What Is The Most Reliable Kia Vehicle

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These Kia vehicles can readily compete with the most dependable Japanese automobiles.

Kia experienced a rollercoaster of a trip when they first started making cars. The business started off making tubes and bicycle components before building the Samchully, Korea’s first homegrown bicycle, in 1952. The Asian company began producing the K360 for Mazda in 1962, and then went on to produce the Kia T600 in 1969 and the Brisa pickup in 1973.

A year later, Kia began producing cars with the Brisa, its first entry-level model. They were forced by the government to concentrate on producing light trucks like the Bongo in 1981, therefore it was a short-lived affair. The Pride, which Kia introduced to the American market in 1987 and continued to produce until 2017, is a good example.

The Asian financial crisis claimed Kia as one of its casualties. They declared bankruptcy in 1997. In 1998, the company merged with Hyundai as a result. Since then, the business has established itself as one of the most reliable ones available. In fact, Kia was named the most dependable model sold in the United States by J.D. Power in 2016, making it the first non-luxury manufacturer to top the list since 1989. Kia marketed itself as a low-cost automaker that shouldn’t be overlooked when it comes to functionality and performance.

Which Kia is the most durable?

Although this compact model may not appear to be the flashiest vehicle on the market, customer ratings and its safety record give it high marks. The Kia Forte is an affordable, fuel-efficient car with a roomy interior and lots of extras. Online reviews demonstrated that this car passes the “long-lasting test,” with many owners reporting that their Kias have exceeded 200,000 miles and are still in excellent condition. For this reason, it is at the top of our list! Apply online in just a few minutes to get pre-approved for a Kia Forte now.

Toyota Corolla

Toyota believes that if something isn’t broken, there’s no need to fix it. Even their most recent models continue to have features from the 1990s, like a four-speed automatic transmission. Its straightforward yet cutting-edge features make it dependable and reasonably priced. According to consumer reports, the Corolla may last over 300,000 kilometers with only the most fundamental maintenance.

Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is a winner in terms of dependability, efficiency, and usability while being a purely simple vehicle. With the choice of coupe and sedan body styles, it is renowned for drawing entry-level compact consumers into dealerships as well as tempting experienced drivers. Additionally, it has been the best-selling vehicle in Canada for 20 years running, so that had to be significant.

Toyota Camry

The majority of buyers opt for a Camry because they are confident they won’t need one again for at least ten years. It makes our top 10 list for a variety of reasons, one of which is that. Additionally, it typically carries owners through the 300,000-kilometer threshold without any issues. When it comes to dependability and lifespan, it really doesn’t matter whether you choose a four-cylinder or six-cylinder model. Although its models have maintained their renown over time, their cost has greatly climbed. However, if it endures, you might not care about the cost.

Subaru Outback

The Outback is the only model on our list that has all-wheel drive, which makes it an unexpected fit for a durable car. Subarus have a strong reputation for dependability and customer satisfaction despite their small market share for more than ten years. Although the consumer rating of this little SUV has significantly declined as additional amenities have been introduced, a sizable portion of all Outbacks ever produced are still in use today.

Ford Taurus

Drivers have praised the Ford Taurus highly for reaching the 300,000-kilometer mark and enduring the severe Canadian winters. Avoid EcoBoost variants and stick with the base V-6 engine to assure the best reliability is one pitfall to watch out for.

Acura TL

Despite being a luxury car, the Acura TL often lasts more than ten years for most drivers, which isn’t surprising given that Honda makes it. Whether you choose a model with front-wheel or all-wheel drive, its engine is simple to care for over time.

Chevrolet Impala

Drivers of large cars continue to favor the Impala. It seems like a nice vehicle because to its roomy cabin, which is also quiet and user-friendly. You might be wondering why it isn’t higher on our list given its impeccable track record. Although it may survive a long time, many drivers questioned stated that it does need multiple repairs along the way, which is the basis for this. All things considered, an Impala will get you to 300,000 kilometers, but only if you spend some extra money on it.

Buick Encore

This compact SUV provides five people with a comfortable ride inside a beautiful environment. The Encore will cost you at least $20,000, even though it will last you for a very long period. If a secondhand model has been well-maintained, it can be a more affordable choice.

Nissan Murano

The Nissan Murano receives high marks for being fashionable, quiet, and fuel-efficient. Many drivers claim that the older versions withstand the 300,000-kilometer test, despite the fact that its dependability ratings have decreased with its newer models. Few vehicles in its class can equal the interior quality and excellent gas mileage of this one.

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What drawbacks exist with Kia vehicles?

Everyone can find a Kia, but the drawback of buying a Borrego, Forte, Optima, Sorento, Spectra, Sportage, or any other model you can afford is that you will almost certainly have transmission issues. Owners of Sorentos are likely to have noticed jerking when changing, especially when moving uphill at a speed of roughly 75 mph.

Kia’s transmission issues, however, go beyond jerking. A 2019 Kia Forte owner from Delaware claims that, despite having less than 5,000 miles on the odometer, the transmission has already been changed twice. Similar depressing transmission-related experiences are common among Forte owners.

What year Kia shouldn’t you buy?

Customers have experienced a number of issues with the Kia Sorento since it has been advertised and sold by Kia. These models share costly issues with one another. The following model years should be avoided: 2004, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.

Common difficulties include those with the engine, the electrical system, the airbags, the seat belts, the lights, and the body or paint.

Engine failure is the most serious problem that these Kia Sorento models have. When most consumers have traveled an average of 62,000 miles, something happens. They could end up costing you more money in repairs, so we advise avoiding them.

Which Year Models of Kia Sorento Are Safe to Buy Used?

Production of the Kia Sorento has been going on for approximately 20 years. Not all of the models that are released, like many other cars in its market class, are flawless right out of the factory. Some people have flaws. Despite this, you have a selection of others. This is particularly true if you want to stay away from those already listed.

The following list of reliable Kia Sorento model years includes:

  • Kia Sorento 2003
  • Kia Sorento from 2005
  • 2007 Sorento Kia
  • Kia Sorento 2008
  • Kia Sorento from 2009
  • Kia Sorento 2010
  • Kia Sorento 2015
  • Kia Sorento 2017
  • Kia Sorento from 2018
  • Kia Sorento for 2019
  • Kia Sorento 2020
  • Kia Sorento 2021

The years 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 are among the safest Kia Sorento model years to purchase. Compared to the earlier mentioned model years, these have minimal complaints.

The worst issues with many of them were engine issues, a broken air conditioner compressor, electrical issues, light issues, and AC/heater issues. Most of them are also inexpensive to fix minor problems. However, they are among the minority of car owners.

The worst car troubles in early generations include crankshaft problems, frequent lighting system failures, and broken parts. It’s important to remember that these issues only occur in cars with more than 90,000 miles on the odometer.

A few owners are also affected by the problems. They are less likely to happen in a Sorento with little mileage and good maintenance. The models from 2007 to 2010 and 2015 to 2021 are the least problematic. The year 2016 is an outlier; it is less dependable than the other years in the following years.

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Which Kia Sorento Years to Avoid

The aforementioned Kia Sorento model years should easily accommodate your family’s needs and daily driving requirements. You need a dependable automobile in addition to one with excellent handling, a luxurious interior, and lots of attractive amenities. Here, we go into greater detail regarding the model years that weren’t chosen.

Steer clear of the following Kia Sorento model years:

  • Kia Sorento from 2004
  • Kia Sorento from 2006
  • Kia Sorento from 2011
  • Kia Sorento 2012
  • Kia Sorento 2013
  • Kia Sorento 2014
  • Kia Sorento 2016

These model years frequently experience issues with their engines, electrical systems, lighting, seat belts and airbags, and body and paint. These affect everyone, and numerous users have noted concerns that are essentially the same.

You should steer clear of the 2011 Kia Sorento the most. It tops the list for having the most owner complaints. It is most likely to experience brakes issues, drivetrain issues, airbag and seat belt issues, and engine issues.

An engine failure at 77,000 miles cost the most money of all issues reported for the 2011 model year. Fixing this issue will cost $4,600. Other serious issues include an airbag problem that cost $2,000 to fix at 92,000 miles and a door issue that cost $400 to fix at 94,000 miles.

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The 2016 Kia Sorento is another vehicle you should completely avoid. In comparison to other models with lower mileage, it has more issues and costs more to repair. The most common issues are with the engine, then the steering, body/paint, and lights.

The engine has experienced the worst reported failure at 62,000 kilometers. Repairing this cost $6,100. Other owners reported having to pay up to $600 to fix wiring that rodents had gnawed. At 22,000 miles, one user’s car stalled while accelerating.

Common Kia Sorento Problems

One of the greatest warranties for cars is offered by Kia. But that doesn’t mean you should be any less critical, especially when it comes to reliability concerns. The most typical Kia Sorento issues, spanning all model years, are listed below:

  • Engine issues – The Sorento’s engine frequently fails, which is a common dependability problem. The engine failure, which was primarily reported in 2011, 2016, and 2017 models, was caused by a leaky head gasket, which mixed engine oil and coolant. These liquids when combined can seriously harm engines.
  • Frustrated owners reported that the Sorento’s doors won’t open when reached from the outside, which is more unpleasant than dangerous. Additionally, defective door handles made users of the child-lock feature even more irate. Owners of 2011 Sorentos make up the majority of the complaints.
  • Burning out of headlight bulbs: Numerous customers noted that the headlight bulbs on Sorento models from 2002 to 2009 were particularly prone to premature failure. Additionally, several stories claimed that additional headlamp component parts were also melted. There should have been a recall for this dependability problem, but there wasn’t one. Owners were required to purchase replacement bulbs for between $100 and $600.

Kia Sorento Problem Counts by Year

Young and experienced drivers equally are impacted by winter driving. To help you get from A to B as securely as possible, we’ve put together a list of the best automobiles for snow.

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Is Toyota more dependable than Kia?

Yes, Kia reliability is above average, to put it succinctly. Even though Kia had a bad reputation when it initially entered the US market about 20 years ago, a lot has changed since then. Currently, the brand is rated 4.0 out of 5.0 on RepairPal, placing third out of 32 brands of automobiles.

RepairPal uses driver-reported information on brand average yearly repair costs, the frequency of unexpected repairs, and the seriousness of needed repairs to calculate dependability scores. Kias and other vehicles with high RepairPal reliability ratings are less likely to experience frequent mechanical problems.

Kia offers one of the greatest new car warranties in the business as a guarantee for the dependability of its vehicles. Kia significantly outperforms the industry standard of three years for bumper-to-bumper coverage and five years for the powertrain. The Kia guarantee comprises a ten-year powertrain warranty as well as a five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Your Kia should last for at least ten years if you follow up with routine maintenance. If not, the majority of significant problems are probably covered by warranty.

Kia Factory Warranty

One of the best manufacturer warranties in the industry is offered by Kia. A new Kia vehicle includes:

  • 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty for five years.
  • Powertrain warranty of 10 years and 100,000 miles
  • Warranty against perforation for 5 years and 100,000 miles
  • Roadside assistance coverage for 5 years and 60,000 miles

Kia J.D. Power Awards

Kia has received numerous J.D. Power honors for a variety of automobiles. The Kia Soul, Forte, Sorento, and Sedona, for instance, each received the Highest Quality award that year. A J.D. Power Dependability award was additionally given to the 2016 Kia Soul in 2019. This prize takes into account issues with used cars that are three years old.