Well, add me to the list of Kia's that bit the big one!
2020 Soul x-line with the 2.0 NU. Bought it in 2022 when it was almost impossible to find anything. Only had 4,000 miles on it, which hindsight being 20-20, should have been a huge red flag.
Anyway, I found out soon after buying all the issues revolving around these engines so I was sure to keep good records and receipts of all maintenance. Shame on me for not doing the research but lesson learned. I even went as far as keeping track of all the times I CHECKED the oil by dates and when I had to add. I was down to checking the oil every 3 days maximum and doing oil changes NLT 3,000 miles.
I kept track of everything in a 3 ring binder using those plastic document protectors I remember from high school.
So about a month ago I was headed to my daughters house in the Kia when the check engine light started to flash; 26,450 miles on the motor. There was no change in the sound or power, just going around a corner at 35 mph and the light started flashing. So I turned around and headed home, about 10 miles away, waiting for the inevitable boom.
When I got home I put a code reader on and saw the 1396 code and during research the recommended fix was "long block replacement."
Contacted Kia and set up the appointment for service. The service lady was cool and agreed that it was probably a motor change but it had to be inspected. When she asked if I had all my service done by Kia I told her that they weren't able to manufacture the car correctly, why would I trust them with the maintenance? She kinda sighed and said I would have to provide proof of all maintenance or there could be a problem with the warranty. I laughed and slapped my binder on her desk.
Needless to say I got a call the following day that indeed the motor needed replacement and that it would be covered under warranty. She said the technicians response was ... when she showed him my maintenance book.
Motor arrived 3 days later and was installed in 2 days. So, although the whole thing was a pain in the neck, I didn't have the horror story I've heard from others about dealing with Kia.
Anyway, picked up the car, drove to the Mazda dealer and dumped it for a 2025 CX-5.
I'm not a Hyunkia hater like some but I'll never consider either ever again. Just don't trust them anymore.
But I learned a really good lesson. I've been doing my own maintenance for years and "kinda" kept up with receipts and things. I'll keep much better records from now on for sure.
2020 Soul x-line with the 2.0 NU. Bought it in 2022 when it was almost impossible to find anything. Only had 4,000 miles on it, which hindsight being 20-20, should have been a huge red flag.
Anyway, I found out soon after buying all the issues revolving around these engines so I was sure to keep good records and receipts of all maintenance. Shame on me for not doing the research but lesson learned. I even went as far as keeping track of all the times I CHECKED the oil by dates and when I had to add. I was down to checking the oil every 3 days maximum and doing oil changes NLT 3,000 miles.
I kept track of everything in a 3 ring binder using those plastic document protectors I remember from high school.
So about a month ago I was headed to my daughters house in the Kia when the check engine light started to flash; 26,450 miles on the motor. There was no change in the sound or power, just going around a corner at 35 mph and the light started flashing. So I turned around and headed home, about 10 miles away, waiting for the inevitable boom.
When I got home I put a code reader on and saw the 1396 code and during research the recommended fix was "long block replacement."
Contacted Kia and set up the appointment for service. The service lady was cool and agreed that it was probably a motor change but it had to be inspected. When she asked if I had all my service done by Kia I told her that they weren't able to manufacture the car correctly, why would I trust them with the maintenance? She kinda sighed and said I would have to provide proof of all maintenance or there could be a problem with the warranty. I laughed and slapped my binder on her desk.
Needless to say I got a call the following day that indeed the motor needed replacement and that it would be covered under warranty. She said the technicians response was ... when she showed him my maintenance book.
Motor arrived 3 days later and was installed in 2 days. So, although the whole thing was a pain in the neck, I didn't have the horror story I've heard from others about dealing with Kia.
Anyway, picked up the car, drove to the Mazda dealer and dumped it for a 2025 CX-5.
I'm not a Hyunkia hater like some but I'll never consider either ever again. Just don't trust them anymore.
But I learned a really good lesson. I've been doing my own maintenance for years and "kinda" kept up with receipts and things. I'll keep much better records from now on for sure.
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