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.
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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
What actions could invalidate the car’s warranty?
If you don’t follow the rules outlined in your contract, a manufacturer or service provider may void your warranty. There are several circumstances that will nullify your entire warranty, making it impossible for you to submit claims for repairs.
The following situations may cause a car warranty to expire:
- Vehicle abuse: Your warranty will be void if you use your car for activities other than regular driving, like off-roading or racing. This also applies to employing unsuitable fluids.
- Total loss: Your warranty is canceled if your car received a salvage title following a serious collision.
- Severe environmental damage: If your product was harmed by a natural disaster such a fire or flood, your warranty will no longer be honoured.
- Odometer tampering: If the odometer has been altered, the dealer won’t be able to determine the vehicle’s true mileage, which could void your warranty.
- Aftermarket alterations: If you make any modifications to your car or install aftermarket parts, most manufacturers will void the warranty.
- Ineffective maintenance: You must adhere to and record your factory-recommended maintenance schedule to maintain the validity of your warranty.
How is a guarantee voidable?
A merchant may decide not to uphold the conditions of a warranty by deeming it void in specific instances, particularly when a customer has used a product for a purpose different than what was intended. The Magnuson-Moss Guarantee Act, a federal statute that governs the majority of consumer purchases in the United States, or other state laws may strongly forbid merchants from attempting to void a warranty, however this does happen occasionally.
State laws add another layer and frequently greater consumer safeguards while the federal statute lays the foundation for U.S. consumers. You might be covered by an implied guarantee even if your written warranty is null and void.
The main topic of this article is whether or not a merchant can void a guarantee. For more articles concerning your consumer warranty rights, visit “Product Warranties and Returns.”
Acceptable Reasons for Voiding a Warranty
Understanding your warranty’s provisions in full, especially if it is a limited warranty, will help you safeguard your interests and prevent having your warranty revoked. Full warranties, which are legally obligated to cover any repairs or replacements related to faults during the guarantee term, are significantly less common than limited ones.
Therefore, the maker or particular product determines the causes for voiding a limited warranty. Knowing a warranty’s terms and restrictions will typically help you determine when and under what circumstances it can be revoked. It’s also a good idea to keep your receipt because it can be the only proof of the transaction.
When making a significant purchase, ponder the following:
- How long will your purchase be covered by the warranty?
- If the product breaks, does the warranty cover repair, replacement, or a refund?
- Who should you get in touch with and how do you get warranty service?
- Which components and issues fall within the warranty’s coverage? Which are expressly disallowed?
- Does the guarantee also apply to “consequential damages” like the price of damaged food in the event that a freezer malfunctions?
- Exist any unauthorized uses, alterations, or modifications to the product that can void the warranty? Federal law stipulates that in order to void a written guarantee, the merchant must demonstrate that the alteration constituted the root of the fault.
- If a warranty is supposedly “lifetime,” does it refer to the lifespan of the item or the owner?
- Is the retailer a respectable business?
The following are some of the most frequent grounds for which merchants void warranties:
- The guarantee period is over.
- The flaw or component is not covered.
- Misuse of the product or improper maintenance are to blame for its failure.
- You significantly altered the item, which has had an impact on its performance.
When Merchants Cannot Invalidate a Warranty
In order to benefit from a full warranty’s benefits, retailers cannot demand that customers fill out a registration card, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which upholds federal consumer rules. While relatively few restrictions may be made to complete warranties, the consumer must be made aware of the precise bounds of any reduced warranties.
The following are some additional warranty requirements or restrictions that the FTC deems unreasonable, and whose compliance will not render a warranty void:
- requiring physical visits to warranty service centers when returning products (also called “carry back”)
- requiring customers to return a vehicle (or watercraft) that is not roadworthy or that, if operated, poses a danger of human injury or further damage
- requiring clients to pay for shipping or shipping insurance
- Making the client liable for any goods lost or stolen during shipping
- requesting the return of goods in their original packing
- requesting the customer to elaborate on the nature or cause of the defect (as opposed to simply describing how it failed)
The phrases “sold as is” or “with all flaws,” although are permitted in other jurisdictions, may not be used by merchants to disclaim an implicit warranty in some states. For additional details, see “What is an Implied Warranty?” Another resource is “Facts for Consumers: Warranties” from the FTC.
Real-Life Examples of Warranty Limitations
Limited warranties have different conditions from one firm to the next, and occasionally even within a single company’s product line. The examples below demonstrate this variety:
- Apple: “Jailbreaking” an iPhone, which allows users to run unapproved software by circumventing built-in restrictions, destroys the device’s warranty. However, breaking into jail is legal.
- For as long as the initial buyer owns their property, Kohler’s lifetime limited warranty is valid for its faucets. The guarantee will be void if incorrect cleaning and care are used, according to the policy.
- Chevrolet: The first three years or 36,000 miles are covered by the “bumper-to-bumper” warranty. The policy excludes coverage for the clutch, coolant hoses, and engine radiator, among other things.
- Integrity Windows & Doors: The company’s 10-year limited guarantee covers stress cracks brought on by manufacturing flaws. Non-glass parts of windows “placed within one mile of a sea coast” are not covered.
- Buck Knives: With a few restrictions, the knife manufacturer’s “forever” warranty is practically a lifetime warranty. Knives harmed by abuse, carelessness, tampering, or self-repair are not covered.
Notice to Our Loyal Service Customers Regarding Your Kia Warranty And Kia’s New Synthetic Oil Requirement
All Kia vehicles built after April 2021 must now use 100% synthetic oil in order to remain protected by factory warranty. Any vehicle that is still covered by a factory warranty after June 2022 will need to use full-synthetic oil to stay protected. Your guarantee may be void if conventional or semi-synthetic oil is used.
What happens if I install a cold air intake?
A Cold Air Intake Work my factory warranty be void? No. If an aftermarket part (such as a Cold Air Inductions, Inc. part) is used in a repair, the manufacturer of a warranted product (in this case, a car), may not void or refuse warranty coverage of the repair in the United States.
What alterations do not nullify the warranty?
Many people purchase a performance vehicle with the express purpose of altering it and having fun. However, other people are more cautious when it comes to making changes to their cars since they care more about retaining the full factory guarantee. Both strategies are equally valid, so it really just comes down to preference. You should continue reading if you wish to modify your car without voiding the warranty, though.
First of all, a dealership is not allowed by law to “void the warranty on your car for no reason. They need to show that the failure for which you want warranty work done was caused by something you installed. Therefore, a dealership cannot claim that installing coilovers on your vehicle for a lower ride height and improved handling caused your engine to blow. If you switch to coilovers, don’t anticipate that a blown shock will be covered by the car’s warranty.
Coilovers and a set of springs or shocks are a good place to start. When it comes to cornering and high-speed stability, a decent pair of coilovers offers a lot of performance advantages in addition to the aesthetic advantages of the lower ride height. You won’t have to worry about blowing up a strut and it not being covered because the majority of coilover/strut and spring improvements come with a manufacturer warranty as well.
Due to how relatively simple they are to install and the fact that a cat back exhaust upgrade will not raise any red flags when dealing with warranty concerns, cat back exhausts are one of the most common modifications for any car.
Numerous lighting improvements are readily available for numerous platforms, allowing you to customize your automobile without jeopardizing the manufacturer’s warranty. Many of these entail modifying the headlights, tail lights, or both, but you frequently gain some amount of customization and, in most cases, improved light output as well.
A safe bet is always wheels! They offer performance advantages in addition to aesthetic ones, but the service manager won’t give them a second thought. Wheels with much less rotational mass and unsprung weight are available. Run bigger wheels and tires if you want better traction in the corners.
Another system that is largely independent is the brakes. You won’t have to be concerned about them impacting the warranty of any other part but themselves if you replace them entirely with a BBK or simply update the pads and/or rotors. For you people who compete in road races and autocross, brakes are a significant performance improvement as well. You can move forward more quickly when you can stop more forcefully and for a longer period of time.
Another suspension part that does not void any drivetrain or powertrain warranties is sway bars. Any suspension part is generally fair game. improved handling, plus no warranty concerns. Additional chassis bracing modifications are also possible.
Generally speaking, anything involving the shifter is acceptable, but any transmission issues could cause problems. Although short throw shifters may be looked down upon, solid shifter bushings are acceptable.
Anything you can tack on to the outside or interior of the automobile that serves only as decoration won’t void the manufacturer’s guarantee either. Even useful exterior modifications, such as wings or diffusers, will be able to pass the service writer’s inspection. The idea here is to cover as much of the engine compartment in carbon fiber as you can to hide any larger-than-stock bolt-on turbo you might or might not have.
Almost all of this will include handling and cosmetic adjustments. Where you begin to have issues with manufacturer warranties is with power mods. However, whether or not you have a mod-friendly dealer, you can be sure that if any of the parts you install fail, your dealer will not cover it. Again, the dealer has to demonstrate that the modification you put caused a failure in order to deny you coverage. Fortunately, the majority of aftermarket parts producers will offer a warranty to protect you in the event that their products malfunction.
What is not covered by the Kia warranty?
The following items are not covered by a Kia warranty: normal deterioration. Infotainment system and in-car media controller made by Kia. damage caused by car accidents.