Kia Warranty

First sold in the United States in 1994 Kia is a South Korean car manufacturer and a subsidiary of Hyundai. Kia is known for its fuel-efficient and affordable vehicles. Kia's vehicles are considered by many to be the value leader in each vehicle class.

Buying a new or used Kia is a big step, congratulations! A Kia warranty, extended warranty or vehicle service contract can protect your investment for years to come. It is important to consider:

What the Kia warranty covers and doesn't cover
How and when the Kia warranty expires (the plan terms)
The need for extended mechanical breakdown protection
Options for extending protection for your Kia.

Mechanical breakdown protection can vary depending on when, where and from whom you purchased your vehicle. Chances are if you bought the car within the past ten years it will come with a few warranties from the manufacturer. Any modern Kia will have these warranties from the manufacturer:

Limited basic
Limited powertrain
Anti-Perforation

The limited basic Kia warranty is good for five years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first). The limited powertrain Kia warranty is good for ten years or 100,000 miles(whichever comes first). The anti-perforation warranty is good for five years or 100,000 miles. Newer Kia models include five years or 60,000 miles of free roadside assistance with trip interruption protection.

Five Year 60,000 Mile Manufacturer's Warranty (Limited Basic Warranty)

The limited basic warranty was set in place to ensure that vehicles produced by Kia are free from defects caused by materials or workmanship. The Kia warranty does not cover items that are damaged due to human error or interaction. For the most part, you will be covered under the warranty if you take care of your vehicle and use it for its intended purposes. In order to keep the warranty you must maintain the car as per the Kia warranty directions.

There are a variety of items that come with your Kia vehicle that have different warranties than outlined in the limited basic coverage.

Air Conditioner Refrigerant Charge: First 12 Months Regardless of Mileage
Audio and Entertainment System: 36 Months or 36,000 miles.
Battery: 24 Months Regardless of Mileage
Towing: If it is caused by an issue within your limited basic or powertrain warranty coverage
Paint repairs are covered for 36 months or 36,000 miles
Adjustments: 12 Months or 12,000 miles

What is NOT Covered By The Manufacturer's Limited Basic Warranty

Damage due to factors beyond a manufacturer's control include:
Driving over a curb
Overloading the vehicle
Racing
Using the vehicle for purposes other than its written intentions
Accidents
Incidents that damage the vehicle (collision, fire, theft, flood, or riot)
Altering, tampering, or rewiring (voids your warranty)
Environmental factors (corrosion from acid rain, hail, wind, storms, lightning, and other acts of God)
Using the wrong fuel
Postponing maintenance
Normal wear and tear (brake pads, spark plugs, clutch linings, filters, wiper blades, etc.)
Normal maintenance (cleaning, polishing, adjustments, lubrications, wheel rotation, and tire alignment)
Tires (except perforation)
Any vehicle that has been identified as a total loss by an insurance company or financial institution

Ten-Year Power Train Warranty

The ten-year powertrain warranty begins immediately after the limited basic warranty expires. When describing the powertrain warranty, only expressed items are covered. Any item not mentioned in the Kia warranty manual should be deemed as unwarranted.

What is covered in the ten-year Kia warranty?

The Engine: Cylinder head, cylinder block, all internal parts, gaskets and seals, cover, valve cover, oil pump, flywheel, and water pump.
The Transaxle: Transmission case, internal parts, drive shafts, torque converter, universal joints, bearings, front hubs, gaskets, and seals.
The Axles: Axle shafts and C-V joints (couplings), bearing supports and seals, wheel and hub bearings.
The Transmission: Transmission and transfer case, internal parts, torque converter, gaskets, and seals.
The Differentials: Front and rear differential assemblies, all internal parts, cases, gaskets, and seals.
The Propeller Shafts: Universal joints, drive shafts.

Do I Need Mechanical Breakdown Protection?

Choosing to purchase mechanical breakdown protection for your Kia is ultimately a personal decision. However, here are some things to consider:

The age and mileage of your Kia
The reliability record of your Kia
How many miles you drive
How long you plan to own your Kia
Your risk tolerance
Your financial ability to pay for unexpected repairs

Here are two additional resources to help determine if mechanical breakdown protection is right for you:

POMCalc! Check your peace of mind
How to determine if a vehicle extended warranty is right for you.

Age and Mileage

If you're purchasing a new Kia then perhaps your decision to purchase an extended Kia warranty from the manufacturer/dealer can be deferred. After all your Kia has a pretty good warranty from the manufacturer that will have you covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles whichever comes first. The dealer will most likely try to convince you that you need to purchase the extended protection now. My advice to you is to wait. You can get a much better deal, and better coverage for less money if you purchase from a reputable third party provider. Just make sure that you purchase the extended protection before the manufacturer's warranty expires!

If you're buying a used Kia then you need to take into consideration the age, mileage and the remaining Kia warranty. If your Kia's warranty is approaching expiration based upon age or mileage (whichever comes first) then you might want to seriously consider an extended protection plan. Just remember, you don't have to purchase it from the dealer (regardless what the dealer says). Just remember that if you do purchase the protection from a third-party provider, you need to do so within (usually) 21 days of your transaction date.

KIA Reliability by Model for 2009

Before making any decision, research your specific model and year to ensure reliability. Certain cars are known to be unreliable, making the extended protection decision a no-brainer. Check out the the U.S News and World Report. for current reliability ratings.

Another easy to find out about a product's reliability in the age of the Internet is to check with a community of people that have the same product. People in these groups tend to be very outspoken. In the case of automobiles one such community is Edmunds.com.

Use the links below to research your specific model for known problems.

Here's another great resource to check the reliability record of your used vehicle.

How Much You Drive

A Kia warranty roughly covers 12,000 miles a year. If you drive more than that, it may be a good idea to invest in extended protection. For example, if you drive 20,000 miles per year (instead of 12,000) your Kia warranty would expire in three years (instead of five) due to the mileage reaching 60,000. Remember it is the case of whichever expires first - years or miles.

Length of Ownership

If you plan to own your Kia for several years after the manufacturer's warranty is due to expire, you might want to consider buying extended protection. On the other hand, if you like to trade up every couple of years then you may not need the extended protection. This may be the case if you think that you will trade before the manufacturer's warranty expires.

Risk Tolerance

Some people have a high tolerance for risk and do not worry about "what might happen" tomorrow "C'est la vie" they say. Other people need some degree of peace of mind. Some say that this the main thing that extended mechanical breakdown protection provides - peace of mind. You probably know which type of person you are.

Financial Ability To Cover Unexpected Repairs

If you happen to be in a financial position that will allow you to pay for your own Kia repairs without breaking the budget then you may not need extended protection. This is called being self-insured. On the other hand, if an unexpected repair would seriously disrupt the family budget then you might want to consider the extra coverage.

Where to Buy Extended Protection

Once you've decided that extended protection is a good "bet" for you then the next decision to make is where or from whom to buy it. When considering extended mechanical breakdown protection you have three options to choose from.

Manufacturer's Extended Warranty
Dealership's private brand vehicle service contract
Third party Mechanical Breakdown Protection

It is important to know that a dealer may be selling a genuine manufacturer's extended Kia warranty or they may be offering and promoting their own private-brand of extended warranty more correctly called a "vehicle service contract". A genuine manufacturer's extended warranty can be a good option. While you may pay a little more, it is well worth the cost. Manufacturers have a wide network of repair shops and dealers and are factory-backed. You are guaranteed to get decent parts and the repair price is consistent.

You may choose to purchase the dealer-branded extended Kia warranty (vehicle service contract) but you should consider the following:

You will always pay more at the dealership than you will elsewhere.
One benefit is that you can add it to your finance package (however this adds hundreds or thousands of dollars to your contract)
Typically, when you purchase from the dealer you will have to service the car at the dealership you buy it from.

Many savvy consumers will choose to purchase extended protection from a reputable third-party. In most states it is called "mechanical breeakdown protection". In California it is called a mechanical breakdown insurance policy. This option has several advantages and can be a choice that offers excellent value.

You will very likely pay far less for more coverage
You can take your vehicle to any qualified mechanic repair facility

Picking The Right Company

If you've decided that mechanical breakdown protection from a reputable company is the way to go then your final decision is to pick one. But how do you decide? Here are a few criteria:

Not an Internet-only company (you should be able to walk into their office if you're local)
Their product should be underwritten by a carrier that is rated "A" or "A+"
When you contact them the sales staff should be helpful and courteous
Information should be offered freely without high-pressure or "must buy today" tactics
The ability to give you a corporate credit card to use for repairs
The ability to transfer the service contract if or when you sell the vehicle
Provides trip interruption coverage and the ability to provide loaner cars

What To Watch Out For

Given the nature of the American market, you are bound to run into a few less than legitimate extended warranty providers. Watch out for:

Too good to be true deals and note the demeanor of the provider
Out of pocket repair costs
Caps on repair costs
Numerous exclusions
Pressure
Cannot transfer the warranty, be alarmed

For additional information on determining your need for extended warranty protection please review the following pages:

Although, you will pay more, the manufacturer's extended car warranties are usually a solid choice. However, if you decide that mechanical breakdown protection is a better option for you, I recommend the folks at autoPOM! and Mercury Insurance Group.

autoPOM! backed and administered by Mercury can provide you with repair service comparable to the manufacturer's extended warranty. Not surprising, autoPOM! pricing is far less than dealer pricing and offers the flexibility of allowing you to choose the repair facility that you're most comfortable with.

autoPOM! has an A+ rating from the BBB and Mercury has a A+ rating from A.M. Best.

See 10 Reasons To Choose autoPOM! and Mercury.

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