Front disk brakes replaced under warranty at only 18,000km.
Handbrake has long travel, but hold poorly.
Door seals on sliding doors come loose.
Outside door handle of sliding door snapped (plastic) and cost A$350 to fix.
Tailgate is very "tinny"
Problem with CD player volume, radio is fine.
At 59,500km, the engine failed. Oil and coolant mixed and the block had to be replaced. This is a known, common fault.
I bought the car new and was impressed initially by the cheap price in comparison to other cars in its class.
Power is nothing to write home about.
Driving it is more of a chore than a pleasure.
Seating is comfortable.
The air conditioning is probably the cars best feature overall.
Without warning, at just over 4 years of age and with less than 60,000km on the dial, the engine died. It had always been serviced by the Kia dealer. When this happened, the dealer knew of the problem as soon as we drove up. He could not take the car then as he had 12 other cars with the exact same problem. He said the cost to fix would be around $6,000.
After searching the internet (including this site), we found this was a common problem due to a known Kia fault. We contacted Kia and demanded the repair be done under warranty as we were nowhere near the 100,000km that Kia warrants the car for, although we were beyond the 3 years. I believe it was because we had prior knowledge and a Kia service history that they agreed to repair the car free of charge to us. The problem was it would take 3 months.
After gaining approval for the repair, we went to the Kia dealer and suggested we would like to trade the car in, on the understanding that the car would have a new engine in three months time. We managed to secure a A$15,000 trade price on a new Honda Jazz VTi-S (same dealership).
We had paid $32,000 in 2000 for the Kia. Today the 2004 model Carnival is available for $28,000 drive away.
They say Kia Carnival is "the best value for money people mover on the market". What good is a cheap car that dies after only 60,000km??
I agree totally with the comments made. I am now experiencing some of those difficulties with my Kia Carnival which was left at the dealer for the 40000 service. I received a call from the dealer informing me that the vehicle had a blown head gasket and required a new short motor and as the vehicle was out of warranty it would be at a cost to me. I said I was very angry and they should speak to Kia about my dissatisfaction. Result Kia has accepted claim for the motor. I am waiting to see how long it will be before my vehicle is returned. I am also making as many enquiries as possible regarding the matter as it appears the problems regarding defective motors had been known during the warranty period and Kia were content to allow vehicles to go out of warranty before their customers were made aware that there was a problem. Given the information coming to hand I cannot understand why there has not been any action by Consumer Groups.
Hi, just like to say my Carnival has just run out of warranty (1 month and 9 days) and the motor has just died.I'm hoping KIA comes to the party to fix it. We asked our local dealer if our particular model was affected with this well-known problem and was assured it wasn't.Why bother hiding this problem just come clean and let their customers know the facts.
Our KIA Carnival 2003 model which we were told had all the engine bugs ironed out has just died for the second time. First time 29,000ks and just now 50,000ks. Both times due to engine failure, blown head gasket, warped head leading to contamination of the coolant and oil systems. We have been back repeatedly with the mysterious missing water from the reserve coolant tank, just in the last 6 weeks, which we were told was due to a radiator leak (not) and now the real problem, a blown head gasket. We lost 6 weeks the first time this happened, and it appears we will loose another 6 weeks. The annoying part to all of this, lack of acknowledgment of a known fault, and blatant misinformation to the consumer. What I don't understand is KIA's stand on this issue, "Replace the engine". Our warranty runs out soon, and I don't really know what will happen at that point. The way we are going we will be lucky to get to 75,000ks on our second engine. I think it is time for all Carnival owners to unite, maybe a class action would change KIA's thinking regards this poor mans Voyager.
We too have 2000 model Kia Carnival. at 90,000 km the engine packed up. Kia agreed to replace the engine, but we still had to cough up 800 dollars in consumables. Three weeks later the gearbox packed up. We then had to wait 6 weeks for the parts to arrive. 5 days after the new gearbox was fitted it ceased up resulting in a tow back to the dealer. I think Kia really need to come to the party on this car. Why do the dealers sell you these cars knowing of the problems.
We bought our Kia Carnival in May 2004. I really like the car it’s a big roomy people mover that suits our family of 5 plus dog. The interior is great with comfortable seats good seat positioning and a great view for the kids – being high up. The wife on the other hand who drives it most is fed up at the inconvenience of being back and fore to the garage for repairs. She is on first name terms with the dealer service department. Our list of issues covers some minor oil leak from under the engine, second was petrol fumes entering the car interior, third accelerator peddle sticking, fourth sliding door hard to close and lastly in August 2005 the engine has blown at 30,000kms. The dealer will fix this last major issue with a new engine block. It’s a problem that is well known about in closed circles and one that Kia takes care of with a package of good service – replacement parts shipped from SKorea and in the 3 weeks or so it takes to repair they provide a new Kia Carnival for you to use until your car comes back home. We have not long been here from the UK and it’s good to see some Ozzie humour to cheer us up as one service guy quipped to my wife – there’s a crappy pommie engine made by Rover that is the problem. If in doubt blame the British. Oh one last thing we have started to have intermittent power steering shudder, another issue that’s known about in closed circles. I read an article recently about Kia’s quality process turnaround. I hope that they can make it happen in 2006 because they really do have a winner with this car if they can just sort all these issues out.
These cars (if you can call them that) are not even worth stealing.
We have had our Carnival for 6 years. We did have our engine replaced at 50,000 under warranty, this took a week as ours was one of the first to fail and there was not a back up. Other than this the main problem is the sliding door handles snapping, our passenger door handle has been broken for a couple of months, the kids all climb in the other side. I am a little disappointed at the fact that at 6 years old, the car is looking rather worn.
Really, you get what you pay for, it is not a high quality car and shouldn't be thought of as such.
I brought my kia carnival for $23,000 in November 2003. I keep the maintenance and services up to date in May 2006 the engine ceased I was told by Kia manufactures that a new engine for it was going to cost me $12,000 and could take up to 6 months to get to me. My local mechanic told me he could get a reconditioned motor for $5,500 and by the time he fitted it it would cost me about $8,000.I decided to get a normal sedan, but now when we have family days out we have to take 2 cars because we have 5 children. I am thousands of dollars out of pocket because I am still paying the Kia for another 2 years and it is sitting in the front yard as an ornament.
Carnival 2001...engine failed, oil and coolant mixed??? The specialists/mechanics please forward your comments.
Head gasket gone.
10th January 2007.
2001 Kia Carnival oil and coolant mixing, head gasket gone, apart from that a great car.
Initially I thought there was a head-gasket problem and got the car checked, but when the problem persisted I thought it was probably something else. The Mechanics telling me that the sealer they used in sealing the cylinder sleeve to the block cracked causing oil and water to mix. But changing the engine block doesn't cure the problem. KIA must come up with a re-engineered product to prevent the sealer from cracking otherwise I would not even buy a raffle ticket with KIA in its prize.
I am planning to buy Carnival 2006 but when I went to the workshop of Kia, I found that there are 17 similar 2002 with engine problem.
Carnival 2006 has made major changes in the engine, and I don't know if it is still the same or not.
OH brother!!
My 2001 Kia Carnival has just done 50 000K and the oil is in the radiator, water is in the oil and the oil (after passing through the radiator) is going into the coolant then spilling out all over the road.
I am a single mum of 4, its cost me $242 to have the car towed to the nearest Kia dealership, $500 for their mechanics to pull it apart, and $125 a day for a hire car.
The mechanics report it's an internal engine failure (something to do with the manufacture of this engine) and Kia Melbourne have said they will pay $2500 for repairs and I am up for the other $4500!!
Who has that sort of money?
Consumer Affairs Vic have told me to go to the small claims tribunal (costs $33) based on the Trade Practices Act which says that a product that is sold must be of merchandisable quality and fit for the purpose for which its intended.
Clearly an engine that only lasts 50 000K is neither of these.
So off to small claims and the media I go.
Perhaps if more people went to small claims with the evidence that this is affecting hundreds of young families across Australia, Kia would have to do something.
Good luck everyone.
My 2004 KIA CARNIVAL did a head gasket at 79,000km, I've been told the exchange motor is only good for about 30,000km.