kia engine issues...really serious or overinflated?

[Rinspeed]

What engine is was in that little hamster car?

When wife was working at hospital many of the young crowd bought that model, ALL of them needed new engines

They have been very good about replacing engines, I will say that. A friend of mine needed a new one with less than 25K miles.

 

[proveitwithdata]

to each their own. Range rover dealers throw in a free service bay for every new vehicle purchased, but that has not deterred their clientele from returning for a another new rover.

Its like a recent car wizard video, where his maserati levante is considered reliable, but he also is a mechanic who needed to replace his entire ac compressor in less then a year.

If it works for you, so be it.

 

[Puckrobber]

Just got a 2012 Santa Fe with the 2.4 engine. Just turned 100,000 miles the other day. Engine seems strong, oil looks good (changing it next month). Had the TSB done for checking the engine for issues and the ignition fix. Hopefully, no further problems occur. Solid ride, so far.

 

[michaelluscher]

I've personally witnessed 3 blow up in front of my eyes/house
Two different 2.4 Theta IIs, and one 2.0 Nu MPi

The rest knock, clatter, and burn good 5w30/40 oil at 1qt per 400-800 miles
The ones that got replacement engines in ~2015-2017 are now starting to burn oil

And while the class action was generous, and they've replaced more than a few engines
My last few weeks interacting with my local H/K service department tells me the goodwill is gone
Labor times cut, crates and pallets of engines & transmissions
People aren't unhappy for no reason, but more than a few didn't keep up on the maintenance like they should've

I wanna like them, but it's becoming obvious where the corners have been cut
None of them could hold a candle to the staying power of my 2006 Camrys 3MZ V6
But then, a '24 Camry probably couldn't either

The 2.0T/2.4 Theta IIs are garbage
The 3.3 Lambda V6s are pulling head bolt threads (a la Northstar)
The 1.6 Gamma is starting to show it's issues
And if you thought it was just a GDI issue, the early 2.0 Nu MPI engines had piston ring issues, those are ticking time bombs

And the warranty service seems to be erratic, some have 10 or 15 year/150k coverage, some got the KSDS update, some didn't
Some have the lifetime warranty as per the class action, but others don't get it

The KSDS Installation Deadline is an insult IMO, as I've had more than two cases of people not getting the letter
I made them get it done, but now I wonder if they'll use it to weasel out when Uncle Knock Knock comes to visit

The free maintenance (synthetic 0w20) once a year for 3 year seems like a setup to clogged rings and oil consumption later on, but that's just my opinion

For one of the Kia class action suits, of the following vehicles, it's not as generous
the 15-Year/150,000-Mile Extended Warranty, subject to first installing the KSDS update
To obtain benefits under the Settlement, you generally need to first complete the free Knock Sensor Detection System (“KSDS”) update at a Kia dealership before November 4, 2023.

For the OTHER class action suit, it's lifetime/unlimited mileage, with it seems no hard deadline to get the KSDS update by
Only that it be done before engine failure

2011-2018 and certain 2019 model year Kia Optima, 2012-2019 model year Kia Sorento, and 2012-2018 and certain 2019 model year Kia Sportage vehicles equipped with 2.0 liter and 2.4 liter genuine Theta II gasoline direct injection engines within OEM specifications

You must have the KSDS Product Improvement Campaign completed by a Kia Dealer to receive the Lifetime Warranty extension

https://www.kiaengineclasssettlement.com/

https://www.kiaenginesettlement.com/

The same 2.4 Theta in a 2016 Sorento as a 2016 Optima, yet two different levels of "protection"

Educate yourself before you buy, and before you fail
That's my advice

 

[Pablo]

One making a deadly rod knock drove by us on the way down to Paradise cliffs

 

[Rmay635703]

If you are not a maintenance person or someone who will stick to a solid regimen not taking care of the engines go a different route..... for example the 2.4L.... have to keep strict on maintenance

And by maintenance you mean timing belts/chains every 30,000 miles?

 

[michaelluscher]

One making a deadly rod knock drove by us on the way down to Paradise cliffs

Don't worry, engine compartment fire is covered in the class action

You can also get a voucher/rebate of up to $1500 extra if you choose to buy a new Kia after your first round of Korean BBQ

And I like Korean BBQ/Hot Pot

 

[Pablo]

Don't worry, engine compartment fire is covered in the class action

You can also get a voucher/rebate of up to $1500 extra if you choose to buy a new Kia after your first round of Korean BBQ

And I like Korean BBQ/Hot Pot

Note it was going downhill

 

[nicholas]

I am considering a new kia soul (my certified used subie was in at least 1 unreported serious accident & problems are popping up); some of my research points to severe engine issues with kia's...blown up, oil consumption, fires, unfixed recall problems, etc

is there cause for concern or mostly hater hype? thanks...

Had 3 hyundais and we just bought a 24 Carnival.
The brand has been good to us.
Just take care of it.

 

[ATex7239]

The one we got for my daughter’s first car by the looks of it has made it through heck and back… If it can make it through the next year and half until college I’ll be happy. If it goes longer then it will be my son’s first car as well. Got it for next to nothing by today’s used car market standards. Lots of miles and pretty janky but still going on the original powertrain. Could start knocking and explode tomorrow though. Who knows.

 

[SC Maintenance]

The one we got for my daughter’s first car by the looks of it has made it through heck and back… If it can make it through the next year and half until college I’ll be happy. If it goes longer then it will be my son’s first car as well. Got it for next to nothing by today’s used car market standards. Lots of miles and pretty janky but still going on the original powertrain. Could start knocking and explode tomorrow though. Who knows.

View attachment 203228

Maybe thats the ticket. Only buy them with 150K already on them - proven track record?

 

[skyactiv]

Wasn’t there a member here that was at a Hyundai dealer last year for recall work and the dealer was swamped doing engine swaps?

 

[wemay]

The Theta II were great to us (not one had issues whatsoever) but you cannot deny the problems these have had as a whole. So far so good for the two Theta III parked in my driveway.

 

[ATex7239]

Maybe thats the ticket. Only buy them with 150K already on them - proven track record?

Probably not a bad strategy.

I’ve taken many high mileage vehicles on long trips without questioning the reliability... This car would worry me. But hey, for a first time driver beater that only goes around town, it does good.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Run 0w/5w40 synthetic oil
Use Severe Service Recommendation for oil changes
Never let the dipstick oil level fall below a half-quart low.
Follow this guideline and your Theta 2 engine will last longer than you think.

Do I want our two S. Korean vehicles permanently gone?...... yep, you betcha!
Waiting for a close look at the new redesigned 2025 Toyota RAV4 (non-turbo).
The wife won't part with her Kia Soul. The Kia Hamster Boyz are my only hope.

 

[Cujet]

Hyun/Kia is very polarizing on this board. It’s unlikely that you’ll get much more than anecdotal evidence.

Hard facts: No manufacturer since the beginning of time, has had more engine failures than H/K. In both raw numbers and per unit.

There was a thread more than a decade ago, discussing MTBF (mean time between failure). Certain H/K engines would rate as having a maximum of 100K lifespan. Other H/K engines would rate better. None would match the better engines from major manufacturers.

 

[michaelluscher]

Hard facts: No manufacturer since the beginning of time, has had more engine failures than H/K. In both raw numbers and per unit.

There was a thread more than a decade ago, discussing MTBF (mean time between failure). Certain H/K engines would rate as having a maximum of 100K lifespan. Other H/K engines would rate better. None would match the better engines from major manufacturers.

I don't remember the Beta II being this unreliable?
Even the 2.7 Delta/Mu V6 was reasonably stout, as long as you didn't overheat it
The 3.5 Sigma was also pretty good

Early to mid 2000s Tuscons, Santa Fes, Sonata's, Spectra/Sportage, Accent's and Rios
If you were a real baller, XG350/Amanti
I don't remember the blatant mechanical deficiencies of H/K designs of the past ~10 years

Going back into H/K History, they started with in house copies of Mitsubishi engines, that were of course cheapened and not as good as the Japanese originals

Then they developed their own engines from the ground up (Alpha/Beta) and they were acceptable

Something went wrong around ~2010 when they started making good looking high content reasonably nice to drive Japanese competitors

The car glowed up, but the mechanicals went into their fumble era

 

[daves87rs]

Run 0w/5w40 synthetic oil
Use Severe Service Recommendation for oil changes
Never let the dipstick oil level fall below a half-quart low.
Follow this guideline and your Theta 2 engine will last longer than you think.

Do I want our two S. Korean vehicles permanently gone?...... yep, you betcha!
Waiting for a close look at the new redesigned 2025 Toyota RAV4 (non-turbo).
The wife won't part with her Kia Soul. The Kia Hamster Boyz are my only hope.

Still see Souls hanging on around here….might be a good sign…..

 

[wemay]

Hard facts: No manufacturer since the beginning of time, has had more engine failures than H/K. In both raw numbers and per unit.

There was a thread more than a decade ago, discussing MTBF (mean time between failure). Certain H/K engines would rate as having a maximum of 100K lifespan. Other H/K engines would rate better. None would match the better engines from major manufacturers.

https://www.consumerreports.org/car...ed-an-engine-rebuild-what-to-buy-a3227614920/

 

[vpr5703]

Maybe thats the ticket. Only buy them with 150K already on them - proven track record?

My wife's Sonata blew the engine at 215,000. But since it was well maintained and had all the recall work done we got a new long block out of Hyundai.