.
The owners manual does not state that you CANNOT change your own oil. In fact, it implies in a couple different places that Kia is okay with owners performing their own routine maintenance.
Hi.. just got call from dealer service and they said that the ignition coil was "faulty" and it was replaced along with the spark plugs... relieved that it was minor, concerned that it happened with only 700 odd miles on the van. Any comments ?? Thanks for listening
Just returned from my first extended Sedona trip - 500 miles (OD to 2500). Mostly highway at 70-75 mph with back seats out hauling 1000 lbs - did 22.8 mpg for the trip. Haven't been able to do much better than 16 city, so this was a pleasant surprise. Manual driver seat in my LX has developed a very minor squeak or spring noise when I shift position, but otherwise I have absolutely no complaints. Drove great, feels rock solid on the hwy. Handles fine and has plenty of power even with the heavy load. Very quiet even at 75 mph.
I don't understand your comment about "ABS only helps is you use it right. Many people do not know the proper way to brake with ABS, so they end up not getting the benefits of the ABS"
Exactly what is the proper way to brake with ABS? It is my undertanding that ABS is designed to keep the wheels from locking up. This occurs most frequently in a panic situation where the driver has little time to react. "Most people" under panic situations will stomp on the brakes (which would lock up the wheels in a vehicle not equipped with ABS). A vehicle that is equipped with ABS prevents the wheels from locking up to maintain controllability of the vehicle under braking conditions.
There isn't any specific way to "use" ABS. It is a safety feature similar to air bags, TCS, LSD, or BFD that doesn't require driver intervention to operate properly.
On an earlier post someone posted info. about Mighty Tight belt tensioner. My wife has been insisting the kid's seats were too loose. I bought two of the Mighty Tight... I'm very impressed, easy to use and boy can you cinch those kid's seats down. No movement at all. Kudos to whomever posted the information in the first place. 4200 miles and no problems. Great van.
I'm in Iowa and Sedonas with ABS (cloth or otherwise) are few and far between here (and in much of the Midwest). I have been told by several dealers that ABS pretty much can't be had without the leather (Kia just isn't shipping many that way). Have to admit the excuse about the MO highway patrol was original, but somewhat suspect.
We don't like leather either and had decided to give up on the ABS, but ironically we'll be ending up with both (long story). Our EX is on it's way and will hopefully be here in a few weeks.
I would suggest calling or sending emails to all dealerships in your area inquiring about Sedonas with ABS. It seems to me that the supply of Sedonas (in this area at least) has been increasing over the past month or so. Maybe you'll get lucky.
I sat in a Sedona with leather last week, and I do find it to be pretty nice leather. We also seriously considered the MPV and found it to be a very nice vehicle! In the end, the Sedona was just a better value for us, but I think either van is a good choice.
Just curious how you ended up with ABS and leather, given that I am basically in the same boat as you.
I visited all the dealer and found exaclty what I wanted, only with leather and sunroof which I do not want. Can't decide whether to go with ABS/leather/sunroof or scrap ABS and get cloth.
I think your assumptions about most drivers may be overly optimistic (or perhaps mine are overly pessimistic). Everything I have ever read has said that "many" or "too many" or "most" drivers do NOT stomp on the brakes during a situation requiring a very quick stop. Most people do not brake hard enough because they don't realize that their vehicles are capable of braking even quicker, and safely, when the pedal is depressed HARD.
That is the basis for my claim that many people don't use ABS properly. If you don't stomp on the brake pedal, then you are not getting maximum braking performance and are not likely to activate the ABS functionality.
"On an earlier post someone posted info. about Mighty Tight belt tensioner. My wife has been insisting the kid's seats were too loose. I bought two of the Mighty Tight... I'm very impressed, easy to use and boy can you cinch those kid's seats down. No movement at all. Kudos to whomever posted the information in the first place."
It's great that this device worked for you. Still, you should be aware that this item is neither tested nor recommended by any carseat manufacturer. While the manufacturer claims to meet appropriate safety standards, the truth is that there are no NHTSA or government standards that regulate or test any aftermarket products for child restraints. As such, assume you are using the device at your own risk. Be especially careful that they are locked properly so that they won't become a heavy projectile in a crash, and also that they are not damaging your seatbelts.
As a certified technician, I have found that there are not too many vehicle/carseat combinations that are incompatible. I can get most carseats to install properly in most cars. I would highly recommend that anyone considering any aftermarket product should visit a local certified technician for a free checkup before you buy. Many hospitals, public health, police and fire departments have a certified child passenger safety technician on staff.
I believe our experience is somewhat unique, so I don't know if it will help you very much, but here goes. I apologize in advance to everyone else for the long post!!!!!!!!!
When we started looking for a Sedona (under the assumption that you could order them the way you want) we wanted an EX with ABS and two-tone paint. After about a month of looking, the only Sedonas we could find with ABS were fully loaded (and there were only a few of those to be had in Iowa).
My husband and I disagree about the necessity of ABS in the first place, and he finally talked me into giving it up. I would not, however, give up the two-tone paint (I just really like the look). At the time (2 months ago) we couldn't locate any with cloth and two-tone paint either.
We have an old friend (was in our wedding) who is the general manager at a dealership that sells Kias. He claimed that his Kia rep owed him a favor and that he would try to get us one exactly as we wanted. After some checking, he informed us that ABS was really hard to get (we knew that by then). We said nix the ABS. A week later we were told that getting the two-tone paint (black/platinum) would require either the sunroof or the leather. We told him OK on the sunroof. He called back a few days later apologizing and said it would have to be the leather.
I know it sounds like we were getting the runaround, but I had already discovered most of these things by talking to other dealers in our area. Our friend even offered to paint a one-color EX to look like the two-tone paint so we could get cloth (said the dealership would warantee the paint job). We decided that wasn't what we wanted to do.
So, to make a long story even longer, we decided to "order" a black/platinum (two-tone) with leather as the only option. After some uncomfortable negotiating (he's a friend, but he's still a car dealer) about the price of the van, the deal was made. We were happy!
Our friend called back 10 minutes later saying that he had found the exact van in port in Korea. He could get it allocated to his dealership and have it in 3-4 weeks. There was just one problem -- the van had ABS. He said he would give us the ABS at invoice and my husband said do it (knowing I would be happy).
So after about 2 months of looking and negotiating, we are patiently waiting for our black/platinum EX with leather and ABS. It should be here during the first half of April.
I don't know if another dealer would be able to locate one in Korea like we did, but I'm sure there are others out there willing to "dealer locate trade". If it hadn't been for my insistance on the two-tone paint, we probably would have gone with an EX with no options (I have seen a few of these around). We liked the cloth, and feel that the EX has plenty of equipment to begin with.
After all my rambling, I guess it comes down to how strongly you feel about ABS. There has been some lively discussion on this board about the value of ABS (I'm sorry I don't know the exact posts -- maybe someone else can help with that). Here's an article I found on the topic: http://carpoint.msn.com/advice/news_9201_6.asp
I guess I feel a little safer having the ABS, but I would have given it up to get the vehicle I wanted. Ironically, I ended up getting the leather so I could have the two-tone paint (how strange is that?!). The ABS was just a bonus.
Good luck making your decision! Either way, I think the Sedona is a great choice.
caviller, Thanks for the info. The link was VERY interesting reading. I'll make the trek to the local PD and have the seats checked with and without the units. Can't take any chance with the kids.
All very interesting. On the car seats, sliding the seats fully back and then allowing them to come forward sucks the carseats into the bucket quite nicely for me. To each his own - just my way of doing it. I love those locking seatbelts which GM does not use, on its sedans anyway.
big_guy, we agree. I suspect that the biggest issue is that most people over 25 started driving non-abs vehicles. As such, they either have never had an incident, or couldn't steer when they did because there was no ABS. The more I think about it, the more I think that AAA and others have mis-identified the "problem" with ABS. They indicate that drivers are surprised by brake pedal feel. I hypothesize that it has to do with: 1) Tunnel vision taking over in an accident - drivers focus on stopping in the distance remaining to not hit the car in front of them 2) not having a real-time accident avoidance plan (e.g., I can steer right from the middle lane because there are no vehicles in that lane right now, or vice versa) and 3) not steering the vehicle around the accident because the decision to do so was abdicated when plan b was not a forethought. As a result, the extended stopping distance results in rear-ending the next guy. Just my hypothesis, but my real-world experience is that they work and can be used properly to effect a different outcome.
mfbono: While not a particularly useful comment, I have yet to have a car that didn't have a few kinks. In fact, it sounds like the engine computer did a great job.
On leather, I like it, but I am quickly learning that it is far more maintenance than scotchguarded cloth. All things considered, I'll adapt, but it is worthy to note that there's alot of surface area to cover with the Lexol. Speaking of which, I see very little residue after applying it and I have yet to get the right cloth to "remove" whatever it is I am removing - that firm stickiness impedes cloth travel and adds to the work. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I was in BabiesRUs the other day, and they have something called a LATCH kit. They had several brands (Evenflo, Century, Cosco,etc.), and they all ran around $25.
All Sedonas come with the new LATCH system to attach child seats more easily (I think it's only in the second row seats). If you look in the crease of the seat (between seat and seat back) there are two metal U's sticking out (on either side). Newer car seats come equipt with clips that attach to the metal U's.
My cars seats are old, so I am considering getting one of the retrofit kits to attach the carseat more securely. The kit is basically a length of seatbelt with a tether strap clip at each end. You thread it through the car seat where the seat belt would normally go. I'm sorry if I'm not describing this very well.
I plan to check into the whole latch system as soon as I have my van (baby's not due till June). It might be an option to consider for those having problems with the seat belts.
Also, my 4 yr. old is in a booster seat. I've always been uncomfortable with the fact that the booster seat doesn't really "attach" to the car. It just positions the regular seat belt for the child, but moves around a bit in turns, etc. I might also get a LATCH kit to make the booster more secure.
Just one more option to consider. Hope this helps someone.
Did the dealer correct the problem to your satisfaction? With even the most reliable cars, you can count on a certain number of components failing. Though it is not terribly common to have a part fail quickly, it is also not too uncommon. The whole purpose behind a burn in period for a computer is that an electronic component with probably either fail fairly quickly or not at all. That is the whole idea between the basic warrantee. You had an ignition coil fail. Assuming that it isn't the result of a faulty batch of coils, you will probably have no more problem with it.
The bottom line? Were you satisfied with the dealers handling of your problem? If so then you will have nothing to worry about.
For some reason, Kia has adopted a different strategy in Canada regarding options and trim levels. The Canadian Sedona is available in three trim levels: LX, EX and EX-Luxury. The LX level appears to be the same in the US and Canada. However, ALL EX models come equipped with ABS, two-tone cladding, spoiler and rain-sensing wipers. The EX-Luxury adds leather and the sunroof. Homelink is not available (maybe in Korea they think that we don't have garage door openers on our igloos!) The reason for the shortage of ABS may be that all the ABS-equipped EXs landed north of the border. My own observation locally is that the middle trim level (EX, no leather/sunroof) is the most popular.
With regard to the discussion on the merits of ABS, all I can say is that having driven both, I am definitely a convert to ABS, but as bluedevils implied in an earlier post, it does take some adjustment to the way you brake. A couple of weeks ago, I was driving in an unfamiliar city at night in the rain, trying to read a map (I know, I know, not too bright... but I was wearing my seat belt!) I glanced up just in time to see the red traffic light rapidly approaching. I applied the brakes, but my immediate reaction was to apply them gingerly. My last van (Caravan) had a nasty habit of locking the rear wheels in a situation such as this, resulting in the back end sliding to one side or the other. The only way to prevent this from happening was to modulate the brakes using "threshold" braking techniques, meaning that you carefully apply brake pressure until you sense that the wheels are going to lock, then you release the pedal slightly. Anyway, back to my story. I realized that I wasn't slowing down terribly quickly, so I literally stood on the brakes. I felt the ABS activate (brake pedal vibrates) and the van stopped on the proverbial dime! I glanced over at my wife and we both said "wow" in unison. So what's the moral of the story? If you have the option, go for the ABS, but practice some panic braking before you get in a situation where you're going to need it.
The data editors have made the appropriate change to the database and the correction will show up when the data is updated in a couple of weeks or so.
I'm not sure if this will agree with the owner's manuals out there but this is what the scoop (supposedly) is:
California Kia Sedonas
NORMAL Service: Inspect timing belt at 60K and 90K miles. Replace timing belt every 105K miles.
SEVERE Service: Inspect timing belt at 60K and 90K miles. Replace timing belt every 60K miles. (Timing belt for non-California Sedona is also replaced at 60K miles during severe service.)
Non-California Sedonas
NORMAL Service: Replace timing belt every 96K miles.
SEVERE Service: Replace timing belt every 60K miles. Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Well, I change the timing belt on the Cavalier every 60K. The belt is maybe $20 on the high side. I haven't seen what is involved on the Sedona, but Bluedevils, 60K is not unusual in my albeit limited experience. Considering the consequences of not doing it, much better to change it on a regular schedule.
I would recommend against waiting all 96K - just me, your mileage may vary (ymmv). If it is a serpentine belt, it should be fairly easy to see if it's looking cracked, glazed and/or dry with a few small (1/32" or smaller) pieces missing here and there. If so, it needs to be changed. If in doubt, get it out.
On oil, I saw the traffic on the Chevron. Definitely looks like something I will start using. I see nothing that would indicate that the warranty would be an issue, but it would be nice to receive a straightforward ackowledgement to your inquiry.
Some friends of ours visited this weekend. We took the Sedona on a few trips. They have purchased one of those LATCH straps or whatever, for use in their Olds Silhouette. They used it in the second row of our Sedona and it worked great - seat was very snugly fastened. These are the same friends who told us about the Mighty Tite. With the LATCH thingamajig, they no longer need to use the Mighty Tite.
The friend said the LATCH system is required on all 2002 model year vehicles (not sure if this is 100% true). So they are still using their Mighty Tite on their 1999 Blazer.
I see the point about the Mighty Tite not being government-approved or whatever, but I fail to see how it could be anything but a safety benefit. I.e., how could it hurt? Can someone offer a more specific scenario regarding how the Mighty Tite could be harmful or unsafe?
We have 3 cars and 2 different types of car seats. Our car seats are rear-facing for another couple months. I have never been able to get any of the car seats installed tight enough to make me feel comfortable about it. We have a next-door neighbor with 2 kids whose car seats (forward-facing) are extremely tight, and a sister-in-law who is a pediatric nurse. Even with their help, the results were unsatisfactory. Several months ago, we went to the county health department and had a certified car-seat person help install the infant car seat/base in our 1998 Isuzu Trooper. She had a heckuva time with it and noted that our Trooper's rear seat was a very tough place to properly install a car seat.
What's my point? I am fully convinced that it is, quite often, nearly impossible to install a car seat tightly and properly without the aid of alternative devices such as the Mighty Tite or the LATCH system. If you do not have a brand-new vehicle, the LATCH system is not an option. However, this seems like a great alternative to the Mighty Tite for all Sedona owners. But I will not be throwing away my Mighty Tites, nor will I stop recommending them to friends.
I hope things get easier when we are able to change our car seats to forward-facing in a couple months.
Yesterday we received the letter Kia is sending Sedona owners in response to the recent IIHS test results. That prompted me finally to call Kia America last night. Well, first I called Kia Financial Services by mistake - not sure why the business card Kia provides owners has the Kia Financial phone number and not the Kia customer service number. Strange.
Main points of the letter: * Highlights Sedona's good crash test performance * Downplays the results of the airbag deploying in the IIHS bumper test and declares this test does not reflect a real-world collision * Sedona's airbags are intended to deploy above 8 mph * Kia and NHTSA have no reports of low-speed airbag deployments - this is no surprise. Even if there was a safety issue with the Sedona's airbag system, there are not many Sedonas on the road yet. * A production change will be made so Sedona's airbag does not deploy the next time IIHS conducts the same test on it.
Most important result of my call to Kia: In mid-April, dealers will have a tool that they can use to adjust or reprogram the airbag system on existing Sedonas.
The lady on the phone was not helpful at all, nor was she interested in listening to anything I had to say. My goals for the call were very modest: 1) Officially register my safety concerns about the airbag deploying in one of the 4 IIHS bumper tests. 2) Find out if Kia is willing to make the same "running production change" on Sedonas that have already been built and sold, such as ours.
The call lasted about 7 minutes. I was polite. About 5 minutes of it was the lady telilng me why there was no reason to worry. Some of what she said: * Specifically mentioned the other test results (IIHS offset frontal - she described the results as 'outstanding' or some other superlative, and NHTSA 5-star). * Specifically mentioned the Volvo S80 and how the same thing happened to that vehicle in an IIHS test back in 2000. * Stated that the IIHS bumper test was NOT a safety test and provided no information about the safety of a vehicle.
I finally was able to respond. I told her I was very pleased with the Sedona's overall safety performance in the IIHS and NHTSA tests (because I am). I tried to tell her that the airbag deploying in a bumper test IS a safety concern to me and several other folks with whom I chat about Sedonas on the internet, but she kept cutting me off! She finally mentioned that dealers would have a tool by mid-April and would be able to modify Sedonas that are already in consumers' hands. According to the lady on the phone, it's a simple matter of scheduling an appointment with the dealer. That was the news I was hoping to hear. This conflicts with the letter, though, which mentions a PRODUCTION change and not a change to existing units.
I was impressed that Kia responded so quickly to the IIHS results and the Dateline publicity. It's no surprise that they denied any safety issues - this is typical automobile manufacturer behavior these days. The fact that they are making a change to existing and future Sedonas is the good part. With this last action, Kia has now handled this situation well, in my view.
That's what I wanted when I called Kia last night and asked. What I got instead was an uninformed response filled with disclaimers.
What I want to know is this: If I change my own oil, keep a detailed log and receipts for oil and filters, is my warranty intact? I have emailed and called Kia, but they have not given me a straight answer. The email basically said "no" you cannot do this if you want to maintain your warranty. The phone call response was 'I haven't heard anything that would invalidate your warranty if you change your own oil. Just make sure you save your receipts from the Kia filters and Kia oil that you buy.' The lady also mentioned that you must use Kia parts (not true, according to the owners manual). I can't imagine that Kia actually puts its logo on motor oil! Filters, sure. But oil? I doubt it.
My interpretation: yes, you can do that. But we reserve the right to void your warranty if/when you have a warranty claim, on the grounds that you did it wrong, you shouldn't have done it yourself, etc.
Why would Kia explain the engine oil/filter change procedure in detail in the owners manual, if they did not support owners doing this procedure themselves? What other intended purpose could there be for including this info in the owners manual?
The service advisor at my dealer had the common-sense answer: keep a detailed log and keep your receipts, and you won't have a problem. That is probably true, but I was looking for a definitive answer from Kia.
Just to be safe, I will probably have a shop or the dealer change the oil every 7,500 miles or so. I find all of this very annoying!
So Kia acknowledge that a change needs to be made to the airbag system in new and existing vehicles. That's great. Now they need to institute a recall so that every owner of current vehicles knows about it and has the opportunity to have his or her vehicle modified. Simply issuing a letter which does not mention the change is not good enough. Also unless detailed records are kept how can a second or subsequent owner know that his vehicle has been modified.
I have yet to receive the Kia/airbag letter but I think it is interesting that the personnel answering the telephone inquiries seem to be reading from a prepared script. The lady I spoke with mentioned the exact same things to me as she apparently did to Bluedevils with the exception of the "fix" that will be available in mid April. If they can remedy the problem why won't they? I am glad they are working on the issue but I just don't understand why they don't want to recall the current vehicles on the road. Do you think this adjustment will be something covered under the warranty?
I think that hoyahenry is saying that his own comment is not particularly useful. In all the time I have been reading hoyahenry's postings they have never been anything but helpful, certainly not critical of another poster. Read it again with that in mind and see what you think.
Have had my Ex about three weeks now. 1200 miles. No mechanical complaints/problems. Agree with everyone who has posted that headrests make visibility a problem, especially when parallel parking. Took them out for now since all my children are 6 and under and don't need them. Once I am more adjusted to driving Sedona I may put them back in.
BIGGEST complaint. I agree that the pedal placement is odd/uncomfortable and I am only 5'7". Feels like they are too close/too high. Keep wanting/wishing there were an indentation/well for my heel. Other thing I thought/haven't looked into is maybe the pedals are too far from each other. This may simply be a result of them being closer than I am used to but always feel like I have to move my whole foot to go from one to the other.
Getting ready for a 1800-2000 mile trip from WV to FL at end of week. Anyone have any suggestions for seat placement to lessen the discomfort of pedal placement. I have tried several settings and none seem great. Seat at highest position/slightly tilted back may be most comfortable but haven't been on extended trip yet.
"What's my point? I am fully convinced that it is, quite often, nearly impossible to install a car seat tightly and properly without the aid of alternative devices such as the Mighty Tite or the LATCH system. If you do not have a brand-new vehicle, the LATCH system is not an option. However, this seems like a great alternative to the Mighty Tite for all Sedona owners. But I will not be throwing away my Mighty Tites, nor will I stop recommending them to friends."
My experience as a technician is the reverse. It is the exception rather than the rule where a carseat will not fit adequately. Of course, I install many seats at checkup events, and am familiar with various seatbelt systems, locking clips and other methods of fitting various seats in a variety of vehicles. Unfortunately, most parents don't have that experience or training, and are often stuck with a model that has confusing or incomplete instructions. If they don't know about free carseat checkups provided by trained technicians, products like this are appealing. Incidentally, though you probably didn't intend it, I wanted to clarify that LATCH is not an alternative device. While new, LATCH is a fully regulated and tested system for carseat installation governed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (225) and endorsed by carseat manufacturers on certain models.
If a device like Mighty Tite is the only way to install a seat properly, then I certainly wouldn't dismiss it's use in those cases. My suggestion is to visit a local technician before resorting to such a device not recommended by the manufacturer of your carseat. Better yet, seek out a senior technician/checker, technician instructor or a checkup event where a more experienced tech can help in case you do have a difficult combination.
"? Can someone offer a more specific scenario regarding how the Mighty Tite could be harmful or unsafe?"
The manufacturers of this device gave a presentation at last year's conference on child passenger safety. It generated significant interest in the Q&A session. The two biggest scenarios are seatbelt damage and the risk of the device becoming a projectile. Apparently, some had observed that the device frayed seatbelts when ratcheted tightly, or that it had been ratcheted so tightly that the energy absorbing features in the seatbelt had been stretched and were no longer providing the force limiting feature designed into them. In the extreme, the seatbelt retractor could also be damaged. Another concern was that the device is rather heavy, and in the forces of a severe crash it could be pulled off the belt, making it a dangerous projectile and leaving the carseat unsecured.
Risks like these may not be high, but my opinion is that when the lives of my kids are at stake (motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of kids 1-14), I would take every precaution to reduce the chance of injury. Since carseat checks are free, and usually take only 30 mins or so, it's really not much more difficult than making a trip to the store to buy an aftermarket device. Personally, I'd even recommend a second opinion and/or buy a new carseat which might fit better in my car before using such a device.
Incidentally, I did find this in the CPSlist archives:
Comments
Called Kia's roadside assistance and they were very helpful. Dispatched service, only alternative was to tow. The manual says if light is on steady the van can be driven... so I cancelled the tow drove 2 miles to get home, van sitting in driveway. Dealer has Saturday service, hope its minor...is the honeymoon over ?? Only 700 miles on the van.. will update tomorrow.. keep fingers crossed.
Excelent3
Steve
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A note to all those folks who drive without their seatbelts at least some of the time and all those anecdotal stories of people you know who survived a crash while unbelted:
Don't be stupid! The point is that wearing a seatbelt increases your likelihood of surviving a crash. Nothing is ever guaranteed in this life but it makes sense to have the odds in your favor. If you are really worried about being able to get out of the vehicle after a crash, you should be lobbying for manual door locks and windows, since failure of the electrical system after a crash is much more likely to trap you in the vehicle than seatbelts. You can also buy a simple tool that will slice through the seatbelt material if the lock is jammed. Get one if that will put your mind at ease and, for God's sake and the sake of your family--BUCKLE UP EVERY TIME!
What would cause the spark plugs to mis fire?
Just hope its not anything serious.
Key points:
1. Bragging about it's top performance status in NHTSA crash tests.
2. Down play IIHS crash test, 5mph bumper test do not reflect a real-world collision.
3. Kia check it's files and NHTSA's files, no complaints of low speed airbag deployments in the Sedona.
4. Kia took step of instituting a production running change in Sedona's airbag system so next time it would pass the test. (no mentioning of doing anything for the current Sedona Owner).
5. Use seat belt.
Looks like there is no recall, what do you think?
I am disappointed that Kia has chosen to wait until someone gets hurt before doing anything constructive for current owners. All I require is some proof that this was a fluke. Is there any? It doesn't sound like it's in that letter.
I wonder if the hood protector does really protect the hood ?
Is it true that sport visors will reduce wind noise when the windows are open ?
If this is true then would they reduce the wind noise when the windows are closed ?
Thanks everybody for all the useful information that I found in this forum.
My fully dressed white Sedona with leather seats and sunroof (or moonroof) is now enjoying a train ride across Canada from Vancouver to Montreal.
I am a real estate agent and my car is my office, I almost live in it. I did a lot of research and found it to be the most suitable for my business. I will remove one of the back seats to accommodate my open house directional signes and all the tools and stationary that I carry around. Fully dressed for thousands less than all the basic vans. zero interest for three years, Five years power and train, five years (bottom to top) and five years roadside assistance.
Sedona will be more suitable than my Jeep Cherokee. In the past few months I drove around two clients whom I was afraid that they will deliver their babies in my Jeep. Both delivered their babies few days after buying their new houses. Next client can deliver in my Sedona, it is large enough for that and the back seat that I left there can accommodate a midwife.
I hope somebody have the answers for my three questions.
Steve
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Steve
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A few years ago I recall a Lexus model (I can't remember which) was tested and achieved a 5 star rating. However it also drew a comment that it's airbag timing could have been improved and Lexus being Lexus they adjusted the timing and submitted another car for testing. Truly the pursuit of excellence but, of course, not at Kia prices.
1) Who said it was under-powered and what were they smoking? It had plenty of power. Even my lead-footed wife thought so (she still longs for the days of her sports cars).
2) Does the heater ever heat up? We drove it about 20 minutes and never felt warm. Maybe I need the post # of how to run the controls correctly.
3) All we could find with ABS was with leather and sunroof. Do they make the EX with ABS and cloth? We really hate leather.
4) Two dealerships did not have any with ABS and told us that was because the MO Highway Patrol issued a report that ABS caused more accidents than prevented. Any thoughts on that?
5) Did you get used to the odd pedal placement. I had to put the seat back almost the entire way so my long legs could comfortably be on the pedals, then my arms were stretched.
Anyway, we were impressed, but if we cannot get ABS with cloth, we may have to look at an MPV.
ABS only helps is you use it right. Many people do not know the proper way to brake with ABS, so they end up not getting the benefits of the ABS.
I doubt Missouri has as many ABS Sedonas as everyone else. Unfortunately, ABS Sedonas seem to be pretty scarce. They are out there; you just have to look hard or get a dealer to find one for you.
Thanks for the info. Acutally, we found three with ABS in the exact colors we wanted (white/plat or black/plat), they just had leather and sunroof.
I hate paying the exta $1,500 for options that de-value a vehicle in our eyes (we just don't like them).
Regarding changing my own oil, I still need to CALL Kia USA. The email I received basically said this was not allowed (if you want to maintain warranty coverage), but a recent call to my dealer's service department produced the expected 'just keep your receipts and fill out the log in your glovebox, and you'll be fine' response.
The owners manual does not state that you CANNOT change your own oil. In fact, it implies in a couple different places that Kia is okay with owners performing their own routine maintenance.
Thanks for listening
Exactly what is the proper way to brake with ABS? It is my undertanding that ABS is designed to keep the wheels from locking up. This occurs most frequently in a panic situation where the driver has little time to react. "Most people" under panic situations will stomp on the brakes (which would lock up the wheels in a vehicle not equipped with ABS). A vehicle that is equipped with ABS prevents the wheels from locking up to maintain controllability of the vehicle under braking conditions.
There isn't any specific way to "use" ABS. It is a safety feature similar to air bags, TCS, LSD, or BFD that doesn't require driver intervention to operate properly.
4200 miles and no problems. Great van.
We don't like leather either and had decided to give up on the ABS, but ironically we'll be ending up with both (long story). Our EX is on it's way and will hopefully be here in a few weeks.
I would suggest calling or sending emails to all dealerships in your area inquiring about Sedonas with ABS. It seems to me that the supply of Sedonas (in this area at least) has been increasing over the past month or so. Maybe you'll get lucky.
I sat in a Sedona with leather last week, and I do find it to be pretty nice leather. We also seriously considered the MPV and found it to be a very nice vehicle! In the end, the Sedona was just a better value for us, but I think either van is a good choice.
Good Luck!
A.H.
I visited all the dealer and found exaclty what I wanted, only with leather and sunroof which I do not want. Can't decide whether to go with ABS/leather/sunroof or scrap ABS and get cloth.
That is the basis for my claim that many people don't use ABS properly. If you don't stomp on the brake pedal, then you are not getting maximum braking performance and are not likely to activate the ABS functionality.
It's great that this device worked for you. Still, you should be aware that this item is neither tested nor recommended by any carseat manufacturer. While the manufacturer claims to meet appropriate safety standards, the truth is that there are no NHTSA or government standards that regulate or test any aftermarket products for child restraints. As such, assume you are using the device at your own risk. Be especially careful that they are locked properly so that they won't become a heavy projectile in a crash, and also that they are not damaging your seatbelts.
As a certified technician, I have found that there are not too many vehicle/carseat combinations that are incompatible. I can get most carseats to install properly in most cars. I would highly recommend that anyone considering any aftermarket product should visit a local certified technician for a free checkup before you buy. Many hospitals, public health, police and fire departments have a certified child passenger safety technician on staff.
Also see:
http://boards2.parentsplace.com/messages/get/ppcarseats217/9/4/1.html
When we started looking for a Sedona (under the assumption that you could order them the way you want) we wanted an EX with ABS and two-tone paint. After about a month of looking, the only Sedonas we could find with ABS were fully loaded (and there were only a few of those to be had in Iowa).
My husband and I disagree about the necessity of ABS in the first place, and he finally talked me into giving it up. I would not, however, give up the two-tone paint (I just really like the look). At the time (2 months ago) we couldn't locate any with cloth and two-tone paint either.
We have an old friend (was in our wedding) who is the general manager at a dealership that sells Kias. He claimed that his Kia rep owed him a favor and that he would try to get us one exactly as we wanted. After some checking, he informed us that ABS was really hard to get (we knew that by then). We said nix the ABS. A week later we were told that getting the two-tone paint (black/platinum) would require either the sunroof or the leather. We told him OK on the sunroof. He called back a few days later apologizing and said it would have to be the leather.
I know it sounds like we were getting the runaround, but I had already discovered most of these things by talking to other dealers in our area. Our friend even offered to paint a one-color EX to look like the two-tone paint so we could get cloth (said the dealership would warantee the paint job). We decided that wasn't what we wanted to do.
So, to make a long story even longer, we decided to "order" a black/platinum (two-tone) with leather as the only option. After some uncomfortable negotiating (he's a friend, but he's still a car dealer) about the price of the van, the deal was made. We were happy!
Our friend called back 10 minutes later saying that he had found the exact van in port in Korea. He could get it allocated to his dealership and have it in 3-4 weeks. There was just one problem -- the van had ABS. He said he would give us the ABS at invoice and my husband said do it (knowing I would be happy).
So after about 2 months of looking and negotiating, we are patiently waiting for our black/platinum EX with leather and ABS. It should be here during the first half of April.
I don't know if another dealer would be able to locate one in Korea like we did, but I'm sure there are others out there willing to "dealer locate trade". If it hadn't been for my insistance on the two-tone paint, we probably would have gone with an EX with no options (I have seen a few of these around). We liked the cloth, and feel that the EX has plenty of equipment to begin with.
After all my rambling, I guess it comes down to how strongly you feel about ABS. There has been some lively discussion on this board about the value of ABS (I'm sorry I don't know the exact posts -- maybe someone else can help with that). Here's an article I found on the topic: http://carpoint.msn.com/advice/news_9201_6.asp
I guess I feel a little safer having the ABS, but I would have given it up to get the vehicle I wanted. Ironically, I ended up getting the leather so I could have the two-tone paint (how strange is that?!). The ABS was just a bonus.
Good luck making your decision! Either way, I think the Sedona is a great choice.
A.H.
Thanks for the info. The link was VERY interesting reading. I'll make the trek to the local PD and have the seats checked with and without the units. Can't take any chance with the kids.
Thanks
big_guy, we agree. I suspect that the biggest issue is that most people over 25 started driving non-abs vehicles. As such, they either have never had an incident, or couldn't steer when they did because there was no ABS. The more I think about it, the more I think that AAA and others have mis-identified the "problem" with ABS. They indicate that drivers are surprised by brake pedal feel. I hypothesize that it has to do with:
1) Tunnel vision taking over in an accident - drivers focus on stopping in the distance remaining to not hit the car in front of them
2) not having a real-time accident avoidance plan (e.g., I can steer right from the middle lane because there are no vehicles in that lane right now, or vice versa)
and 3) not steering the vehicle around the accident because the decision to do so was abdicated when plan b was not a forethought. As a result, the extended stopping distance results in rear-ending the next guy. Just my hypothesis, but my real-world experience is that they work and can be used properly to effect a different outcome.
mfbono: While not a particularly useful comment, I have yet to have a car that didn't have a few kinks. In fact, it sounds like the engine computer did a great job.
On leather, I like it, but I am quickly learning that it is far more maintenance than scotchguarded cloth. All things considered, I'll adapt, but it is worthy to note that there's alot of surface area to cover with the Lexol. Speaking of which, I see very little residue after applying it and I have yet to get the right cloth to "remove" whatever it is I am removing - that firm stickiness impedes cloth travel and adds to the work. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I was in BabiesRUs the other day, and they have something called a LATCH kit. They had several brands (Evenflo, Century, Cosco,etc.), and they all ran around $25.
All Sedonas come with the new LATCH system to attach child seats more easily (I think it's only in the second row seats). If you look in the crease of the seat (between seat and seat back) there are two metal U's sticking out (on either side). Newer car seats come equipt with clips that attach to the metal U's.
My cars seats are old, so I am considering getting one of the retrofit kits to attach the carseat more securely. The kit is basically a length of seatbelt with a tether strap clip at each end. You thread it through the car seat where the seat belt would normally go. I'm sorry if I'm not describing this very well.
I plan to check into the whole latch system as soon as I have my van (baby's not due till June). It might be an option to consider for those having problems with the seat belts.
Also, my 4 yr. old is in a booster seat. I've always been uncomfortable with the fact that the booster seat doesn't really "attach" to the car. It just positions the regular seat belt for the child, but moves around a bit in turns, etc. I might also get a LATCH kit to make the booster more secure.
Just one more option to consider. Hope this helps someone.
The bottom line? Were you satisfied with the dealers handling of your problem? If so then you will have nothing to worry about.
The reason for the shortage of ABS may be that all the ABS-equipped EXs landed north of the border. My own observation locally is that the middle trim level (EX, no leather/sunroof) is the most popular.
With regard to the discussion on the merits of ABS, all I can say is that having driven both, I am definitely a convert to ABS, but as bluedevils implied in an earlier post, it does take some adjustment to the way you brake. A couple of weeks ago, I was driving in an unfamiliar city at night in the rain, trying to read a map (I know, I know, not too bright... but I was wearing my seat belt!) I glanced up just in time to see the red traffic light rapidly approaching. I applied the brakes, but my immediate reaction was to apply them gingerly. My last van (Caravan) had a nasty habit of locking the rear wheels in a situation such as this, resulting in the back end sliding to one side or the other. The only way to prevent this from happening was to modulate the brakes using "threshold" braking techniques, meaning that you carefully apply brake pressure until you sense that the wheels are going to lock, then you release the pedal slightly. Anyway, back to my story. I realized that I wasn't slowing down terribly quickly, so I literally stood on the brakes. I felt the ABS activate (brake pedal vibrates) and the van stopped on the proverbial dime! I glanced over at my wife and we both said "wow" in unison.
So what's the moral of the story? If you have the option, go for the ABS, but practice some panic braking before you get in a situation where you're going to need it.
I'm not sure if this will agree with the owner's manuals out there but this is what the scoop (supposedly) is:
California Kia Sedonas
NORMAL Service: Inspect timing belt at 60K and 90K miles. Replace timing belt every 105K miles.
SEVERE Service: Inspect timing belt at 60K and 90K miles. Replace timing belt every 60K miles. (Timing belt for non-California Sedona is also replaced at 60K miles during severe service.)
Non-California Sedonas
NORMAL Service: Replace timing belt every 96K miles.
SEVERE Service: Replace timing belt every 60K miles.
Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I would recommend against waiting all 96K - just me, your mileage may vary (ymmv). If it is a serpentine belt, it should be fairly easy to see if it's looking cracked, glazed and/or dry with a few small (1/32" or smaller) pieces missing here and there. If so, it needs to be changed. If in doubt, get it out.
On oil, I saw the traffic on the Chevron. Definitely looks like something I will start using. I see nothing that would indicate that the warranty would be an issue, but it would be nice to receive a straightforward ackowledgement to your inquiry.
http://www.car-safety.org/latch.html
Good luck!
The friend said the LATCH system is required on all 2002 model year vehicles (not sure if this is 100% true). So they are still using their Mighty Tite on their 1999 Blazer.
I see the point about the Mighty Tite not being government-approved or whatever, but I fail to see how it could be anything but a safety benefit. I.e., how could it hurt? Can someone offer a more specific scenario regarding how the Mighty Tite could be harmful or unsafe?
We have 3 cars and 2 different types of car seats. Our car seats are rear-facing for another couple months. I have never been able to get any of the car seats installed tight enough to make me feel comfortable about it. We have a next-door neighbor with 2 kids whose car seats (forward-facing) are extremely tight, and a sister-in-law who is a pediatric nurse. Even with their help, the results were unsatisfactory. Several months ago, we went to the county health department and had a certified car-seat person help install the infant car seat/base in our 1998 Isuzu Trooper. She had a heckuva time with it and noted that our Trooper's rear seat was a very tough place to properly install a car seat.
What's my point? I am fully convinced that it is, quite often, nearly impossible to install a car seat tightly and properly without the aid of alternative devices such as the Mighty Tite or the LATCH system. If you do not have a brand-new vehicle, the LATCH system is not an option. However, this seems like a great alternative to the Mighty Tite for all Sedona owners. But I will not be throwing away my Mighty Tites, nor will I stop recommending them to friends.
I hope things get easier when we are able to change our car seats to forward-facing in a couple months.
Main points of the letter:
* Highlights Sedona's good crash test performance
* Downplays the results of the airbag deploying in the IIHS bumper test and declares this test does not reflect a real-world collision
* Sedona's airbags are intended to deploy above 8 mph
* Kia and NHTSA have no reports of low-speed airbag deployments - this is no surprise. Even if there was a safety issue with the Sedona's airbag system, there are not many Sedonas on the road yet.
* A production change will be made so Sedona's airbag does not deploy the next time IIHS conducts the same test on it.
Most important result of my call to Kia: In mid-April, dealers will have a tool that they can use to adjust or reprogram the airbag system on existing Sedonas.
The lady on the phone was not helpful at all, nor was she interested in listening to anything I had to say. My goals for the call were very modest: 1) Officially register my safety concerns about the airbag deploying in one of the 4 IIHS bumper tests. 2) Find out if Kia is willing to make the same "running production change" on Sedonas that have already been built and sold, such as ours.
The call lasted about 7 minutes. I was polite. About 5 minutes of it was the lady telilng me why there was no reason to worry. Some of what she said:
* Specifically mentioned the other test results (IIHS offset frontal - she described the results as 'outstanding' or some other superlative, and NHTSA 5-star).
* Specifically mentioned the Volvo S80 and how the same thing happened to that vehicle in an IIHS test back in 2000.
* Stated that the IIHS bumper test was NOT a safety test and provided no information about the safety of a vehicle.
I finally was able to respond. I told her I was very pleased with the Sedona's overall safety performance in the IIHS and NHTSA tests (because I am). I tried to tell her that the airbag deploying in a bumper test IS a safety concern to me and several other folks with whom I chat about Sedonas on the internet, but she kept cutting me off! She finally mentioned that dealers would have a tool by mid-April and would be able to modify Sedonas that are already in consumers' hands. According to the lady on the phone, it's a simple matter of scheduling an appointment with the dealer. That was the news I was hoping to hear. This conflicts with the letter, though, which mentions a PRODUCTION change and not a change to existing units.
I was impressed that Kia responded so quickly to the IIHS results and the Dateline publicity. It's no surprise that they denied any safety issues - this is typical automobile manufacturer behavior these days. The fact that they are making a change to existing and future Sedonas is the good part. With this last action, Kia has now handled this situation well, in my view.
What I want to know is this: If I change my own oil, keep a detailed log and receipts for oil and filters, is my warranty intact? I have emailed and called Kia, but they have not given me a straight answer. The email basically said "no" you cannot do this if you want to maintain your warranty. The phone call response was 'I haven't heard anything that would invalidate your warranty if you change your own oil. Just make sure you save your receipts from the Kia filters and Kia oil that you buy.' The lady also mentioned that you must use Kia parts (not true, according to the owners manual). I can't imagine that Kia actually puts its logo on motor oil! Filters, sure. But oil? I doubt it.
My interpretation: yes, you can do that. But we reserve the right to void your warranty if/when you have a warranty claim, on the grounds that you did it wrong, you shouldn't have done it yourself, etc.
Why would Kia explain the engine oil/filter change procedure in detail in the owners manual, if they did not support owners doing this procedure themselves? What other intended purpose could there be for including this info in the owners manual?
The service advisor at my dealer had the common-sense answer: keep a detailed log and keep your receipts, and you won't have a problem. That is probably true, but I was looking for a definitive answer from Kia.
Just to be safe, I will probably have a shop or the dealer change the oil every 7,500 miles or so. I find all of this very annoying!
BIGGEST complaint. I agree that the pedal placement is odd/uncomfortable and I am only 5'7". Feels like they are too close/too high. Keep wanting/wishing there were an indentation/well for my heel. Other thing I thought/haven't looked into is maybe the pedals are too far from each other. This may simply be a result of them being closer than I am used to but always feel like I have to move my whole foot to go from one to the other.
Getting ready for a 1800-2000 mile trip from WV to FL at end of week. Anyone have any suggestions for seat placement to lessen the discomfort of pedal placement. I have tried several settings and none seem great. Seat at highest position/slightly tilted back may be most comfortable but haven't been on extended trip yet.
My experience as a technician is the reverse. It is the exception rather than the rule where a carseat will not fit adequately. Of course, I install many seats at checkup events, and am familiar with various seatbelt systems, locking clips and other methods of fitting various seats in a variety of vehicles. Unfortunately, most parents don't have that experience or training, and are often stuck with a model that has confusing or incomplete instructions. If they don't know about free carseat checkups provided by trained technicians, products like this are appealing. Incidentally, though you probably didn't intend it, I wanted to clarify that LATCH is not an alternative device. While new, LATCH is a fully regulated and tested system for carseat installation governed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (225) and endorsed by carseat manufacturers on certain models.
If a device like Mighty Tite is the only way to install a seat properly, then I certainly wouldn't dismiss it's use in those cases. My suggestion is to visit a local technician before resorting to such a device not recommended by the manufacturer of your carseat. Better yet, seek out a senior technician/checker, technician instructor or a checkup event where a more experienced tech can help in case you do have a difficult combination.
"? Can someone offer a more specific scenario regarding how the Mighty Tite could be harmful or unsafe?"
The manufacturers of this device gave a presentation at last year's conference on child passenger safety. It generated significant interest in the Q&A session. The two biggest scenarios are seatbelt damage and the risk of the device becoming a projectile. Apparently, some had observed that the device frayed seatbelts when ratcheted tightly, or that it had been ratcheted so tightly that the energy absorbing features in the seatbelt had been stretched and were no longer providing the force limiting feature designed into them. In the extreme, the seatbelt retractor could also be damaged. Another concern was that the device is rather heavy, and in the forces of a severe crash it could be pulled off the belt, making it a dangerous projectile and leaving the carseat unsecured.
Risks like these may not be high, but my opinion is that when the lives of my kids are at stake (motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of kids 1-14), I would take every precaution to reduce the chance of injury. Since carseat checks are free, and usually take only 30 mins or so, it's really not much more difficult than making a trip to the store to buy an aftermarket device. Personally, I'd even recommend a second opinion and/or buy a new carseat which might fit better in my car before using such a device.
Incidentally, I did find this in the CPSlist archives:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cpslist/message/9671