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.
In This Article...
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 car 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 car covered by a 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.
Kia fixes recalls for no cost.
There will be no fees for the repairs. Letters informing owners should arrive in the mail on November 29, 2021. Call 1-800-333-4542 to reach Kia customer support. SC218 is the Kia recall number.
What is covered by the Kia engine recall?
A fuse can be changed by a dealer. The control modules will also be examined by Hyundai dealers, who will replace them if necessary. Kia will ship them on March 31, and Hyundai will send them starting on April 5.
Owners can check if their car is being recalled by going to www.nhtsa.gov and entering their 17-digit vehicle identification number, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
According to Hyundai, the company “acts rapidly and efficiently to recall the vehicle and remedy the fault at no cost to impacted customers” when it discovers a safety flaw.
Drivers may notice or smell warning indications, according to Kia. They might see smoke coming from the engine compartment, smell something burning or melting, and the antilock brake warning light might turn on.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration intensified a number of investigations into the engine compartment fires that have plagued the Korean automakers, leading to Tuesday’s recalls.
In December, the organization combined two 2017 investigations into a brand-new engineering examination that covered more than 3 million automobiles from the model years 2011 through 2016. At that time, the NHTSA had gotten 161 reports of engine fires, some of which had happened in recalled cars.
The first engine failure and fire-related recall from the companies dates back to September 2015. According to NHTSA records, they have since issued at least eight further recalls for a variety of engine issues.
The organization stated that it is assessing whether earlier recalls covered enough vehicles. The effectiveness of earlier recalls will also be evaluated, as well as the long-term viability of linked programs and non-safety field operations being carried out by Hyundai and Kia.
The automakers claimed to have carried out a number of recalls to address engine problems at the time, including recalls, new engine monitoring technology, and offering extended warranties.
The recalls announced on Tuesday are different from the engine failure issue that led to the majority of the prior Hyundai-Kia fire recalls, according to Michael Brooks, chief counsel for the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety. “Although NHTSA has the power to force a recall and maybe a buyback of all impacted vehicles, the distinct fire flaws that have plagued millions of Hyundai cars across multiple model years makes this a very difficult process,” he said.
Because Kia and Hyundai took too long to recall more than 1 million vehicles with potentially dangerous engines, the NHTSA announced in November 2020 that they would be forced to pay $137 million in fines and make other safety measures. The penalties ended an earlier investigation on the companies’ actions involving multiple model recalls going back to the 2011 model year.
For safety performance measures, Kia was required to pay $27 million and put $16 million into them. As long as Kia complies with safety requirements, a further $27 million payment will be postponed, according to NHTSA.
Despite denying the U.S. accusations, Kia claimed it wished to avoid a drawn-out legal battle.
Since 2015, Hyundai and Kia have issued more than 30 U.S. recalls for fire and engine-related issues, according to data gathered by the Center for Auto Safety. More than 20 models, totaling more than 8.4 million cars, from the model years 2006 through 2021 are included in the recalls.
A large number of recalls included production flaws that prevented oil from passing past the engine block. Many of them need pricey engine replacements.
Additionally, 3.7 million vehicles from Hyundai and Kia were the target of a U.S. “product enhancement program” to install software warning drivers of potential engine issues.
Which Kia vehicles are subject to a 2021 recall?
Certain 2020-2021 Soul and 2021 Seltos vehicles with 2.0L Nu MPI engines are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). Engine damage could come from improper heat treatment of the piston oil rings. Tip: Not all vehicles from the same year, make, and model are subject to recalls.
When do Kia recalls end?
Manufacturers are required to notify all owners of the affected vehicles who have registered their vehicles when a recall occurs. This is accomplished by mailing out a notice that is sent within 60 days of the recall becoming effective.
Additionally, car owners can register with the NHTSA to get email alerts from the agency in the event of a recall.
Can I do a car recall check online?
Simply go to the NHTSA website, yes. You can enter your vehicle’s VIN there to find out if it has had any safety recalls in the last 15 years that haven’t been fixed. Every vehicle has a unique 17-digit number called a VIN. Both the driver’s side door jamb and the driver’s side dashboard on the vehicle have them. It will probably be on the insurance and registration cards for the car as well.
According to AAA Car Doctor John Paul, this strategy is extremely helpful and significant if you intend to buy a secondhand car, especially if the car’s maintenance history is not easily accessible. “Check to see that any open recalls are addressed before taking delivery of the vehicle if you are purchasing a secondhand automobile from a car dealer, advises Paul. “Check the VIN to see if there are any recalls if you are purchasing a secondhand car from an individual, and have any repairs made as quickly as feasible.
My car has been recalled. What should I do?
Although learning that there is a problem with your car may be upsetting, there is no need to worrycars are recalled every day. In actuality, 886 vehicles were recalled in 2020. Call your neighborhood dealer first to find out when they can inspect the car.
According to the recall, any additional parts that need to be replaced due to rust or other damage that naturally occurs with age may be your financial responsibility, Paul adds. The dealership should be able to address the issue quickly and almost often without charging. If not, there will be no charge for the repair. You can proceed once your car has been fixed.
You could occasionally get a recall notification even though the manufacturer hasn’t sent out a new part or found a fix for the problem. ” The message will describe the issue and what you should do, according to Paul. ” They could advise not driving the car or putting it in a garage if the problems are severe.
Follow the manufacturer’s interim safety recommendations in this situation, and occasionally check with your neighborhood dealer to find out when the problem can be rectified. A recall is never something you should disregard. Paul cautions that delaying maintenance on a recalled car may put you and other motorists in danger. According to some research, between 20 and 30 percent of the recalled vehicles have never had maintenance.
Other Considerations
From John Paul, here are some further details about auto recalls:
- Recalls typically don’t have an expiration date. They will also change hands from one owner to the next. Even though you were not the owner at the time of the recall, you are still entitled to the repair if you purchase a used automobile and later learn it has an open recall.
- The manufacturer might demand a price for the repair after the car is ten years old.
- A recall does not necessarily indicate that a car is of bad quality. It simply indicates that a component needs to be replaced since it is faulty or performing poorly. It does not constitute a criticism of the car as a whole.
- Recalls and extended warranties are not the same (sometimes referred to as secret warranties). In the latter, a component may not last as long as it should, in which case the manufacturer may decide to extend the warranty for that specific component. Volkswagen, for instance, informed some owners of specific models via letters that the ignition switch warranty had been increased to 10 years or 100,000 miles. Since the ignition switch did not need to be fixed, the vehicle was not subject to a recall.