Posted on 05/18/2022 1:55:12 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
... this is one of those times—extra warranties turn out to be worth every penny.
One such decade-long warranty on a 2012 Kia Sorento expired last week. Thanks to a Reddit post by a mechanic at the dealership where the car was serviced, we know its unlimited-mile, 10-year service agreement enabled it to travel over half a million miles while supposedly going through nine engines. That's just the tip of the iceberg, too. Thanks to the extensive service records the owner kept, the repairs done to a Kia that averaged 60,800 miles a year are fully known, and it isn't pretty.
To preface all of this, the mechanic we spoke to says the vehicle was definitely abused. He's been working at the dealership for just a few months, but says he heard the driver "floors it literally at all times." The fact that somebody with such a heavy foot would keep such detailed service records seems strange, but as previously mentioned, the nine engines are just the beginning. Over the years, the poor Sorento allegedly received 203 oil changes, 20 transmission flushes, and four transmissions.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedrive.com ...
A guy I knew went off-site with him for lunch; he said "getting in the car with him was a huge mistake!
About ten quick laps of a cul-de-sac and smoke billowing from the tires... among other tricks.
That said, never complaints about the car?
Less than 70000 miles per engine? Great warranty, lousy car. Thanks for the warning.
If you abuse an engine consistently, you are lucky to get 70,000 miles.
He treated it like garbage.
It’s actually a great car.
The guy lived half his life at the dealer repair shop.
I will never get another Hyundai as long as I live. In short, we had 2 and both engines failed and were replaced. 2014 SFS at 98000 miles and a 2015 SFS ultimate at 62000 miles. Both awd systems failed…twice, turbo replaced, transmission (twice) and I could go on and on. Most was covered by the warranty but try having a job and both cars in the shop over 104 days in about a 2 year period. Nope…never again.
I just used a Kia Forte rental for a month. It was a great car and I really like the 33 mpg! Not much room for my household maintenance and improvement trips to Home Depot and the local Garden Center, though.
I was at the Kia Plant in West Point, GA a couple months ago. Every single Telluride on their lot has a deposit on it.
Sorento’s are the next ones that are hot - I love the hybrid model and it is as smooth as an EV.
Kia’s cars are very under-rated by Americans. They are great cars.
I’ve never driven a Forte however. Would like to.
Not with a Hyundai. I changed the oil every 5000 miles like clockwork. I used full synthetic and did everything by the book. The Theta II engine has a design flaw that a whistleblower pointed out in 2015 or so. The ignored and voila, problems. Something about ports for oil too small and getting clogged but that was just assumed. I didn’t stick with them long enough to keep researching.
However, when the car drove it was quiet, comfortable and quick.
Kia is not the new Toyota
This guy was a one man QC team. They should pay him.
That sounds fun stranded at least 9 times 🤪
Engine was very smooth and a surprising amount of power available on demand. Transmission shift were very smooth and hard to detect. It had the usual “Sport / Economy” modes, but only toyed with “Sport” a couple times. It seems to use delay shift points. Good audio system with CarPlay (the first time I’ve used it - very nice). Good AC system kept the cabin cool, but our hottest temp was 85F for one day. Good handling. An EXCELLENT backup video system — fantastic color and contrast.
My 1995 Mercedes E300D that I bought in 2001 with 100k miles and sold in 2017 with 335k never left me stranded even once. Original non turbo 6 cylinder diesel engine. Changed oil every 5k. I only sold it because the a/c conked out. 0-60 mph in only 24 seconds.
I had a 12 year old Honda with in excess of 210,000 miles . . . didn't like what the dealer was offering for trade in, so put it on Craig's List at double the trade-in offer.
I had 29 calls on it. When the first guy came out to look at it, a second one arrived 15 minutes late. The third called to tell me he was on the way.
The first guy realized there wasn't much room for negotiation, pulled out a wad of $100 bills and told me he was $300 short, could he write a check?
This was a Friday afternoon. Thinking quickly, I told him the dealer was going to have my new one ready on Monday. I would take his cash for now and give him the unsigned title. He would meet me at a Notary near the dealership and drop me off on Monday after paying the balance in cash and bringing the title so I could sign it over. I'd keep the car until then. It took him 15 seconds to agree.
I have a Saturn 2005 Vue that the book says is worth only $895. No way I am ever selling it at that price. Never had any trouble with it and it still runs great.
Wife bought it new in 2005.
My son has a 2015 Kia Optima that now has about 90,000 miles on it and it’s second engine. When the first engine blew at around 70,000 miles the service manager told him that mileage was pretty good for the 201x 4-cyls. Needless to say he is setting money aside for when the Kia gets to around 120,000. Then the next blown engine will be someone else’s problem.
I know Hyundai and Kia are kissing cousins so they probably have the same issues. Hondas & Toyotas are expensive but very reliable for the most part.
My 2006 Corolla almost stranded me once. I was waiting on my Frappacino at the drive thru window and big bang. Vapor vented rapidly thru seam on the passenger side of the hood. I told my daughter ‘oh, the A/C compressor must have just blown’ It’d been making noise for months. But for an 06 with 370k miles it was something I’d tolerate.
We drove the 6 miles home and the engine died in the driveway. It wouldn’t restart. Popped the hood and discovered it wasn’t the A/C pump but the passenger side of the radiator blew out. No coolant. Yikes. I let the engine cool down overnight and in the morning it started right up. Had it towed to the shop and $470 later had a new radiator. Luckily I was using a ceramic oil additive otherwise I think the engine might have seized.
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