Faults:

Had complete exhaust replaced at 12 months. So far so good with current one.

CD player unreliable and overheated replaced with aftermarket.

Sliding door mounts are loose causing the door to stick when trying to close it. Very irritating problem and needs to be fiddled with in order to close.

Very hard to shift into 1st gear of the start, sometimes crunching when selecting other gears.

Engine check lights randomly comes on. Need to turn off & restart engine to make it go away.

Rear speakers no longer work.

Handbrake has always been a problem holding the cars weight on slight gradient let alone hills.

Rear view mirror day / night adjustment has broken so now the mirror flops around.

Front Interior light globes constantly not working.

Ariel not going down all the way.

And also the engine oil mixed with the cooling system and out of the water overflow bottle. This requires a reco bottom end and 4-6 weeks wait.

General Comments:

Travels well and is reasonably comfortable.

Faults:

High idling at 30000km -> intake O2 sensor replaced (under warranty)

Rough running at 60000km -> ignition leads replaced ($290)

Other minor problems we've had:

A CD player that sometimes overheats and stops or plays at low volume - usually when the car heater is on.

Some poor finish on interior trim - carpet becoming unglued and plastic covers coming off.

Occasionally in hot weather the starter motor won't engage the first time, resulting in an alarming noise.

General Comments:

All in all, this has been a great car for us. Despite some minor engine problems it has never left us stranded and hasn't been off the road for longer than a morning.

You basically get what you pay for, and the issues with fit and finish I offset against the fact that when we bought it, the choice was a new Carnival or a four or five year old Tarago. We took the view that a cheaper new car is better than an expensive second hand one, and haven't been disappointed.

The car has great, and usable, interior space. With the rear seats rolled all the way forward you can fit a surprising amount of gear in the back. The walk though from the front to the back row of seats has proved invaluable. Even with seven seats occupied, we have fit enough gear for two week holidays.

Comments in other reviews in regard to the appalling turning circle are correct. Don't expect to do a U turn in a two lane street, and swing wide to get into parking spaces.

Faults:

So far nothing has gone wrong or broken down.

General Comments:

This car compared to other cars in its class is affordable and reliable.

General Comments.

1. The steering column seems to rattle a little when you drive.

2. Suspension is very hard and therefore you will feel every bump and crack whilst driving.

3. Engine seems a little noisy whilst driving.

4. The paint work on these cars are not that good. Paint work chips easily.

5. Terrible turning circle. You will definitely be disapointed when performing a U turn.

6. The gear shift feels a little clunky requiring you to put effort to put into gear.

7. The heating and cooling is terrific, very powerful and efficient.

8. Interior trim is nice, very comfortable, I especially like the hand rest.

9. The sound system is adequate.

10. I like the features this car comes with; CD and cup holders as well as plastic molding at back of passenger seats that fold to make a table.

11. This car is very roomy, good family car.

12. Fuel economy is good, I get around 600 Kms on a full tank. I always use shell optimax as I do feel the difference in engine response. The car runs smooth with optimax.

Overall.

Don't let my bad points deter you from buying this car. I heard many stories about these models. It's all nonsense. All cars have problems. I deal with each car on a one to one basis, just because a few people had issues with the KIA Carnival, doesn't mean the entire production is bad. The money you pay for this car is almost half for other well known car brands. This car was all I could afford. This car is exactly what it was designed to do; carry passengers. I would buy from KIA again.