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Kia Sedona Prices Paid and Buying Experience

544 messages,  Last post on Oct 23, 2009 at 2:04 PM

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What is this discussion about? Kia Sedona, Van

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#6 of 544 UGA by bester1 Jul 29, 2003 (6:07 am)
Sorry that you take things so personal UGA. Really, I spend my time making up stories about a $21,500 purchase just to make Kia look bad. Get a grip. I am just trying to find some peace of mind.   Regarding my problems:   1)Since when is a seat not a manufacturing issue? 2)Since when is the location and quality of the fuse panel door not an engineering and manufacturing problem? 3) I forgot to mention that whenever I use the lumbar support a loud unnerving electrical sound come through my speakers. Is that a dealership issue? 4) The poor mileage issue. I just expected to get near the 15 city 20 highway that was advertised. Not 12 city and 14 highway.   IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? UGA, why become so defensive? I am just sharing my experiences. I guess you would prefer that I make up a story that says this is the best major purchase I ever made when in fact I am beginning to think that it is the worst major purchase I ever made.   I work hard for my money and I just want to feel comfortable with my purchase. Now I know the truth about Kia.
#7 of 544 I'm sorry you've had such a bad experience by chrisbgood Jul 29, 2003 (9:12 am)
both with the Kia and with the dealer (especially the dealer). Sounds almost as bad as my previous Dodge Caravan stories.   I had a cracked windshield on the Kia (manufacturing defect -- around 10k miles) and the dealer took care of it -- no questions asked. Kia issue that the dealer made right.   Other than that I'm at 25,000 miles on a 2002 EX and my wife (the primary driver) is still thrilled. Milege is steady around 20 (30% city, 70% highway -- last three tank averages were 20, 21.5 and 20.1). So far an excellant vehicle for us.   Start by checking out a new dealer to handle the gripes you have -- legitimate gripes from the sound of it.   PS: I have used Lia Kia in Schenectady for mine -- and it all worked well. What are of the country was your dealer in? (Hopefully not Lia in Schenectady -- although I haven't been back in for 6 months).
#9 of 544 Thanks Chrisbgood by bester1 Jul 29, 2003 (9:43 am)
Thanks for your response. I live in the Pittsburgh, PA area. I purchased my car from South Hills Chrysler Kia. It is just a few miles from my office. There is another Kia Dealer North of the city but it is out of the way. I may have to consider it ( I live west of the city, my current dealer is south of the city near my office).   By the way, have you had problems with the fuse box cover or any of the nagging problems I have mentioned? Thanks again.
#10 of 544 well by uga91 Jul 29, 2003 (10:30 am)
My whole point was that your problems with your new Sedona are not related to the manufacturing of the van. The seat may be the only exception. However, the "creaking" seat will not cause mechanical failure. You said they were replacing the seat. Why beat that dead horse if it is going to be fixed? I also can not believe you posted this horror story in at least three places here in TH and it never occurred to you after typing it so many times that maybe you are mad at the dealer so you're taking it out on the Sedona when the Sedona did nothing wrong. I have never heard about the fuse box issue before, so that is why I do not fault the design of the vehicle for that one either. Your mileage will increase, your seat will get replaced and you should be able to enjoy your new van--if you would just allow yourself to.
#12 of 544 Well by bester1 Jul 29, 2003 (10:45 am)
Thanks uga for your notes. I just feel as if the lumbar and the mpg issues are also design/manufacturing issues. I also think that if you spend $21,500 on a new van, these types of things should not happen. Oh, and yes it is true that some frustration has been place upon the Sedona for dealership issues. However, the name plate KIA is on the dealership and the name KIA is on the car so there should be some inter-connectedness (if that makes any sense).   For example, whenever I buy milk and take it home and it is spoiled, I return to the market that I purchased it from. I am then suspicious of the brand I purchased and look at every detail going as far as sipping the milk before I give it to my children. I never seek the cow even though the milk could have been bad since it's delivery from the udder (I know that this is a silly comparison but at least I am trying - :0)Sorry but give some credit for the effort.
#13 of 544 bester1 by mrwallace Jul 29, 2003 (12:25 pm)
2003 EX also Your MPG is a typical break-in situation that will improve over time. Ours improved dramatically between 2,000-3,500 miles. Still improving at 8,000. Ours is continually above EPA.   Checked the fuse box this morning. Ours has a little sliding latch on the cover that secures it. If yours is broken and does not slide forward, they should replace it. It is a pretty simple piece of equipment and certainly adequate to the task.
#14 of 544 My issues by chrisbgood Jul 29, 2003 (3:52 pm)
I had none of the issues you described.   On delivery the front AC wasn't 100% right -- handled promptly by the dealer (it would only cool when the back was on).   I had some scratches on the back trim (interior) -- and I do think Kia should change that design. On the other hand after a year of hard use (7 year old and 3 year old and small dog) it hasn't gotten any worse. The dealer did offer to install new trim -- and I took 'em up on it.   I concurr with the milege posts you've seen -- the milege did pick up after a couple of k -- and it works well.   Yes, it's a Kia -- but it's one of the most expensive Kias they make and they should treat you as a good customer. On the other hand -- I'll never go back to the Dodge dealer again (Caravan) -- I loathed them then and loathe them now. Sales was "ok" but service stunk.
#15 of 544 bester/issues by smulvey Jul 29, 2003 (5:28 pm)
My fuse box has been opened several times , by me , and it goes back on fine. I assume the mechanic broke one of the latches when he installed the one electrical wire that is part of the trailer lights adapter kit. I installed that kit on my van.   When I installed it I did not find it needed to smear grease on my upholstery either .   The trailer hitch add a whole further dimension to the van. I towed a 3,000 lb trailer loaded with my old aunties furniture from the mountains in Plattsburgh to Rochester, NY. I got 16.7 MPG towing. In the mountains. I too get 20-26 MPG highway. With the A/C running.   I have 25,000 miles on mine.   I have not had the trouble with the dealer staff. They are not KIA experts in the service department. I would bet on the saleswoman vs the technicians any day.   However, when they had to find a shorted wire in the Drivers seat ( from the seatbelt warning switch ) they did a good job.   Hey, could your electrical problem stem from the metal lumber flexing device , pinching a misplaced wire from the seat belt warning circuit? sounds like it would be worth checking.   I get no static from my radio operating the seat controls. I have the cheaper model with mostly manual controls.   Oh , I missed the software recall on the ABS , since I do not have ABS.   I checked my brakes and have more than 50% material left.   My tires are wearing very nice and flat across the tread. The front tires wore 50% down in 20,000 miles. The back tires wore 10% down. I rotated them this week. The full size spare sure comes in handy. I put it on the back of the van when I did the rotation. now I have three " new" tires. I got into a big storm by Pittsburgh last week and the deep tread was great. Look at your vans tires . If they are the Kumho tires they may have the rating of 44 PSI pressure. I contacted KUMHO USA and got a technical person who said they would approve inflating the tires to 40 PSI for everyday use, on the van. You may find your tires are inflated to 28 0r 30 PSI.   You could improve your mileage by raising your tires to a higher pressure. How high can you go ?? that is a matter of great debate between me and steve and others. So far all the fears/uncertainty& doubt concerning " too high tire presure " for these KUMHO tires appear to be completely unfounded. I have proper wear patterns and great tire performance.   Overall the van has been great.   PEter Butterfield is the USA president of KIA and he operates from Irvine california.   Write him a letter , use what you put in your post.   He may be able to at least try geting a better handle on the boneheads at the dealer.   BRONX KIA has come in for some well deserved critisism on this board. Maybe it's your dealers turn too!

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