Kia / Hyundai engine problems, UGH!

[DaubsNU1]

If you or someone you know owns a Kia or Hyundai, do yourself a favor and sell it soon. 

 

My daughter worked with her mom (my ex) to purchase a 2017 Kia Sportage three years ago. Since she's the second owner, the warranty only went until 60k miles for the powertrain. Daughter was working two jobs, going to school...I was proud of her for doing adult things, but was a little nervous about Kia.

 

I do all routine maintenance on vehicles and noticed something really wrong last spring when changing her oil. Car holds 5qt's of oil...but it didn't feel like that much had drained...measured and there was just over 2.5 quarts drained(!)

 

Did a little research, and discovered Kia and Hyundai engines had some manufacturing defects, causing oil consumption and potential engine failure.

 

So we got the car in to our local dealership for an oil consumption test. Of course, the car failed the test. Daughter talked to the service technician in person...and I talked to him on phone. He explained how Kia had extended the engine warranty on these engines, and told us to "just drive the car until it dies. Don't worry about putting oil in between changes...when it starts knocking, bring it in, Kia will replace engine, no charge." Said if she was making a long drive, top off the oil, just to be save.

 

That was in July. 

 

In December were were caravanning to youngest daughters graduation...My daughter pulled of the interstate and said "it just stopped running." 

 

I threw on the OBD reader and came up with #1 and #3 cylinder failure.  Uh oh. I figured this was the big one, and Kia would replace the engine. 

 

Get the car towed to another dealership...start process of diagnostics...sending data to Kia corporate. 

 

After about a week get the call from dealership...and you guessed it...Kia refused to replace the engine. Said failure was not due to the manufacturing defects / oil consumption(???!!!). They quote me $7,000+ to replace the engine. Said I can appeal to Kia corporate. 

 

Of course daughter and I did not get anything in writing from the original service technician...and Kia corporate was little to no help at all.  So I just kept calling back, asking what they could do to help us out. Kept getting the run around. 

 

After the new year I started calling every other day. Finally got a hold of someone at corporate who answered some of my questions, and gave me some insight.

 

After more calls, and an appeal to the district parts service manager, they agreed to cover parts if I would cover labor.  So I'm on the hook for ~$2,400...much better than $7k. Hopefully we get the car back next week.  It's been a long time. And Kia will not cover a rental, or cost of towing. 

 

Was telling my neighbor this story...and he said, "Yea, my wife's Hyundai had the same oil issue...and engine died. Wouldn't cover it." 

 

And just two weeks ago was talking with one of my teammates at work...who said his Hyundai Santa Fe was burning oil...I told him to sell that car, and FAST.  Not two days later his engine died. And of course they aren't going to help him out.  He's battling with Hyundai now. 

 

I found a few FB group pages...and hundreds of similar stories. Bummer. 

 

My daughter's testing for her certificate, and once she passes, and lands a full time job...that Kia is getting sold!

 

If you have a Kia, or Hyundai, and it's burning oil, or making any noise...get out of it, and FAST!  

 

 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

My aunt had a Santa Fe that blew but I think they covered hers 

[Kyle S]

what happened to things being built to last? Shame really.

hope your daughter is safe.

[crypt]

I've had same issues with alot of my customers cars with the same engines. Kia is one of the worst manufactures to deal with. they say drive it till it dies then we'll fix it. yeah right. only had one customer get hers fixed,only had 40,000 on engine. not a big fan of em. been doing this for over 40 years and it should be an embarrasing problem for the. but they really don't care.

[Bird]

Oboy, I can certainly relate.

Wife bought a low mileage 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, rode really nice.

I changed the oil and filter religiously and noticed around the 60K mark the oil was really dark.

Wasn't long, the wife calls with an engine code so we take to dealer.

BLOWN ENGINE !!!

Out of warranty, 16K for replacement engine.

Only 72K on the car and Hyundai said nothing they can do.

" We buy any cars.com " gave us a generous offer.

Wife now drives a Honda CR-V.......done with Hyundai.

[clayton86]

Aren’t the new ones able to start with a usb or what ever. Where I work now we do the security cameras at a bunch of dealerships and one had like half dozen kias/Hyundai stolen over a weekend because you can start them with like a flash drive or something. 

[Bird]

9 minutes ago, clayton86 said:

Aren’t the new ones able to start with a usb or what ever. Where I work now we do the security cameras at a bunch of dealerships and one had like half dozen kias/Hyundai stolen over a weekend because you can start them with like a flash drive or something. 

Starting them has never been the issue, it's keep'n 'em running. ?

[DaubsNU1]

There is a class action lawsuit https://www.kiaenginesettlement.com/

 

Of course we needed to have software installed (service tech failed to mention that). 

 

"Receive only the Lifetime Warranty upon installation of the Knock Sensor Detection System software"

 

It felt like corporate and the dealership kept putting hurdles in my way, or stalling...hoping that I would go away.  

 

Honestly I'm happy they offered to pay for parts. It took a many phone calls, and a lot of patience. 

 

Crossing my fingers daughter's car gets finished soon. 

[LonnieP]

My wife’s 2017 Santa Fe engine blew way past the warranty, at 130k miles. They replaced it at no cost to her. My stepdaughter’s Tucson did the same thing a year later and it was replaced at no cost as well.

[DaubsNU1]

6 minutes ago, LonnieP said:

My wife’s 2017 Santa Fe engine blew way past the warranty. They replaced it at no cost to her. My stepdaughter’s Tucson did the same thing a year later and it was replaced at no cost as well.

 

That is good to hear! I have heard Hyundai is a little easier to deal with vs. Kia.  

 

 

[NavyToad]

Regretfully traded in my 2011 Hyundai in 2020.  160,000 trouble free miles and I'm still trying to figure out why I thought I needed a new vehicle and a monthly car payment. Hyundai was a great choice for me.

[LonnieP]

10 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

 

That is good to hear! I have heard Hyundai is a little easier to deal with vs. Kia.  

 

 

Yes apparently Hyundai is aware of the problem and have some sort of recall and they are replacing engines. The dealer you take it to might make a difference as well 

2 minutes ago, LonnieP said:

[gim]

Something else to keep in mind is that right now Kia and Hyundai are high targets for thieves. There are some insurance companies that won’t even cover them at this point. Just something to keep in mind if your vehicle sits outside for periods of time unattended.

[Bird]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

Something else to keep in mind is that right now Kia and Hyundai are high targets for thieves. There are some insurance companies that won’t even cover them at this point. Just something to keep in mind if your vehicle sits outside for periods of time unattended.

Close friend who manages a dealership claims he's losing quite a few catalytic converters, at least monthly.

Thieves are becoming more abundant ?

[cheezyridr]

i have a hyundai elantra.  i regularly get a letter telling me to bring in the car for a relay.  they say the brakes like to catch fire.  i haven't done it yet, but i should. 

the car is an '08,  it's got 180,000 on the odo, and it's mostly held together with duct tape and bailing wire.  it runs like a sewing machine, and so far, has never left me stranded.  if that car died tomorrow, i couldn't complain. i got my money's worth out of it,  i've shamefully abused it, yet it's been the most reliable car i ever had.

[TnRiver46]

16 hours ago, Bird said:

Close friend who manages a dealership claims he's losing quite a few catalytic converters, at least monthly.

Thieves are becoming more abundant ?

Thieves have always been abundant, punishment is becoming more scarce 

[Susky River Rat]

16 hours ago, Bird said:

Close friend who manages a dealership claims he's losing quite a few catalytic converters, at least monthly.

Thieves are becoming more abundant ?

People are coming into where I work and stealing the cats. They are off gas powered Chevy/Isuzu cab over trucks.  Now they are putting on braided stainless cables surrounding them.

14 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Thieves have always been abundant, punishment is becoming more scarce 

When there is no punishment there is no deterrent. 

[NYWayfarer]

I have had 4 Hyundai Elantras over the years. I do regular maintenance and have had over 150,000 miles on them before trading them in for a new one. My current model is a 2016 with 80k my old one has 130,000 miles on it and is my son’s current vehicle.

 

over the last 20 years I have had the Accent, 2 Santa Fe’s and currently a Tucson.

 

I have no complaints about Hyundai.