Kia Reliability Guide (2024) (2024)

Motor1 Reviews Team Take:

• Kia ranks near the top in J.D. Power’s initial quality and reliability studies.
• RepairPal ranks Kia third out of 32 auto brands in terms of reliability.
• According to RepairPal, the average annual repair cost across all Kia models is $474, which is well below the industry average of $652.

In the early 2000s,Kia had a reputation for manufacturing cheap, lackluster vehicles. Since then, Kia reliability has dramatically improved, and today, it is regarded among the most reliable brands and a good option for drivers looking for a low-maintenance vehicle.

This overview will cover Kia reliability details like average annual repair costs and common breakdowns. We’ll also provide advice about extended warranty coverage to keep your Kia in top shape for as long as you plan to own it.

Our review team has examined thebest extended car warranty providers, and we’ll introduce you to our two top recommendations at the end of this article.

The short answer is yes, Kia reliability is above average. While Kia earned a poor reputation when it entered the United States market nearly 20 years ago, much has changed. Today, the brand has an overall RepairPal reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 and ranks third out of 32 car brands surveyed.

RepairPal determines reliability scores by looking at driver-reported data about brands’ average annual repair costs, the frequency of unexpected repairs, and the severity of needed repairs. Vehicles that earn a high RepairPal reliability rating, like Kias, are not likely to have many mechanical issues.

Kia guarantees its cars’ reliability with one of thebest new car warrantiesin the industry. While most car manufacturers offer a three-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year powertrain warranty, Kia beats these numbers by a wide margin. TheKia warrantyincludes a five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and a ten-year powertrain warranty.

You can expect your Kia to run well for at least a decade if you keep it properly maintained. Most significant issues will likely be covered under warranty.

Kia Factory Warranty

Kia has one of the best factory warranties in the business. New vehicles from Kia come with:

• 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
• 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty
• 5-year/100,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty
• 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan

Kia In J.D. Power Studies

Kia performed well in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study^℠, ranking third out of 31 auto brands when considering the number of issues after three years of ownership. Across the study, the average number of problems per 100 vehicles was 186. Kia came in well below that with 152.

In the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Initial Quality Study^℠, Kia had several category winners. The Rio was the highest-ranked small car, while the Stinger was the highest-ranked midsize premium car. The Kia Forte won the compact car category, while the Carnival had the highest ranking among minivans.

Based on our data, the Kia Rio is the most reliable model and requires the least repair costs. The Kia brand is reliable, but only some models are identical. The chart below shows the average annual repair cost for several Kia models, according to RepairPal. For comparison, the average repair cost across all car makes and models are $652 per year.

Except for the Kia K900, each model mentioned above has an estimated annual repair cost below the industry average, sometimes by hundreds of dollars. No matter what car you purchase, you should budget for maintenance expenses, and with Kia, you can expect these expenses to be relatively low.

You may notice the Kia Telluride is missing from the list above. This is because the new model needs more automotive repair data.

Most of the repairs above are covered by the Kia warranty. However, if your factory warranty has expired, you’ll need to pay these costs yourself. You should consider an extended auto warranty if you aren’t comfortable paying for such repairs out of pocket. AKia extended warrantyor a plan from an independent warranty provider can help you finance repairs over time and give you added peace of mind on the road.

In December 2023, our research team launched a consumer survey to better understand satisfaction with manufacturer extended warranties. A staggering 94 percent of drivers reported that they were satisfied with Kia extended warranty coverage.

One driver with Kia Stinger that was new when he purchased coverage reported being pleased with his plan.

“The extended warranty is fantastic and really meets all expectations I had for [a] warranty when I did pick it up,” he said. “Recently I did get into a small accident where the other driver was in the wrong. I survived and went ahead and filed a claim.”

The best way to keep your Kia running smoothly is to keep up with the factory-recommended maintenance schedule and to address issues as soon as they arise. The Kia warranty with new and certified pre-owned vehicles should cover any defects in materials or quality, but these coverages will eventually expire.

An extended warranty helps cover the cost of unexpected repairs should your vehicle break down after your initial warranty period ends. While you can purchase a Kia extended warranty from the manufacturer, you can also find extended warranty coverage with third-party providers.

Best Extended Warranty Companies For Kia

Independent extended warranty companies typically offer more choices for coverage, coverage for older vehicles, a wider network of repair shops, and more extensive benefits. Two providers we recommend are Endurance and CarShield. Both performed well in our industry-wide study and among the most popular warranty companies with consumers we polled.

Our team performed secret shopping with more than 40 third-party extended warranty companies and found average monthly rates to be between $120 and $135 across the market’s most popular makes and models. The total price of an extended warranty depends on many factors but averages around $3,000, according to our research.

Endurance

Endurance can provide extended warranty coverage for up to 8 years or 200,000+ miles. Endurance also has some of the most comprehensive contracts on the market. There are six coverage levels to choose from, which range from simple powertrain coverage to full bumper-to-bumper warrantyprotection.

Read ourEndurance warranty reviewto learn more, and get a free, personalized quote from the provider below.

CarShield

CarShield also offers extended warranty coverage for vehicles up to 300,000 miles, which can double the coverage offered by the Kia factory warranty. In addition to having a strong industry reputation and offering a good selection of coverage options, CarShield has some of the best-priced contracts in the industry.

You can learn more in our fullCarShield review, and click below to receive a free, no-obligation CarShield quote.