Are Kia’s extended warranties worth the money? The reliability of your Kia, your capacity to handle unforeseen car repairs out of pocket, how long you intend to keep your Kia, and your current coverage are all important considerations.
We turn to RepairPal, a website that analyzes customer reviews to project typical repairs and repair costs for 32 automobile brands, to assess a brand’s dependability. We’ve presented RepairPal’s conclusions about Kia’s dependability below.
*In this context, a serious repair is one that will cost at least three times what a typical annual repair would.
According to RepairPal’s data, Kia drivers might not require an extended auto warranty. The majority of Kia vehicles appear to be dependable, needing few repairs. This does not preclude an unforeseen mechanical or electrical repair, though. The 2020 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM from J.D. Power finds that Kia cars are just marginally more reliable than the industry standard in terms of issues occurring per 100 vehicles. 100 Kia automobiles were examined, and 132 issues were found.
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What Kia Coverage Do You Already Have?
You might also want to think about the insurance you already have for your vehicle, such as the new-vehicle Kia warranty and the certified pre-owned (CPO) Kia warranty.
One of the longest warranties offered by a manufacturer is offered by Kia. Bumper-to-bumper warranty protection is included with new Kias and is valid for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Powertrain warranties for brand-new cars are also covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles.
A powertrain warranty of 10 years or 100,000 miles is also included with CPO Kias. However, CPO Kias come with Platinum coverage for a year or 12,000 miles in place of a New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
It doesn’t make much sense to purchase more coverage if you don’t intend to keep your car for a period of time longer than these coverage limits.
Is an extended warranty on a Kia worthwhile?
According to industry research, Kia automobiles are dependable and come with a lengthy and thorough factory guarantee. A Kia extended warranty can be worthwhile for you if you know you’ll keep your car for a while and want to be guarded against pricey repairs.
Three additional warranty plans from Kia can protect your car for up to 120,000 miles. There are three Kia extended warranty options: Platinum, Gold, and Powertrain.
Pressure plates, airbags, glass, body damage to the vehicle, trim, tires, and wheels are just a few of the common exclusions in Kia warranties. Other exclusions include lightbulbs, upholstery, safety restraint systems, emissions systems, and brake linings, drums, rotors, and pads.
Why never purchase an extended warranty?
Even though most products come with an extended warranty option, this does not necessarily mean you should. Here are a few more reasons why certain extended warranties aren’t worth the money, in addition to the issues we’ve already discussed with them.
The odds of you using them are low.
The truth is that businesses aren’t trying to protect your property by trying to sell you longer warranties. They have calculated. They have all the research on when issues with their products typically arise. Thus, if a car dealer tries to convince you to purchase an extended warranty, they will do so with full knowledge of which components on that model are prone to failure and how quickly. The likelihood that you will really use your warranty is quite low because they would purposefully offer you an extended warranty that expires before that period.
Additionally, businesses would suffer huge losses if the majority of customers actually had to use their extended warranties. We’re confident that the standard warranty that comes with your new lawnmower will be sufficient. Additionally, there is no additional charge. And if there is a high likelihood that your laptop or car will break down outside of the standard warranty, you should probably look around for a more dependable model first.
It doesn’t mean everything is covered.
Just because a business claims that an extended warranty would protect you doesn’t guarantee that it will invariably do so. For instance, if a wiring is faulty or a screen pixel burns out, your TV can be covered. However, an extended warranty might not cover your home being struck by lightning, which fries your TV, or you hurling a plate of hot wings at the television since your favorite sports team lost.
Or imagine your vacuum breaks down while you are cleaning your home. You need to replace a part, but after contacting customer support, you learn that your extended warranty doesn’t cover that particular item. That certainly is convenient. Therefore, the $50 more you paid up front was not really worthwhile. Additionally, you don’t want to lose out if the service provider files for bankruptcy (which does happen). Again, businesses have done their homework and are fully aware of the best ways to ensure that they benefit from extended warranties.
They make you spend more.
You might believe that purchasing an extended warranty will save you money. After all, your treadmill will be repaired or replaced without charge. But if you paid extra for it, it’s not really free. The cost of extended warranties is excessive and increases quickly. Consider how much money you would be wasting if you purchased extended warranties for every gadget, appliance, and device in your home. But what if you choose to save that cash instead? If you really needed to, you could pay for a new washer and then some.
Additionally, the salesperson typically keeps half of the profit on the extended warranty rather than giving it to you. Because selling extended warranties at the register generates significant revenue for businesses, they encourage their salesmen to do so. Conclusion: Purchasing an extended warranty is a complete scam that solely benefits the business that sold it to you.
The cost of the Kia extended warranty
Although the price of Kia’s car service contracts is not made public, we were able to locate customer reports indicating that the company charges somewhere between $1,600 and $3,900 for a 10-year contract. Your Kia extended warranty’s price will vary depending on a few things, such as:
- Your kind of vehicle: The cost of covering some models might be higher.
- Your car’s age and mileage: The sooner you buy insurance, the less it will cost you.
- The deductible: Typically, selecting a lower deductible results in a greater overall cost of coverage.
- Your kind and length of coverage: Plans with longer, more extensive coverage are typically more expensive.
The Kia extended warranty covers both labor and parts. Although service plans can be financed along with your car loan, we generally advise against it because you’ll end up paying interest on your protection plan.
How long will you keep the car?
A bumper-to-bumper warranty of at least three years and 36,000 miles is almost always included with new cars. The warranty is even longer for several brands.
You don’t need an extended warranty if you maintain or lease your car for a shorter period of time than the manufacturer warranty.
You can think about getting an extended warranty to cover repairs in the vehicle’s fifth and sixth year or longer if you want to maintain it till the wheels fall off.
Will you actually use the extended warranty?
Oil changes, brake repairs, tire replacements, and other “wear items,” or components that are susceptible to wear, are not covered by warranties. A seasoned auto salesperson recently informed me that just 1 in 10 customers who purchase extended warranties actually use them. According to the results of a Consumer Reports poll, car owners often paid more for the insurance than they received in direct advantages.
Consider it another way: If they truly believed you wouldn’t use the warranty, they wouldn’t sell it to you. I’m willing to take a chance, as one of my wise friends who was well-versed in the automobile business used to remark.
Do you know you already have an extended warranty?
After the bumper-to-bumper warranty expires, the majority of cars come with a powertrain warranty that takes effect. For instance, the powertrain warranty for Chevy vehicles is valid for five years or 60,000 miles. The car’s powertrainthose components that propel the vehicle down the roadis covered if something goes wrong. Gratis.
But if the door handle breaks or the window won’t go up, you have to pay to fix it.
Can you buy the extended warranty later?
If you were to tell a financial advisor that you were going to give someone $2,000 today for a product that you won’t be using for at least three years, they might think you were crazy. They would describe you as crazy. But many buyers of new cars also purchase an extended warranty, which doesn’t even kick in for another three years!
It is simpler to purchase the warranty when you purchase the car because you may add the cost to your monthly payment. And if you decide to sell, the majority of warranties are transferrable.
When making the purchase, give thought to declining the extended warranty. Then, as the third birthday of your car approaches, consider the extended warranty. By that time, you’ll be aware of two things that you weren’t when you bought the car brand-new: how much you enjoy it and how problematic it has been.
Will the cost of repairs exceed what you pay for the warranty?
The worst-case scenario is used by dealers to sell warranties: The electrical device malfunctions and costs three thousand dollars. Alternatively, the transmission fails. It is conceivable, yes. But it’s more likely that either your oxygen sensor or water pump will be leaking.
Even though many others pay far more, let’s say you are tempted to get an extended warranty for $1,200 but decide against it. You eventually need a $600 repair. Awful, but you’re still $600 in the lead.
Kia has a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty, right?
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 will void the warranty on my Kia?
Under no circumstances may the warranty be transferred to another vehicle. In the event that the vehicle is “Written Off” (that is, the car has been damaged to the point where restoration is unfeasible or uneconomic) or disposed of by an insurer, the warranty will be void.
Which three queries should you consider asking before buying an extended warranty for this product?
Before making a choice, consider the following five questions.
- Who is responsible for the extended auto warranty?
- Have you looked around for the best deal?
- Are you aware of the coverage?
- What’s your track record with repairs?
- Really, do you need this warranty?
Can the Kia extended warranty be cancelled?
Anytime you decide to cancel your extended warranty, you’ll receive a prorated refund for the period that was left on your policy. If the warranty was part of your loan, your car payment won’t change, but after the refund is taken out of your balance, you might be able to pay off the car sooner.
To make the cancellation process as simple as possible, think about the following advice:
Check the small print. For information on who to contact and whether there is a cancellation fee, locate the paperwork for your insurance. Call the finance manager who sold you the extended warranty if you just purchased it and you don’t yet receive the contract. You might need to get in touch with the business through phone or letter regarding third-party warranties.
Let’s say “no. Be aware that if you phone a warranty business, you will likely be routed to a department that is trained to persuade you to stay with them. Don’t feel like you have to explain why you’re cancelingjust keep saying it “no.
Get it down on paper. Get a copy of any cancellation forms that you might be required to fill out signed by a dealership employee. Keep copies of any pertinent paperwork, including your cancellation letter or form.
Following up To ensure that your cancellation was successful, schedule a reminder. You can speak with your lender or check your loan statement.
Is air conditioning covered by the Kia warranty?
Regardless of mileage, the air conditioner refrigerant charge is covered for the first 12 months of the warranty period. Refrigerant charge is only covered for the remaining portion of the warranty period when it is replaced as part of a warranty repair.
Do Kia’s 10 year warranties still exist?
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