2002 Kia Carnival LX from Saudi Arabia - Comments

12,000 KM: Oil sump was replaced because the drain plug threads disintegrated. Since this happened outside of the KIA Service Centre, it wasn't covered by the warranty. KIA's service engineer said there is an unwritten rule to let the engine cool down for at least an hour before opening and tightening the drain plug; otherwise Jeddah's 45 degree tempratures can cause the sump's alloy threads to disintegrate. Cost: SR500 (SR1.00=A$2.95). Time required:1 day.

40,000 KM: Braking performance was very poor. Front discs had to be rotated and brake pads were replaced. Cost: SR600. Time required:half-day.

40,000 KM: Oil & coolant mixed due to head gasket failure. Work completed under warranty, but it took 12 days to finish. The KIA service engineer said this was a common problem. My inference: (again due to the extreme weather) I keep the A/C running when the car is parked and my wife leaves the kids with me in the car while she shops; or when I'm waiting outside my daughter's school. Sometimes the A/C runs for upto 1 hour. Cost: SR300 for parts & labor not covered by warranty. Time required: 12 days (partly because it was Ramadan and the workshop worked on a half-shift)

50,000 KM: A/C compressor would work intermittently. KIA's Service Center wanted the car for 2 days to diagnose and the fix the problem. I then took it to an A/C repair shop. They replaced the A/C fan motor and also found a polythene bag wedged between the A/C radiator and engine coolant radiator - main cause of the fan overheating and then the A/C malfunctioning. Cost: SR100. Time required: 3 hours.

52,000 KM: Spark plug cable malfunction - due to low quality materials. Bought a new set and had it replaced by an independent mechanic. KIA's Service Center wanted the car for the day and quoted twice the money that I actually spent. Cost: SR200. Time required: 2 hours.

Other problems:

a. Plastic trim around the passenger seat's reclining handle has come loose.

B. Seams of the fabric trim are coming apart.

C. Armrests often become loose and have to be re-tightened.

D. Driver's seat cushion is deformed (I weigh 100 kgs)!?

E. A/C fan makes an irritating clicking sound when on its slowest setting.

This car is cheap all around. When buying it I figured that for the price of a Toyota Camry (SR60,000), I will have a mini-van. If it lasts 100,000 KM in a 5 year period; then it has served it purpose. Now in its 3rd year of service; I may have to scale back my projection to 80,000 Km and 4 years - when I assume it will fetch 25% of its original purchase price.

Will I buy another? Probably YES! Because it makes economic sense. Honda Odyssey is double the price and the Toyota Previa is 50% more. So what if the engine is underpowered and the whole interior shakes and rattles when driven over Jeddah's pot-hole ridden streets. However, what really puts me off and makes me seriously consider other brands is KIA's non-serious attitude to improving service issues.

The silver lining: My wife & kids children love it. The seating and cargo space make it an ideal vehicle to haul people and stuff around town - something that encounter every year during the Umra and Haj seasons.

I am facing all the same problem that you mentioned in Malaysia. So it is nothing to do with the heat in your country.

Never buy that KIA car. They are crab.

I had enough problems since the day I started driving this car.

KIA car are crab?

Why, do they travel sideways? hahaha.

I have a 2003 model and I have same problems in the Eastern part of Saudi Arabia. Everytime I take to the dealer for regular service, I get charged 3 times more for additional faults (mainly brake problems, spark plug cables or accessories repair). I will never buy KIA anymore or even deal this dealer.

Just to sum this up, KIA cars does not work well in heat? Or in cold? Or in snow? Or in rain? So if you live in an area that has a steady 70 deg F and no rain and no humidity this car may actually work. OK?

Dear all KIA drivers,

I have compared family cars in 2005 from the same class of the KIA carnaval. I even checked the maintenace. by calculation I found out that KIA carnival would be the ceahpeast car with the most value of my money. So I bought it with extended warranty of open mileage and five years. I stuck to the plan of the warranty and at 87,000km I paid SR3,000 for a full heavy maintenance and when I reached 90,000km the engine overheated. now I am stuck because the warranting company is refusing to hold responsibility and pay for the engine. I hope KIA understands if it doesn't do anything to keep its reputation. then it will lose all.

I am the original author of this posting. On Aug. 21, 2007, I sold my 2002 Kia Carnival after having driven it 122,000 kilometers over a period of 5 years & 3 months. I got SR16000 for it; approx 25% of the original purchase price. Frankly, I think I did quite well. Toyota Camry, the bell weather for resale values in Jeddah; does not get more than 30% of the original purchase price after 5 years of equivalent usage.

The new Kia Carnival (EX) now costs SR90,000. The price differential with the Toyota Previa is less than SR10,000 and with Honda Odyssey is SR20,000. Plus the GMC Acadia (a crossover vehicle) is in the same ballpark - although I'm against buying a vehicle in its 1st year of production since all the kinks have not been worked out. Plus it is a GM vehicle manufactured in the USA (not exactly a good pedigree).

Since my last posting I've had to replace the radiator (cost:SR600+labor:SR100), engine sump (cost:SR500+labor:SR200) 3 out of 4 engine mounts (cost:SR1100+labor:SR250) ; inner & outer CV joint boots + timing belt & tensioner kit (cost:SR1,500+labor:SR800) ; main engine seal (cost:SR200+labor:SR500) ; front suspension idler arms (cost:SR350+labor:SR100) and A/C fan and a return pipe from the A/C compressor (cost:SR1,000+labor:SR500). Most all of the factory-installed rubber parts failed or are failing. Also, the A/C now fails to cool the car on days when the humidity is low or if the car has been standing in the sun for many hours.

In 5 years; my total out of pocket expenses for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance were approx SR8000. This by comparison is much higher than what is reported by owners of Toyotas, Mazdas, Nissans and even Hyundais.

The engine was a gem and its performance was excellent - but on days when the outside temp hit 40 degrees or more, the engine pinged incessently. Could it be due to the aluminium block expanding and a loss of engine power?

In the last 50,000 kms, I switched to Mobil 1 synthetic engine oil (0-40W) and that made the engine overheat a lot less and also improved fuel economy. The engine also sounded a lot more muted with Mobil 1.

My advice to those of you looking at buying used Kia Carnivals (2001-2005) : look for vehicles that look well cared for on the inside and have a documented maintenance history - otherwise be prepared for the worst.

The interiors are very fragile and really need to be looked after - I always tried to park in a shaded spot so that the interior plastics don't get warped and the seat fabrics don't discolor. Also, the cost of maintenance will rise with age - so find a relaible KIA parts supplier and an experienced mechanic.