2002 Kia Sedona ex review from North America

Many people will be shocked when they find that Kia (USA) IS COVERING UP A HUGE AND CHRONIC PROBLEM with the SEDONA!!

RUST!!!

We have discovered that there was a bulletin that has gone out to Kia dealers in the US that involves the way the front grille and back door area that surrounds the license plate (the chrome fixture that houses the lighting above the license plate, etc.) is installed, it creates a jagged scratch into steel that will rust soon after you have purchased the car.

We have RUST holes forming and have been offered a re-painting on a NEW CAR of which we have had for only a few months?!

RUST on a new car with less than 7,000 miles is not acceptable.

The fact that the dealership knew the exact problem and showed us more spots that will rust soon is a little scary!

The fact that the KIA Service DIRECTOR said there was a mistake made in how they were manufactured and they received a bulletin about this (THE CUSTOMER WAS NOT GIVEN THIS DISCLOSURE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND/OR EVER AS A RECALL) shows there is a huge fleecing going on.

We were excited to purchase our SEDONA based on the 5 star safety rating because we have kids, but the problems is with the car's assembly and process in which the fixtures are installed. It is sub-par and defective. KIA was learning as they go it would seem to allow these cars on the market when they know the problem, We have not received any documents on this as a recall so I am to assume that they don't want us to know, why would they send a bulletin to the dealers, but not the consumer? They must think we the consumer are dumb or something or maybe we will think the RUST is not a problem on a new car with a few thousand miles!

No one wants to get body work done within months of buying a new car that has (not) been in an accident!!

We are not happy about this at all and plan to spread the word about it. Be warned the KIA REPS have their wording together to make you feel as if the 10 year warranty is all they need to offer you and it's your problem that the car is rusting and that they will paint the spots that are rusting and that's all, and no it is not a factory paint job, but it will look real nice...

Is this a correct way to run a car business? Do not be fooled by a comment made on this review: that it is a competitor trying to hurt business, because we are not!

I own a KIA SEDONA with mechanical problems under the hood and rust holes after a few months of purchase on a new vehicle and hope you do not have the same problem if you own one. We definitely don't recommend you buy one even if the 5 star rating and nice rebate make you think you should..

KIA has some things to learn about customer service and yes they are moving huge numbers in the USA and that's great for them, but it takes more than sales to validate your product. Millions of people buy fast food everyday, but we all know that's is not really the best thing to do right?

I did my part in saying this so hopefully more people will come forward with their problems before it's to late.

Sad, mad and confused.

The other problems this minivan has is that there is major belt noise and/or Air condition problems that made us have to take the car in to find the problem several times of which there was no real solution.

KIA USA is enjoying major success with the sale of these minivans right now, but I hate to say once they start rusting there will undoubtedly be a huge amount of sad, mad, and confused people who want answers as to why a new car would rust IN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE!!

It's a big mistake for KIA USA to think it is acceptable to be rude to it's customers and offer the paint over the RUST?! To cover up the problem vs. admitting the screwed up! This huge and disgusting manufacturing mistake is a problem KIA is trying to cover up and it is only a matter on time before this cheating of the US consumer is brought into the light.

Buying the Kia brand is a mistake. The Kia Corporation is not very smart in how they are dealing with unsatisfied customers. I predict a huge backlash in the very near future from several unhappy customers.

I made a big mistake buying a KIA.