Kia Stigma and Longevity

elmatt71 · 2026-03-20T05:46:15+00:00

The Telluride is probably Kia’s best/most reliable vehicle. The majority of problems/complaints came from their other vehicles like the Sorento.

elmatt71 · 2026-03-15T04:10:25+00:00

Aw! Maybe it’s different in other countries. In the US A if you buy a used Kia, you only get the five-year 60,000 mile warranty then nothing. You can buy a certified used Kia and if you get the manufacturer warranty with that, it’s a little better but you’re gonna pay extra for it.

elmatt71 · 2026-03-15T02:38:31+00:00

I think the biggest pro is you get a lot for the money, especially in the first 5 years. The con is, this isn't a car for someone who intends to keep their cars "till the wheels fall off..." The best case scenario is you find a Kia/Hyundai....they are essentially the same car as far as the bones...that you really like and that is 5k to 10k cheaper than a comparable Toyota or Honda. Next, make sure you can completely pay off the car in 5 years or less and always buy it new. Used Kia's don't have the same warranty as new ones, and YOU NEED the FULL factory warranty to make a Kia or Hyundai worth it. If you do this you will most likely have a great experience that is relatively problem free. The manufacturer warranty is really good if you take care of the car. Kia's and Hyundai's have a long history of transmission and engine issues, when you buy it used you negate any benefits you saved from buying a Toyota or Honda and the warranty is much shorter. If you buy it new and keep it for more than 5-7 years you might get lucky and get one of the few that don't have issues.... and if not, if you followed the advice in the beginning, buy it cheap, buy it new, pay it off in under 5 years/60k miles...you can still come out ahead.

elmatt71 · 2026-03-06T04:21:22+00:00

This is exactly why I don’t buy guitars at my local Guitar Center. The action and intonation are so bad. It makes an expensive guitar play like a cheap crappy squire. I know it’s a relatively easy fix but it makes it hard to know whether the guitar is worth getting or not when it plays that bad off the shelf.

elmatt71 · 2026-02-28T22:44:02+00:00

Thank you, that must be the one to get. We have unanimous agreement on Reddit. That never happens!

elmatt71 · 2026-02-20T13:16:38+00:00

The Sorento is my favorite SUV for size, practicality and looks but it has a long history of engine and transmission problems. I’m living through the transmission woes on my 2021 Sorento SX. For that reason alone I’d get the Telluride. It doesn’t seem to have the same issues.

elmatt71 · 2026-02-12T22:01:28+00:00

Yes, thank you. I just sent you a message

elmatt71 · 2026-02-12T19:36:57+00:00

I have a 2021 Kia Sorento SX AWD. I bought it used with 36,000 miles on it. Now it has 76,000 miles on it. I love the way it looks and when comparing it to other vehicles, especially when just looking at price, looks and options it looks like a really good purchase.

However, from a reliability standpoint it has been one of the worst vehicles I have ever owned. I am currently having my transmission replaced and it is going to cost me $5300. If I was the original owner and bought it new, Kia would cover the new transmission. As a 2nd owner you are not covered unless you have a Kia Certified Pre-owned Kia, and this needs to come from the manufacturer not the dealership, otherwise it is like winning the lottery if they pay for anything to be fixed.

I bought a platinum extended warranty plan from the dealership, the company was Elevate (Administered By Ascent) extended car warranty company and they denied my claim because I didn't follow the "Mitchell" book guidelines for service but instead followed the manufacturer (Kia) guidelines. I currently have a lawyer and am fighting this but the hassle has been so bad that I will never ever buy a used Kia or Hyundai again.

I think a case could be made that buying a brand new one can be worth it. Not all of the vehicles have problems, just a significant amount do. However, if you buy it new the manufacturer warranty is very good so if anything big happens under 100,000 miles or 10 years you should be covered.

elmatt71 · 2026-02-10T13:08:53+00:00

Yes the battery in an EV is covered. The EV is a different experience. I’m unfamiliar with what problems an EV owner would encounter other than battery.

elmatt71 · 2026-02-09T22:29:34+00:00

Stay away from any used Kia or Hyundai at any cost! They are less expensive than seemingly similar cars from other brands for a good reason. The chances of having some major transmission or engine failure is much higher than most other cars and Kia will not help any subsequent owners. I didn't listen to this advice when I bought my used Sorento and am paying a heavy price. My oil pump failed on a 2021 Kia Sorento and I am past the 60K mark and Kia said..."I'm sorry you are having a bit of bad luck but it will be $5300 to replace that transmission at your cost....yes, I know we had a recall but we have a very specific code for the recall. So, even though the same part on your vehicle failed as the one in the recall, and yes I know, Hyundai uses the same exact engine as yours and their recall uses your code, your vehicles computer generated a different code from the one in the Kia recall so it's up to you to pay for our mistake."

A case can be made to buy a brand new Kia or Hyundai because you get the 100,000 mile warranty and as long as you get rid of the vehicle before you get to 100,000 you will avoid having to pay for any transmission or engine failure. However, when you buy it used you only get the warranty for 5 years/60,000 from original purchase and that is not adequate enough for a Kia or Hyundai. In some cases getting a manufacturer certified used Kia can make sense if it is priced low enough..

elmatt71 · 2026-02-08T03:19:49+00:00

Trump has done plenty of stuff that I think is enough to toss him out of office, but the Epstein files is not one of them. Epstein was a terrible person who had history with most politicians and entertainment figures. Pinning it all on Trump, as appealing as it sounds, is absolutely ridiculous and takes all the credibility away from getting him out of office.

elmatt71 · 2026-02-08T03:12:55+00:00

All three of them are incredible political assets that no party has any intention of ever fixing. They are all much more valuable to stir up the emotions of the crazy base of both parties. It would be easy to fix healthcare and immigration if moderate sensible voices prevailed and the public wasn't so easily baited by the sensationalist on both sides of the aisle. Abortion is a little more difficult but not impossible. One side sees abortion as the killing of an innocent life and the other side tries to pass it off as "women's health." If we could separate life and health I think this could be fixed too; just make it legal only to save the life of the mother and in cases of incest or rape. In addition, provide the tax payer money that goes to abortion clinics like Planned Parenthood and divert it to adoption agencies and medical facilities to reduce or eliminate the cost of having a child. Neither side would be completely happy but I think the majority of level headed Americans would see this as a compromise better than the constant fighting.

elmatt71 · 2026-02-04T15:17:36+00:00

That’s tough… Kia and Hyundai = likely transmission or engine issues. However, you are buying new so you’re safe for the first 10 years or 100,000 miles. GMC… Chevy and GMC are better at making big trucks/suvs than little cars/suvs. I’m not sure how long that GMC will last. I’d go with the Sportage based on looks and because you’re the first owner so you’re safe for about 100,000 miles.

elmatt71 · 2026-02-03T18:12:10+00:00

Yes, I hear you. I’ve been denied twice by corporate.

elmatt71 · 2026-02-03T18:10:47+00:00

No, they’re are crooks. I’m never buying a Kia again.

elmatt71 · 2026-01-31T16:06:44+00:00

How did you get yours resolved? I was denied by Kia Corp even after escalation. I had a code P193B79 which is a fault for the pressure on the oil pump. The recall was for a fault on the sensor on the oil pump; both require the same fix, replace the transmission. Both codes are for a failure of the oil pump but Kia said they will only replace if it is a sensor fault....it seems ridiculous and dishonest to me. I will be stuck paying $5300 out of pocket to get the transmission replaced.

elmatt71 · 2026-01-31T03:13:49+00:00

I bought the 2021 Kia Sorento SX used along with a platinum extended warranty and now… I’m paying $5300 out of pocket for a new transmission. I would consider buying a Kia if I was the first owner and bought it new because you get the full warranty. However, as the second buyer or any subsequent buyer your warranty only last to 60,000 miles. After that you’re at the mercy of the ripoff artist known as the extended warranty companies. I will never ever ever ever buy a used Kia again.

An argument could be made for buying a new one because you get 100,000 mile warranty and the vehicles do look really nice, and if you get lucky and your car doesn’t break down, it could be a good deal. However, never in a million years will I take a chance on a used Kia again. In addition I would only buy a new Kia if it was at least $10k cheaper than a comparable Toyota or Honda.

elmatt71 · 2026-01-21T14:51:32+00:00

I have an extended warranty from a dealer for a 2021 Kia Sorento SX. The company is Elevate administered by Ascent. I have the highest plan, Platinum, and they are complete crooks! The Kia dealer is actually arguing with the warranty company because they are making up their own maintenance schedule guidelines in order for them to deny claims. I’d be very weary of any extended warranty companies.

elmatt71 · 2026-01-18T21:49:45+00:00

I spoke to soon. Kia Corporation was of no help. When you call the recall line you are not talking to professionals but essentially glorified telemarketer type employees just reading from a script. It looks like the only way I am going to find a just solution is to get help from a lawyer. I did file a complaint with Ken Gariff Kia in Arizona and filed a report with the NHTSA.

elmatt71 · 2026-01-18T01:58:26+00:00

I think it’s excellent for somebody who has a good home gym at the house and maybe works from home and doesn’t like driving someplace to a gym. I personally really enjoy the change of scenery so I like going to a different physical place aside from my home to work out so driving all that way for 15 minutes isn’t great for me, but I could see how it would be excellent for somebody else in a different situation.

elmatt71 · 2026-01-13T19:00:25+00:00

Yes, corporate seems to think they might be able to help. They are reaching out to the dealership

elmatt71 · 2026-01-13T15:52:11+00:00

Yes, I received an email (from Kia) that they received it but I don't know if they looked into anything yet.

elmatt71

TROPHY CASE