Used 2004 Kia Sedona Consumer Reviews
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It wouldn't die!
Living in Canada, our winters are hard on cars. This van would not die! I bought this van with 250,000km on it and I ran it until 450,000km it was still running strong but I hit a moose going 110km an hour and it destroyed the van. Every year we would haul a 4500pound trailer all the way around Ontario and it never really hurt the van. Even though every year the rear heater lines would rot out there was nothing really done other than regular maintenance. The a/c stopped working after hitting my second deer. But other than those things you could run this van through hell and it wouldn't even get a scratch I even took it muding once. good job Kia you built a bullet proof tank
Still going strong at 120,000 miles.
I have previously posted here as FRUGAL DRIVER (see below). This van, bought in 07 with 64K, is still going strong as a half ton hauler and work van. Today its going 750 miles (and back in three days) in my wife's hands to take KID MARK I to university for the first time. Had a/c fixed--damage inflicted on a hose by an idiot. Now that the OBAMA CAFE rules have effectively removed small pickups (Chev 10, Ford Ranger) & the old vans (ASTRO etc) from the US market, what are you doing to drive? This van will haul a half ton well. It takes abuse if you maintain it well. Drive it gently. This vehicle was originally built as a light truck for the S. Korean Army (02-06 model). Its tuff.
- EX Passenger MinivanMSRP: $7,999717 mi away
- EX Passenger MinivanMSRP: $4,9901,724 mi away
We put A LOT of miles on this van!
Over 180,000 miles on this van and still going. I keep changing the oil and it keeps going! I've had to replace the water pump twice and the coil packs went out so we replaced those. Air conditioner worked well up 'til last summer. The suspension doesn't seem to be that great and I haven't sprung to replace the struts although the van needs it-- but really, how many more miles am I going to be able to put on it? I'm really happy with it over all.
Best low cost to maintain & value mini-van I ever had!
Had a 2004 EX till recently it was totaled in a rear end collision. Gr8 ride, gr8 comfort, gr8 entertainment system, gr8 value! Front wheel drive makes all the difference, plenty of room for carting kids or Home Depot supplies. Gr8 acceleration & driving stability. Only knock is the gas mileage was not very good but I changed my driving technique & went from 16mpg to almost 20 (19.8)mpg!
Update to review of 07/11/2009
Still very happy with vehicle. TIRES: OEM spec. 215/70/15 with a passenger grade is rubbish. Upgrade to 225/70/15 in a light truck/SUV tire. Currently using Michelin LTS MS. Ride quality and rubber longevity greatly improved! Transmission: buy dealer fluid for this van, have independent change it. This vehicle has a tranny cooler, so if you are hauling in hot weather, you are fine. Gas mileage: 14/16 city, 20-24 highway. That including towing 3500 lbs (as rated) and carrying weight.
Don't buy a used one
The warranty is not honored if you are NOT the original owner. They have have problems with steering due to winter salt but no recall. Also a problem with the cooling hoses to the rear and again no recall. They have been aware of these but will NOT cover the expense since we were not the first owner even though we bought it with 48,000 miles. We now have a car with 78,000 miles and NO warranty.
Family in action
Faithful to its duty. Its a KIA. If you wanted a sports car, you wouldn't be reading this.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Not bad but ages prematurely
Bought new from dealer end of '03. This minivan has plenty of power and ample passenger room. However, cargo space is very limited. Ran flawlessly the first 1.5 years, then brakes began to squeal. We replaced the brakes on warranty twice in the first 50K miles, a bit undersized for weight of the vehicle, maybe? Also replaced wheel bearings, again on warranty. The Kia dealership where we bought and service the car is tops, but I wish we didn't have to spend so much time visiting with them on warranty issues. Now the engine sounds like it's getting tired. We're Trading it in this weekend (probably not another Kia) before it gives up the ghost for good.
Where do I start?
I am always amazed to see newer Sedonas on the road. I can't understand why anyone would buy one of them anymore. My car had so many problems during the warranty that I was one of 10 people across the U. S. to participate in a J.D. Powers interview at my local Kia dealership. Several engineers from Korea were there also to examine my car along with J.D. Powers staff. The whole thing was taped for whatever reason. Front brakes including the rotors have to be replaced every 20K. Front tires and struts, and engine mounts, ditto. Horn was replaced at least six times. A/C proportioning valve had to be replaced. Rear deck lid struts went out quickly.
Kia driven for 133,000
I bought my Kia new in 2004 and have riven it for over 133,000 miles. Overall the car has performed well without unreasonable mechanical problems; except, the lines for the rear heater have rusted out twice. The first time I paid over $600 to replace them and Kia just said, "Gee, I am sorry to hear you had that problem." Reviews that criticize Kia for not doing something better for their customers are correct. Also the rear window defrost has failed. I have not experienced any problem with rust on my Kia and I live in Michigan. As my car has aged, in the recent months it has experienced a series of problems; for which I am considering replacing it. Everything gets old eventually.
I will buy another!
Purchased our 2004 KIA Sedona LX new near the end of 2004. Lots of extended highway driving when we go on trips, and the van performs well. 20-22mpg on the highway if we keep it under 70mph. I have replaced the original tires (56K miles), and windshield (rock cracked it). No other work outside of normal scheduled maintenance (fluid changes, tire rotation). Will need to have the front brakes serviced for the first time when 60K miles rolls around. Interior has worn well, except for the driver's side floor where the carpet is dirty. Van is driven every day, regardless of weather, so it gets quite dirty in the winter. Once this van is paid off, I'll be purchasing another KIA!
So far replaced 75% of the van
It all started not 7 months after I purchased it with the battery, then plugs @ 15,000 miles they blamed the condition of the plugs on champion? Each 3 months it was something else, this year the entire transmission. And the 5th set of rotors 3rd set of belts 2nd ac sys. Control panel have so many claims on this van, it's almost getting to be routine, like changing your oil, I like the engine but if that so much as misfires I'm done with it! It has always had a problem firing upon starting, gonna have the plugs looked at again wrote them a letter, they sent me a 500.00 check, all I wanted was an extended warranty I feel I deserve that after 26 unscheduled repairs in 4 yrs!
rust
We discovered that the steel lines that run to the heater rusted out just after the vehicle ran out of warrenty. The customer service team at Kia Corporation was terrible to deal with. We had documentation that the part started to rust while within warranty and the service department at the dealership even confirmed this, but they still would not consider a compromise on repairs.
Not worth the money
Of course a new van is gonna be nice and not have problems, but after a year the transmission was making noise and not performing well. Than 4 years later, the power steering pumb and something else is out, tranny is bad and motor acts up. Only has 32,xxx miles and should be running great! It doesn't. It was the main transportation for my handicap grandmother, who now has to relay on finding other people to take her places like her doctors apt! The van sits in the street broke down, and we still owe $3,000 on it. Can't trade it in, cause we owe more than its worth. Quilfys for a Clunker, but we ow money. So we are stuck with this piece of junk KIA. Never get another one!
Thanks went back to American companies
Driving this van felt like I was driving a bus. Fit and finish was fine no complaints there. Seating was made for smaller people. I am 6'1" and 300 lbs Wife like the seating and she only 5'2". Gas mileage was in line with a heavy vehicle s powered by underpower unit. What made the final draw for me was Kia dealership not backing the product. Had bad front rotors after 25,000 miles and it was not covered under warranty. Was told rotors and pads are my cost. Pads I could see, rotor no way. Brakes where not made for the weight of this van. Drove it across to Ford and trade it in. Good new the trade in value was 12,000. See my review on Sport Trac on what warranty is all about.
awful
we bought this car with 28k miles in the hopes of a low mileage car which would provide a solid, low maintenance vehicle for a number of years. mea culpa - you get what you pay for. from the brakes (calipers, rotors, pads) to the wiring system (complete shorts in the auto locks and windows) to the suspension, i believe its mostly assembled out of hobby wire and aluminum foil.
What a mess
I was told by the sales person that my van had the highest safety rating; don't believe it. I had to replace the wheel bearings and brakes. all the steel cooling lines rusted. it overheats for no reason. The steel lines coming from the radiator rusted. The blue book is low; I can't get financing for another vehicle because of low trade-in value.
What di you expect it is a mini van!
Not much to say. If you are looking for a speed demon that turns like it is on rails this is not the vehicle for you. If you are like me and have a family that likes to travel a lot and need the extra space this is a nice choice. IMHO way better than any north American minivan but not as good as a Honda or a Toyota on par with the Nissan. I bought it used to save $$$ as the sedona has a terrible resale value and is an excellent used buy. It handles great for a van, a bit noisier than most mini vans but feels solid and well built. Acceleration was more than adequate and I'm overall happy with this vehicle.
Great Van for the Money
Only have driven a couple hundred miles in it, but I love it. The ride is awesome, features are great, and the family loves it. We traded our Ford expedition due to gas mileage and for the ease of getting kids in and out. We love it so far!!!
total ten
it has every thing that a family would want.a good paint job nicely deorated intirior,great radio system plenty of seats,lots of cup holders it looks as any other mini van on the road.we like it...
My Look at KIA
I like my KIA it drives well in heavy rain, feel safe and in control. The cruse control on the steering wheel is handy.
I Love My Kia
We bought this van used with 49,000 mi. All we have done is oil changes, tires, and brake pads. and also a front wheel bearing. It has about 74,000 mi now and I can't complain one bit about the maintenance . It all comes under wear and tear. I love it but it is to big for us now so I would go to something smaller. At least when you step on the brakes you stop.
Great Van
This is truly a pleasure to drive. We compared a lot of mini-vans before we bought and this one has the most interior room and a great warranty. The EX feels very luxurious and very solid. I recommend this mini-van 100% for quality and price.
Worth the money
Solid, dependable transportation. Used for carpool and as a construction material transporter (built on a truck chassis, takes the weight, more flexible than a small pick-up). Search parts suppliers on the web to avoid buying dealer parts, have yr. local mechanic install them, example, brake pads, rotors, struts. Change all fluids often to ensure vehicle longevity. Be prepared for front end issues as with all front wheel drive vehicles (see above comment re: parts). Now 90,000 miles, runs well, maintenance about $500/yr. all in. (Fluids and repairs). Seats are uncomfortable to install or remove. Belt tensioner requires tightening flywheel occasionally-cost=0
Worst car I've ever owned!
I've had nothing but transmission problems with my car since 9,000 miles. The dealership has made every excuse they can think of to not fix the problem. Supposedly at 18,000 miles they replaced the transmission with a rebuilt one. Problems still existed after the supposed replacement. Now they say that the transmission is no good because of the tires being of a different circumference even though they are marked the same size, refusing to fix the transmission. The car is in my opinion, junk and the dealership is a sham. Oh, they also had to replace the engine 2 weeks after the worked on the transmission. Seems the serpentine belt broke and got into the timing belt.
Love my ride!
I bought it used 9 months ago, it had about 180,000 miles on it. It drives great, is comfortable and great looking. I took a trip (600 miles round trip), the gas mileage was decent. I just put new tires on it, before winter. Other than that, my mechanic says it is in great shape for the mileage.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
dissatified
mileage is poor,gas tank is too small.interior storage is great.I don't like the locking system.
safety
only have driven a few hundred miles but it performs very well.milage is somewhat less than my previous 2 montanas but still acceptable.
my new sedona
as a family eith five, and the need for a car seat. the kia offers a roomy interior. The stereo does not have bass and treble controls. I wish it had better miles to the gallon for around the town driving.the pick up is good for passing and parkway driving. love the color. I think for the money, and the warranty it can't be beat.
Candy Carrier
I have a candy/beverage vending company. I do a lot of starting and stopping and also spending time in this vehicle. It is my home away from home and believe me the seat in this van is just as comfortable as my lounge chair at home. In short...I love it!
Junk
Bought the vehicle because I was told they are a great buy for the price. Nothing but problems with the piece of junk since. Had to change the power steering pump, always needs an alignment, unknown overheating problem. This overheats when it wants to with no explanation for it. Changed thermostat, radiator lines, water pump and fluid. Still over heats when it wants. Now it needs new struts and what they call a transmission but really is a trans axle. Was told it was like putting a snow blower tranny into a van. Lots of rust around the rear hatch handle. Motor is very loud. Overall, just a huge piece of junk. Do not buy in my opinion. Will never recommend a Kia to anyone.
Run Away Fast!!
When will the nightmare that is my car experience with a Kia end? We bought this car used. It only had 23,000 miles on it and had heard it was a very safe car and a good deal. My advice, if it is cheap, its cheap for a reason! Since owning this car three years ago, we have had to repair the brakes every year without fail. Replaced the rotors twice, the front bearings, failed wire in seatbelt and airbag, serpentine belt (along with every other belt in creation), power steering (ouch$) and the alternator. Of course all after the warranty was up and guess what, if you buy it used, you don't get the powertrain warranty! We were not told this info. So any faulty parts we must pay for. Run away!!
I love my sedona
I couldn't find a vehicle with as much value.
we love it
We spent alot of time pricing & researching all the different minivans. What it comes down to is you can get just as nice of a van for about $10,000 less than anywhere else! We have now had our van for almost a year & have had no problems with it what so ever...We LOVE it!
TALK ABOUT MORE FOR LE$$
HEY! IF KIA MAKES HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS & MILLITARY VEHICLES WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THEY CAN'T BUILD A COOL LOOKING MINI VAN?....THIS BULLET PROOF TRUCK HITS HOMERUN!!
Sedona Big on Comfort
Performance when not in the shop this van drove and handled great but only gets 13/mpg. Serious problems with the quality of all interior materials: plastic (crumbles), carpet and cloth headliner (tear easily). I question quality of materials used on motor and other parts, within 4 years I've replaced all the motor mounts, timing chain, transmission, CV boots and both power window motors and both sliding doors quit working. Van is really roomy inside. Front seats very comfortable, back are seats okay somewhat stiff. Seats are really heavy but easy to get in/out. Lots of headroom in this van. You do feel quite a bit of vibration through the floor from the road and it is a bit noisy inside
Disappointed
I am disappointed with the 2004 Kia Sedona. Very poor gas mileage, about 12 mpg in town. Quality is poor. Rear hatch has a 'clunk' sound when opening and the windows have the same when when closing. The bench seat in the middle is a big hassle. Dealer said the middle and rear seats are interchangeable which they are not. I will not buy another Kia.
sedona mini van
we have only had this van 8 days. but what little time we have . it seems like a very good choice.
Great Value & 10yr. 100,000 warantee
Better ride then I thought possible in Minivan after driving others. Plenty of power. Price that can't be beat.
xx
Lots of towing power
give it a little time
we found the kia to be very nice compared to some we test drove. also the dealer has jumped to our every request with no hassle. the only design flaw is a small noise comming from engine area. i even test drove twoo others and the same noise was there. other than that the van is great. i would buy an
We like our Kia
Bought ours 8/2002. Has 43,000 miles on it. In snow and bad weather the additional weight makes for better traction than our lighter Chrysler Van. Down side is the 15 -18 mpg around town. However, it does get 20/21 on road. Up side is that it is one tough van and the safety ratings more than make up for mpg for us.
Kia Sedona needs help
My Kia Sedona is excellant in design, engineering and convienance. Quality of components, fuel ecomony, exterior finish, and service are terrible. The interior panels rate are poor on impact resistance. The paint finish is full of orange . City is 14 mpg, Buckboard riding tires and an ear piercing noise from the rear air that Kia cannot fix. Complaints to corporate Kia landing on closed ears. I have entered this van for the "lemon law" program. I made a mistake buying this van. If you are thinking of buying this van, I suggest buyer beware
Great price not so great car
Our family bought the van used in 12/07 and already has had internal engine issues and timing chain/cover replacements and found out it has had major engine work previously and it only has 21,000 miles. Almost everything was covered by warranty although it did take them 5 weeks because a certain part had to be shipped from Korea. I think this is not a good running car because of the problems I've had. When the car runs it is all in all a cheap but pretty good van
Very disappointed
I bought this vehicle with 45000 miles. Just 3 weeks after I got it, it went back in the shop for new rotors and struts. Had it 6 months and the catalytic converters went totally out. Had to get those replaced. The air conditioner had to be replaced within 2 mo. The gas mileage is very poor. Might as well be driving a big SUV. Total lemon! I am very dissatisfied with this vehicle and would never step foot into another KIA again.
Kianator
After my first two minivans both of which were Dodge Caravans, I was impressed with the KIA. Our first van, a 1995 Caravan Sport was needed when our twins were born. 2004 brings new requirements for family and fun. Looked at all of them and I focused on the Dodge again. I looked at the KIA for the first time and was impressed. I kept returning to the Dodge dealer to compare the two. The KIA kept drawing me back due to it's quality of build, drive, and safety. In the end, when fairly compared the KIA is the best comparison for features and when the price is factored it, there is no better buy on the market.
KIA is surprising!
We have been looking at Minivans for about 2 months and have done our research and test drives. If you want to spend way to much money you can go buy another VAN. If you like spending your money wisely, than I would go test drive the KIA Sedona. This packs a punch with it's 5 Star Safety rating and Rear Top and Floor Vents all around the van. All I have to say is that they are packing a punch with this van. I walked out the door with paying $17,000 for a 2004 Vehicle that has a unbelievable warranty.
I Love My Sedona
Extremely comfortable van to drive and ride in as a passenger...Very quiet, handles very well in windy driving conditions...Has great acceleration...
Sedona on Course!
Sedona holds road just fine Interior has lots of goodies including first aid kit under seat. Only problem is fuel consumption. On 1600 mile trip to Fla averaged 15 MPG.
Rust / Corrosion Problem on my Sedona EX
Rust appeared on the hood of our 2004 Sedona EX about 2 years ago. It started as small pimples/spots below the grill both on the inside and the outside. The cost for repair is $1102.64 and their offer is that we each pay 1/3! Dealership 1/3, KIA Canada 1/3, customer 1/3. I also only have a limited time to accept this offer? They insist that this is an isolated problem, even after I sent them pictures of 5 other 2004 Sedona vehicles with identical rust marks and a promise to send more. Also please be aware that if you do have a Sedona around this age make sure you insist that they check the REAR COOLANT LINES. These are also starting to rust out.