While extended auto warranties and vehicle service contracts (VSCs) are meant to guard your automobile against unforeseen problems, many of them will not cover shocks and struts. Even the “bumper-to-bumper coverage” of your factory or manufacturer’s warranty excludes parts with such high wear and tear rates. Brake pads, spark plugs, and windshield wipers are additional parts that are often excluded from the majority of extended auto warranties and VSCs.
In spite of this, if your shocks and struts break, you can still find some protection. Your factory guarantee will still replace your shocks and struts if they have any problems brought on by a manufacturing flaw, even though it does not cover the cost of repairs if they break down due to normal wear and tear damage over time. Additionally, if your shocks and struts are destroyed in an accident, during theft, or as a result of bad weather, many auto insurance policies may assist in paying for their repair.
In This Article...
What does the Kia warranty not cover?
The following items are excluded from the KIA New Vehicle Warranty: As a result of normal wear and tear, replenishing or replacing oil, fluids, coolant, wiper blades, fan belts, filters, brake and clutch linings, spark plugs, light globes, gaskets, and so forth.
What is covered by the five-year warranty for Kia?
Almost everything is covered by the baseline 5-year/60,000-mile guarantee, with the exception of routine maintenance, normal wear and tear, and exterior vehicle damage. If you sell your car, this warranty will go with it.
How durable are Kia struts?
Have you experienced this? When you visit your regular shop for a routine oil change, the mechanic remarks, “By the way, you might want to consider getting some new shocks and/or struts.
Your initial reaction is undoubtedly “Really? I’m curious how much that will cost. The question “How do I know if I actually DO need new shocks/struts?” might be your next one. The majority of us have no idea how long shocks or struts should last, therefore this is a really good question.
How Long Do Shocks/Struts Last?
Many different things affect this. Shocks or struts can be compared to tennis shoes. They will last a lot longer if you only use them on the weekends to go shopping than if you ride a skateboard, wear them every day, and constantly use the brakes on your shoes!
This means that if you drive less frequently, on smoother roads, don’t drive aggressively, and don’t haul a lot of weight in your car, your shocks or struts will last longer.
If your car has been well-taken care of, you may anticipate that the shocks/struts will survive for roughly 10 years. Five years is probably the maximum you can hope for if you’ve really treated your automobile like a workhorse. This indicates that the typical driver may expect the shocks and struts to last a maximum of 7 or 8 years.
How Do I Know If My Car Has Shocks or Struts?
The majority of automobiles and SUVs on the road today have shock absorbers in the back and struts on the front wheels. Your car might have four wheel struts or, if it’s an extremely ancient car, four shocks, but this is less usual.
You can always read your owner’s manual, which ought to indicate what features are installed in your car, or you can get on all fours and have a look. Shocks, often known as shock absorbers, resemble the shocks on the front wheels of bicycles. Struts are far more intricate designs that are enclosed inside a coil spring. This is due to the fact that struts are a crucial component of the front suspension.
Sure-Fire Signs You Need Shocks or Struts
Because they genuinely don’t recognize that their shocks or struts need to be replaced, some folks never do. How can you be sure without a doubt? Here are 5 surefire indicators.
Dipping Front End or Droopy Bottom
Does the front end of your automobile droop down like a curtsy before the queen as you pass over a speed bump or if you apply the brakes more forcefully than usual? That is a classic indication of front struts that are worn out.
Alternatively, does the back of the car bottom out when you reverse out of a driveway and the back wheel strikes the curb’s dip? Does it leave pavement scrapes? These are indications that the rear shocks have served their purpose.
Leaks
You can inspect your shocks and struts if you get a flashlight. Do you notice any liquid, often brown in color, dripping over the shock or strut’s bottom portion? This has a distinct appearance from, say, a leak elsewhere that is splashing on the shock. There shouldn’t be a splash of fluid on only one side of this leak; it should come straight down.
Be wary of dishonest mechanics who spray oil all over your shocks or struts before showing you the “leaking part.” As they drive home, ask them to wipe it off with a rag. Within a few kilometers, if it is leaking, you will see it again.
A Bouncy Ride
This is possibly the most typical of all the warning flags, but it’s simple to overlook because most individuals get used to how their automobile rides over time.
A quick test involves pushing or standing on the bumper, bouncing up and down a few times, and then hopping off (watch your step!). After another bounce, the car should come to a stop. It’s time for new shocks or struts if it happens twice or more.
A Loss of Control
When you make a curve or hit a pothole that you weren’t expecting, that is another warning indicator. It is likely that the struts are damaged if you notice any swaying or feel generally unsteady in the car.
An antiquated method to check for this is to drive the car while someone else follows behind. When shocks and struts are severely worn out, the car will readily start to bounce or sway from side to side.
Tire Wear and Vibrations
Although imbalanced wheels can sometimes cause steering wheel vibrations, worn out struts can also be to blame.
Your front struts’ condition can also be determined by looking at your tires. Tires with what is known as “cupping,” which appears as bald, circular cup marks, typically end up this way due to severely worn out struts. Although it’s less common with rear shocks, if you haven’t replaced your struts, it’s likely that the rear shocks are also worn out.
Endurance Warranty:
Notes: If you’re searching for an extended warranty to cover your struts, we as a direct warranty provider suggest endurance. In average, customers have a far better overall experience with direct warranty providers.
Car Shield:
Notes: Car Shield does not offer its own policies, and even its “premium coverage policies” from the firm it does sell insurance through (American Auto Shield) do not cover struts.
Carchex:
Notes: Carchex sells other insurance companies’ plans in place of its own, such as American Auto Shield, Royal, and Allegiance Warranty. Even though they offer non-direct warranties and cover struts, we are unable to endorse them.
How much does it cost to replace a strut?
Depending on the brand and model, struts typically cost $150 to $450. Usually, it is necessary to replace both struts at once. A pair of struts will cost you between $300 and $900 to replace. It can take several hours to replace a strut.
What is covered by the 10-year Kia warranty?
Kia is unbeatable with one of the best powertrain warranties available. By putting a strong statement of faith in the quality, workmanship, and materials used in its products, Kia conveys a positive message about the efficiency of its automobiles.
For 10 years or up to 100,000 miles, the Kia powertrain guarantee will cover any damage or flaws from the manufacturer. This guarantee covers all of the critical components of the vehicle, including the engine, driveshaft, propeller shafts, differential, axle, and transaxle.
Notice to Our Loyal Service Customers Regarding Your Kia Warranty And Kia’s New Synthetic Oil Requirement
All Kia vehicles built after April 2021 must now use 100% synthetic oil in order to remain protected by factory warranty. Any vehicle that is still covered by a factory warranty after June 2022 will need to use full-synthetic oil to stay protected. Your guarantee may be void if conventional or semi-synthetic oil is used.
Does the 7-year warranty for Kia work?
The well-known 7-year warranty offered by Kia is a testament to the brand’s commitment to excellence. The degree of assurance goes beyond the day you purchase your new vehicle since Kia assures its customers a 7-year commitment.
All Kia models are covered by the 7-year or 100,000-mile warranty, with no hidden conditions. Even more of a motivation to buy a new Kia is that you can transfer your warranty if you decide to sell it. The advantages of purchasing a used Kia may still include a sizable manufacturer warranty, so they don’t solely apply to new car purchases.
The warranty takes pride in offering “bumper to bumper cover,” which means that from the first day of the contract to the end, the same level of protection will be provided. All costs for parts and labor, as long as they fall under your guarantee, are covered, even if you are traveling inside Europe.
What conditions apply to the Kia 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty?
Most new automobile manufacturer warranties are valid for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. A powertrain warranty is frequently provided separately and has a duration of five years or 60,000 miles, again depending on whether the first limit is reached. The numerous components of an automobile that make it move, such as the engine, transmission, etc., are referred to as the powertrain.
According to Motor1, Kia’s trust in their designs and the general caliber of their automobiles is powerfully conveyed by this lengthy warranty. You’re setting yourself up to lose a lot of money if you promise to cover any powertrain problems for 10 years on a vehicle that is likely to have many of these problems. Kia doesn’t appear concerned though.
Ten-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty
Kia claims that their 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty is proof of the high caliber of their cars. The powertrain is covered under this package for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. The following components are affected by this:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Axles
- Driveshafts
Five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty
According to Kia of Marin, they also provide a bumper-to-bumper coverage five-year or 60,000-mile limited basic warranty package. This warranty, as its name implies, essentially covers anything on the car between the front and rear bumpers. Common products that experience typical wear and tear are excluded from coverage.
The Drive informs us that frequent problems will be covered if you buy a brand-new 2021 Kia Sorento with this basic limited warranty. These topics solely include difficulties that would arise from subpar manufacturing work or subpar materials. This indicates that issues brought on by accidents or environmental degradation aren’t covered by the policy.
The warranty offers some support for routine maintenance, but for the maximum protection, it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance program.
Five-year/100,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty
Drivers may also choose a five-year or 100,000-mile restricted anti-perforation warranty, according to Auffenberg Kia. This coverage extends to exterior body panel perforation and corrosion that originates from the interior of the car and moves outward. However, this warranty does not cover harm caused by mishaps or severe weather, such as hail.
Five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan
A five-year or 60,000-mile package is furthermore offered for roadside assistance. This caps the cost of covered services at $75 per incident, including any towing fees to the closest Kia dealership. Other expenses covered by the insurance include:
- delivery of gas
- Jumpstart assistance
- tire assistance
Does Kia offer a warranty with 100,000 miles?
The limited warranties included in the Kia 10-year/100,000-mile warranty package* include limited basic, limited powertrain, and limited anti-perforation warranties, in addition to a roadside assistance and travel interruption program. Please download the complete Kia 10-year/100,000 warranty program information.
What does a warranty of 5 years and 60000 miles mean?
Powertrain: The powertrain warranty is similar to the bumper-to-bumper warranty in that it covers both, but it normally lasts a little longer. Most automakers give this warranty for up to five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. The drivetrain, transmission, and engine are the only components it covers.