Complaint Review: KIA MOTORS - KOREA

My timing belt book says California models have different schedules than Federal models. Here's one for you Ford fanatics...the F-150 exhaust systems are different depending on whether it's a Canadian model or US. Want to know the difference? The placement of the O2 sensors...about 4 inches either way. Wierd.

I had no idea. I thought everyone had moved over to where all vehicles met the same standards. That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, unless the California model is timed differently, but I don't really even see that making a difference. Or, Robert, should I pull the hook out of my mouth? (Meaning, are you screwing with me?) If your manual does say that it should be inspected at 60K... That is interesting. From my standpoint, if you can prove to Kia via an invoice that the belt was inspected at that time.. You followed their recommendations and they should honor the warranty. The fact that it was not inspected by a Kia mechanic shouldn't matter. But I would say it would matter if the mechanic did not hold some automotive certification. Really, Robert... Are you just messing with me?

On California models, the Sportage is supposed to have it's timing belt inspected at 60K and 90K miles. It gets replaced at 105K miles. All other states, the belt is replaced at 60K miles. What gives? According to my NAPA program, it's the same belt number. I guess California has a diffent space/time continuum going. I would suggest replacing them at 60K in all states, since they appear to be having a problem.

Actually Jason, the warranty reccomends having the timing belt INSPECTED at 60k...not replaced. I did as they suggested and my timing belt did not show any significant signs of wear... at 67k my engine seized! Thank God I was stopped at a red light and not flying down the freeway at 75, well...65, o.k.,o.k. 55, ya ya I know it's a Kia. So lucky I wasn't doing 45 on the freeway when my engine siezed...could have been fatal. Good luck - Kia Lies

Looks like the timing belt on most Kia engines is pretty important, as it is an interference engine. Basically, that means if the timing belt snaps, engine damage will occur. Normally, that's bent valves. To get the bad joke out of the way... Didn't know a new hamster for those engines cost $3k. Anyway, back to useful information... IF your vehicle has over 60k miles on it then you are probably SOL. Kia recommends timing belt replacement at 60k miles, which is pretty short, most I have seen are 80k-100k. No matter how you look at it, if you are over 60k miles and didn't replace the timing belt and it broke and caused the damage, then you are responsible and I doubt Kia would cover the repair under warranty. If it is under 60k, then you have a legitimate claim for warranty repair, assuming the vehicle is still under warranty. (Isn't Kia the 10-year 100k miles warranty standard?)

I haven't posted my "report" yet as my attorney has advised me not to do so...I apologize for "sneaking" in this way. My 2002 Kia Rio Cinco has had a similar problem, that is, the engine siezed and Kia refuses to replace it as it was due to the "worn timing belt"/it was not a "Kia technition" who diagnosed the problem.(take your pick, they are both excuses I've been offered by Kia.). I can not say for certain that your timing belt was not worn, but, in my case that was NOT the cause of my engine siezing (although most mechanics would have made that diagnosis) I have been blessed with a honest, reasonably priced mechanic that does not beleive in "first appearances". When my engine siezed, I was less than 1/2 mile from his shop so I had the car towes there instead of the Kia dealership. I did not know what the problem was at that time and I certainly wasn't going to pay Kia's exagerated prices if it was not a warranty covered repair. Thank God I did because I otherwise would have trusted their diagnosis and would have been out $3000.00+. To make a long story short, (too late) "my" mechanic noticed that the timing belt was niether worn, nor broken; but rather a section of "teeth" had been stripped away, causing it to "slip" and the motor to sieze. He figured that this would be caused by a repetitive "jerking" action on the belt, not by improper or inadequate maintenance. It took little investigation for him to find that the... (forgive me if I do not phrase this 100% correctly - I am not a mechanic!) ...pin in the keyway was loose. He informed me that there is/was nothing that I could do or not do to create this problem - it had to be this way when it "rolled off the line". That means, you guessed it, MANUFACTURERS DEFECT! I guess (by his explanation) that every time I stepped on the gas, rather than a "smooth" exceleration, it would "chunk" itself into motion...thus the "jerk" on the timing belt, and the stripped "teeth", and the siezed motor. Covered by Warranty! (No, not covered because as you can tell when you research these pieces of "kiarap" Kia Motors refuses to cover anything that goes wrong with them as often as they can get away with it.) If you still have the old motor/timing belt, have a QUALIFIED mechanic have a look at it and see if yours to could fall into this more reasonable {and likely} explanation. Maybe Kia DOES owe you a new car to{ or at least reimbursement for the cost of repairs} Good luck - Kia Lies A fellow Kia cuss-to-me(r)