We think your service center ought to keep you moving when your Kia is in for maintenance. Because of this, Friendly Kia provides clients who purchased their vehicle from us with free loaner cars.
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Does Kia provide loaner vehicles for recalls?
To the extent that it was not already extended as part of a servicing campaign, the Powertrain Warranties for the Class Vehicles will be upgraded to a Lifetime Warranty for the engine short block assembly. The short block assembly, which consists of the engine block, crankshaft and bearings, connecting rods and bearings, and pistons, will be covered by the warranty extension for Class Vehicles owned by private consumers who have finished the knock sensor program software update. The Lifetime Warranty shall otherwise endure for bearing wear or damage regardless of the Class Vehicle’s mileage, ownership duration, or prior warranty engine repairs and/or warranty replacements, with the exception of cases of Exceptional Neglect (defined below) and subject to the existing terms, limitations, and condition of the original Powertrain Warranty.
The warranty is extended to include all inspection and repair expenses for the engine short block assembly, including materials, labor, and diagnosis. It is advised that class members keep all records of their vehicle maintenance after August 18, 2020. If Kia suspects exceptional neglect, such class members might be asked to show documents of their vehicle maintenance from after August 18, 2020 in order to get Lifetime Warranty repairs.
The warranty extension may be refused for “Exceptional Neglect of the Vehicle,” which is defined as (a) when the vehicle clearly evidences a lack of maintenance or care for a significant period of time of not less than one (1) year, such that the vehicle appears abandoned, beyond repair, and/or (b) when a Class Member has failed to have the KSDS (“Knock Sensor Detection System”) installed.
Regardless of mileage or previous repairs, Kia will offer a free recall inspection for up to 90 days following the Final Approval Order for any vehicle where recall inspections were not finished.
If necessary, Kia shops will offer a complimentary loaner car of equal value up until repairs are finished. Kia will fully compensate you for reasonable rental car costs up to $40 per day if a loaner car is not available. (How to submit a claim for reimbursements for a rental car is described below.)
For this extension of the Powertrain Warranty for the engine short block assembly under this Settlement, you DO NOT need to submit a Claim Form.
To acquire the Lifetime Warranty extension, a Kia Dealer must complete the KSDS Product Improvement Campaign.
Reimbursement for Rental Cars, Towing, Etc.
The following conditions must be met in order for you to receive a complete reimbursement for any fees you paid for towing, rental automobiles, or other services:
- The cost was legitimately connected to getting one of the qualifying repairs listed below.
- any maintenance work on the short block assembly of the engine, which consists of the engine block, the crankshaft and bearings, the connecting rods and bearings, and the pistons.
- Repairs to any other parts (such as the starter, battery, or long block assembly) if the documentation demonstrates that the work was done in an effort to solve one of the following issues: engine seizure, stalling, noise, or oil lamp illumination. (Repair expenses won’t be covered if the documentation shows that they were obviously unconnected to the short block assembly.)
- Repairs brought on by collisions with Class Vehicles are not included, unless the collision was directly brought on by a Class Vehicle breakdown that would otherwise be covered by a Qualifying Repair, like as engine fire.
Compensation for Vehicle involved in Engine Fire
If the cost of the repair was too high or you had to sell your car at a loss due to an engine fire that would have otherwise been resolved by a Qualifying Repair, you may be entitled to reimbursement for the value of the vehicle as well as an additional $140 goodwill payment. To be eligible for this benefit, you must submit a timely claim within 90 days of the engine compartment fire.
If you submit a Claim proving the fire started in the engine compartment and was unrelated to any form of collision, the amount of compensation will be determined by the vehicle’s maximum Black Book value.
Before the repair diagnosis, the vehicle’s maintenance history, or lack thereof, shall not be a justification for denying or reducing reimbursement under this provision (excepting limited Exceptional Neglect circumstances). Exceptional Neglect includes the following situations: (a) when the vehicle clearly demonstrates a lack of maintenance or care for a significant period of time of not less than one (1) year, such that the vehicle appears abandoned, beyond repair, and/or (b) when a Class Member has neglected to have the KSDS (“Knock Sensor Detection Software”) installed in the vehicle in accordance with the KSDS Product.
Rebate Program
If you buy a replacement Kia vehicle after losing faith in your Class Vehicle due to an engine failure or engine compartment fire, you might be eligible for a rebate. To be eligible for any rebate, you must submit the Claim Form. You may be eligible for up to the following sums: $2,000 for model-year 20112012 Class Vehicles; $1,500 for model-year 20132014 Class Vehicles; $1,000 for model-year 20152016 Class Vehicles; and $500 for model-year 20172019 Class Vehicles. To be eligible for this benefit, your claim must be submitted in a timely manner within 90 days of the engine failure or fire.
Informational Pamphlet
According to the Settlement, KMA will supply Class Members with an instructional leaflet that offers additional advice on how to maintain the engines in the Class Vehicles and notifies Class Members of the available inspections and repairs.
Is a rental automobile covered by the Kia warranty?
Meals, housing, or rental vehicle costs may be reimbursed in a reasonable amount. A three-day maximum limit per event and a daily cap of $100 apply to trip interruption coverage. Customers must get in touch with the Kia Consumer Assistance Center to explain their situation and ask for compensation.
In a car dealership, what does the term “loaner” mean?
In accordance with the dealer’s franchise, a loaner vehicle is a car that is made available to a motor vehicle dealer’s service clients for temporary use at no cost, as specified in Title 10, section 1171, paragraph 6.Sec.
A “loaner vehicle” is a dealer-owned car that is temporarily removed from the dealer’s inventory for one client whose car is being serviced by the dealer and is then given away without charge for a maximum of 30 days during the course of a calendar year.
However, giving the claimant a deadline to reply to the EMC/ruling PSO’s could improve administrative effectiveness.
Why do rental automobiles cost less?
A reasonable cost Loaner cars are less expensive than newer cars because they are used automobiles. Additionally, several automakers may provide factory incentives and 0% financing. As a result, a loaner car might be a terrific choice if you’re shopping on a tight budget.
Will Kia cover engine replacement costs?
Recently, a relative of mine wanted to have her car seriously fixed. She went to one of these mechanics, but he refused to execute the expensive fix because she could get it done for free.
Specific Kia automobiles are included in this. This is not the current Kia recall that you may have heard about because of possible engine compartment fires.
The number of automobiles in this volunteer initiative was once much higher. In order to preserve the engines of 624,460 Sorento, Sportage, and Optima automobiles from specific years, Kia launched the product improvement campaign (PI 1803) in 2018.
According to Kia, customers should be on the lookout for vibrations in these vehicles because they “may signify the beginning of excessive connecting rod bearing wear in the engine” and cause knocking noises. The campaign’s goal is to have sensors identify conrod bearing deterioration over time before the driver may feel vibrations.
“Kia additionally voluntarily provided lifetime warranty coverage to both new and used vehicle owners for engine long block assembly repairs needed due to excessive connecting rod bearing damage,” the carmaker continues.
The vehicle models that underwent the initial remedy but may now require engine long block assembly repairs are addressed by the most recent fix.
If you or your mechanic noticed a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P1326 (Knock Signal Range/Performance), you may have realized you needed the second patch.
You might have to wait if you need to bring your car back for a second fix.
While Kia was unable to provide wait times or an estimate of the number of vehicles waiting to be evaluated or repaired under this program, it did acknowledge that, contrary to what has been widely reported in American media, challenges with employee staffing levels and parts supply are not specific to Kia or automotive dealerships in general.
My acquaintance inquired with a Kia dealer in the Dallas area earlier this year to see if they could inspect and fix her car. There were around 40 others in line before of her for the same thing, so she was told that she would need to drop the car off and wait a few weeks before they could examine it.
She waited for Kia to decide if her car was eligible for a free installation of a remanufactured engine for several weeks (Kia says the replacement engines are primarily re-manufactured).
After Kia confirmed her vehicle was qualified, there was a further delay of several additional weeks while the engine was ordered and replaced.
However, Kia does provide compensation for automobile rentals during this period. With the rental, you might have to get creative. Kia will provide coverage up to $40 per day, which would have been sufficient in earlier, more normal times.
You might be entitled to compensation from Kia if your mechanic failed to inform you that you might be eligible for a free replacement or repair and you previously paid out of pocket to fix a car that was experiencing this problem.
Consumers who made legitimate engine repair claims by August 9, 2021, according to the business, “have been paid for their repair charges.” “For repairs completed beyond that time, Kia will examine each one individually to determine if reimbursement will be granted in light of its particular circumstances.
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 Kia basic warranty?
Most repairs and replacements of items that fail owing to flaws in the design or construction are covered by the Kia warranty. The automaker, based in South Korea, offers coverage lengths that are above normal. Powertrain coverage is provided to new owners for 10 years/100,000 miles, and bumper-to-bumper protection is provided for 5 years/60,000 miles. In addition to the bumper-to-bumper guarantee, new Kias come with 24-hour emergency roadside assistance for the same period of time.
The warranty terms offered by Kia are among the longest in the industry. Only a few other automakers, like Hyundai and Mitsubishi, can match the brand’s powertrain, bumper-to-bumper, and roadside assistance terms. Corrosion protection is an area where Kia lags behind; on the short end of warranty coverage periods, it is tied with Ford and Toyota. Kia was contacted by our staff for a reaction regarding its corrosion protection restrictions, but we did not hear back.
The Kia factory warranty, which is included with all new cars, is broken down as follows:
- Basic limited warranty: Kia offers bumper-to-bumper protection. Except for a few exclusions and parts that are broken through natural wear and tear, this guarantee covers almost all of the vehicle’s components.
- Limited powertrain warranty: This comprehensive guarantee covers the engine, gearbox, drive axles, and associated components that enable the vehicle to move.
- Limited anti-perforation warranty: Under this warranty, body panels that rust and corrode from the inside out are replaced.
- Roadside assistance benefit: The Kia roadside assistance benefit provides towing to the closest Kia dealership, battery jump-starts, flat tire changes, and other services at a cost of $75 each time you seek service.
As you can see, the Kia warranty is actually composed of various auto warranties, which is customary in the auto sector. Despite the fact that Kia models have longer warranties than many other cars, it’s vital to remember that some parts have lesser guarantees:
- Battery: Kia will only swap out your car’s factory-installed battery if it entirely fails within the first three years or 36,000 miles of ownership.
- A new Kia vehicle only receives a year’s worth of air conditioning refrigerant charge coverage.
- Audio system: Your speakers and entertainment system are insured for three years or 36,000 miles, much like the battery.
What else is excluded from the Kia warranty?
Although the Kia guarantee covers a number of components, it does not cover all potential problems with your car. The following situations are exempt from your factory car warranty’s protection:
- Services for routine maintenance, such as oil changes or inspections
- Damage resulting from owner abuse or negligence
- Damage caused by a vehicle accident
- wearable components such as brake pads and wiper blades
- damage to the environment caused by a disaster such a flood, storm, or fire
- damage brought on by poor repairs