2000 Kia Carnival LX review from Australia and New Zealand

In the first two years of ownership every time the car had a service within a week it would have to be towed into the dealership with something wrong. These included:

Brake pads- they were faulty from day one.

Gearbox needed replacing twice.

Clutch was replaced twice.

Engine was replaced because of a cracked block.

Numerous other smaller parts needed to be replaced.

After 6 months carpet had already been worn to such an extent that holes were appearing.

Rear air conditioning stopped working after a few months- this was supposedly "fixed" every time it was serviced. Surprisingly it never worked even after this.

After second year boot wouldn't close properly- again fixed at each subsequent service. It no longer opens.

I have been saving to trade in the KIA and get a better more reliable car. I couldn't morally sell it on the private market and was going to trade it. however, on a trip recently, it overheated. I stopped checked the coolant- a full bottle, and waited till it cooled down. I tried to start it

with no success and after having it towed to the nearest mechanic I find that the cylinders have no compression. Best car of all times.

Although the KIA is quite comfortable it may be better if they spend their dollars and time on righting the mechanical wrongs

After owning a Tarago for 12 years and the most that went wrong with it was an occasional brake pad or re-gassing of the air conditioning, it was a shock to find that all cars weren't like this.

Never again KIA.