Topic: kia sedona-sour lemon from dealer

[kiki]

I bought a used 2002 kia sedona from the dealer.  40 services in less than a year. 5 transmissions  in last 2 months.  need advice as to how I can get money back!!!

Dealer will give me $11,000 and sell it again for $16,000-18,000. 

Transmission still bad, dealer says its fine.

When driving the van vibrates, feels like its going over a wash board, when it is going to next gear, at 40, 60, 80 etc.  dealer has replaced tranny 5 times with a rebuilt but says it is fine now.  Will buy it back at  $7,000 less than what I bought it.  will fix it and sell it again to someone else for $16-18,000.  Making $7000 from me and making $7000 from next buyer.

If they cannot fix for me how can they fix the van for someone else.

Went to CAMVAP and I might get $12,000 from that for the van.   In the end the person  owning the van losses and the dealer wins.  everytime my van has been in for service the dealer makes over $2000.

[wing]

Why worry about what the dealer makes, if you can get out of it and you are happy with what you get then be gone with it and be happy who cares what the dealer gets out of it.  Sounds like your bitter, which is understandable I guess.....

[kiki]

My problem is the fact that I have a loan to pay and will have less money to try and find another vehicle.  What  kind of vehicle can I expect to get for $11,000.  I bought a van because I need a van.  and I want something that still has a warranty on it. not that it does me much good when the dealer and the manufacturer say there is nothing wrong with it!!

I an stuck with going through the headache of looking for another vehicle.

[sterling]

How long ago did you buy it? How many kms are on it now? How many were on when you bought it?

Let me get this straight - in the last 60 days the dealer has installed 5 different transmissions?

[mdxtasy]

If they told you that they installed 5 different trannys in 2 months....they're hosing you with one outrageous claim.  They may have looked at it or even serviced it 5 times in those 2 months....but new tranny's?

What is a reasonable expectation from your part?  Are you execting them to give you full purchase price back?  Full purchase price less mileage?  Do you have all service records?  Did the car act up on day one or was it fine for a bit?  So $2000/visit....40 visits this year.....almost one visit a week?  $2000/week....wow.

[ovr50]

Sounds like you will have to take the money being offered and be finished with it. Forget about the money the dealer makes, as it's not important to you getting a solution to your problem. If the CAMVAP route only gives you $1,000 more than the dealer, I'm not sure it's worth the hassle. Your call on that. Too bad but you have few choices in this.

[wing]

You could just sell the car privately if you can live with doing that, or maybe trading it in on another vehicle at another dealer and see how much they will give you.

[articsteve]

This van has a  11K trade in value at best.  The sales tax credit is about $1650.  Going to another dealer will do him little good as he will again buy another van at inflated prices without any knowledge of previous useage.

To sell privately will require him to lie about condition of this POS van.  The extra few grand that he might get isn't worth the hassle if he sells it to the WRONG people.

Here is what the poster should have done in the first place; private sale vans of good quality at a workable price.

Year: 2000
Make: HONDA
Model: ODYSSEY
Model Detail: EX
Price: $12,500
Mileage: 162,000 km
Date: 11/6/2005
Ad Type: Private
Comment: Every single option that could be purchased is included plus full leather and heated front seats installed by dealer.Religiously maintained with all service records. 162,000 km. $12,500

The key here is "religiously maintained with all service records".  Based on the pic of the sellers house in the background it is obvious that they had the cash to pour into this van.  Even a person with poor bargaining skills can get that van for 12K.

[ericthejet]

I'd take the money offered and run.  Go but a used Honda or Toyota.
Don't buy another Kia at least for now.
Good luck.

[barrie1]

Vibration at those speeds might just be the wheels are out of balance. How does this tranny shift when driving it. Take this vehicle to a independent Garage you can trust and have them drive it. There are many reasons other then the tranny that can cause this type of problem. Some of them are very cheap repairs. 5 trannys does seem a little much for any vehicle at any time let alone 2 months. You definitely need a 2nd opniion on whats really wrong with this vehicle. 

[CAMVAP winner]

kiki,

If you are thinking of CAMVAP, you will not get a full buyback if the vehicile is older than a year.  You could get a buyback with reduction for use.

How many kilometers on it?

[soccermom]

Kiki,

I would get rid of the Kia while you can get something for it! I have leasing a 2003 Sedona and at 47,000 km. it broke down 500 km. from home. The engine blew and I am making payments of insurance and lease for a vehicle I haven't had for 2 weeks and it may be for a month or longer with nothing to drive and I am responsible for going to get it when it is repaired.