Our Kia Sedona Mini-Van Sucks
Last October, we finally got rid of our SUV and purchased a mini-van. Our very first mini-van. A guy’s dream come true. Who needs a Porsche when you can drive a Kia Sedona? And it’s huge. I’m probably the envy of every man in the universe.
My wife actually wanted a Honda Odyssey or a Toyota Sienna, but why pay an extra ten grand for a car you know the kids will trash? Plus I did my research. Last year, the Sedona was ranked third in Consumer Reports behind the Odyssey and the Sienna. Around the web, the Sedona generated mostly good reviews.
But it was just an illusion. A couple weeks after we purchased the mini-van, we started having problems with the electric sliding door. Sometimes it would close, then pop back open a few inches. My wife called the dealer and they said they’ve seen that problem before. Naturally, when my wife took the car to the dealer, the door worked fine. The service people said they can’t work on our car unless they see the problem. My wife offered to video tape the problem the next time it happens. But the service people said a video isn’t good enough. They have to see the problem in person. You know, because we have nothing better to do than make a fake video of our mini-van’s door.
It’s been ten months now and we’re still having problems with the door. Yesterday, I finally Googled the problem to see if there was a fix for this. I didn’t find a solution, but I did discover a lot of other people were having the same problem. The malfunctioning door appears to be a known problem that Kia doesn’t know how to fix. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think a car manufacturer should sell a car with a known door problem. What happens if the door pops open while you’re driving?
After owning a mini-van, I liking it. I love the cargo space and the extra row of seats. But I’m never going to buy a Kia again. Or a Hyundai (they manufacture the Kia Sedona). Our next car will be a mini-van made by Porsche.
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We have a Kia Sedona, My wife loves it but we do not have the electric sliding doors, but she has complained about them sticking if she does not open them just right. I would still rather drive something more…..sporty, with more power, and that just looks better!
Are you saying I’m not the envy of men everywhere?
I think it’s funny that the dealer has to see the problem first-hand, as if you’re trying to trick them into fixing something that isn’t broken. So then you can what? Shout, “Ha ha! We got you Kia dealer!”
Geez.
I have an old Dodge Caravan. It sounds as if it’s just about to disintegrate into pieces around us when we drive really fast. But the doors work ok.
OK, you caught me. I actually do go around trying to make people fix things that are not broken. Once, I had the doctor replace my “broken” heart. Boy did that doctor feel silly afterwards when I told him my heart wasn’t actually broken. Gotcha!
Argh! Don’t you know by know? ALWAYS spend the extra money on the Toyota or Honda! Guaranteed to be the best buy, year over year.
Just say NO to Kia and Hyundai.
I didn’t think I’d like a mini-van, but I must admit to liking it more than I do. Still, my next car will probably be a Honda CR-V.
I know, our 1998 Toyota Camry still works great. I just thought I would give Kia a chance. Big mistake.
I’m sorry to hear of your mini-van woes but this does not surprise me. We bought a Kia Sephia about 10 years ago when they first came out. It sucked!!! It blew through the 3 strike rule in 6 months.
Run away! Run far, far away!
In Oregon it’s 4 strikes and the dealer has the option of a new car or a refund minus the use of the car. Something tells me the dealer would charge us several thousands for the use of the car if we tried to use the lemon law.
We have an electrical problem with our car. The horn and signal lights only work when we take the car to get fixed. They say the samething. Maybe my car is the reincarnation of Herby.
That’s perfect. Now you can drive without any problems as long as you stay at the dealership.
Sounds stressful!!
Just annoying.
ROFL - mini vans made by Porsche - that’ll be the day. :) I did love my Sienna and we never had any problems but I can totally relate to that duplicate the problem scenario as it happened with one of our electric windows on our Chrysler Concord and I drove it to the dealer like 3 times to show them and the darn thing never cooperated. Made me SO mad!
Hugs,
Holly
Speaking of windows, our window was stuck in the open position twice in our SUV. Both times it was winter. Great timing.
I have been driving a van for over 20 years now! Usually a Toyota HI Ace or Toyota Estima… love the space… never had a door problem luckily. Bummer about your door!
I don’t think they sell the Toyota HI Ace or Toyota Estima here in the states. Either that or you’re making it up.
Hiace is the OLD Toyota minivan. Sold in the USA from 84-89. Mid-engine under the front seats, rear-wheel-drive (or 4wd) The marketing geniuses at Toyota called it Van. Replaced by the Previa in 1991. You’d remember the Previa for the eternally “pregnant” dashboard.
Dude,
Buy the Porsche and strap the kids to the top. Tell them it’s and “E” ticket adventure…
If I had a Porsche, the kids would not be allow any where near it. They can take public transportation, walk, or ride their bikes.
Save up your money and buy the Honda. We’ve got a Pontiac Montana and although it’s always been reliable we’ve lots of had problems with minor systems, like power door locks & power windows. So what if we can never lock our car? My next van is a Honda Odyssey.
Will do. I already have several hundred pennies in my piggy bank. Just a little more and I’m on my way to a new mini-van. I do like the Odyssey with the engine that can drive with only 3 cylinders.
Just climb in and out the windows. ;)
The kids wanted a van. I just couldn’t do it. Lots of room, but it wasn’t me. Bought a Buick Rendezvous CXL with 3 rows of seats, and love it!
By the way, Hyundai’s are quite expensive to insure. And they are easily totaled out.
I didn’t want a mini-van either. But now I can carry 12 foot lumber without using the roof rack. That’s the most important thing in life you know.
Learn to cook man! *shaking head*….
I know how to cook, but what’s the point in cooking for just one person? Luckily, there’s leftovers I can nuke.
I had a Kia when it first came out (a sephia)…that car was horrible…we then bought a taurus…not liking that one much better…I think next time around we’ll go honda or toyota…my husband drove his honda from 1989 until last year…he only got rid of it because he got his ‘cool’ car(FJ cruiser,he won’t let the kids drink or eat in it)…he could have probably driven the honda another 10 years…the neighbor teenage boy drives it now…
I know what you mean. If our Toyota Camry wasn’t so reliable, I would have it traded it in for a Porsche by now.
I think it may be a feature of all minivans because we’ve had tons of problems with our electric door also. Only one side is electric on ours, but it takes a lot of effort to slam the other side. I’ve had to drive the Chevy Venture with the door OPEN up a state highway to the service station one time when it wouldn’t QUITE shut (4 in. gap, and I figured OK, it’s about two miles away and the tow truck does NOT fit six children and I don’t want to be stranded…). Then of course the door flew open when I was at the busiest intersection in the entire city. My van was full of children. Yayyy. They “fixed” the problem in about thirty seconds by doing some magical reset thing. But it was scary there for a minute.
It never really gets fixed. They say to open it all the way again and shut it again, but that doesn’t always work. I think that God has a sense of humour, though, and He makes it work only after I’ve been driven to the point of saying something I shouldn’t have. Bet He’s going Bwa ha haa, and you thought you had it all together this morning, didn’t ya?? LOL!!
It usually works if hit the close button again. Otherwise, I have to get out of the car and manually shut it. Real annoying when that happens.
That really stinks. You wait your whole life to drive a mini van and it messes up on you!
On a serious note, maybe you should check into the lemon laws in your area. John is an expert witness/car inspector for an attorney in Atlanta that specializes in Lemon Law. You would be surprised how many vehicle owners have similar problems.
I did check it. I have to give the dealer 4 chances to fix it. Then the dealer has the option to give us a new car or a refund minus a “reasonable” fee for the use of the car. Who gets to decide what is a reasonable fee for driving a mini-van for 10 months?
That is true, though. Sometimes pursuing the Lemon Law is more trouble than it’s worth. And seems very expensive since you have to pay everything up front then wait for the settlement. Good Luck!
mmmmmmmmm…I am with you. I have a Kia Spectra. I bought it new in 2006 and while it’s okay for the price in regard to bells and whistles I will never buy another Kia. After you drive it for a while it’s pretty damn clear why it’s so cheap.
I was suckered by the extra-long warranty. But what good is it if they can’t fix the problem?
Hate to tell you this but a huge load of Kia’s were recalled here in OZ. They have a really bad name over here and are knon for breaking down and not being able to be fixed…..
I have a friend who cant even get parts for hers..
What is it with Bloody cars these days ?…
That’s why I prefer my space ship. If only it could fit more than one person.
You may want to recheck with your dealer to have the adjust the slider per the factor proceedure and reset the door. it will take them some time but I asure it will fix your probolem
KIA = Keep It Away
like it!!! lol…
We had a 2005 Honda Odyssey that was just totaled in an accident. Fortuanately, it did the job and we were all realatively safe. Now, my husband is thinking of replacing it with the Kia. He drove a Kia and said the ride was so nice,better pick up, and we can get all the extras and still save 7,000 dollars. I’m thinking “I don’t know, go from a Honda to a Kia? Will I regret it?”
Another note, we had some issues with our elec. door on the Honda, the rubber molding got in the way of the track from the kids stepping on it, poor design and they have since fixed that on the new ones. Overall, I really liked my Honda. Any advice I can relay to my husband???
Except for the door problem, the Kia Sedona is a good value. Plus since it’s a lot cheaper than the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, it doesn’t bother me as much when the kids get the inside dirty.
In regards to the door problem, I think it’s related to temperature. We had not had a problem with the door since last summer. I think the hotter it is, the more likely the door will get out of alignment.
My advice is: if you can afford it, spend the extra on the Odyssey and Sienna. It will give you peace of mind. If you’re looking for value, the Sedona is a decent choice. Make sure to test the power doors on a very hot day at the dealer.
I have a 2006 kia sedona and DO NOT like it. My advice is to go with the toyota or honda. My sedona shakes on the highway (always has). We’ve done alignments and balancing and new tires and nothing fixes it. We’ve also had to replace the rotors a bunch of times (it only has 40,000 miles on it). They keep getting warped. It’s not worth it. I will never buy a kia again.
i have been looking for info on 2006 kia sedona’s. Mine shakes too… real winner of a car but they are not that cheap and shouldn’t have sooo many probs… i took mine to the dealer and told them the HANDLE, NOT THE DOOR STICKS…so they lubed and cleaned the tracks? the door always slid fine…as for the handle, they had to say…oh yea we have seen them come right off the truck like that! oh thanks, i thought but its not fixed. my car shakes badly in the right front pass side..my mechanic states it is wheel barons and that they are under warranty so..i take it back to the dealer and they say no its not that its my brake pads floating around in the calipur…i said that would be kinda insulting to my mechanic….so i took it back to him and he doubled checked…but the brakes are fine…I did over hear a conversation in the parts dept. that wheel barons are expensive so we need to make sure that is the problem. They came back and said no….so now i am taking it to s diff. dealership and hoping maybe they will be honest? But if they 000pu0s0h me off for 9000 more miles, i guess it would me my prob. not theirs? so i just wanted to vent and know if anyone knew anything that could help or how to know its a wheel baron prob…have a good nite!
Thanks for all the comments folks. I’m trying to decide right now what minivan to buy. I was going to go check out the Sedona but after reading this blog I think I’ll skip it. I lean toward the Toyota Sienna anyway so I should just suck it up and pay the extra $, if for no other reason than the peace of mind it will give me knowing I got a good product. Thanks again!
hi i want to know hows the fuel efficiency of sedona? i mean how many kilometers per liter? im planning to buy one, but i want to see your testimony with fuel consumption case. thanks. hope u can help me out
We have not really kept track. My best guess is that it’s in the low 20’s on the freeway and about 15-18 miles per gallon in the city.