Safety recall is for replacement of seat belt buckle anchor bolts. Received my recall notice late February. It says certain 2002 Sedona models fail to conform to a certain standard. It is for the second and third row seat. The thunking sound on my 2002 usually is more evident around town at lower speeds. On the highway it is not noticeable. Anyone else have a problem with the windshield crack? How easy was it to get resolved?
Still researching here...can someone let me know as to the windshield cracking, what year does that appear to be on? Also, if they crack that easy and it's only within a few months of purchase, wouldn't that be considered a defect? Why should the buyer have to pay for this $500-$ $700 replacement? Has anyone had any good news in regards to this?
I noticed the other day after filling up my van that the DTE display had 349 miles showing. After driving maybe 15 miles the display had dropped to about 250 miles on DTE, is this typical or is something else going on ?
I have the frt end noise on my LX 2002, I thought it was cause by defective bushings, but my dealer told me today that the rack & pinion steering need to be changed: the bushings are not the source of the problem. The dealer also told me that the windshield cracking occured only on the EX models equipped with the automatic wiper: the windsield is thinner where the rain sensor is located. He told me that a thicker windshield was installed on 2003 EX models. Is anybody had a windshield cracking on a LX or a 2003 EX. I had a small antifreeze leak cause by a clamp that has not enough pressure on the hose near the rad, the dealer replaced 5 clamps with screw clamps.
It is my observation that the DTE recomputes with a very small sampling rate (like minutes of driving instead of hours). In other words, it knew that as you drove to the gas station, you were getting 18 mpg, but since leaving the gas station you were only getting 12. (Traffic lights?)
This is really noticeable on the highway. I've seen the readout go from (gross approximation) 110 to 180 in 20 miles. So, we went from something like to 10g remaining at 11 mpg to 9g remaining at 20mpg in the last 20 minutes.
In other words, it appears that every display update is the result of a very simple computation: Most recent sampled average mpg X estimated fuel quantity remaining.
Hi, gang. To the new Sedona owners, welcome aboard.
RE windshield, et al, have had my 2003 EX since late Nov have 3200 miles on it, and zero discrepancies, other than a couple of parking lot dings on bumper already. Seems like nobody cares if they bash your bumper or scratch the side much any more.
Van has a little more wind noise when the cover is slid back on the sunroof. Nature of the beast for sunroofs. I moved the front luggage rack cross bar all the way aft (to the rear) and that seemed to make a small difference in noise level. Would remove them until needed but one never knows if you need to carry something on the rack. May do it for a tank or two just to see if it gives an MPG boost.
Still looking for accessories. Right now I have my tool kit sitting underneath the front tray (up all the time anyway) and jumper cables in a bag in the rear along with blanket, etc we always carry. Interested in where everyone else carries stuff.
BTW, bought new oil filters last week. Wow, are they tiny!
The odd noise from the front end is a definite bump-related noise. We live on the end of a dirt road and the rattle/thunk especially from the right front is pretty bad. Dealer has already investigated and said new strut plates are in order. BTW, this seems to be a very similar problem to what was experienced on the early Chrysler K-cars (I speak from experience...).
ALSO - Warm weather is again starting to be upon us and an old problem has recurred. In our area, most of the freeways and turnpikes have slits cut into the road at the left and right shoulders to wake you up/inform you that you've drifted too far. Kind of a buzzing/vibrating noise.
Last year, starting about August, we got numerous bursts of a very similar noise, sounding like it was coming from the right rear. Seemed to be totally unrelated to road conditions, sometimes even occuring when dead stopped. Then cold weather happened and nothing all winter.
Last weekend, on an unusually warm (88d) day, we had it happen to us several times, again unrelated to road conditions. (Maybe heat related?????)
Anybody else had this happen??
Getting close to 40,000 miles and still loving my Kia!
After reviewing all of the features of the 2003 Kia Sedona Ex, I finally purchased one this past Monday. Sage Green/Beige two tone with leather, abs and sunroof. The whole package deal only cost me around $19,300. after rebates and dealer discounts..
Was this a pretty good deal? It seems as if there are a few glitches with this mini regarding cracking windshields, problems with the overhead console, and seats. Hopefully, the third row seats will pop out a lot easier than stated in the past couple of postings. Just to get an idea, what is the average gas mileage for a Sedona? I know the window sticker indicates 15/20. Just for reference, has anyone had to refill the rear washer? The reason why I am asking this question, is because the manual references a funnel which is supposed to be in the washer. When I popped the lid off the washer the other day, I could not locate the funnel that was indicated in the manual. This might be the start of many problems down the road........
I believe you are suffering from what is commonly referred to as Post Purchase Cognitive Dissonance. This is the natural questioning of a purchase after the fact. How can you even ask if $19,300 is a good deal for a loaded van? That's $10,000 less than a comparable Honda. $19,300 is a great price. Relax and enjoy your van, don't start looking for problems to worry about. We have had our 2001 since June of last year. We just hit 9,000 miles and all is still good. We have only averaged 16.7 miles per gallon since ownership. I track this using an Excel spreadsheet using data from every fill-up so I know it is accurate. Our driving is a mix of suburban interstate and city driving. The good news, we achieved just over 19 miles per gallon on our last two tanks with more highway driving. R. J.
Picking up 02 EX that had radio issues. Bad wire. Front end thunking The service manager spoke to Kia about the front end thunking after another Sedona owner complained. Kia is sending him every bushing that is in the front end. He will replace one at a time until he finds the problem. Then write up a service memo for all dealers. Hope he gets it fixed. I will stay on him and report back with results. He said Kia has seen this issue reported on the net.
adowd1 - Sounds like an outstanding deal - congrats!
There is a theme running through the Sorento board concerning how many other Sorento's are they seeing on the road. I thought I'd ask the same concering the Sedona.I have only seen one other one near me. I live in an area of high-priced BMW's/Mercedes/LandRovers and Lexus', so few have the Sedona - more's the pity.
Several people have asked about our van including the people at Lube Stop (for my first oil change - it was the first time they had ever seen one) and also - the other day the guy at the Grocery Store, who was loading the groceries asked my wife a number of questions about how much she liked it etc. There seems to be a great deal of interest from on-lookers.
We went to a family reunion Sunday. As we're leaving our neighborhood we saw an identical Sedona at the next stop sign. They pulled out right behind us.
I'm seeing more and more of them every day it seems. There were several on the interstate during our 250 mile trip.
Ours was the only one at the reunion, though. It got a moderate amount of attention.
PS: I parked near a Windstar the same color and both my wife and daughter mistook it for our van when it was time to leave.
We just got back from a vacation trip that took us from Northern Kentucky to Tampa via I-75. At our tankup before leaving, the odometer showed 1,457 miles, which I assumed had broken in the motor - apparently, that was wrong. The numbers follow: Odo mls gals mpg [non-permissible content removed] mpg 1672 215 10.7 20.07 20.07 1922 250 12.53 19.94 20.008 2594 672 32.31 20.79 20.46 The above is the trip down and 50/50 city/highway while there. Now the numbers get more interesting. 2885 291 13.27 21.92 20.74 3092 207 7.98 25.91 21.28 3281 189 8.27 22.83 21.44 3514 233 9.70 24.02 21.70 ************************************************** 1,137 down 55.55g 20.46mpg 920 back 39.23g 23.45mpg 2,057 total 94.78g 21.7mpg ************************************************** The car performed beautifully - the return trip had the A/C on all the way. I must be honest - my wife got the best mpgs in spite of my best efforts. I am not sure what she is doing, but I did observe that she takes off from a light with the engine roaring more than I do - maybe making it hustle off the line improves mpg, I don't know.
PS - the numbers sorta scrunch together - I edited five times, but I was unable to spread them out better.
Just bough a Sedona after tons of research, and I am thrilled with what I got for the money. No other van with these feature comes close. Time will tell if it holds up well, but the price we paid for a loaded EX with everything but the trailer hitch was $22,700(including taxes!!) And the warranty should more than compensate for any problems...I finally feel like I won at the dealership.
I purchased a Sedona in May 02. Windshield cracked in Sept. Replace under warranty. Happy with KIA. Sedona won't start in driveway. Called KIAs 24hr assistance. Sorry, not covered since you're in your driveway came the response. Can someone explain this one to me? Also looking if anyone else has expereinced this? The dealer said he would replace the battery under warranty if in fact the battery was bad but I would have to get it to him. Duh, the car wont' start. Now stranded at home with three kids. Friend took the battery to AutoZone. Battery was bad. Purchased a new one. AutoZone guy said this was rather common on KIAs. Not a bad vehicle, just poor quality battery. True? New, non kia, battery now in Sedona and working fine. Complaint filed with KIA on-line customer service 72 hours ago. No response yet. Comments? Thanks for letting me vent.
PS. If you're wondering why my friend just didn't take the bad KIA battery to the dealer, the dealer didn't have a battery in stock and said would take 2 - 3 days to get one. Couldn't affort to be without a car for that long.
Yes, there is a colossal difference between being stranded 30 miles from a repair station without food and water, and being in the driveway. Why that is is fairly obvious, yes?
AAA has the same policy. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that every other R/S policy does, too.
The second problem is a dealer issue. Write a letter and explain that you expect them to be able to service your vehicle in a timely manner. At the least, they'll send you an oil change coupon for the inconvenience. If the dealer blames it on a part shortage from the manufacturer, then you have a beef with Kia. Right now, the dealer is the problem, and I would aim at getting some satisfaction from them.
Man, what a crock! I don't know about AAA, or Kia, or other clubs, etc. but when my starter died Mercury road side assistance had my Marauder towed from my drive way to the dealer. No issues.
It's hard for me to believe that's really the policy.
the person who answer the phone was probabably some rookie. I have posted in other forums around here where I worked at AAA as a dispatcher for a year. The road side service is good at home, work, or middle of the desert some where. If I were you, I would call in and complain to road side svc and see if they will send you some free gas coupons.
We used to send out gas coupons when a dispatcher would screw up when I worked at AAA.
My mother's Malibu broke down while she was in town visiting. It was under warranty and GM sent a flat bed to pick it up without question. It was on the street in front of our house. If Kia really has a policy about not picking up a vehicle that is in your driveway, there is a work around. Roll it out of the driveway, and down the street a few houses. Then call into roadside service and give them that address to get the vehicle. If you are unsure if that will work, put the vehicle part of the way in the traffic lane, they will pick it up quickly because it is a safety hazard. Sister Vincent-Claire said that I would never amount to anything! She said I had a devious mind, I think it is just thinking outside the box!!!
I am having problem finding a knowledgeable & prudent Kia dealership in Orange County, CA.
There are only a few dealership around town, and two of them I visited weren’t aware about the “Airbag Re-Programming” and “Grounding Plate Procedure for Remote”.
One dealership, the closest one from my home & work, even kept my Sedona for overnight (lunch time – lunch time) for above items. The next day, I found out all they did was place a special order for one(1) remote control. I have two(2) remote & I made it clear from the beginning...
For last one year, and 14K miles without any real problems, but lousy dealership makes me disappointed.
Where did you work for AAA? I used to work in the Midatlantic region during the bicentennial, as a customer service representative. I was the one who sent those little punchcards down the conveyor to dispatch. At that time, I know AAA would service a car at home. Later on, I had to call them for dead batteries and there was no trouble either starting or in one case towing from my house.
Hi all, I have 2003 Sedona EX with 6000 miles. I notice when the Heater or AC is on it makes a pretty loud humming noise that can be heard even with the radio on and windows closed. Does anyone know if this humming is normal for Sedona or is this a fix that can be under the warranty to fix ?
Ghekia - I had a similar problem with my battery before I ever left the dealership and then later I had the battery replaced again due to it draining too quickly - just an idea and some advice - if you have the radio on - say, when you are washing it etc. then make sure that you have your key in the correct position. If it is not, then it will drain the battery. Check your car manual for this. Part of my problem was that the key was in the wrong position - poised to drain exactly as the manual says it will.
Getting a 2003 Sedona EX with ABS, Leather package, Sunroof for $20,320 in the Milwaukee, WI area.
Haven't had the time to comparison shop on online websites or check previous posts. Edmunds TMV for Sedona with above options lists at $23,922. That does not sound like an accurate number.
Can someone quickly let me know if this sounds about right ? Anyone recently bought one with above options ?
Going by recent postings from other parts of the country, I would say that it is legit. The last 60 days or so have seen some pretty dramatic downward pressure on prices. If you like the car, grab it.
1. Regarding the air bag reprogram, ask your dealer to look up the "control unit logic change". This is valid only on Sedonas mfg'd before 2/20/02. The ones newer than 2/20/02 must have the reprogram already done.
2. I've noticed the outside ambient temperature display has always been about 6-7 degrees higher than actual outside temperature and I've read about others on this board commenting on this, too. I had a new sensor put on but still no change. The problem is that it sits just inches in front of the middle of the radiator. What were they thinking? And I don't think it changed for '03. Starting up a cold engine outdoors reflects a correct temperature. But as soon as the engine warms up, it's off. I would like to relocate this sensor. I'm thinking of putting it under the front bumper on one side or the other. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
3. Fog lights. I think they are adjusted too high. I can hardly tell they are on because they blend in with the low beams. They dealer says they can't be adjusted. Has anyone checked these out?
4. Rear window washer. It just dribbles out. Every other one I've seen (other manufacturers) has had a spray of some kind. I've also noticed the front wipers do a rotten job at high speed esp. with the washers.
5. Some time ago, someone was asking about the effectiveness of the dealer-added bug deflector. I've had one on for almost a year now and I think it may keep some bugs and debris off the hood but it does little for the windshield. I believe the slope of the hood is too great for it to do much good. The one I have on my Jeep Grand Cherokee does a pretty good job due to the hood is almost parallel to the ground. The biggest advantage to having one is that it is easier to see the front on the van while parking (and it looks good!).
6. Our odometer is off somewhat. This could be due to replacing our Kumho's with same size BF Goodrich's. Granted, I don't expect it to be dead on, but this is a little too much. While driving about a 210-mile stretch using mile markers along the interstate, the odometer averaged about .9727 for every mile marker. This doesn't seem like much but a reading of 14,000 miles is actually 13,617.8 miles. Which can be good to some folks. And a 75-MPH reading is actually 72.95 or 73 MPH. Has anyone checked their mileage with their OEM Kumho's or Hankook's? And can dealers still fix this variance? Although I probably wouldn't have it done due it being in my favor, I would like to know if they could get it close.
7. I asked the dealer if my seat belt bolts were part of the recall. They were not. The correct ones, I believe, have three evenly spaced lines radiating out from the center on the bolt head reveiling a stronger metal.
8. Has anyone heard any more information on a possible "tech note" out at the dealers that some Sedonas have bad strut plates which can cause a thunking in the front end? This is my most annoying complaint to date.
I have been curious if you could find out what areas the Kia roadside assistance does cover by calling the number (1 800 333 4542) and asking. So, today, I finally got around to it.
I directed my call as if I, actually, did need help. After about three minutes, I spoke to an genuine, quite pleasant human being. I explained to him that I merely wanted to ask some questions - the first being would they jump a dead battery in your driveway. His answer was yes. According to him, they will fix a flat, unlock a door, or tow a vehicle whether on the road or in your driveway or in your house. I assume here that he is referring to an attached garage. (If you, actually, have a Sedona sitting in your living room, you may have more problems in your life than just a dead battery - that is just my personal opinion, though.)
The services that they provide are pretty much the same as AAA - he felt that they were superior to AAA. I know for a fact that AAA will come to your house - they were at our house six weeks ago to pull a car back onto our driveway after 'moi' had some trouble with a ice patch.
Ghekia, I have to suppose that you got a rookie who did not understand how it works. It would be interesting if someone else would call the number just to see if my guy holds up (you will need the last six numbers of your VIN.)
Can you provide more info on what your dealer did? because my dealer is telling me that there is nothing out there in tech. bulletin to fix this issue. They tell me that they don't know what to do at this point since there isn't enough complaints about this. Thanks,
What dealership are you dealing with? Im also in the Milwaukee area looking at a fully loaded Sedona. Let me know if you buy and how the dealership is.
Wilde Kia: 2003 Kia Sedona EX with ABS, Leather package, Sunroof $20,320
Ewald Kia: 2003 Sedona EX, Leather Package, ABS for $20,792.00.
Rosen Kia: 2003 Kia Sedona EX with leather interior, ABS brakes and sunroof $20,842.00.
I plan on waiting till the 2004 Nissan Quest hits the lots. The 2004 Sienna will be pitted against it. If neither fails to deliver for my needs, then I will switch back to Kia Sedona.
Is roadside assistance fix/repair flat tire? I thought they would just change tire with spare one and fixing flat tire would be mine. I just had one flat, actually going to be flat with thick screw, and paid $25 at local garage.
I poped off the cap to refuel the van while the van was running.
Why on earth would you do that? Were you afraid it wouldn't restart or something? Apart from anything I imagine it is illegal to refuel a vehicle with it's engine running.
My Passat idles at such a low decibel level that I forgot the car is running. Half way into the refill as I was performing my go-around-the-car check I noticed the exhaust fumes (winter phenomenon) and realized that the engine was running !!
My guess would be that they would put on the spare but not fix the flat since they would not have the right equipment at the site. Give them a call and see what they say.
I suspect that it is more likely that they are shocked that you would try to do that. It is generally posted that the engine Must be turned off when refueling. Why? because of the increased chance of fire.
Check your manual. Normally an error code will be reset after a certain number of successful restarts.
Well, we did it. There's a brand new 2003 Kia Sedona EX sharing driveway space with my 1997 Acura Integra GSR. Sapphire Blue/Beige with ABS and a Sunroof, cloth interior. $23770 MSRP, paid $100 over invoice ($22244), less rebate, which took us to $20344. Not bad for an opening number from a dealer, but consider this.
Dealer 'M' (local) tells me to bring my wife by and he'll give a number, tells her to bring me for numbers etc. Says I can't get EX with ABS unless I get leather. I test drove here during the Lord of the Rings giveaway.
Dealer 'V', about 90 min NW of us. Gives me MSRP as a 'Good number', takes $2000 rebate off and sends me on my way with a brochure, no walk around, no test drive.
Dealer 'F', an hour north has no Sedonas and suggests I'd do better at Dealer 'N' where I did end up buying. At least if he wasn't interested, he didn't waste my time. On an aside, I never thought I'd see a lot with FOUR new vehicles as the entire inventory.
Dealer 'W', an hour south of us. No test drive, no walkaround. Says he'll call if he can get EX and ABS without Leather. His Sedonas all had Door Moldings and Pinstripes ($300 total) added, and $1600+ in 'Adjusted Market Value'. I can't wait to tell him I already got one.
So we shall see how this Kia stacks up...at least I found someone who wanted my money. I've got pleasant Acura experience...and a lot more Toyota Experience than most people normally would, having sold them for two years.
Congrats on your new Sedona, and on getting a good price for it. It's surprising to hear some dealers are still trying to charge MORE than MSRP for this vehicle. As good a van as it is, the market is clearly softening up (not just for Sedona, but for most other mainstream vehicles too) and > MSRP for a Sedona is not the going rate.
Someone with an Integra GSR is clearly a 'car guy,' and it is pleasing to see someone like you choose the Sedona as your minivan. I'm sure Kia would be pleased to know that!
Changed the oil in our 2002 EX over the weekend. Per 99windstar's recommendation, I removed 2 rivets from the plastic shield that obscures access to the oil filter. This allowed the shield to be moved out of the way, which made it much easier for me to remove the filter and minimize oil spillage.
Unfortunately, I first removed a different skid plate which is held in place by 4 bolts due to confusion over the plastic shield's location. This added about 10 minutes to the job time.
Also, I was not able to get both plastic rivets installed again. This does not seem to be a problem, because these 2 rivets are not the primary devices attaching the shield.
Glad to see your postings again. After your one back at the end of March where you reported on your service troubles, you seemed to go silent for awhile. I have always found your postings to be informative - glad you found your voice again.
Hello Gang, I also just changed the oil in our '02 Sedona with a whopping 3,477 miles on it. I originally purchased a Fram filter (part # PH6607) from the same auto store that I had gotten my oil from...was not happy with the look of it (smaller outside diameter). Actually, the Sedona was not even listed in the book and the salesman had given me the part # from his computer. Anyway, I decided to call the Dealer and ended up getting the factory filter (Part # 26300-35500) for only $5.95! This was cheaper than the Fram that I was going to install. Now if only that brace below the filter could be relocated........he he!
Nice to see you again Blue and glad things OK with the Sedona. I too was concerned with your last post regarding the problems you were having - I hope all has been worked out with you and your dealer. If you remember, I bought the Toyota vs. the Sedona but I keep checking in here to see how you Kia guys are doing. I tried to get into the Toyota boards but without much luck. All they do is argue about the number of package combinations offered on the 04 Sienna and how they compare to a Honda. They make fun of guys like me that bought the leftover 03's for a steal - and brag how they are paying $35,000 for an 04 Sienna. Makes me want to puke.
Could everyone respond with some info about their Sedonas:
- Model (EX/LX) - Year - Additional options (ABS, Leather etc) - Amt paid (Total + TTL, Reg) - Current mileage - Typical fuel efficiency (mpg) - No. of visits to dealer for problems - No. of problems corrected under warranty - Most liked feature(s) - Most disliked feature(s) - Any wish-list for future Sedona models ?
Warranty and cost is Kia strongpoint, but, would you have still got the Sedona if the warranty was a standard 3 yr/36K and it cost $25K ?
mrwallace and fvp:thanks for the kind words. Been busy! Did NOT get service woes resolved yet. The items are not major problems, but they ARE important to me and they should be resolved. We will be seeking another dealer next time.
minivanfrank: The Fram 6607 was > $5.95?! Definitely not worth it. I bought and used one Kia dealer-provided filter (stamped "Hyundai") but other than that I've used Purolator PureOne or WalMart SuperTech. Cheaper, and probably better, than the factory filter.
acedriver: Sedona EX
2002
Leather, moonroof, ABS, 2-tone paint (standard for '03), and Homelink (standard for '03 - right?). Only option we declined was rear spoiler.
Paid $22,930 plus tax (Mich 6% sales tax) and registration - appx $100. No trade-in involved
18,500 miles
Overal MPG appx 19.6. Typical highway 21-22, city 17-18
4 dealer visits, if I recall correctly
Appx 4 problems corrected under warranty, 2-3 not yet corrected
Most liked feature(s): Leather, folding front tray table, great-sounding stereo, Homelink, multiple gloveboxes/cubbies, power driver seat w/power lumbar adjustment, 5-speed automatic, powerful reading lamps, scarcity of Sedonas on the road
Most disliked feature(s): only 1 keyless remote and terrible range (corrected for '03), slightly fuel-thirsty vs. other minivans
Wish list: Split foldaway rear seat as in '04 Sienna, foldaway 2nd row seats as in '04 Quest, more horsepower, hood struts instead of prop rod (addressed in '03), 16" or 17" wheels/tires, in-dash CD changer (not too important).
Would we have bought back in Feb 2002 for $25k with a 3/36 warranty? No. We did pay $23k, which is about $2k more than folks can do right now. I still feel we got an excellent value. The long warranty was important due to Kia's poor reputation with other models. So far Sedona seems to be holding up pretty well, and much better than most of Kia's earlier offerings.
If Kia can add more power and a few additional features and design characteristics to Sedona to keep pace with competitors, while holding the line on pricing, it should still be able to play the value card once it drops the long warranty in favor of something similar to the competition's.
Comments
Still researching here...can someone let me know as to the windshield cracking, what year does that appear to be on? Also, if they crack that easy and it's only within a few months of purchase, wouldn't that be considered a defect? Why should the buyer have to pay for this $500-$ $700 replacement? Has anyone had any good news in regards to this?
The dealer also told me that the windshield cracking occured only on the EX models equipped with the automatic wiper: the windsield is thinner where the rain sensor is located. He told me that a thicker windshield was installed on 2003 EX models.
Is anybody had a windshield cracking on a LX or a 2003 EX.
I had a small antifreeze leak cause by a clamp that has not enough pressure on the hose near the rad, the dealer replaced 5 clamps with screw clamps.
This is really noticeable on the highway. I've seen the readout go from (gross approximation) 110 to 180 in 20 miles. So, we went from something like to 10g remaining at 11 mpg to 9g remaining at 20mpg in the last 20 minutes.
In other words, it appears that every display update is the result of a very simple computation: Most recent sampled average mpg X estimated fuel quantity remaining.
RE windshield, et al, have had my 2003 EX since late Nov have 3200 miles on it, and zero discrepancies, other than a couple of parking lot dings on bumper already. Seems like nobody cares if they bash your bumper or scratch the side much any more.
Van has a little more wind noise when the cover is slid back on the sunroof. Nature of the beast for sunroofs. I moved the front luggage rack cross bar all the way aft (to the rear) and that seemed to make a small difference in noise level. Would remove them until needed but one never knows if you need to carry something on the rack. May do it for a tank or two just to see if it gives an MPG boost.
Still looking for accessories. Right now I have my tool kit sitting underneath the front tray (up all the time anyway) and jumper cables in a bag in the rear along with blanket, etc we always carry. Interested in where everyone else carries stuff.
BTW, bought new oil filters last week. Wow, are they tiny!
ALSO - Warm weather is again starting to be upon us and an old problem has recurred. In our area, most of the freeways and turnpikes have slits cut into the road at the left and right shoulders to wake you up/inform you that you've drifted too far. Kind of a buzzing/vibrating noise.
Last year, starting about August, we got numerous bursts of a very similar noise, sounding like it was coming from the right rear. Seemed to be totally unrelated to road conditions, sometimes even occuring when dead stopped. Then cold weather happened and nothing all winter.
Last weekend, on an unusually warm (88d) day, we had it happen to us several times, again unrelated to road conditions. (Maybe heat related?????)
Anybody else had this happen??
Getting close to 40,000 miles and still loving my Kia!
Was this a pretty good deal? It seems as if there are a few glitches with this mini regarding cracking windshields, problems with the overhead console, and seats. Hopefully, the third row seats will pop out a lot easier than stated in the past couple of postings. Just to get an idea, what is the average gas mileage for a Sedona? I know the window sticker indicates 15/20. Just for reference, has anyone had to refill the rear washer? The reason why I am asking this question, is because the manual references a funnel which is supposed to be in the washer. When I popped the lid off the washer the other day, I could not locate the funnel that was indicated in the manual. This might be the start of many problems down the road........
How can you even ask if $19,300 is a good deal for a loaded van? That's $10,000 less than a comparable Honda. $19,300 is a great price.
Relax and enjoy your van, don't start looking for problems to worry about.
We have had our 2001 since June of last year. We just hit 9,000 miles and all is still good.
We have only averaged 16.7 miles per gallon since ownership. I track this using an Excel spreadsheet using data from every fill-up so I know it is accurate. Our driving is a mix of suburban interstate and city driving. The good news, we achieved just over 19 miles per gallon on our last two tanks with more highway driving.
R. J.
The service manager spoke to Kia about the front end thunking after another Sedona owner complained. Kia is sending him every bushing that is in the front end. He will replace one at a time until he finds the problem. Then write up a service memo for all dealers. Hope he gets it fixed. I will stay on him and report back with results. He said Kia has seen this issue reported on the net.
There is a theme running through the Sorento board concerning how many other Sorento's are they seeing on the road. I thought I'd ask the same concering the Sedona.I have only seen one other one near me. I live in an area of high-priced BMW's/Mercedes/LandRovers and Lexus', so few have the Sedona - more's the pity.
Several people have asked about our van including the people at Lube Stop (for my first oil change - it was the first time they had ever seen one) and also - the other day the guy at the Grocery Store, who was loading the groceries asked my wife a number of questions about how much she liked it etc. There seems to be a great deal of interest from on-lookers.
How 'bout everyone else - similar experiences?
I'm seeing more and more of them every day it seems. There were several on the interstate during our 250 mile trip.
Ours was the only one at the reunion, though. It got a moderate amount of attention.
PS: I parked near a Windstar the same color and both my wife and daughter mistook it for our van when it was time to leave.
We just got back from a vacation trip that took us from Northern Kentucky to Tampa via I-75. At our tankup before leaving, the odometer showed 1,457 miles, which I assumed had broken in the motor - apparently, that was wrong. The numbers follow:
Odo mls gals mpg [non-permissible content removed] mpg
1672 215 10.7 20.07 20.07
1922 250 12.53 19.94 20.008
2594 672 32.31 20.79 20.46
The above is the trip down and 50/50 city/highway while there. Now the numbers get more interesting.
2885 291 13.27 21.92 20.74
3092 207 7.98 25.91 21.28
3281 189 8.27 22.83 21.44
3514 233 9.70 24.02 21.70
**************************************************
1,137 down 55.55g 20.46mpg
920 back 39.23g 23.45mpg
2,057 total 94.78g 21.7mpg
**************************************************
The car performed beautifully - the return trip had the A/C on all the way. I must be honest - my wife got the best mpgs in spite of my best efforts. I am not sure what she is doing, but I did observe that she takes off from a light with the engine roaring more than I do - maybe making it hustle off the line improves mpg, I don't know.
PS - the numbers sorta scrunch together - I edited five times, but I was unable to spread them out better.
On a recent 250 mile trip we averaged 17.5 mpg - that's only 1/2 mile better than city.
We traveled I-75, too - running 10-15 over the speed limit most of the time. The same type of driving used to get us 23 mpg in the Windstar.
Not really complaining: the Sedona is still a much nicer/better van. Just jealous!
PS. If you're wondering why my friend just didn't take the bad KIA battery to the dealer, the dealer didn't have a battery in stock and said would take 2 - 3 days to get one. Couldn't affort to be without a car for that long.
AAA has the same policy. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that every other R/S policy does, too.
The second problem is a dealer issue. Write a letter and explain that you expect them to be able to service your vehicle in a timely manner. At the least, they'll send you an oil change coupon for the inconvenience. If the dealer blames it on a part shortage from the manufacturer, then you have a beef with Kia. Right now, the dealer is the problem, and I would aim at getting some satisfaction from them.
It's hard for me to believe that's really the policy.
We used to send out gas coupons when a dispatcher would screw up when I worked at AAA.
If Kia really has a policy about not picking up a vehicle that is in your driveway, there is a work around.
Roll it out of the driveway, and down the street a few houses. Then call into roadside service and give them that address to get the vehicle.
If you are unsure if that will work, put the vehicle part of the way in the traffic lane, they will pick it up quickly because it is a safety hazard.
Sister Vincent-Claire said that I would never amount to anything! She said I had a devious mind, I think it is just thinking outside the box!!!
There are only a few dealership around town, and two of them I visited weren’t aware about the “Airbag Re-Programming” and “Grounding Plate Procedure for Remote”.
One dealership, the closest one from my home & work, even kept my Sedona for overnight (lunch time – lunch time) for above items. The next day, I found out all they did was place a special order for one(1) remote control. I have two(2) remote & I made it clear from the beginning...
For last one year, and 14K miles without any real problems, but lousy dealership makes me disappointed.
I have 2003 Sedona EX with 6000 miles. I notice when the Heater or AC is on it makes a pretty loud humming noise that can be heard even with the radio on and windows closed. Does anyone know if this humming is normal for Sedona or is this a fix that can be under the warranty to fix ?
Haven't had the time to comparison shop on online websites or check previous posts. Edmunds TMV for Sedona with above options lists at $23,922. That does not sound like an accurate number.
Can someone quickly let me know if this sounds about right ? Anyone recently bought one with above options ?
2. I've noticed the outside ambient temperature display has always been about 6-7 degrees higher than actual outside temperature and I've read about others on this board commenting on this, too. I had a new sensor put on but still no change. The problem is that it sits just inches in front of the middle of the radiator. What were they thinking? And I don't think it changed for '03. Starting up a cold engine outdoors reflects a correct temperature. But as soon as the engine warms up, it's off. I would like to relocate this sensor. I'm thinking of putting it under the front bumper on one side or the other. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
3. Fog lights. I think they are adjusted too high. I can hardly tell they are on because they blend in with the low beams. They dealer says they can't be adjusted. Has anyone checked these out?
4. Rear window washer. It just dribbles out. Every other one I've seen (other manufacturers) has had a spray of some kind. I've also noticed the front wipers do a rotten job at high speed esp. with the washers.
5. Some time ago, someone was asking about the effectiveness of the dealer-added bug deflector. I've had one on for almost a year now and I think it may keep some bugs and debris off the hood but it does little for the windshield. I believe the slope of the hood is too great for it to do much good. The one I have on my Jeep Grand Cherokee does a pretty good job due to the hood is almost parallel to the ground. The biggest advantage to having one is that it is easier to see the front on the van while parking (and it looks good!).
6. Our odometer is off somewhat. This could be due to replacing our Kumho's with same size BF Goodrich's. Granted, I don't expect it to be dead on, but this is a little too much. While driving about a 210-mile stretch using mile markers along the interstate, the odometer averaged about .9727 for every mile marker. This doesn't seem like much but a reading of 14,000 miles is actually 13,617.8 miles. Which can be good to some folks. And a 75-MPH reading is actually 72.95 or 73 MPH. Has anyone checked their mileage with their OEM Kumho's or Hankook's? And can dealers still fix this variance? Although I probably wouldn't have it done due it being in my favor, I would like to know if they could get it close.
7. I asked the dealer if my seat belt bolts were part of the recall. They were not. The correct ones, I believe, have three evenly spaced lines radiating out from the center on the bolt head reveiling a stronger metal.
8. Has anyone heard any more information on a possible "tech note" out at the dealers that some Sedonas have bad strut plates which can cause a thunking in the front end? This is my most annoying complaint to date.
I directed my call as if I, actually, did need help. After about three minutes, I spoke to an genuine, quite pleasant human being. I explained to him that I merely wanted to ask some questions - the first being would they jump a dead battery in your driveway. His answer was yes. According to him, they will fix a flat, unlock a door, or tow a vehicle whether on the road or in your driveway or in your house. I assume here that he is referring to an attached garage. (If you, actually, have a Sedona sitting in your living room, you may have more problems in your life than just a dead battery - that is just my personal opinion, though.)
The services that they provide are pretty much the same as AAA - he felt that they were superior to AAA. I know for a fact that AAA will come to your house - they were at our house six weeks ago to pull a car back onto our driveway after 'moi' had some trouble with a ice patch.
Ghekia, I have to suppose that you got a rookie who did not understand how it works. It would be interesting if someone else would call the number just to see if my guy holds up (you will need the last six numbers of your VIN.)
Ewald Kia: 2003 Sedona EX, Leather Package, ABS for $20,792.00.
Rosen Kia: 2003 Kia Sedona EX with leather interior, ABS brakes and sunroof $20,842.00.
I plan on waiting till the 2004 Nissan Quest hits the lots. The 2004 Sienna will be pitted against it. If neither fails to deliver for my needs, then I will switch back to Kia Sedona.
I poped off the cap to refuel the van while the van was running. The Check Engine light came on immediatly... and has stayed on since.
I thought they would just change tire with spare one and fixing flat tire would be mine.
I just had one flat, actually going to be flat with thick screw, and paid $25 at local garage.
Why on earth would you do that? Were you afraid it wouldn't restart or something? Apart from anything I imagine it is illegal to refuel a vehicle with it's engine running.
My Passat idles at such a low decibel level that I forgot the car is running. Half way into the refill as I was performing my go-around-the-car check I noticed the exhaust fumes (winter phenomenon) and realized that the engine was running !!
Maybe the Kia Sedona idles silently ?
LOL
Check your manual. Normally an error code will be reset after a certain number of successful restarts.
Dealer 'M' (local) tells me to bring my wife by and he'll give a number, tells her to bring me for numbers etc. Says I can't get EX with ABS unless I get leather. I test drove here during the Lord of the Rings giveaway.
Dealer 'V', about 90 min NW of us. Gives me MSRP as a 'Good number', takes $2000 rebate off and sends me on my way with a brochure, no walk around, no test drive.
Dealer 'F', an hour north has no Sedonas and suggests I'd do better at Dealer 'N' where I did end up buying. At least if he wasn't interested, he didn't waste my time. On an aside, I never thought I'd see a lot with FOUR new vehicles as the entire inventory.
Dealer 'W', an hour south of us. No test drive, no walkaround. Says he'll call if he can get EX and ABS without Leather. His Sedonas all had Door Moldings and Pinstripes ($300 total) added, and $1600+ in 'Adjusted Market Value'. I can't wait to tell him I already got one.
So we shall see how this Kia stacks up...at least I found someone who wanted my money. I've got pleasant Acura experience...and a lot more Toyota Experience than most people normally would, having sold them for two years.
Someone with an Integra GSR is clearly a 'car guy,' and it is pleasing to see someone like you choose the Sedona as your minivan. I'm sure Kia would be pleased to know that!
Unfortunately, I first removed a different skid plate which is held in place by 4 bolts due to confusion over the plastic shield's location. This added about 10 minutes to the job time.
Also, I was not able to get both plastic rivets installed again. This does not seem to be a problem, because these 2 rivets are not the primary devices attaching the shield.
I also just changed the oil in our '02 Sedona with a whopping 3,477 miles on it.
I originally purchased a Fram filter (part # PH6607) from the same auto store that I had gotten my oil from...was not happy with the look of it (smaller outside diameter). Actually, the Sedona was not even listed in the book and the salesman had given me the part # from his computer. Anyway, I decided to call the Dealer and ended up getting the factory filter (Part # 26300-35500) for only $5.95! This was cheaper than the Fram that I was going to install. Now if only that brace below the filter could be relocated........he he!
If you remember, I bought the Toyota vs. the Sedona but I keep checking in here to see how you Kia guys are doing.
I tried to get into the Toyota boards but without much luck. All they do is argue about the number of package combinations offered on the 04 Sienna and how they compare to a Honda. They make fun of guys like me that bought the leftover 03's for a steal - and brag how they are paying $35,000 for an 04 Sienna. Makes me want to puke.
- Model (EX/LX)
- Year
- Additional options (ABS, Leather etc)
- Amt paid (Total + TTL, Reg)
- Current mileage
- Typical fuel efficiency (mpg)
- No. of visits to dealer for problems
- No. of problems corrected under warranty
- Most liked feature(s)
- Most disliked feature(s)
- Any wish-list for future Sedona models ?
Warranty and cost is Kia strongpoint, but, would you have still got the Sedona if the warranty was a standard 3 yr/36K and it cost $25K ?
minivanfrank: The Fram 6607 was > $5.95?! Definitely not worth it. I bought and used one Kia dealer-provided filter (stamped "Hyundai") but other than that I've used Purolator PureOne or WalMart SuperTech. Cheaper, and probably better, than the factory filter.
acedriver:
Sedona EX
2002
Leather, moonroof, ABS, 2-tone paint (standard for '03), and Homelink (standard for '03 - right?). Only option we declined was rear spoiler.
Paid $22,930 plus tax (Mich 6% sales tax) and registration - appx $100. No trade-in involved
18,500 miles
Overal MPG appx 19.6. Typical highway 21-22, city 17-18
4 dealer visits, if I recall correctly
Appx 4 problems corrected under warranty, 2-3 not yet corrected
Most liked feature(s): Leather, folding front tray table, great-sounding stereo, Homelink, multiple gloveboxes/cubbies, power driver seat w/power lumbar adjustment, 5-speed automatic, powerful reading lamps, scarcity of Sedonas on the road
Most disliked feature(s): only 1 keyless remote and terrible range (corrected for '03), slightly fuel-thirsty vs. other minivans
Wish list: Split foldaway rear seat as in '04 Sienna, foldaway 2nd row seats as in '04 Quest, more horsepower, hood struts instead of prop rod (addressed in '03), 16" or 17" wheels/tires, in-dash CD changer (not too important).
Would we have bought back in Feb 2002 for $25k with a 3/36 warranty? No. We did pay $23k, which is about $2k more than folks can do right now. I still feel we got an excellent value. The long warranty was important due to Kia's poor reputation with other models. So far Sedona seems to be holding up pretty well, and much better than most of Kia's earlier offerings.
If Kia can add more power and a few additional features and design characteristics to Sedona to keep pace with competitors, while holding the line on pricing, it should still be able to play the value card once it drops the long warranty in favor of something similar to the competition's.
-- Options: CD Player, Roof Rack
-- $19,132 - $1000 rebate + TTL/Reg
-- 5500 Miles
-- Mostly stop&go Driving = 15 - 16MPG; Some Hwy = 19 MPG
-- 2 Dealer visits to fix AirBag Warning light problem (replaced passenger seat belt holster). Fixed under warranty.
-- Most liked: Price, Space, Flexibility
-- Most disliked: Gas Mileage, "slippery" transmission when cold
-- Wish-list: Split-folding rear seats, bigger brake rotors up front, ABS standard, "easier to remove" rear seats, better handling/cornering.
-- Would you have still got the Sedona if the warranty was a standard 3 yr/36K and it cost $25K ? No. Price and warranty were top 2 motivations.