[Kia-Driver]

I've had my '16 Sedona SX since new and I currently have about 95K miles. It's been trouble-free. I had the sliding door motors replaced under warranty at 60K (does the LX have power sliding doors?).

I've not had any issues with engine or transmission. I've towed my utility trailer (sometimes loaded to around 3500 lbs), I've lugged the wife & 4 kids, packed in 8 adults on one occasion, I've loaded it up with lumber from Lowes, I've moved friends and relatives, and it's handled everything just fine.

Early on I had a rough idle issue. My local mechanic said to run a can of seafoam & a tank of premium, and that cleared it up. Now I occasionally run a tank of premium (usually when towing) and haven't had the rough idle come back.

I switched to synthetic oil somewhere along the way, and got the tranny fluid replaced a time or two, and have had no issues.

I've been very happy with mine.

 

[Kia-Driver]

Did you throw in any Techron or other cleaner? Top tier gas? Oil catch can? Anything special related to the GDI motor? (I'm hoping no, esp. because--not criticizing--7500 mi oil changes is at the extreme.) Thanks!

7500 mi sounds pretty normal, for synthetic. That's my change interval.

 

[Kia-Driver]

Looking good!

 

[Kia-Driver]

Just had my A/C compressor replaced, Got it done under extended warranty @ 99,989 miles. $0.00 out of pocket. Would have been a $1,200-1,400 if I had to pay.
It had leakage between high & low sides. At idle low-side pressure would start climbing and it would stop cooling. Get moving and it builds enough pressure to start cooling again.

Now it works great!

 

[Kia-Driver]

Mine's still running great at 114,000 miles. I'm interested in the Carnival, but I don't think my Sedona is going anywhere in the next few years. Drives nearly like new.

 

[Kia-Driver]

yeah I also like the carnival, we went to see a 2021, and it was 45K vs our 2017 33K, higher interest, and they offered us under 20K for our van (could likely be sold 19K easily in the current market... even my 2011 corolla was almost selling for 8K last year with the hikes in price). We'd have ended up with payments 40% higher for 5 more years and it wasnt the 3.5L carnival either, just a 8speed sedona with a square fuel door instead of round (upgrading from the 6 spd).

When Kia updated the Sedona to 8-speed & changed the headlights a bit, I was certain that's what I was going to move to when my current one expired. But the Carnival might have changed my mind.
Maybe when used prices drop.

 

[Kia-Driver]

I'm not too surprised at the fuel system cleaning. Mine started stumbling on idle. After talking to a car dealer friend, he advised just running a can of seafoam and a tank of premium. It cleared right up. It still happens on rare occasions, so I just run a can of seafoam through it and everything's good.

 

[Kia-Driver]

Do you have any hesitation when in eco mode? We've noticed some stumbling and hesitation when we drive in eco, but turning off eco seems to resolve it. Not sure if that is by design being "eco" and all, or if maybe I should try the seafoam and a tank of premium trick..

Honestly I never drive in Eco - it feels too anemic. I don't remember any stumbling, just weaker acceleration. Mine also seemed to default to a weaker Normal mode. I would cycle through the modes back to Normal and it would seem peppier. It might have just been my imagination though. I often slip it in manual mode for some spirited driving.

 

[Kia-Driver]

I most often drive it in manual mode.