Originally Posted by Brigadier
Originally Posted by dave1251
I do not know what fantasy world where the required maintenance is performed and warranty is denied but do not let anyone else in there.
Wow, do you live under a rock or something?
https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/3zjhe6/kia_dealership_refusing_to_honor_warranty/
https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/5vl8k4/kia_is_denying_warranty_trying_to_charge_6700/
https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/6b5zp3/2015_kia_optima_30k_miles_engine_failure_warranty/
These reddit threads don't prove anything about Hyundai/Kia trying to weasel out of a reasonable warranty claim.
Thread 1: Customer is claiming to have an oil change every 3k miles, yet is only able to produce "some" of the receipts.
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I tracked down some previous maintenance records which I then provided them and were told that they would be turned into the Kia warranty department for review.
The dealership also claims to have found sludge in the engine (not terribly surprising if the individual only changed the oil as often they have receipts to prove). The easiest course of action would be to ask the dealership to provide those pictures, but they never asked. I wouldn't either, if I knew I didn't change my oil as often as I should've.
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After hearing no response for yet another two weeks, we then called back and were told that it wasn't going to be covered under warranty, despite having provided the proper maintenance records, due to sludge build up in the engine.
Thread 2: Customer's engine seized up shortly after a DIY oil change with Amsoil. Claims to not have every receipt at first, and is only able to produce enough receipts to prove roughly 7500 mile OCIs.
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1st excuse to deny warranty: lack of maintentance receipts. Apparently they don't understand that a lack of receipts does not mean a lack of maintenance. So I was able to scrounge up a few and send them to the service manager at the dealership.
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I have been able to find three more oil receipts, bringing the total to five. The change interval is 7500 miles.
While this may be a bit ticky-tack, the recommended interval is not 7500 miles, but 3750 miles if the consumer falls under the severe service category which most people do.
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3rd excuse: use of non-oem fluids and filter. I use amsoil 5w20, receipts verify this.
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The filter is purolator one, rated for 10k miles, same spring relief pressure as oem, high density synthetic blend material, and is made by MANN who makes the oem filter!
The individual doesn't mention what part of the Amsoil line-up they use, but considering the majority of Amsoil sold is the Signature Series line, this doesn't hold the required certifications as requested in the Owners Manual. They also use an aftermarket oil filter, Purolator, that many cut-and-posts on here would show isn't necessarily are the most reliable/durable oil filters. Was this caused by the oil and/or filter? Probably not, no. However, that does open the door for questions and potentially not honoring a warranty.
Thread 3: Customer drives car until engine oil light comes on. Upon checking, finds oil level so low as to not read on the dipstick. Drives the car again to a Shell station to top-off, after which the engine beings knocking.
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Seemingly out of nowhere the oil light came on. Checked oil and found it to be completely empty. I took the car to a local Shell quick change shop and they added oil. Almost immediately afterwards the engine started producing a a knocking noise.
This person claims to have always kept up with oil changes, however they do not have any receipts for oil changes with the only evidence of previous changes being the sticker in their window from 4k miles ago.
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Ihave always kept up with oil maintenance and the most recent change sticker is still in the windshield from approx 4k miles back.
Maybe unsurprising, warranty work is denied after finding sludge in the engine.
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After apparently finding sludge in the engine, warranty was REJECTED by Kia corporate office.
We can assume this person isn't very particular about car maintenance, as the level dropped to the point the light came on without them ever checking level. I won't necessarily hold this against them as there have been instances where the oil level drops rather precipitously, however it goes beyond that. They drove it after finding the engine dangerously low on fluid, and then again to the dealership after the engine was struggling to even operate, according to their account.
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The engine got progressively worse by the second and barely made it, engine light finally coming on within 10miles of the final destination.
Of all of these instances you posted, the most questionable warranty denial is the instance laid out in thread #2. Having enough receipts to prove 7500 mile OCIs might be enough to get warranty coverage, but when you couple that with potentially using a non-certified oil and an aftermarket filter with a history of failure, you can see why Kia might try to avoid warranty work.
I stand by my post (see below), and support Dave here, that I have yet to see Hyundai/Kia deny a warranty claim where the owner performed maintenance within the requirements of the Owner's Manual. Is Hyundai/Kia perfect when it comes to warranty work? No, not at all. No brand is. However, I think they get a bad reputation on here and elsewhere for stuff that's actually pretty reasonable.
Originally Posted by JustN89
Hopefully this will put some of the "Hyundai/Kia are notorious for weaseling out of warranty work" comments that are posted on here.
I don't think she deserved what she got, but hopefully she will learn from this and take better care of that car.