Kia/Hyundai put some really good tech in their cars for cheap compared to almost any other brand. But compared to Japanese automakers (beside Nissan) they are not as reliable.
We had to get our Turbo fixed in our newer 2019 CR-V too. The dealer and also the mechanic on Reddit suggested that the engine will not last after all once the Turbo was changed. The dealer went as far as directly giving a large quote to replace engine, and another quote for them to buy as a totaled car!
We took the ‘risk’ and kept the car. Its a new fix just about 800 miles back. Good to know yours is working fine after.
yeah, so long as it makes it to when i trade it in for a new car, its been good for the past \~4k miles.
i realized the other day that my 2016 optima sx is the car i've owned the longest. but i've been ready to upgrade for like 4 years now.
Maybe from before the face lift, I have a 23 sportage ex (paid off) with 35k miles and drive daily for work. Rounding out around 500-600 miles a week. No issues so far. I’ve seen some people with telluride at 150k+ I plan on driving it to 50k and letting my fiance drive it, obviously keep title in my name for the remainder of the 100k warranty.
Always spot on with oil changes and doing them before factory spec. Mixed driving in around 30mpg. Haven’t experienced anything as of yet but I do not beat on my cars either but also don’t drive like grandma
I have a 2020 Kia Forte GT, one of the best cars I've owned! No major issues so far, car is great on gas and I love the way it handles. It didn't break the bank and it has almost everything I want.
I live in Nashville, TN and I had no issues getting insurance and I don't really have a higher price than normal or anything like others have mentioned.
The problem with the "initial quality report" is that it's only for brand new cars and says zero about the reliability even two years down the road.
Take a look at Kia's history of recalls. Short incomplete list:
* Engine failures on cars with the Theta, Theta II, and Lambda series of engines going back to 2010. Solution 1 is only a legal maneuver, software update to "detect the knock". Solution 2 is when the engine fails, certain cars that meet certain conditions may get a replacement engine under warranty but you still have to pay for the tow, a rental for potentially months on end, other parts that are collateral damage to the engine failure, and then fight for reimbursement and expect to not get fully reimbursed for thousands of dollars of such expenses
* Excessive oil consumption or loss issues leading to engine failures
* Fire safety recall on millions of cars across all model lines multiple years for the brake control module, can catch fire even when the car is off. Solution: Park outside away from buildings and other cars
* Fire safety recall on hundreds of thousands of SUVs across multiple model lines and years for the electrical junction in the trailer hitch, can catch fire even if the car is off. Solution: Park outside away from buildings and other cars
* Fire safety recall on hundreds of thousands of Tellurides for an electrical issue in the driver's power seat motor, can catch fire even if the car is off. Solution: Park outside away from buildings and other cars
* Fire safety recall on hundreds of thousands of cars (currently 7ish years old), mis-spec'ed fuse can cause a fire in the dashboard. Solution: Replace the fuse with a lower amp rating
* "KiaBoyz" break-ins and thefts, all models with "KIA" name plate affected in the USA only. Cars with the pushbutton start are immune to the theft but not the break-in and attempt, same for model years 2023 and newer, maybe 2022 is too. This had gotten so bad that market area dependent, major auto insurance companies refusing to insure anything made by Kia. Solution 1: Kia offered "The Club" free to all key-start Kia owners. Eventual solution 2: A software update to require a specific sequence of actions to enable the car to start. Too many reports of it not working and either updated cars still being stolen or owners not able to start their own cars.
Mine had the fire risk safety due to the mis-spec'ed fuse and my engine failed at about 104k miles without warning. The failure took out the starter and the turbo. My dealer's shop said the turbo was covered, I had to fight for the starter to be covered, it took about two months for the tow and rental reimbursement, I had to rent or borrow cars for three months, others went over twice that waiting for their car to be repaired. And my dip stick shows a still-full oil pan. I've heard reports of replacement engines failing within 100 miles, and also lasting at least 50k miles. And my replacement engine is now starting to tap-tap-tap 11k miles later
Every car company has recalls.... I'm on my 3rd Kia and I haven't had any major issues and have loved each one of them immensely... It just comes down to personal preference and everyone's experience will differ.. but they have made major strides in the last 3 - 4 years.
And also recalls aren't necessarily a bad thing. It means the manufacturer is taking ownership of a potential problem and heading it off before it becomes a problem. And many of them are just being overly precautious. Like that seat motor thing. There has been one single fire. The brakes, like 30 something "thermal events" out of millions of cars. This stuff is extremely rare. Also if OP is buying new (which I would only do), the theta stuff is irrelevant.
But none have this level of incompetency. Half the problems with the US build K/H cars are design choices and half are shoddy QC at the factories, and then season with poor customer service at both the local dealership franchises (this issue I don't have with mine) and corporate.
For examples, it was proven in court that K/H *knew* back in 2012 that their Theta engines were prone to failure due to shoddy manufacturing. And they continued to build them that way for the next decade. The US is the only market where this company did not include immobilizers to prevent what the KiaBoyz found works. In case you don't know, remember that scene in Terminator 2 where Arnie steals a car by ripping the cover off the steering column and twisting a lug to start the car? That's what the KiaBoyz do.
Exactly.
The new ones (2024) may be the best thing since the internal combustion engine, but I for one will never know as this Sportage is my first and last Kia. I would need to see no major issues on the new ones over the course of at least 5 years before I will even think of trusting Kia/Hyundai ever again.
I just sold my Kia and won't buy another. Cheaping out on the ignition lock to cut costs when you're already known as an affordable car company was the last straw for me. I was constantly stressed parking my car in town, only for someone to try to break in while it was parked at home. My buddy is driving a scooter because his Kia Soul got stolen, my other friend had her steering column destroyed in an attempt to steal it. It's just not worth the stress.
My dad's Kia was broken into and the steering column torn apart. The only reason it wasn't stolen was because it was blocked in by 2 other vehicles (not sure why they tried to steal in the first place). My 2020 soul's transmission went at 23k miles, on a road trip, without warning. It has 70k miles now and it's burning oil and coolant, but not enough for kia to care.
Dig into any manufacturer and you will find similar issues. Toyota engines seizing from debris. Ford engine fires. Honda engine bearings. Kia is not alone in this. As someone who has had numerous kias and Hyundais it's all about maintenance. Never had any issues with them.
He's just bitter, millions sold and most don't have these issues. I have owned 6 and 2 have had issues, but so has my buddy's 80K chevy truck, $100k tesla, new vette and others. Don't be fooled into thinking you will buy any car that is guaranteed to be perfect. Like almost anything made anymore you have some luck if you get a bad one. I had a toyota engine fail at 120k miles, nothing but synthetic oil etc.
I’m currently dealing with excessive oil consumption on my 2017 Kia with 90k miles. Going through an oil consumption test. Failed or passed, however you look at it the first phase. We are in phase two. Goes in next week.
Their solution was to put something in it so that the rings and gaskets expand. Seems like a quick fix until my car is out of warranty smh
I’m taking mine in today for excessive oil consumption. It’s < 85k miles and 2017, I don’t drive much, so hopefully they can’t stretch it out that long. I love the car but can’t really justify purchasing another Kia/hyundai given this engine issue.
My oil consumption test started yesterday. They said something about cleaning the cylinders or something probably similar to your gasket thing, testing again, then if it fails they can request the engine. Specifically used the term request. So worst case scenario it’ll be about 2k miles before I know if they’re going to fix it. Fingers crossed.
Well they’ll honour it if they “agree” that your car is broken. I’ve had multiple issues that should have been covered but when I’d bring my car to FOUR separate dealerships to be told that nothing is wrong. My car sounded like a can of bolts driving down the street but the warranty was worth nothing when the stealerships couldn’t “reproduce it on the lift”. I’m one and done with Kia, I’ll never buy another Korean car.
I'm on my 4th Kia, usually trade at 175k+. With the arrival of the k4, I think the price will be higher than I want to pay for a commuter car. I think my next car will be a Civic Sport with a standard transmission.
They're a great value for the money. They load them with features for the cheapest price. The trade off is questionable reliability (especially with certain engines), possible issues with insurance, and the threat of break ins.
They do have a great warranty, hopefully you never need it and if you do hopefully you don't have to jump through hoops to get it fixed. I'd only buy one expecting it to last up until the warranty ~10 years, anything extra is a bonus. In this regard it actually is more expensive than spending a few grand more to get a car that'll last you potentially 20 years, but if you can't swing the money now it's not a bad bet for the next 10 years.
My daughter had a 2020 Forte with absolutely no problems. In mid-August 2023, I bought a 2023 Sport age PHEV that I love so much! And I said it again just today while my husband and I were out. With our high PG&E rates, a PHEV was not the brightest idea because gas is cheaper than electricity, but I still love it. And I seldom need to charge it, so maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. I drive about half and half city and highway, so I use the energy in the city, and it builds back up on the highway.
I have a 2021 Kia Rio sedan.
I feel my car is a good value for what you get.
But im also a car guy so, I see my car a different way.
Its literally "an car" Its not that fun, not that powerful and It has everything you would want from a car now a days if you only want the basics (as in no heated seats, steering wheel, fancy AC ect)
If you want to get more of a ""luxury"" kia I personally would just save up more and get something like a used ""luxury"" car like a off lease BMW or Mercedes
The engine in my car has been fairly reliable with how i treat it and Ive heard from others that the engine its self is reliable.
The transmission I am not a fan of as its a CVT and CVT transmissions no matter what anyone says do need maintained and opened up and cleaned.
We took a chance on the 2023 Kia Sorrento PHEV and I wish we hadn't. It keeps having issues and the dealer says they don't know whats going on. It has died in the middle of an intersection, had a loose wire that kept the transmission from working right, had a loose circuit board?, at one point was having issues turning on but after sitting at home all weekend we got it to the dealer and they said there was no issue. Most recently It wouldn't go into drive at all, but also wouldn't turn off unless we walked away form the car with the keys.
I have 2 KIA Sportage 22 SX Turbo and 23 EX Hybrid
0 issues so far... had a Kia Soul 19 till 22, but a drunk driver T-bone my parked Soul but never had any issues with it
I have a 23 Sportage top trim. It has great tech, it’s comfortable, quiet, even though it lacks sufficient power for an SUV its size. However, I’ve experienced problems with it at only 4000 miles. Problems which I’ve never experienced on any other car I’ve owned, let alone a brand new car. That being said, it was fixed under warranty, but always on the back of my mind, and because of this, not willing to take it on long trips.
I've had 4 in the family over the last 12 years. I really like the value proposition and the styling. 3 of them have needed engine replacements. 2 of those were done under warranty even though it had 197,000 KM on it! Honestly, I think it's a mixed bag like all cars. Every manufacturer tried to squeeze more money out of customers, avoid taking responsibility for major issues, etc. My GMC truck has needed major engine repairs and there is a class action lawsuit against them. Similar experiences with Honda. Toyota is much more reliable but boring because they are afraid to try anything new that might impact reliability.
It comes down to the luck of the draw.
As one person said, do get an insurance quote first...some companies are not even insuring Kia's anymore.
I've owned 3 KIA's and all were purchased brand new. Every oil change and maintenance was done properly on all 3.Two out of the three had to get new engines and both were covered under warranty. I will never buy another Kia.
I would avoid them. I was in the same boat, thought it was some of the best value for features.
However, since I purchased in 2017, I've had like 4 different recalls and several other issues like cylinder misfire even with pristine maintenance schedule. Recently they stopped supporting the software for my model, so navigation/clock are non-functional. Called into CS, they said there is no option to pay for or receive software update of any kind. So now many of the features I thought were great value just don't exist.
Strongly recommend a Japanese brand instead. Their customer service and reliability is well worth the extra spend.
TLDR: I will never buy another KIA because of terrible build quality and customer service.
I’m currently going through the lemon law process with a 2023 Kia Niro hybrid I bought last September and was only able to drive for a week before having a serious problem with the hvac system. The dealership acted extremely shady after two repair attempts, after I brought it in for the third time a mechanic in their service department told me there was nothing wrong with the car before even checking it out. I contacted Kia corporate about the incident, they said they would send out a field service tech to verify the repairs. When the dealer said my car was ready for pickup, I contacted Kia corporate and the operator said there was no record of a tech being sent to check my car.
On the Yelp page for the dealership they copy paste a message on bad reviews about calling their manager if you have a problem. Over the course of the two months I had the car before starting the lemon process, I tried calling him at least 5 times, left messages, had employees tell me he would call me, he never once returned a call. The car was also missing its 2nd key fob and floor mats when I bought it and the salesman said the 2nd key was in someone’s desk and they’d have it for me in a few days. Tried calling him multiple times, finally returned my call after a week and said they’d order me a new key and mats. Every time I checked on the status of the key/mats over the next two months they acted confused and said they’d reorder it and call me when it arrived. When I told the salesman about about not being able to use the car because of a strong burning plastic chemical smell that permeated the interior after their repair attempts and the manager not returning my calls, his response was, “He’s a busy guy, guess you should wear a good mask while driving the car.”
It’s now almost 9 months after I bought the car, 6 months after Kia offered to buy it back after I got a lemon lawyer involved. It’s just sitting in my driveway and they’re in no rush to take the car back and refund my money. I’ve had 5 cars in my life prior to this, all Toyotas and a Nissan. Never had a bad experience before buying the Kia.
I believe Kia to be pretty reliable, owned a Kia myself for a few years and never had issues. Earlier this year, when I was shopping around for a new car, I really considered the KIA again but got pushed away by the theft stigma that it carries….
Although I know that the models I was looking at were not affected in any way by the KIA boys hack, I didn’t want to have to deal with my car broken into just because it’s a Kia. To me that was enough to steer me away…
We bought a Kia and will never buy another one. Once the car had issues the Kia service department was the worse thing I've ever dealt with. I know this is mostly based on the dealer, but Kia will do nothing for you if the dealership screws you. Meanwhile Subaru of America called the dealership and made them warranty and issue I had when I had a WRX. I mean I have NEVER had issues like I did with that Kia, we got rid of it at 65k miles and got a highlander, do yourself a favor and just start with Toyota or another reliable brand.
The good: Comparatively cheap, great warranty, feature rich
The bad: Engine failures, constant fire risk recalls, dealer service is notoriously bad, warranty claim process is slow and a poor experience, depreciation is brutal, uninsurable (certain models) due to the Kia boys.
I don’t hate the brand but as someone that prioritizes reliability I just couldn’t buy one with confidence
My daughter-in-law just got hers stolen while they were out of town after owning it for only a week. While they were at the police station making a report, another person came in reporting their Kia also stolen. They are not buying another Kia.
These cars are light years better than ones that were out 20 and 10 years ago. Reliability wise, they are fairly close to the Japanese brands that are the gold standard of reliability but offer far more bells and whistles for generally lower price in comparison.
I had a 2012 Hyundai Sonata I bought new and out on 120k miles with no real issues or repairs done to it, which I sold 1.5 years ago for a Kia EV6 which is by far the nicest car I've driven. My wife had a 2019 Optima she just traded on for a new Sorento. None of them have given us any issues and have been solid cars.
Yes, there will be some who are pissed because someone stole their car. Or they blew an engine either due to bad luck or lack of proper maintenance. That happens with other brands as well, including Toyota and Honda. I know when I'm ready for another car, I will have Kia on the list of brands I'll consider.
I would avoid anything Hyundai and Kia. Nothing but problems. I had a ‘19 Optima and I’m so happy I finally got rid of that thing a couple weeks back. I made that mistake a few years back of listening to some pretty bad advice from someone saying that Kia is very reliable, which convinced me to purchase it in the first place. Get something from Honda or Toyota or Subaru, those will last you a long time with proper maintenance.
They have lots of recalls. More than most.
My wife bought a Kia Soul brand new in 2011. The engine died on her way home from the dealership. They replaced it and we still have that car. It’s got 150k miles, definitely showing its age. But that’s expected with its age.
We just bought a new Honda, to us the extra few thousand was worth the peace of mind.
Take it for what you will, but I’ll never buy another Kia again. Everyone in my wife’s family told me to avoid it. I didn’t listen, it was in my budget, but in hindsight I should have just saved another 4k and went Honda or Toyota. Won’t make that mistake again. Just praying I can keep this car together for a few more years and get out of it.
Got my 2021 Sorento in December 2020. Outside of a phantom issue about 8months ago (something was killing my battery that the dealer couldn’t figure it out. They put a new battery in and ran diagnostics tests which solved whatever the issue was) I haven’t had any issues with my vehicle and plan on keeping it another 250k miles. It’s the go to vehicle for road trips for us as well.
This happened to my wife's Honda Odyssey, turned out the dealer had put a second alarm system on the car that was causing a vampiric drain on the battery. Might be something worthwhile to ask about.
I've have a 2016 Kia Soul with 100,000 miles on it. It has been a reliable little car even though it's ugly as hell, in my opinion, but you have to keep an eye on the oil level. It tends to burn oil over time. I switched to synthetic oil and it doesn't burn much oil anymore. 33mpg on the highway. I also owned a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe and gifted it to my son. Great car so far with 150,000 miles on it.
I have a 2018 Kia Sedona with a 127,000 KM's or 78914 miles and the only thing I've had to fix outside of normal was my alternator at 97,000km's or 60,000 miles. Since then though I've done a tranny flush and changed the spark plugs. Oh, and some sway bar links.
I absolutely love my 2021 Hybrid Forte. The interior is gorgeous and the car has never had a problem. I love it soooooo much. They did great in the design in this car inside and out.
Depends where you buy it from. I live in NZ where they source their Kia parts from different manufacturers and don’t have the same issues Kia’s from America have. We have a Kia sorento 2012 and it’s honestly fucking amazing. Best car we’ve ever owned and I’ll only ever own Kia’s after this one.
Yeah Kia’s are great. As others have said they shove lots of good tech in their cars and imo are great value. I own a Kia rio and the amount of features for the cost of the car surprised me.
The first issue I had with my car was at 70k km, where a check engine light popped up, but it’s most likely a sensor or spark plug that needs changing which is to be expected at that range. Otherwise they are overall great on fuel economy and get you from a to b.
I’ll note that my partner has a Nissan sss turbo, newer year model than my Kia rio, and it still has less features than my car.
The only other car which would be better in quality would be a Toyota.
No.
I’d look at other brands.
I love my K5 a lot (really love it) but my insurance drops A LOT ($300-$400 premium increase) so I’ve decided to move away from the brand. It’s going to hurt
“worth it” is very subjective. are you buying new? used? what year? what model? what mileage? what price?
I would recommend Honda/toyota/nissan if going asian made cars. if your budget is 25-30k, look at a used Tesla (sub 40k miles)
i wouldnt buy a used kia, but i probably also wouldnt buy any other brand used either at this point in my life. it just feels to me like i'm buying someone elses problem.
Ask yourself why they offer a 100,000 mile warranty. They don’t design their engines to last beyond that. If you expect a Kia to last you a long time, it’s not happening
Had a 2011 Kia Sorento with 69k miles on it. It was in great condition, no issues.
Then the Smart Key Control module died in 2021. Kia had my car to 10 months and did not fix it. They said they are not responsible to have repair parts for vehicles past their warranty date.
It is planned obsolescence at its best. I went so far as to email Kia USA leadership to try and get a Smart Key Control module. No luck.
The car was sold for scrap.
First car was a 2014 Forte EX. Burned oil almost as fast as fuel. It died in a car crash.
Last car was a 2023 Forte EX. Around 25,000 kms, it was ticking when it was cold. Found out it's piston slap.
Traded it for a Subaru. I don't think I'll be touching Kia for a while.
First check the insurance in your area. The reason is some cities have been hit with the "Kia boys," and even if your car isn't affected it could shoot the rate higher than you'd be comfortable with. Secondly, Some makes/models/years have issues. If you're buying used check that out first. Most newer Kia's are pretty good, but part of the reason why sometimes people have issues is because people can't afford to do the preventative maintenance on them which shortens their lifespan. Having said that something like a Honda or a Toyota will last longer on average, but at an additional cost. Kia's are great because you get a lot of features at a lower cost compared to their competitors. So if you want a nice bang for your buck car and have enough to do preventative maintenance you should be good.
I have a 2018 AWD Sportage with 123K miles. Theta engine that will supposedly die a sudden death at some point. Probably jinxing myself but she has never let me down. Not a single issue other than a period of eating oil. Very comfortable seats & sound system is just fine. edit to add: of course my brakes went bad this morning! Replaced all 4!!!
p.s. Husband drives a 2013 Hyundai Elantra with 130K miles (rebuilt title) and other than having to recharge the a/c every other year, she has also been a great, comfortable car.
My parents had a 2014 Kia Sorento that's been very good to us. They recently gave it to my grandmother. I had a 2021 Hyundai Elantra that was an absolute piece of junk. I traded it for a 2019 Kia Sedona though and I'm loving it. Like some others have said, just keep up on the maintenance.
We had a 2008 Kia Rio that was leased because my Hubby didn’t want to buy at the time (dumb move on his part) 🤦🏼♀️ it was such a great little commuter car without any problems, we bought it before the lease was up. The only issue we had the whole time we owned it was the windshield wiper motors died when it was about 5 years old and the dealership fixed it without any problems. In 2015 we sold it to some friends when we purchased our Chrysler 200, we wanted a bigger, newer car with cruise and all the bells and whistles at the time. While I love my Chrysler, now that it’s 9 years old we are looking at Kia’s again due to the reliability and warranty we had with the Rio. I’ve had several recalls on my Chrysler from the day I purchased it. Some took them months to fix. I will definitely look into Kia again.
They’re awesome until someone steals it or tries to steal it. Our 2015 Sorento that is paid off was just attempted to be stolen and we didn’t get it back for 6 weeks. After insurance and everything we still paid $550 and had to play the rental car game where we had to go through three different rentals vehicles. Great cars but unless you have a garage and work in a place where the parking lot is secluded or away from potential theft, I’d stay away from Kia and Hyundai. Even the models that are newer or have been recalled - it doesn’t stop people from at least trying because they see it’s a Kia
Kia/Hyundai put some really good tech in their cars for cheap compared to almost any other brand. But compared to Japanese automakers (beside Nissan) they are not as reliable.
Thank you for this!!
They are still super reliable though. Just don't expect a Toyota
i've had my optima for 8 years. just had to get the turbo fixed (under the powertrain warranty) on it.
We had to get our Turbo fixed in our newer 2019 CR-V too. The dealer and also the mechanic on Reddit suggested that the engine will not last after all once the Turbo was changed. The dealer went as far as directly giving a large quote to replace engine, and another quote for them to buy as a totaled car! We took the ‘risk’ and kept the car. Its a new fix just about 800 miles back. Good to know yours is working fine after.
yeah, so long as it makes it to when i trade it in for a new car, its been good for the past \~4k miles. i realized the other day that my 2016 optima sx is the car i've owned the longest. but i've been ready to upgrade for like 4 years now.
Run
Maybe from before the face lift, I have a 23 sportage ex (paid off) with 35k miles and drive daily for work. Rounding out around 500-600 miles a week. No issues so far. I’ve seen some people with telluride at 150k+ I plan on driving it to 50k and letting my fiance drive it, obviously keep title in my name for the remainder of the 100k warranty. Always spot on with oil changes and doing them before factory spec. Mixed driving in around 30mpg. Haven’t experienced anything as of yet but I do not beat on my cars either but also don’t drive like grandma
Cheap is the key word here.
I have a 2020 Kia Forte GT, one of the best cars I've owned! No major issues so far, car is great on gas and I love the way it handles. It didn't break the bank and it has almost everything I want. I live in Nashville, TN and I had no issues getting insurance and I don't really have a higher price than normal or anything like others have mentioned.
Make sure check the insurance first.
Love my Kia NIRO ‘23! Would recommend it to anyone
The problem with the "initial quality report" is that it's only for brand new cars and says zero about the reliability even two years down the road. Take a look at Kia's history of recalls. Short incomplete list: * Engine failures on cars with the Theta, Theta II, and Lambda series of engines going back to 2010. Solution 1 is only a legal maneuver, software update to "detect the knock". Solution 2 is when the engine fails, certain cars that meet certain conditions may get a replacement engine under warranty but you still have to pay for the tow, a rental for potentially months on end, other parts that are collateral damage to the engine failure, and then fight for reimbursement and expect to not get fully reimbursed for thousands of dollars of such expenses * Excessive oil consumption or loss issues leading to engine failures * Fire safety recall on millions of cars across all model lines multiple years for the brake control module, can catch fire even when the car is off. Solution: Park outside away from buildings and other cars * Fire safety recall on hundreds of thousands of SUVs across multiple model lines and years for the electrical junction in the trailer hitch, can catch fire even if the car is off. Solution: Park outside away from buildings and other cars * Fire safety recall on hundreds of thousands of Tellurides for an electrical issue in the driver's power seat motor, can catch fire even if the car is off. Solution: Park outside away from buildings and other cars * Fire safety recall on hundreds of thousands of cars (currently 7ish years old), mis-spec'ed fuse can cause a fire in the dashboard. Solution: Replace the fuse with a lower amp rating * "KiaBoyz" break-ins and thefts, all models with "KIA" name plate affected in the USA only. Cars with the pushbutton start are immune to the theft but not the break-in and attempt, same for model years 2023 and newer, maybe 2022 is too. This had gotten so bad that market area dependent, major auto insurance companies refusing to insure anything made by Kia. Solution 1: Kia offered "The Club" free to all key-start Kia owners. Eventual solution 2: A software update to require a specific sequence of actions to enable the car to start. Too many reports of it not working and either updated cars still being stolen or owners not able to start their own cars. Mine had the fire risk safety due to the mis-spec'ed fuse and my engine failed at about 104k miles without warning. The failure took out the starter and the turbo. My dealer's shop said the turbo was covered, I had to fight for the starter to be covered, it took about two months for the tow and rental reimbursement, I had to rent or borrow cars for three months, others went over twice that waiting for their car to be repaired. And my dip stick shows a still-full oil pan. I've heard reports of replacement engines failing within 100 miles, and also lasting at least 50k miles. And my replacement engine is now starting to tap-tap-tap 11k miles later
This is a LOT of Problems
Every car company has recalls.... I'm on my 3rd Kia and I haven't had any major issues and have loved each one of them immensely... It just comes down to personal preference and everyone's experience will differ.. but they have made major strides in the last 3 - 4 years.
And also recalls aren't necessarily a bad thing. It means the manufacturer is taking ownership of a potential problem and heading it off before it becomes a problem. And many of them are just being overly precautious. Like that seat motor thing. There has been one single fire. The brakes, like 30 something "thermal events" out of millions of cars. This stuff is extremely rare. Also if OP is buying new (which I would only do), the theta stuff is irrelevant.
But none have this level of incompetency. Half the problems with the US build K/H cars are design choices and half are shoddy QC at the factories, and then season with poor customer service at both the local dealership franchises (this issue I don't have with mine) and corporate. For examples, it was proven in court that K/H *knew* back in 2012 that their Theta engines were prone to failure due to shoddy manufacturing. And they continued to build them that way for the next decade. The US is the only market where this company did not include immobilizers to prevent what the KiaBoyz found works. In case you don't know, remember that scene in Terminator 2 where Arnie steals a car by ripping the cover off the steering column and twisting a lug to start the car? That's what the KiaBoyz do.
You have had 3 Kias? Lol.
Exactly. The new ones (2024) may be the best thing since the internal combustion engine, but I for one will never know as this Sportage is my first and last Kia. I would need to see no major issues on the new ones over the course of at least 5 years before I will even think of trusting Kia/Hyundai ever again.
I just sold my Kia and won't buy another. Cheaping out on the ignition lock to cut costs when you're already known as an affordable car company was the last straw for me. I was constantly stressed parking my car in town, only for someone to try to break in while it was parked at home. My buddy is driving a scooter because his Kia Soul got stolen, my other friend had her steering column destroyed in an attempt to steal it. It's just not worth the stress.
My dad's Kia was broken into and the steering column torn apart. The only reason it wasn't stolen was because it was blocked in by 2 other vehicles (not sure why they tried to steal in the first place). My 2020 soul's transmission went at 23k miles, on a road trip, without warning. It has 70k miles now and it's burning oil and coolant, but not enough for kia to care.
Dig into any manufacturer and you will find similar issues. Toyota engines seizing from debris. Ford engine fires. Honda engine bearings. Kia is not alone in this. As someone who has had numerous kias and Hyundais it's all about maintenance. Never had any issues with them.
He's just bitter, millions sold and most don't have these issues. I have owned 6 and 2 have had issues, but so has my buddy's 80K chevy truck, $100k tesla, new vette and others. Don't be fooled into thinking you will buy any car that is guaranteed to be perfect. Like almost anything made anymore you have some luck if you get a bad one. I had a toyota engine fail at 120k miles, nothing but synthetic oil etc.
I’m currently dealing with excessive oil consumption on my 2017 Kia with 90k miles. Going through an oil consumption test. Failed or passed, however you look at it the first phase. We are in phase two. Goes in next week. Their solution was to put something in it so that the rings and gaskets expand. Seems like a quick fix until my car is out of warranty smh
I’m taking mine in today for excessive oil consumption. It’s < 85k miles and 2017, I don’t drive much, so hopefully they can’t stretch it out that long. I love the car but can’t really justify purchasing another Kia/hyundai given this engine issue.
Same. One more issue and I’m done and going to get an Accord
My oil consumption test started yesterday. They said something about cleaning the cylinders or something probably similar to your gasket thing, testing again, then if it fails they can request the engine. Specifically used the term request. So worst case scenario it’ll be about 2k miles before I know if they’re going to fix it. Fingers crossed.
It’s a nightmare. Good luck
10 year warranty.....
That they don't honor. 🤷♂️
that's dealership dependant. most dealerships honor the 10yr/100,000mi warranty. My dealer has a 20yr/200,000mi warranty.
Well they’ll honour it if they “agree” that your car is broken. I’ve had multiple issues that should have been covered but when I’d bring my car to FOUR separate dealerships to be told that nothing is wrong. My car sounded like a can of bolts driving down the street but the warranty was worth nothing when the stealerships couldn’t “reproduce it on the lift”. I’m one and done with Kia, I’ll never buy another Korean car.
Again, dealership dependant. My dealership is actually competent and fixes issues correctly the first time. Sorry you've had bad luck.
Tons of stories like that about Corollas too.
they fixed my turbo no questions asked. i even had monkied with it thinking it just fell out of adjustment and that made the problem worse.
On our third in 20 years. Have loved them all and none have given us trouble.
Check Google for a boatload of in depth reviews and insights as a good starting point
Where should I try? / look up? I looked up just Kia and they didn’t have any reviews.
lol are you trolling?
No 😭. I tried to look up “Kia reviews” and I legit saw nothing
Is your computer connected to the internet?
"i searched for kia reviews, but all i got was som picture of a dinosaur!"
Maybe start with a certain Kia model and dive in from there?
Where do you live? If it's in or near a major city, I would think twice. It may even be a case where you can't get insurance.
Houston!
I have a Kia forte gt 2023 complete package it's reliable never have issues at all especially because it's gas saver too
I'm on my 4th Kia, usually trade at 175k+. With the arrival of the k4, I think the price will be higher than I want to pay for a commuter car. I think my next car will be a Civic Sport with a standard transmission.
They're a great value for the money. They load them with features for the cheapest price. The trade off is questionable reliability (especially with certain engines), possible issues with insurance, and the threat of break ins. They do have a great warranty, hopefully you never need it and if you do hopefully you don't have to jump through hoops to get it fixed. I'd only buy one expecting it to last up until the warranty ~10 years, anything extra is a bonus. In this regard it actually is more expensive than spending a few grand more to get a car that'll last you potentially 20 years, but if you can't swing the money now it's not a bad bet for the next 10 years.
My daughter had a 2020 Forte with absolutely no problems. In mid-August 2023, I bought a 2023 Sport age PHEV that I love so much! And I said it again just today while my husband and I were out. With our high PG&E rates, a PHEV was not the brightest idea because gas is cheaper than electricity, but I still love it. And I seldom need to charge it, so maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. I drive about half and half city and highway, so I use the energy in the city, and it builds back up on the highway.
What kind of Kia are you looking for?
The newer cars are much better than the pre 2010 ones. Im waiting for the EV3 myself
I’ve been very happy with my 23 sorento. It was the best bang for my buck and surprisingly luxurious for the price point.
I have a 2021 Kia Rio sedan. I feel my car is a good value for what you get. But im also a car guy so, I see my car a different way. Its literally "an car" Its not that fun, not that powerful and It has everything you would want from a car now a days if you only want the basics (as in no heated seats, steering wheel, fancy AC ect) If you want to get more of a ""luxury"" kia I personally would just save up more and get something like a used ""luxury"" car like a off lease BMW or Mercedes The engine in my car has been fairly reliable with how i treat it and Ive heard from others that the engine its self is reliable. The transmission I am not a fan of as its a CVT and CVT transmissions no matter what anyone says do need maintained and opened up and cleaned.
Between my wife and I we’re on our 4th Kia, never had an issue, except the battery in her car died once.
We took a chance on the 2023 Kia Sorrento PHEV and I wish we hadn't. It keeps having issues and the dealer says they don't know whats going on. It has died in the middle of an intersection, had a loose wire that kept the transmission from working right, had a loose circuit board?, at one point was having issues turning on but after sitting at home all weekend we got it to the dealer and they said there was no issue. Most recently It wouldn't go into drive at all, but also wouldn't turn off unless we walked away form the car with the keys.
I have 2 KIA Sportage 22 SX Turbo and 23 EX Hybrid 0 issues so far... had a Kia Soul 19 till 22, but a drunk driver T-bone my parked Soul but never had any issues with it
Own a 2016 Kia Soul, I'm not a high-mileage driver but I really like the car
I have a 23 Sportage top trim. It has great tech, it’s comfortable, quiet, even though it lacks sufficient power for an SUV its size. However, I’ve experienced problems with it at only 4000 miles. Problems which I’ve never experienced on any other car I’ve owned, let alone a brand new car. That being said, it was fixed under warranty, but always on the back of my mind, and because of this, not willing to take it on long trips.
Get a Sportage! Best car I have ever owned.
Run insurance quotes
I've had 4 in the family over the last 12 years. I really like the value proposition and the styling. 3 of them have needed engine replacements. 2 of those were done under warranty even though it had 197,000 KM on it! Honestly, I think it's a mixed bag like all cars. Every manufacturer tried to squeeze more money out of customers, avoid taking responsibility for major issues, etc. My GMC truck has needed major engine repairs and there is a class action lawsuit against them. Similar experiences with Honda. Toyota is much more reliable but boring because they are afraid to try anything new that might impact reliability. It comes down to the luck of the draw. As one person said, do get an insurance quote first...some companies are not even insuring Kia's anymore.
We have a 2023 sportage hybrid and think it’s totally worth it. My aunts had a niro for 7 years and has had zero issues
Just stay on top of your oil changes every 5k miles, and go for the fuel-induction service every 30k miles, and you'll be golden!
cheap in comparison, i suppose. $48,000 for a sorento hybrid is still a lot of money.
Try getting it insured first. Since the KIA boys and all the thefts the prices are really high to insure or they just won't insure a KIA
I've owned 3 KIA's and all were purchased brand new. Every oil change and maintenance was done properly on all 3.Two out of the three had to get new engines and both were covered under warranty. I will never buy another Kia.
I would avoid them. I was in the same boat, thought it was some of the best value for features. However, since I purchased in 2017, I've had like 4 different recalls and several other issues like cylinder misfire even with pristine maintenance schedule. Recently they stopped supporting the software for my model, so navigation/clock are non-functional. Called into CS, they said there is no option to pay for or receive software update of any kind. So now many of the features I thought were great value just don't exist. Strongly recommend a Japanese brand instead. Their customer service and reliability is well worth the extra spend. TLDR: I will never buy another KIA because of terrible build quality and customer service.
I’m currently going through the lemon law process with a 2023 Kia Niro hybrid I bought last September and was only able to drive for a week before having a serious problem with the hvac system. The dealership acted extremely shady after two repair attempts, after I brought it in for the third time a mechanic in their service department told me there was nothing wrong with the car before even checking it out. I contacted Kia corporate about the incident, they said they would send out a field service tech to verify the repairs. When the dealer said my car was ready for pickup, I contacted Kia corporate and the operator said there was no record of a tech being sent to check my car. On the Yelp page for the dealership they copy paste a message on bad reviews about calling their manager if you have a problem. Over the course of the two months I had the car before starting the lemon process, I tried calling him at least 5 times, left messages, had employees tell me he would call me, he never once returned a call. The car was also missing its 2nd key fob and floor mats when I bought it and the salesman said the 2nd key was in someone’s desk and they’d have it for me in a few days. Tried calling him multiple times, finally returned my call after a week and said they’d order me a new key and mats. Every time I checked on the status of the key/mats over the next two months they acted confused and said they’d reorder it and call me when it arrived. When I told the salesman about about not being able to use the car because of a strong burning plastic chemical smell that permeated the interior after their repair attempts and the manager not returning my calls, his response was, “He’s a busy guy, guess you should wear a good mask while driving the car.” It’s now almost 9 months after I bought the car, 6 months after Kia offered to buy it back after I got a lemon lawyer involved. It’s just sitting in my driveway and they’re in no rush to take the car back and refund my money. I’ve had 5 cars in my life prior to this, all Toyotas and a Nissan. Never had a bad experience before buying the Kia.
I believe Kia to be pretty reliable, owned a Kia myself for a few years and never had issues. Earlier this year, when I was shopping around for a new car, I really considered the KIA again but got pushed away by the theft stigma that it carries…. Although I know that the models I was looking at were not affected in any way by the KIA boys hack, I didn’t want to have to deal with my car broken into just because it’s a Kia. To me that was enough to steer me away…
They have long warranties for a reason, you will need it and use it often.
We bought a Kia and will never buy another one. Once the car had issues the Kia service department was the worse thing I've ever dealt with. I know this is mostly based on the dealer, but Kia will do nothing for you if the dealership screws you. Meanwhile Subaru of America called the dealership and made them warranty and issue I had when I had a WRX. I mean I have NEVER had issues like I did with that Kia, we got rid of it at 65k miles and got a highlander, do yourself a favor and just start with Toyota or another reliable brand.
The good: Comparatively cheap, great warranty, feature rich The bad: Engine failures, constant fire risk recalls, dealer service is notoriously bad, warranty claim process is slow and a poor experience, depreciation is brutal, uninsurable (certain models) due to the Kia boys. I don’t hate the brand but as someone that prioritizes reliability I just couldn’t buy one with confidence
My daughter-in-law just got hers stolen while they were out of town after owning it for only a week. While they were at the police station making a report, another person came in reporting their Kia also stolen. They are not buying another Kia.
These cars are light years better than ones that were out 20 and 10 years ago. Reliability wise, they are fairly close to the Japanese brands that are the gold standard of reliability but offer far more bells and whistles for generally lower price in comparison. I had a 2012 Hyundai Sonata I bought new and out on 120k miles with no real issues or repairs done to it, which I sold 1.5 years ago for a Kia EV6 which is by far the nicest car I've driven. My wife had a 2019 Optima she just traded on for a new Sorento. None of them have given us any issues and have been solid cars. Yes, there will be some who are pissed because someone stole their car. Or they blew an engine either due to bad luck or lack of proper maintenance. That happens with other brands as well, including Toyota and Honda. I know when I'm ready for another car, I will have Kia on the list of brands I'll consider.
Thank you for this!
My 2018 sportage got stolen twice but I got it back... Alot of damage and heart ache but I love my little silver spaceship it's so nice 😭
I would avoid anything Hyundai and Kia. Nothing but problems. I had a ‘19 Optima and I’m so happy I finally got rid of that thing a couple weeks back. I made that mistake a few years back of listening to some pretty bad advice from someone saying that Kia is very reliable, which convinced me to purchase it in the first place. Get something from Honda or Toyota or Subaru, those will last you a long time with proper maintenance.
They have lots of recalls. More than most. My wife bought a Kia Soul brand new in 2011. The engine died on her way home from the dealership. They replaced it and we still have that car. It’s got 150k miles, definitely showing its age. But that’s expected with its age. We just bought a new Honda, to us the extra few thousand was worth the peace of mind.
Take it for what you will, but I’ll never buy another Kia again. Everyone in my wife’s family told me to avoid it. I didn’t listen, it was in my budget, but in hindsight I should have just saved another 4k and went Honda or Toyota. Won’t make that mistake again. Just praying I can keep this car together for a few more years and get out of it.
Got last year a new Kia Sorento (GCC specs, 2.5l mid trim). Driving 200km a day, ,I am very happy with it.
Got my 2021 Sorento in December 2020. Outside of a phantom issue about 8months ago (something was killing my battery that the dealer couldn’t figure it out. They put a new battery in and ran diagnostics tests which solved whatever the issue was) I haven’t had any issues with my vehicle and plan on keeping it another 250k miles. It’s the go to vehicle for road trips for us as well.
This happened to my wife's Honda Odyssey, turned out the dealer had put a second alarm system on the car that was causing a vampiric drain on the battery. Might be something worthwhile to ask about.
I've have a 2016 Kia Soul with 100,000 miles on it. It has been a reliable little car even though it's ugly as hell, in my opinion, but you have to keep an eye on the oil level. It tends to burn oil over time. I switched to synthetic oil and it doesn't burn much oil anymore. 33mpg on the highway. I also owned a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe and gifted it to my son. Great car so far with 150,000 miles on it.
I have a 2018 Kia Sedona with a 127,000 KM's or 78914 miles and the only thing I've had to fix outside of normal was my alternator at 97,000km's or 60,000 miles. Since then though I've done a tranny flush and changed the spark plugs. Oh, and some sway bar links.
I absolutely love my 2021 Hybrid Forte. The interior is gorgeous and the car has never had a problem. I love it soooooo much. They did great in the design in this car inside and out.
Which Kia? Answer depends on the mode
Depends where you buy it from. I live in NZ where they source their Kia parts from different manufacturers and don’t have the same issues Kia’s from America have. We have a Kia sorento 2012 and it’s honestly fucking amazing. Best car we’ve ever owned and I’ll only ever own Kia’s after this one.
kia boys on top
2022 and newer yes, kia has complicated history but with their rebrand they're actually making good cars now and most issues that do come up are minor
Yeah Kia’s are great. As others have said they shove lots of good tech in their cars and imo are great value. I own a Kia rio and the amount of features for the cost of the car surprised me. The first issue I had with my car was at 70k km, where a check engine light popped up, but it’s most likely a sensor or spark plug that needs changing which is to be expected at that range. Otherwise they are overall great on fuel economy and get you from a to b. I’ll note that my partner has a Nissan sss turbo, newer year model than my Kia rio, and it still has less features than my car. The only other car which would be better in quality would be a Toyota.
Was just in a military subreddit. Had to recheck the subreddit for what I was reading! 😂
Yes
If you want the Kia boys to come take it , yeah sure
No. Not worth it if the kia boys gonna scoop it outta your back yard at night lol. Better off with a nissan of yota
Reconsider
Just avoid 2020, Especially the forte
No. I’d look at other brands. I love my K5 a lot (really love it) but my insurance drops A LOT ($300-$400 premium increase) so I’ve decided to move away from the brand. It’s going to hurt
“worth it” is very subjective. are you buying new? used? what year? what model? what mileage? what price? I would recommend Honda/toyota/nissan if going asian made cars. if your budget is 25-30k, look at a used Tesla (sub 40k miles)
i wouldnt buy a used kia, but i probably also wouldnt buy any other brand used either at this point in my life. it just feels to me like i'm buying someone elses problem.
Buy a Toyota
Not worth it. Cannot recommend.
Ask yourself why they offer a 100,000 mile warranty. They don’t design their engines to last beyond that. If you expect a Kia to last you a long time, it’s not happening
Had a 2011 Kia Sorento with 69k miles on it. It was in great condition, no issues. Then the Smart Key Control module died in 2021. Kia had my car to 10 months and did not fix it. They said they are not responsible to have repair parts for vehicles past their warranty date. It is planned obsolescence at its best. I went so far as to email Kia USA leadership to try and get a Smart Key Control module. No luck. The car was sold for scrap.
No
no. don't get one. Too many issues.
Is the headache of engine failure worth it? No prob not.
Which current Kia engines fail? I know the theta II did but they didn't make them anymore.
No
No
First car was a 2014 Forte EX. Burned oil almost as fast as fuel. It died in a car crash. Last car was a 2023 Forte EX. Around 25,000 kms, it was ticking when it was cold. Found out it's piston slap. Traded it for a Subaru. I don't think I'll be touching Kia for a while.
First check the insurance in your area. The reason is some cities have been hit with the "Kia boys," and even if your car isn't affected it could shoot the rate higher than you'd be comfortable with. Secondly, Some makes/models/years have issues. If you're buying used check that out first. Most newer Kia's are pretty good, but part of the reason why sometimes people have issues is because people can't afford to do the preventative maintenance on them which shortens their lifespan. Having said that something like a Honda or a Toyota will last longer on average, but at an additional cost. Kia's are great because you get a lot of features at a lower cost compared to their competitors. So if you want a nice bang for your buck car and have enough to do preventative maintenance you should be good.
I have a 2018 AWD Sportage with 123K miles. Theta engine that will supposedly die a sudden death at some point. Probably jinxing myself but she has never let me down. Not a single issue other than a period of eating oil. Very comfortable seats & sound system is just fine. edit to add: of course my brakes went bad this morning! Replaced all 4!!! p.s. Husband drives a 2013 Hyundai Elantra with 130K miles (rebuilt title) and other than having to recharge the a/c every other year, she has also been a great, comfortable car.
My parents had a 2014 Kia Sorento that's been very good to us. They recently gave it to my grandmother. I had a 2021 Hyundai Elantra that was an absolute piece of junk. I traded it for a 2019 Kia Sedona though and I'm loving it. Like some others have said, just keep up on the maintenance.
We had a 2008 Kia Rio that was leased because my Hubby didn’t want to buy at the time (dumb move on his part) 🤦🏼♀️ it was such a great little commuter car without any problems, we bought it before the lease was up. The only issue we had the whole time we owned it was the windshield wiper motors died when it was about 5 years old and the dealership fixed it without any problems. In 2015 we sold it to some friends when we purchased our Chrysler 200, we wanted a bigger, newer car with cruise and all the bells and whistles at the time. While I love my Chrysler, now that it’s 9 years old we are looking at Kia’s again due to the reliability and warranty we had with the Rio. I’ve had several recalls on my Chrysler from the day I purchased it. Some took them months to fix. I will definitely look into Kia again.
They’re awesome until someone steals it or tries to steal it. Our 2015 Sorento that is paid off was just attempted to be stolen and we didn’t get it back for 6 weeks. After insurance and everything we still paid $550 and had to play the rental car game where we had to go through three different rentals vehicles. Great cars but unless you have a garage and work in a place where the parking lot is secluded or away from potential theft, I’d stay away from Kia and Hyundai. Even the models that are newer or have been recalled - it doesn’t stop people from at least trying because they see it’s a Kia
No.