2002 Kia Sedona Fuel System Problems

IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PUMP GAS INTO THE VAN. THE PUMP KEEPS SHUTTING OFF NO MATTER HOW SLOW I PUMP OR HOW FAR I PUT THE NOZZLE INTO THE TANK.

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE GAS TANK OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP WAS INSIDE THE GAS TANK. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW THE SHAVINGS GOT INTO THE TANK. *JB UPDATED 2/24/2006 - THE CONSUMER STILL HAS THE FAULTY PUMP AND SOME OF THE METAL SHAVINGS IN HIS POSSESSION. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS HARD TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE GAS TANK. AS A RESULT THE FUEL PUMP, FILTER AND PRE-FILTER WERE REPLACED. THE TANK WAS INSPECTED FOR ANY REMAINING METAL SHAVINGS. *AK UPDATED 02/02/06. *JB

MY KIA SODONA VAN AT 63,000 MILES BEGAN TO STALL AFTER INITIAL START. ENGINE HAS TO BE REVVED REPEATEDLY TO GET IT TO GO. TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED REPLACING, 400+ DOLLARS AND A WHOLE DAY OF WAITING IT IS STILL NOT RUNNING RIGHT, IN FACT IT IS WORSE THAN BEFORE. WAS TOLD TO BRING IT BACK IN, MAY HAVE A FUEL PROBLEM. WAS THE ALTERNATOR EVEN BAD?!! OTHER THINGS CONTINUE TO BREAK OR FALL APART ON THE VAN. HEAD SUPPORTS ARE BROKEN ON TWO SEATS, WILL NOT STAY UP. IF IN A CRASH WOULD NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO GIVE! ONE OF THE SIDE DOORS WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE AROUND 100 DOLLARS TO CHANGE OUT A BALL BEARING IN THE DOOR! THESE ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WONDERFUL BOGUS 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. *AK

AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE IT WAS TOWED TO A MECHANICS GARAGE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. *NLM *JB

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH FUEL WAS GUSHING FROM VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, FUEL LINE TO FUEL PUMP HAD COME OFF. CLAMP HAD NOT BEEN SECURELY ATTACHED.*AK

EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED THE KIA SEDONA I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FILL THE GAS TANK WITHOUT FUEL SPITTING BACK OUT AT ME FROM THE FILLER TUBE. I'M NOT TOPPING OFF THE TANK, I'M EITHER FILLING IT BY HOLDING THE FUEL NOZZLE WITH MY HAND OR USING THE LITTLE CATCH TO HOLD THE FUEL NOZZLE OPEN. THE VAN HAD A VALVE REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN THE FILLER TUBE BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER A THIRD TRY TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED AT A DIFFERANT KIA DEALER THE SERVICE ADVISOR HAD ME CALL THE KIA HOTLINE AT 1800-333-4542 AND I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THE SERVICE ADVISOR HIMSELF HAD BEEN TOLD BY KIA, THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NORMAL FOR THE SEDONA AND HERE IS WHY ACCORDING TO KIA, THE FILLER TUBE FEEDS GAS INTO THE TANK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK THEREFORE BUILDING UP PRESSURE INSIDE THE GAS TANK AS IT IS BEING FILLED. THE SOLUTION: FILL THE TANK UP VERY SLOWLY AS TO NOT BUILD UP PRESSURE INSIDE THE TANK WHILE FILLING. I'VE OWNED A FEW CARS AND NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT FILLING UP THE TANKS FAST OR SLOW, PUT THE NOZZLE IN THE TANK PUMP THE GAS THE NOZZLE SHUTS OFF WHEN IT'S FULL YOU PAY AND HAVE A NICE DAY. ANY HELP OR ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY/DESIGN ISSUE AND WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED OR BUY A SAFER VAN. MY REFERANCE NUMBER THROUGH KIA IF IT WILL HELP IS 110625. MR

AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF GAS LEAKS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VAN. *JG

DANGEROUS DESIGN OF FUEL TANK FILLING SYSTEM. FUEL TANK FILLER RUBBER HOSE ATTACHES TO LOWER LOBE OF FUEL TANK. HOSE WILL CONTAIN FUEL UNTIL TANK IS NEARLY EMPTY. HOSE IS ROUTED BELOW UNIBODY FRAME RAIL AND IS HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO IMPACT DAMAGE FROM ROAD DEBRIS. IF HOSE WERE TO BECOME DAMAGED/DISLODGED, ENTIRE CONTENTS OF FUEL TANK COULD SPILL. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN FORWARD MOTION, THE FUEL COULD SPRAY ONTO (LARGE) HOT MUFFLER POSITIONED TRANSVERSLEY, IMMEDIATELY AFT OF FUEL TANK. I FEEL THIS DESIGN PRESENTS AN EXTREME FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD THAT COULD BE FATAL TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A POORLY DESIGNED FUEL SYSTEM!*AK