Are Kia Carnivals "self destructing" after 120,000 kms?
I bought my original Kia carnival in 2001 - and replaced 2 motors under warranty! The Kia mechanics knew that there was a problem with the size of the "O-ring" - but Kia would not recall that model. I even remember that there were something like 6 other Carnivals having their engines replaced at the same workshop! And here I go again....stupidly I believed the Kia dealer when they said the 2004 did not have any of the engine problems of the earlier model - so I traded the old one in for the 2004 model which i bought brand new also.
Four years and 150,000 kms later the car just DIED! No warning, no smoke, no noise....just nothing. And the mechanics have told me the whole engine needs replacing at a cost of over $6500 (that's a recon)! Now if this was just me that was going through this again I would put it down to bad luck (and judgement) - but the feedback I am getting from 4 separate mechanics is there are 2004 Kia Carnivals shutting down everywhere. Anything over 120,000kms and your in dangerous territory they say. The reason why even a 2nd hand engine is SO expensive is because they say they are the 1st thing to go in this car...not the radiator, not the brakes...the motor! As a result there is a huge shortage of carnival motors and engine parts and that is why they are so expensive. I have heard of one person just "leaving" their Kia Carnival at a mechanics and just walking away because they didn't want to spend all that money on fixing it with an engine that will probably break down again anyway! The problem is there is no trade-in value on this model - the newer "grand version" is obviously the preferred choice now. So what do I do? Do I spend at least $7000 on a car that I could buy 2nd hand for $9000 - or do I spend the money (which I don't have) and run the risk of it breaking down again in another 6 months. Afterall the only engine that can be fitted in these cars is another Kia one!
I should have stuck to my first car...a good old Humber '59 - it lasted me 30 years before the engine finally gave up!
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