2002 Kia Sedona SE from UK and Ireland - Comments

Fuel pump failed at 5000 miles.

Second fuel pump failed at 20000 miles.

Rust on tailgate.

Bulbs constantly blowing.

New brake disc,s at 25000 miles

new battery at 30000 miles.

Dealer product knowledge is non exsistent.

Car is totally unreliable.

Nearly put me out of business as self employed taxi driver.

Roomy and cheap..

Nearly two month off the road in total.

Would be interested to know what the specific fault you had with the fuel pump and what kia said?

We would also like to know about your fuel pump problems. At our 30,000 mile checkup all was going fairly well. (We were misguided.) The car started cutting out on us, "lurching and chugging" as if out of gas. We went back to Bill Byrd KIA in Hoover, Alabama, and were told it was a problem with the intake / air filter that it was getting too much air. (Not the problem) We kept having problems. Back to Kia --not once, but twice in one week. We were told it was a problem somewhere in the "line" and they told us they "redid" everything on the 30,000 mile checkup (clean injectors, etc.) (Not the problem) Back to KIA -- they kept the van for a week, driving it intermittently -- couldn't find the problem - supposedly must be fixed (Not fixed) Back twice more -- still not fixed. Left at shop one week while on Mission trip to Ohio. Service Manager on vacation - assistant rudely told us it wasn't their problem, it must be something "we were doing." Had to drive on long trip -- intermittent problems the entire trip.

Will stall out and/or lose power, chugging and lurching as if out of gas and suddenly start to drive smoothly again. Check engine lights do not come on -- They cannot find anything on the computer checks. This is not all we have been back, but all I could remember tonight.

We have had to replace the windshield also - as others in the comments (insurance paid part and we paid part) --

Brake drums were warped with first 5,000 miles -- drum replaced. Right front brake "squeals" and service department states they cannot find a problem.

CD player kept sticking when turning engine off with CD in slot and had to be "reset" several times -- Service finally replaced the sound system.

Fuse box cover continually comes off as gentleman commented in another comment.

Back hatch door is heavy and hard to close.

We were KIA fans and loved the performance, sleek lines, and KIA overall, even with the other "glitches" until the 30,000 mile checkup -- We still do not have a resolution to the "power / stalling / cutting out problem? -- to be continued?

Sam

I have a list of problems on my june 2000 KIA sedona

new driver seat

new power steering rack

new power steering pipes

new radiator

new brake disc

new handbrake cables

new back passenger sliding door fittings

replace head gasket

brake pistons replaced

alternator

I purchased my vehicle january 2001 and i am a taxi driver and my vehicle has been off raod about 3,4 months in total.

new air conditiong pipes. All pipes are coroding

I wish to buy a Kia Sedona SE, now I am worrying.

It is July 2004 and I wonder whether they have ironed out the problems people are experiencing.

I have just purchased my second Kia Sedona. I have found this web site by accident as I was trying to show my mum the specification of the car which I am due to pick up in 3 days.

My personal experience with Kia has been nothing, but fantastic. They were extremely helpful when I purchased my first Kia Sedona in January 2004 and have been as helpful, professional and friendly the second time around. I have only had to take my car back on one occasion, for a new CD player as mine was faulty. It was replaced within 3 days, there was never the option of getting the faulty one fixed, they offered a replacement straight away.

This article has been written by one person, I know of at least a dozen people with the same car who are thrilled to bits, just as I am.

I looked last week at other people carriers, just to make sure I kept all my options open and found that no other car can compare for both price and quality.

I have dealt with the same salesman on both occasions, he has also been a pleasure to deal with, he is the only car salemans that hasn't tried to rip me off and I have 100% confidence in both the car and the garage.

This article is damaging to Kia and gives a false impression of what is a truly fantastic car.

I hope that people read this before making a judgement. I can honestly recommend the car to everyone.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this response.

Sarah Tolson

A VERY HAPPY KIA SEDONA OWNER.

Sounds to me like you have had a very good experience with the sales man like most people do, until they have your money, i sincerely hope that you do not have just a tiny percentage of the problems myself and about three or four people just in my local area have had with there cars, so good luck you will need it..ps got rid of mine now thank god such a weight off my shoulders.

You pay for what you get cheap being the operative word, these cars are money and time sponges... avoid Sarah must work for KIA pr...

My wife has a 2002 Kia Sedona SE, she loves it, but... after 44000 miles the head gasket has failed, the garage looking at it are convinced this is not the first time the engine has been apart and the gasket replaced. The diesel filling cap does not seal correctly and if we fill the tank it leaks when cornering (even after buying a new filler cap) Our local Kia dealer never has the parts I order in stock, all seem to take a few days to order. We are very disappointed and are now looking to move to a different make of vehicle.

Me and my family have an 2002 Kia Sedona LX that has been nothing but problems.

We have only had this van for about 8 months, and we have already replaced the transmission once, and it is needing doing again.

The motor is whining and knocking.

Neither one of the sliding doors will latch all the way, so when you're riding down the road, they sometimes fly open.

So we went in to a whole bunch of dealerships in the last few weeks, and they are all telling us the same thing; that the van that we still owe 8064.00 on is only worth 1000.00. So what are we suppose to do?

We don't want to even leave the house, because we're afraid that it will break down somewhere, and we have four little ones, so it's not like we can walk anywhere.

We have a 2007 KIA Sedona. We have 5 children so we needed something roomy but on a budget... It has been great.

Until just 3 months after we bought it. It is making the whining noise in the front end, and has some knocking in the front dash somewhere in the glove box area when you turn it off.

I was just approached by my neighbor who "heard" me coming down the street and thought he would come over and see if I knew what the sound was from. His 2004 KIA Sedona makes the "exact same sound". Neither one of us it seems have had any luck in finding out what the problem is. He said his kicked in right around the 30,000 mile mark. Mine was closer to 50,000.

I was looking on line to see if I could find some answers, and found this site. I still don't know what the issue is, but wanted to share my experience.

I will not buy another KIA, but will go for the Honda Pilot next time.

I own a 2002 Kia Sedona EX. I bought it due it's affordability at the time. We have had numerous problems with the brakes. Replaced three times. Now it needs new handbrake cables and pads.

The paint is very cheap, and is easily chipped or bubbles.

We have had several small things malfunction (button controls for the seats, seat belt not always retracting, captain's chain won't lock in place).

Constant squeaking, and had it attended to before, and it always seems to come back within two or three months. I would not recommend a Kia Sedona as a vehicle for purchase. Save up some money and buy a better quality used vehicle.

We bought a 2002 Kia Sedona for $13,000 three years ago. The car has since become our worst nightmare!!!

The body has pin spot rust spots starting all over, the back hatch only opens periodically, the right sliding door stopped working, the speed sensor has had to be replaced twice, the body is extremely easily dented! The van sounds like crap when running!

I am so disappointed as I begged my husband for this vehicle, and right from the first few months of owning it he realized he had made a terrible mistake. The salesman sold us on the 5 star safety rating, and the fact that the price was nice and that it was built on a truck frame. I didn't want to admit it at first, but I have to agree that it has been a let down all around. The dealership we bought it from hasn't treated us well like say a Toyota dealership. Sad as the resale value is really low. We are stuck with a lemon!

We own a 2002 Kia Sedona with 110,000 miles and have had a small amount of issues and have owned it since new.

In first year, the car would kill batteries. Recall dealer installed new alternator with more amps. This worked.

Also had problems with side doors.

Had ignition coil for #2 sparkplug replaced.

Speaking for today 7-3-09, the car has been very good to us.

Bought Kia Sedona 2002 new in 2002 and have had problems from the 1st year:

- Electrical circuits bad - door locks would lock by themselves and resulted in having my infant children locked inside car too many times to mention (luckily I had a spare key in my wallet)!

* KIA dealer could not fix lock problem after 6 times to dealer so I finally had the electric system disassembled.

- Passenger sliding door barely opens (you have to be a very strong person to open it)

- The back hatch door is very very hard to close and has just begun not opening (when I squeeze the latch to unhook the door it does not grab and just clicks)

- The front brakes and pads have had to be replaced 3 times.

- This van has eaten up numerous batteries and have had to have the alternator replaced, but still drains batteries.

- The paint is cheap and chips.

I would not buy this brand again - very dissatisfied.