So my 2024 Kia Sorento with just under a year of ownership and 10,000 miles broke down while heading to work. It showed a message about the hybrid system and shut off on the highway. Had to tow it to the local Kia dealer, but they can’t get to it until the end of February, and they won’t offer a loaner car. I called another dealership that’s about 2 hours away, and they can take it in Thursday, but Kia won’t cover the towing to that location. It’s under warranty, so why won’t they cover this? What can I do to get this fixed faster or avoid paying for the tow myself?
The roadside assistance included with your warranty only covers towing to the nearest Kia dealer. You can still tow it elsewhere, but you’d have to pay for that yourself.
Cindy said:
The roadside assistance included with your warranty only covers towing to the nearest Kia dealer. You can still tow it elsewhere, but you’d have to pay for that yourself.
Yeah, it’s about 210 miles, so I guess it’ll be a pretty expensive tow.
@Masitsa
Get a few quotes. You might find that it’s cheaper than renting a car for a month.
@Masitsa
You could also rent a U-Haul car trailer and tow it yourself.
My car insurance includes a few free tows each year. You might want to check your policy to see if they offer that. I had to use it once. The process was simple: I paid upfront for the tow, then got reimbursed a few weeks later after submitting the bill. Just ask about any limits they might have on the towing costs.
@Sage
I’ll look into that. Thanks for the tip!
@DeeMario
I didn’t know that either, but I found out when my car wouldn’t start one day.
You should reach out to Kia Customer Care for help. They might be able to speed up the diagnosis at your current dealer or make an exception for the towing costs. You can contact them at https://customercare.kiausa.com/
@DaniellaSilva
I had a terrible experience with them. It felt like they didn’t care, and the people on the phone didn’t really want to listen.
Check out your state’s lemon laws. If the dealer can’t fix it within a certain time (which they probably won’t, since Sorentos have had these issues before), you might be able to get a full refund, including taxes and fees. Kia should also cover a rental car. It’s a long process, but you could get your money back in about 6 months.
@Lenox
Also, don’t accept any cash offers they might give you just to fix the car and make you sign a non-disclosure. Stick with the buyback option, and they have to give you a full refund.
Lenox said:
@Lenox
Also, don’t accept any cash offers they might give you just to fix the car and make you sign a non-disclosure. Stick with the buyback option, and they have to give you a full refund.
Sometimes the buyout money is worth it. I once got about $6K back for a Hyundai with major issues, then traded it in for $14K after 40K miles.
Let them fix the car at the nearest dealership. Once they diagnose the problem, call Kia corporate and open a case. You can ask for a rental and get reimbursed after the car is fixed. If it’s out of service for a while, you can even request a buyback.
@lindalaureb
Do you have a contact for Kia corporate? I’m seeing only an 800 number online.
Masitsa said:
@lindalaureb
Do you have a contact for Kia corporate? I’m seeing only an 800 number online.
Just use the customer service number you found. That’ll connect you with the right people.
Had something similar happen with my 2017 Niro. The car didn’t shut off, but I got a message saying there was a problem with the hybrid system. The car lost power but kept running. Had it towed to the dealer, and it turned out to be a blown fuse in the hybrid system. Kia fixed it under warranty. They’ve redesigned the fuse now.
If I were in your situation, I’d definitely get a lawyer involved.
Kia usually won’t cover a rental until they confirm it’s a warranty issue, but they do reimburse you if you pay for it first. I’d suggest contacting Kia corporate and asking about their reimbursement process.