A woman bought her Kia brand new three years ago and just finished paying it off – now she’s facing an $11,000 repair.
The diagnosis was made after an independent store told her she did not need oil Consumption test.
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Jill St. Marie, a Canadian Kia owner, bought her 2016 Forte from a dealer three years ago and was impressed with its reliability and affordable price.
Until she noticed how often she had to top up the oil, even though the engine had less than 160,000 kilometers on the clock.
“I don’t want the engine to seize up,” she told Global News.
“And now I never know when it will happen.”
When she noticed that her engine was making knocking noises and losing power when driving uphill, she decided to take her Kia to an independent repair shop.
She told the mechanic she was concerned about excessive oil consumption and referred to the NHTSA technical service bulletin (TSB) for her car’s engine.
In Canada, a similar repair process exists due to a class action lawsuit filed by the Automobile Protection Association against Kia Canada.
According to TSB, garages should check oil consumption by changing the oil and having the customer return after 1,000 miles.
If the oil level is low after the first test, certain parts must be replaced with newer parts that claim to reduce oil consumption and another oil test must be performed.
After the third inspection, the engine should be replaced by an authorized dealer.
However, the St. Marie mechanic disputed her claim that the consumption was too high and sent her home.
“(The mechanic) looked at me like I was crazy,” she recalls.
Her problems persisted and within a short period of time the problems with her car worsened before she took it to a dealer.
The dealership told her the Forte needed a new engine – a repair that would cost over $11,000.
St. Marie was frustrated, especially because her car’s warranty had expired.
I just paid off this car and suddenly my engine died. This is unacceptable.
Jill St. Marie, Kia owner
“When I was told I needed a new engine, I was horrified,” she said.
“I just paid off this car and suddenly my engine is broken. That’s unacceptable.”
She tried to contact Kia Canada for help but received no response, so she turned to reporters.
George Iny of the APA says repair shops often refuse or deny repairs until the vehicle’s warranty has expired to avoid having to repair it.
Warranty work at the manufacturer is less worthwhile than a customer ordering repairs from a workshop or dealer.
Since these are extensive repairs, the workshop loses money through warranty work.
How often should you change your oil?
According to experts, the exact number depends on a number of factors, including:
- Age of the vehicle. Older vehicles usually require an oil change sooner than newer vehicles because the engine oil they use does not last as long as new oil. In addition, the gaps between moving parts are usually larger than in a new engine.
- Oil type. Synthetic oil tends to last much longer between oil changes compared to synthetic oil or a synthetic blend.
- 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 maintain lubrication of moving parts.
- Cars that transport heavy loads, such as regularly towing a trailer, place strain on the engine.
Older vehicles typically need their oil changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. More modern vehicles can go between 5,000 and 7,500 miles between oil changes, especially because modern oil contains more efficient lubricants and additives. Some vehicles that use synthetic oil may only need an oil change every 15,000 miles.
It is important that you read your owner’s manual to determine the exact weight and interval your car requires.
Source: AAA
“If they used the dealer for service and came in multiple times, maybe they mentioned the problem verbally, they were never offered an oil consumption test, they were never offered an internal engine inspection,” Iny explained.
Reporters contacted Kia Canada on behalf of St. Marie and received a written statement shortly thereafter.
“Kia Canada is currently working with the dealer to investigate the diagnosis. We are unable to provide any further information at this time while we review the matter with both the customer and the dealer. Kia Canada will be in touch with Ms. St. Marie directly,” the statement said.
Shortly after publishing her story, she reported that Kia Canada contacted her and replaced her engine free of charge.
