The paint is peeling off on the hood.
The paint is very thin. Scratch marks can easily be seen at the fenders and bumpers.
There is a rattling noise on both front disc.
Both front brake calipers which are bolted tightly rattle heavily on rough cement roads.
The speedometer does not work.
The front discs had to be refaced because of roughness in braking.
The aircon evaporator was replaced after having a general cleanup at 30000km.
The plastic interiors are of 'noisy' quality.
The van handles very well on long distances.
The automatic transmission is smooth.
The ride is comfortable.
The van for its performance value is reasonably priced.
Some expensive spare parts like the caliper bolt cannot be bought separtately. One has to buy the whole expensive assembly.
Owners of the van should be sure that after 3 years of use you will be able to continue the never ending costly maintenance and repair works.
I also got rattle sound on brakes. The reason is the brake pad is not original. After I changed to original brakes. Rattles sound gone.
I own a Kia Carnival and when it worked, LOVED it. I live in Israel and we got a Kia Carnival (year 200) turbo diesel, 2.9 engine. At first, we liked it a lot, as diesel was cheaper here than benzine, but then the prices changed and diesel is now about the same cost as benzine, so the diesel aspect didn't really pay off towards the end except that - and I like this -- I didn't have to visit the gas station as often, but it still cost me a lot of $$$ to fill the tank.
Interior: Love it. The most comfortable car that I have ever owned space wise, and comfort. I like also that upholstery held well, and still looks good inside after 9 years of use.
Exterior: Paint could be thicker, as a scratch shows and also after wear and tear under the sun, etc, one side of the car looks very worn on the paint job, but still, after all, the car on the whole looks good after 9 years.
Engine: We had no problems really the first few years, but afterwards certain things broke and they always were expensive to repair. Now, after 9 years, it needed a head gasket change, (I don't how to say it in English - but in Hebrew it is 'rosh manoah')
My husband wants to sell now, because it is already over 220,000 kilometers and it was always breaking down with one thing or another. He's tired of pouring money into it, but I have to say, I still really love this car and it has been so easy to use to travel and take trips in, pick people up from the airport in, and generally ride around in space and comfort.
I don't want to give bad marks to this car even though my husband would- at least towards the last few years, because it seems to me that all cars made today are made cheaply, to last not more than 7 years, and after that, one can just expect problems. They don't make cars to last and last anymore. And we have a 30+ year old Volvo station wagon from 1978 that is still running, and that is because you can fix those cars at home in your driveway. Most cars today are plastic, computerized, and so sophisticated, that you can't work on them, you HAVE to take them into garages to be fixed, and then they charge you an arm and a leg.
Overall: I LOVED the Kia Carnival, and if I could, would forgo buying a new car and just keep ours fixed, but my husband is tired of sinking money into it and believes that after 9 years, other parts are waiting to break and that it will be a never-ending saga. I will be sorry to say goodbye to my Carnival.
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