I took my Kia to the shop over a knocking sound in the engine – I was handed $11k repair bill despite extended warranty

A WOMAN bought her Kia brand new three years ago, and just finished paying it off – now she faces an $11,000 repair.

The diagnosis was made after an independent shop told her she didn’t need an oil consumption test.

Global News

Global News

Global News

Jill St. Marie, a Canadian Kia owner, bought her 2016 Forte from a dealership three years ago and loved how reliable and affordable it proved to be.

That was until she noticed how often she had to top the engine off with oil, even though it was under 100,000 miles.

“I don’t want the engine to seize,” she told Global News .

“And now I never know when it’s going to.”

After noticing her engine making knocking sounds and losing power when going uphill, she decided to take her Kia to an independent shop.

She told the mechanic she was worried about the excessive oil consumption, citing the US’s technical service bulletin (TSB) the NHTSA has on the engine in her car.

Canada has a similar repair procedure as a result of a class action lawsuit against Kia Canada by the Automobile Protection Association.

The TSB says shops should test for oil consumption by changing the oil and having the customer return after 1,000 miles.

If the oil is low after the first test, certain parts are to be replaced with updated parts said to help with consumption and another oil test should be done.

After the third test, the engine is supposed to be replaced by an authorized dealer.

However, St. Marie’s mechanic denied her claims of excessive consumption and sent her on her way.

“[The mechanic] looked at me as if I was crazy,” she recalled.

Her issues persisted, and within a short period, her car’s issues worsened before taking it to a dealership.

The dealership told her the Forte needed a new engine – a repair costing over $11,000.

St. Marie was frustrated, especially since her car was out of warranty.

I just paid this car off and all of a sudden my engine is gone. That is unacceptable.

Jill St. Marie, Kia owner

“When I was told I needed a new engine, I was horrified,” she said.

“I just paid this car off and all of a sudden my engine is gone. That is unacceptable.”

She tried contacting Kia Canada for help, but hadn’t heard back – that’s when she reached out to reporters.

George Iny with the APA says the repair is often denied or dismissed by repair shops until the vehicle is out of warranty to avoid repairing.

Warranty work by the manufacturer doesn’t pay as much as a customer repair order from the shop or dealership.

Since the repairs are extensive, the shop loses money on warranty work.

How often should you change your oil?

Experts say the exact figure depends on a variety of factors, including:

1. Age of vehicle. Older vehicles tend to need oil changes sooner than newer cars, as the engine oil used doesn’t last as long as newer oil. Plus, the clearances between moving parts tend to be wider than when the engine was new.
2. Type of oil. Synthetic oil tends to last a lot longer between changes compared to synthetic or a synthetic blend.
3. Driving conditions. People who live in dusty areas or regions with extreme weather conditions that require a lot of driving or stop-and-go traffic should change their oil sooner than normal to keep moving parts lubricated.
4. Cars that bear heavy loads, like regularly towing a trailer, as it puts strain on an engine.

Typically, older cars should have their oil changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. More modern cars can go between 5,000 to 7,500 miles between changes, especially as modern oil contains more efficient lubricants and additives. Some cars that use synthetic oil only need changes every 15,000 miles.

It’s important to read your owner’s manual to determine the exact weight and interval your car needs.

Source: AAA

“If they were using the dealer for service and went in several times, maybe flagged the issue verbally, were never offered an oil consumption test and never offered an inspection of the inside of the engine,” Iny explained.

Reporters contacted Kia Canada on St. Marie’s behalf and received a written statement shortly afterward.

“Kia Canada is currently working with the dealer to investigate the diagnosis. We are unable to provide further information at this time while we look into the matter with both the customer and the dealer. Kia Canada will be following up with Ms. St. Marie directly,” the statement read.

Not long after her story was published, she reported that Kia Canada had contacted her and replaced her engine free of charge.