[jkon87]

I have a 2011 Kia Sportage that has been a maintenance nightmare since day one. The new problem I am having is the drivers air conditioned seat barely cools down at all...the seat also gets very loud when the feature is on and has a vibration to it (almost kind of feels like your stomach is upset when sitting on it when in park) The dealership tells me thats how it is/works...but I have nothing to compare it too. Does anyone have this feature and its the same way? Or does yours actually work?

 

[xand83]

Yeah, ours make a fan-blade whirring noise while not blowing that much noticeable air. I understand you have to have the interior pretty cool in order for it to make a difference. Personally, I think it's more a gimmick unlike the seat heaters which work well.

 

[bluntman]

I have a 2011 Kia Sportage that has been a maintenance nightmare since day one. The new problem I am having is the drivers air conditioned seat barely cools down at all...the seat also gets very loud when the feature is on and has a vibration to it (almost kind of feels like your stomach is upset when sitting on it when in park) The dealership tells me thats how it is/works...but I have nothing to compare it too. Does anyone have this feature and its the same way? Or does yours actually work?

I haven't noticed a vibration in mine.

 

[twinscroll]

There's other threads describing the feature as a fan that moves air through the seat. If the floor AC vent is on, it's supposed to work better.

AFAIK, the only moving part is the fan. Vibration sounds like it's unbalanced. You'd probably hear a failing bearing. Fans are cheap. Kia can install a new fan. If they insist it's always like that, try a car in the showroom.

 

[Mala]

No noise or vibrations when I use mine.

I would definitely have the dealer show you this 'normal' feature on another car in their lot.

 

[tom93r1]

I can't hear my fan while driving, never really listened for it but it isn't loud enough that it's obvious. I certainly can't feel vibration from it!

The cooled seat moves just enough air that when sitting in it you feel like your back is sweating or something. Kind of an odd feeling but it does work.

 

[SlovaKIA]

And its quite unhealthy,comfortable as it is. It helps to blow cold air towards your feet and seat.

 

[ILLJIM69]

Take it to another dealer, that isn't normal. I can't hear mine at all or feel it.

 

[orange kia]

ours doesent make any noise ,or vibrate ??
it does make your bum to cold though if you leave it on for a long time
we use the seat heaters all the time even in 30deg c days with the air on 22c
its so nice and warm on your back like a hot water bottle on a long trip

 

[imay]

+1 orange kia.

We use the heaters on trips to keep our backs comfortable. The air cooled driver's seat, as mentioned above, works best with the air-cond blowing cool air. Odd sensation and I'm not convinced it has any real benefits but will try it out again if/when the weather warms up enough down here.
To best of my knowledge NO noise, vibartion or other problems with it.

 

[AzSX]

The cooled seat works well for me, it is nice to cool down a hot car seat quickly in AZ. I can't hear the fan operate at all and there is no vibration. As others have said you likely just have a bad fan which should be a very easy fix for the dealer.

 

[jkon87]

Thanks for the imput, I work down the street from a Kia dealership that is awful..they never acknowledge any of the problems that I have been having so I go to the next closest dealership about 30 minutes away where they have been fixing each thing. I guess I will take it up there and ask about the seat noise and how it does not work. Such a pain because I need to bring it up for them to diagnose the problem then bring it back for them to fix it.

 

[njerald]

The cooled seat works well for me, it is nice to cool down a hot car seat quickly in AZ. I can't hear the fan operate at all and there is no vibration. As others have said you likely just have a bad fan which should be a very easy fix for the dealer.

+1...you can really feel it if you are a little sweaty.......

 

[ILLJIM69]

+1...you can really feel it if you are a little sweaty.......

Which is why I drive naked.

 

[twinscroll]

To best of my knowledge NO noise, vibration or other problems with it.

I'm getting tired of seeing these threads, "My Kia's XYZ is screeching/rumbling/exploding/tripping, but the dealer says it's normal." Kia is doing a fantastic job of making cars that can compete with the highend, but they have to tune quality-control, and de-certify some dealerships. I'd have expected 'Is normal, yes." from my local Lada dealership.

Fans fail all the time in all car brands. They're cheap. Don't lie to the customer, just change them.