2002 KIA Sedona EX reliability???

On Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:37:28 -0500, "99trooper" <private DeleteThis @private.net>
wrote:

>Hello all,
>
>My wife and I are looking at replacing our 1996 Chrysler T&C (160K miles
>on it) with a KIA Sedona (It seems like you get more bang for your buck
>here).
>
>Currently we are looking at a 2002 Sedona EX with leather, sunroof, etc
>under 60k miles for less that $8500. Seems like a pretty good deal
>right?
>
>The ratings by consumer reports are terrible for this model year. The
>question is... Would all the bugs have been worked out by now (since it
>would still be under warranty until 60k miles)? Is there a real
>reliability problem with these? I own a 99 Hyundai sonata now... all
>seems ok (except for that darn evap sensor issue)...
>
>thanks for the comments.

I've had my '02 Sedona since January and it now has about 100K miles
on it. The engine seems strong and so does the tranny. However, I've
heard stories about the transmissions going bad. I also (so far) can't
find anyone who has seen one with more than 150K miles on it (not
precluding it, of course). I've also heard stories about suspension
problems.

Some of the bugs won't be worked out under warranty because they're
not covered by warranty.

Gas mileage is terrible compared to many other minivans.

A big drawback that I've personally seen is that "little" things
break. My gas guage takes about 5 minutes to move from half-a-tank to
full and still doesn't track accurately. The trip computer
(clock/miles until empty/temp/etc) is fried. A bushing on the middle
guide on one of the sliding doors is gone, causing binding. (You may
be able to get those bushings upgraded under warranty, so check into
if you take the plunge). Had a climate control switch fall apart. The
front wipers don't return to the correct position after they're used.
On the left side, the wiper tip has actually scratched enough paint
away on the top of the hood to allow it to rust. The front inside door
handles have so much slack in them that, if we're not paying
attention, we have to try twice to get the door open. There's a fair
whistle from the right front door at highway speeds. Took it through a
carwash last Friday now the airbag light is on. So, until we get that
fixed, we may be without that extra protection.

Incidentally, we bought the Sedona after blowing a head gasket on our
'96 Plymouth Voyager. Now that the Voyager is fixed, even though it
has 192K miles, I wish we had only it and not the Sedona.

-- Christian
 >> Stay informed about: 2002 KIA Sedona EX reliability??? 

I agree that Consumer Reports is a VERY BIASED group. I wouldn't put any
faith in anything they say. They have bad mouthed several of the cars and
trucks that I've owned over the years and I never experienced anything they
said was wrong. Reading their magazine is like listening to Howard Cosell
call a Cassius Clay boxing match. You often wondered what fight he was
watching.

I also had an alternator go bad and then the dealer managed to keep screwing
up things. Took four visits to get everything fixed. That's the
dealership, not Kia. We like the Kia enough to buy a new Hyundai, which is
one and the same.


"99trooper" <private RemoveThis @private.net> wrote in message
news:569a380d50389222bf3544f41e8fc3a3@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
> Hello all,
>
> My wife and I are looking at replacing our 1996 Chrysler T&C (160K miles
> on it) with a KIA Sedona (It seems like you get more bang for your buck
> here).
>
> Currently we are looking at a 2002 Sedona EX with leather, sunroof, etc
> under 60k miles for less that $8500. Seems like a pretty good deal
> right?
>
> The ratings by consumer reports are terrible for this model year. The
> question is... Would all the bugs have been worked out by now (since it
> would still be under warranty until 60k miles)? Is there a real
> reliability problem with these? I own a 99 Hyundai sonata now... all
> seems ok (except for that darn evap sensor issue)...
>
> thanks for the comments.
>
 >> Stay informed about: 2002 KIA Sedona EX reliability??? 

I bought my 2002 Sedona EX over 4 years ago and I love it. Consumer
Reports can go pound sand! I've never found their recommendations
worth anything in the real world.

The Kia Dealer in Santa Ana, CA is the best dealer of any car brand
I've experienced in my 61 years. They fix whatever needs fixing and
when the payment responsibility for the fix seems "iffy" they are
always on my side. When the alternator went out it was replaced with
a bigger, better version in just a few miles. If I could have a wish
about the van granted I'd love better gas mileage, but I sure wouldn't
trade the safety record of my very sturdy vehicle for a few bucks per
tank.

Bill O'Neill
Irvine, CA
 >> Stay informed about: 2002 KIA Sedona EX reliability??? 

Hard to tell reliability with a small track record.

This doesn't seem to be too prominent here. I had 88K miles on mine
when the engine blew. I was VERY religious with oil changes (never more
than 3K between changes.) I know it was nothing I did. I bought it
used with 31K miles on it. I'm thinking the original owners got rid of
it because they saw something wrong with it.

I have seen VERY FEW of these vans make it past 100K miles. Either they
are reliable and consumers decide not to sell them. Or, they blow up
and consumers decide they are not worth fixing. Although, from my
experience they are not reliable. Anyone want to add to my comments?

99trooper wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> My wife and I are looking at replacing our 1996 Chrysler T&C (160K miles
> on it) with a KIA Sedona (It seems like you get more bang for your buck
> here).
>
> Currently we are looking at a 2002 Sedona EX with leather, sunroof, etc
> under 60k miles for less that $8500. Seems like a pretty good deal
> right?
>
> The ratings by consumer reports are terrible for this model year. The
> question is... Would all the bugs have been worked out by now (since it
> would still be under warranty until 60k miles)? Is there a real
> reliability problem with these? I own a 99 Hyundai sonata now... all
> seems ok (except for that darn evap sensor issue)...
>
> thanks for the comments.
>
 >> Stay informed about: 2002 KIA Sedona EX reliability??? 

While the '02 Sedona did have some significant problems, the incidence of
powertrain problems (engine and transmission) is actually pretty low, and
impressively so against other minivans.

Still, getting an '02 would be a risk, because there were so many bugs in
it, especially with things like electrical bugs (a ton of switches fail in
those early Sedonas), air conditioning, fuel system problems, air leaks and
whistles, etc.

If you even think of getting an '02, MAKE SURE that the timing belt has been
replaced in it, or get it done as a part of the deal.

Personally, I would be looking for around an '05. Even better, there are
some pretty good rebate combos available on a new '08. The '08 is one
seriously good minivan, maybe Kia's best product ever, and in its third year
since the redesign, so all the bugs should be out, if there were any.


"Jacee" <elmer.fudd RemoveThis @warner.net> wrote in message
news:J4xKj.16528$Q52.5564@bignews9.bellsouth.net...
> Hard to tell reliability with a small track record.
>
> This doesn't seem to be too prominent here. I had 88K miles on mine when
> the engine blew. I was VERY religious with oil changes (never more than
> 3K between changes.) I know it was nothing I did. I bought it used with
> 31K miles on it. I'm thinking the original owners got rid of it because
> they saw something wrong with it.
>
> I have seen VERY FEW of these vans make it past 100K miles. Either they
> are reliable and consumers decide not to sell them. Or, they blow up and
> consumers decide they are not worth fixing. Although, from my experience
> they are not reliable. Anyone want to add to my comments?
>
> 99trooper wrote:
>> Hello all,
>>
>> My wife and I are looking at replacing our 1996 Chrysler T&C (160K miles
>> on it) with a KIA Sedona (It seems like you get more bang for your buck
>> here). Currently we are looking at a 2002 Sedona EX with leather,
>> sunroof, etc under 60k miles for less that $8500. Seems like a pretty
>> good deal
>> right?
>>
>> The ratings by consumer reports are terrible for this model year. The
>> question is... Would all the bugs have been worked out by now (since it
>> would still be under warranty until 60k miles)? Is there a real
>> reliability problem with these? I own a 99 Hyundai sonata now... all
>> seems ok (except for that darn evap sensor issue)... thanks for the
>> comments.
>>
 >> Stay informed about: 2002 KIA Sedona EX reliability???