Kia had a reputation for producing inexpensive, subpar cars in the early 2000s. Since then, Kia’s reputation for dependability has significantly increased, and it is now one of the most dependable models and a superb choice for drivers searching for a low-maintenance vehicle.
We’ll discuss Kia reliability information in this evaluation, including typical annual repair costs and typical breakdowns. In order to preserve your Kia in excellent condition for as long as you intend to own it, we also offer guidance on extended warranty protection.
At the end of this post, we’ll introduce you to our two top suggestions after our research team has studied the leading extended vehicle warranty providers. Click below to request free, no-obligation estimates and to start comparing warranty costs right away.
In This Article...
Are Kias still reliable?
To obtain their overall reliability ratings, the RepairPal team considers a number of different variables. Simply put, your out-of-pocket ownership expenditures will be cheaper the more dependable your car is. The cost, frequency, and severity of repairs are some of these variables. In order to calculate an individual brand’s total RepairPal reliability rating, these categories are averaged.
In the RepairPal reliability rankings, Kia came in at number three, including second place when only non-luxury brands were included. The Kia Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, placing it third among all car brands out of 32. This evaluation is based on the average of 345 different models.
“Kia had three well-liked models, including the Soul, Rio, and Forte, in the top 30 with Excellent ratings. The Optima and Sorento, two of its most well-liked cars, kept their Excellent rankings within the top 100.
Why is Kia having such success?
The introduction of two successful new models was the main factor in their success. A few tiny and two-row midsize sport utility vehicles were all that Hyundai and Kia offered for years, steering clear of anything bigger.
Are Kias as durable as Toyotas?
Yes, they can. How well you take care of your vehicle will decide how long it lasts, just like with any other car, truck, or SUV on the open road. In the last ten years, Kia has significantly improved its reliability and is now a rival of Honda and Toyota. Recent models have been known to endure well over 200,000 kilometers.
Q. Why are Kias so cheap?
A. The pricing of Kias is now comparable to that of Honda, Toyota, and its corporate cousin, Hyundai. Despite not feeling as inexpensive as when Kia initially entered the market, they are nonetheless marginally less expensive than those. However, they provide consumers value and are much less expensive to maintain.
Q. What’s wrong with Kia cars?
A. Null. The Telluride SUV, Kia’s newest model, has received resounding accolades from the world’s automotive press. Kia vehicles are among the best on the road. Older Kias are less appealing and had a number of problems, including poor build quality and cheap-feeling interiors.
Q. Is Kia more or less reliable than Toyota?
A. The reliability of Kias during the past 15 years is comparable to that of Toyota. Once more, it depends on how you or the former owner maintained the car. It will be a total loss if you treated it poorly. You’re going to have a durable car if you treated it like royalty.
Are Kia vehicles superior to Toyotas?
With both Toyota and Kia, exceptional dependability is the name of the game. According to a J.D. Power research from 2019, Kia has the highest initial quality in the non-premium segment in the United States. The 2016 Kia Soul, 2016 Toyota Corolla, Prius, and Prius V were all rated as being among the most dependable vehicles on the road by J.D. Power.
Do Kias have many issues?
bulletins for numerous vehicles that have had engine issues. among the most
Owners and tenants frequently report the following Kia engine issues:
- power loss or stalling
- A knocking noise
- Seizing
- Overheating
- Leaks
- Non-collision flames
- Unpredictable engine failure [1]
Has Kia solved the issue with their engines?
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.
Does Kai outperform Toyota?
- The Kia Optima is more affordable than the Toyota competitor while also offering a superior basic warranty and roadside support program.
- When it comes to efficiency, the Kia Optima outperforms the Toyota Camry thanks to its availability as a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
- Inside, the Kia Optima offers greater space for its five passengers than the Toyota Camry, as well as the additional trunk capacity.
- Thanks to the UVO Infotainment System, the Kia Optima surpasses the Toyota Camry in terms of technology.
- Both the Kia Optima and Toyota Camry receive five-star overall crash test safety ratings in terms of safety.
How durable are Kia engines?
People used to love to despise Kia as a brand. Although Kia is now known for producing high-quality cars like the Telluride, the South Korean carmaker has had a difficult past. You may have be aware that Kia has turned the corner and is now one of the most well-known brands on the international market.
There are undoubtedly plenty of Kia models available if you’re interested in purchasing one. However, some individuals may still remember Kia’s previous reputation for being unreliable, leading them to wonder: How long do Kias last?
In this article, we’ll examine the typical lifespan of Kia automobiles. How many miles should your Kia last? Is it a dependable, enduring brand? Which Kias have the longest lifespan and are the most dependable? These inquiries and others will be addressed.
How Far and Long Can You Drive a Kia?
What’s the real scoop on how long Kias last? Kia vehicles are predicted to last up to 200,000 kilometers when driven responsibly. Owners that provided their Kias with the necessary TLC report that they were able to get 200,000 to 250,000 miles out of them and keep them on the road for ten years or longer.
Of course, each driver’s experience with car longevity will be different (pardon the pun). Numerous elements, such as ownership maintenance and driving conditions, have an impact on longevity.
While the more modern Kia lines can clock 200,000+ miles on the odometer, the earlier Kias from around 20 years ago won’t win any medals for dependability.
These figures are competitive with brands like Honda and Toyota. For instance, Reader’s Digest claims that the Kia Rio subcompact sedan can reach 250,000 miles, while J.D. Power rates its dependability well.
You can always be sure that you got the greatest value possible since CoPilot scans your neighborhood and notifies you if there is a better deal on a comparable vehicle nearby. The best approach to purchase a car is through the CoPilot app.
Kias Reliability Ratings
The general reliability of a vehicle is one of the most important variables affecting its longevity. This raises the issue, are Kias trustworthy? How durable are Kias?
In a nutshell: Kia is a trustworthy company. Please, though, don’t take our word for it; instead, let us direct you to the professionals.
Kia has a reliability score that is above average. Although Kia first gained a reputation for being unreliable when it entered the American market, the South Korean manufacturer has since gotten its act together and is now one of the most dependable companies.
It currently ranks as the third most reliable car brand on the market with a RepairPal dependability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0. Only Honda and Acura, two businesses renowned for their legendary dependability, can surpass Kia.
With a low yearly repair cost of $474 as opposed to the country’s average of $652 for all models, Kia also received top marks for cost of ownership. Kia vehicles stay on the road longer than many brands thanks to 0.2 times as many unscheduled maintenance visits per year and a 10% likelihood of significant repairs.
Which Kias are the Most Reliable?
Kia sells premium automobiles for reasonable pricing. Like many automakers, Kia has some models that are better engineered than others. A vehicle has a better probability of remaining on the road and traveling farther if it is more dependable. Some of the most dependable Kias that will last you a long time are listed below:
Kia Rio
As basic a mode of transportation as you can find is the Kia Rio. The Rio won’t blow anyone away, but it provides adequate comfort, usefulness, and acceptable fuel efficiency at a fair price. The base Rio models are quite basic, but the higher trims are fully equipped cars that do the job admirably.
The Kia Rio will last you for a very long time with the right care and maintenance thanks to the combination of Kia’s top-tier guarantee and excellent safety ratings. As previously noted, some Rio owners asserted that their tiny car had logged 250,000 miles.
A quick check of RepairPal reveals that the Rio ranks 6th out of 21 subcompact cars with a dependability rating of 4.5 out of 5.0.
Until you use the CoPilot car shopping app, you won’t understand how out of date other car search applications are. CoPilot does the legwork for you by scanning through every listing in your region and smartly compiling a customized list of the best deals that fit your criteria.
Kia Soul
The boxy sheet metal Kia Soul is a big-hearted vehicle that usually draws attention. The Soul, however, is more than simply a quirky SUV since it has great utility, great fuel economy, and a ton of contemporary technology. Although many individuals find the base trim to be a little too basic, the Soul’s low price is undoubtedly its biggest selling point.
The Kia Soul requires proper care and maintenance, just like any other vehicle. The Soul may travel up to 200,000 miles and even more if you give it the proper care. The Soul will reward you with 1013 years of dependable service if you maintain your oil changes and dealership servicing.
Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage belongs in the classy subcompact SUV category. If you’re searching for a chic and versatile suburban SUV, the Sportage is a good choice. It’s not just one of the more visually appealing subcompact SUVs on the market; it’s also lavishly furnished with contemporary features and cutting-edge safety technologies. The Sportage is an SUV that will last even though it doesn’t have a powerful performance.
Again, assuming the Sportage is well-maintained, it should have no issue reaching 200,000 miles or more. Many Sportage owners with more over 200,000 miles on the odometer can be found if you visit some well-known automotive forums. Kia offers 5-year/60,000-mile standard and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties, so you can drive more miles with greater confidence.
According to RepairPal, the Sportage is ranked sixth out of 26 compact SUVs with a dependability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0.
Make Your Kias Last
How durable are Kias? Actually, as the owner, it will also depend on you. It would be beneficial if you drove carefully and responsibly, in addition to adhering to your routine maintenance plan and taking care of repair concerns as soon as they arise.
You might not be particularly knowledgeable about your car’s brakes unless you’re a mechanic or a super-committed auto enthusiast. How much time do they usually last? How frequently should brakes be replaced? We have solutions.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The simplest way to purchase a car is using the CoPilot auto shopping app. You may create a customized list of the top car listings in your area by telling us what you’re looking for, and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area.
Just seeking for more recent models? The search engine for virtually new vehicles is CoPilot Compare. only observe recentfive years or lessautos with little mileage. The greatest place to look for off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO vehicles is CoPilot Compare.
What’s best? We have more information on each vehicle than our rivals since CoPilot was developed using the same technologies that dealerships use to acquire and sell their inventories. Since CoPilot doesn’t partner with automakers, there aren’t any sponsored posts or other dubious tacticsjust the most information about the best vehicles. To learn more about CoPilot’s operation, see our About Us page.