Anyone have tips after an engine replacement…?

I drive a 2013 Kia Optima. My engine blew out of nowhere at 130,000 miles. It’s the 2.4-liter GDI engine, and Kia has decided to cover the full engine replacement. This is all related to the known problems with these engines. They said it might take anywhere from 3-6 weeks. Has anyone else gone through this? What should I expect with a new engine? I was in a panic thinking I’d need a new car, but now I’m hoping I’ve got more life in this one. Any advice would be awesome.

I had mine replaced too. Pretty simple process, got a rental, waited for the engine to be installed, but then I had a check engine light. They replaced it again and it’s been working great ever since. It was all free, but I lost my vehicle history folder somewhere during the process.

@jonces
Glad to hear it went smoothly for you! Hoping I have the same luck.

Calvine said:
@jonces
Glad to hear it went smoothly for you! Hoping I have the same luck.

Fingers crossed for you!

Getting Kia to cover the cost is a big win, especially if you’ve got a dealership that’s tough to deal with. If they’re giving you a rental, then you should be set. Just keep a close eye on the car when you get it back. Some people run into more problems after, but I think you’ll be fine if you stay on top of it.

I had a terrible experience with my Kia dealership. You can check my older posts for the full story. Hopefully, yours goes better!

petrabrinkman said:
I had a terrible experience with my Kia dealership. You can check my older posts for the full story. Hopefully, yours goes better!

That’s rough. I actually had mine towed from one dealership to another because the first one had really bad reviews. So far, it seems like I made the right call.

2.4 L engine? That’s a lot!

You should check out www.kiaenginesettlement.com. Download the Revised Settlement Agreement from April 2021. It’s a long document, but it tells you everything Kia is required to do, including the lifetime warranty for your engine. People have been getting denied replacements even when they’ve met all the requirements. Don’t let them mess you around!

The same thing happened to my 2011 Kia Optima a couple of months ago. Got a free engine replacement, covered by the warranty. Mine blew at 76k miles. Took about two weeks to get the new engine, and the car’s been running fine since. Had a few small things to fix, but the overall process was smooth. I was out of state when it happened, but the dealership handled it really well (Cumberland Kia in Cookeville, TN). Only downside is their poor communication; it was tough to get updates and they didn’t always return calls.

Any updates on how it’s going?

Evanson said:
Any updates on how it’s going?

I somehow missed this notification, sorry about that!

Kia ended up covering the entire thing. I had the car back within two weeks, and then I submitted the rental receipts and got a refund check about 4-6 weeks later. No issues with the new engine so far. I feel lucky, since a lot of folks haven’t had the same experience. Let me know if you have more questions.

Can you help me out with how you got this done? I’ve got a 2016 Kia Optima 2.4L and my engine just locked up at 110k miles. I’m freaking out and don’t know what to do. I called my dealership and they told me it has to be towed in, and they need specific diagnostic codes. Was that what you were told? Please, any advice would help!

@fabio
They don’t actually need specific codes to cover it. If they find bearing material in the oil from the connecting rod bearings, it’s covered. I had a similar issue, and mine failed without any check engine lights after having the KSDS update.

@fabio
Yeah, that’s how it started for me too. I had mine checked out at a local shop first, but since it happened out of state, I had to bring it back and find a nearby dealership. Once they found the codes, Kia took over. The new engine took about two weeks to come in, and I submitted the rental expenses through a website they provided. I got my refund check in 4-6 weeks. I feel like I got lucky after hearing other people’s stories. Best of luck to you!

@Calvine
How’s it been running since then? How many miles have you put on it?

Arthur said:
@Calvine
How’s it been running since then? How many miles have you put on it?

It’s been running fine. They told me it has a lifetime warranty now, so if anything goes wrong, it’ll be covered. I think I’ve put about 15k miles on it since the replacement. Just sticking to regular oil changes now.

@Calvine
That’s great news! I just got word today that my engine needs a replacement too. They’re setting me up with a rental, and I’m hoping it goes smoothly. I’ve got a baby on the way, so I was really worried this would be a bigger problem. Thankfully, the previous owner kept up with all the services, and the KSDS update was done.

@Arthur
Sounds like you’re in a good spot. I was in full panic mode when mine went out, but now I’m feeling like I’ve got a lot more life left in the car. Plus, knowing the engine is under warranty makes me less nervous. Best of luck with everything, and congrats on the new baby!