2.0T Oil Leak... more than a month to fix?

[Shanky]

On my first oil change, they identified an oil leak. Apparently wasn't serious as they put some dye and let me drive it for a week. But since I returned it, in two days it'll be a month my Stinger has been at the dealership and they are unable to give me an ETA on getting it fixed. They say they are working with the technicians and it's a weird one. Got it new, car is completely stock, only about 4500 miles. I have a base Kia Soul loaner...

Anybody heard of something like this? Doesn't look like this is a widespread issue... updates as I get them...

 

[SnazZ]

The lack of an ETA could be due to engine replacements for the recall-affected other models taking priority over everything else at dealership service departments. That is what I was told several days after dropping off my Stinger a few weeks ago for a different issue.

 

[ecko04]

Have you escalated to corporate yet and received a case number?

If not, I’d go ahead and do so and be specific when speaking to the representative so they can document the exact days you called the dealership.

I’d then go ahead and start exerting pressure on the dealership, not to rush to fix your car — you don’t want anyone rushing when working on your car, but rather to put you in a nicer loaner than the hamster mobile. They may not be able to put you in another Stinger as a loaner, they should but I don’t know their policies, but they have to do better than a Soul.

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

Do they know where it's leaking from?

 

[nhcowboy28]

Insist they also cover one month car note (if a lease). You are paying for a car you cannot drive and a loaner soul < Stinger.

 

[ecko04]

Compensation for downtime is typically explicitly excluded, which would include time and loan/lease payments. I agree with the notion that you should be made whole, but I would go with a different approach.

 

[Cooshman]

Check with your states lemon law as well.. In Texas, with it being 30 days, you'd only have to complete a few more items and you'd qualify under lemon law. I've only used the LL once in my entire car owning history. I never got it lemon'd but the repairs miraculously were done quicker and no further issues.

How do I Know if My Vehicle is a Lemon?

A motor vehicle may be declared a lemon if it meets all of the following conditions:

1. The vehicle has a serious defect or abnormal condition.
2. The defect or condition is covered by a manufacturer’s written warranty.
3. The owner reports the defect or condition to the dealer or manufacturer within the warranty term.
4. The owner gives the dealer or manufacturer a reasonable number of attempts to repair the defect or condition.
5. The owner gives the manufacturer (preferably by certified mail) written notice of the defect and at least one opportunity for repair.
6. The defect or condition persists and substantially impairs the vehicle’s use or market value, or creates a serious safety hazard.
7. The owner files a timely Lemon Law complaint and pays the filing fee.

How Many Chances Does the Dealer get to fix the Vehicle?

Determining how many chances a dealer has to fix a defect is easy. Simply see if you pass either the four-times test, the serious-safety-hazard test or the 30-days test.

 

[MerlintheMad]

On my first oil change, they identified an oil leak. Apparently wasn't serious as they put some dye and let me drive it for a week. But since I returned it, in two days it'll be a month my Stinger has been at the dealership and they are unable to give me an ETA on getting it fixed. They say they are working with the technicians and it's a weird one. Got it new, car is completely stock, only about 4500 miles. I have a base Kia Soul loaner...

Anybody heard of something like this? Doesn't look like this is a widespread issue... updates as I get them...

Crappy way to have to introduce yourself. But welcome anyway!
I've not heard of an oil leak until now. So hopefully they'll resolve it working "in the dark" as it were. (Now that I say that, maybe one of the issues with @rocket23's 2.0L - which he bought as a second owner - had been an oil leak; his car had several issues that were all taken care of before he got it.)

 

[Sime]

I reckon Soul’s are nifty looking cars, I wouldn’t be upset being giving one to drive for awhile, less miles on the Stinger

 

[Shanky]

Have you escalated to corporate yet and received a case number?

If not, I’d go ahead and do so and be specific when speaking to the representative so they can document the exact days you called the dealership.

I’d then go ahead and start exerting pressure on the dealership, not to rush to fix your car — you don’t want anyone rushing when working on your car, but rather to put you in a nicer loaner than the hamster mobile. They may not be able to put you in another Stinger as a loaner, they should but I don’t know their policies, but they have to do better than a Soul.

When I dropped off the car for service, they offered some other vehicles that were possibly nicer, but they were all big vehicles and I just wanted something small- I figured it would just a few days at most, anyhow.

I had the thought I might switch to a different loaner vehicle, but I'm always thinking I'll be back in my car any minute now. But, as you mentioned, I think to complain to corporate should be next.

 

[Shanky]

Do they know where it's leaking from?

I gather from briefly talking with them, they're either waiting for a part or don't know what's going on. They had me drive the car a week after putting some dye to trace it. But don't really know details and how far along they are in the process to fix it.

 

[Shanky]

Crappy way to have to introduce yourself. But welcome anyway!
I've not heard of an oil leak until now. So hopefully they'll resolve it working "in the dark" as it were. (Now that I say that, maybe one of the issues with @rocket23's 2.0L - which he bought as a second owner - had been an oil leak; his car had several issues that were all taken care of before he got it.)

Thanks! I've been lurking the forums for a few months now!

Yeah, did a quick search and didn't see anything significant about oil leaks being a widespread problem. But it would be interesting if the issue is more on the 2.0L side

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

I gather from briefly talking with them, they're either waiting for a part or don't know what's going on. They had me drive the car a week after putting some dye to trace it. But don't really know details and how far along they are in the process to fix it.

Gotcha. I had an oil leak on my GT2, and it turned out to be a bad one. Was only out of service a little over a week though.

Edit: For the oil leak.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Gotcha. I had an oil leak on my GT2, and it turned out to be a bad one. Was only out of service a little over a week though.

Well?? What was the cause of the "bad" oil leak? Pregnant pauses drive me wild/mad......

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

Well?? What was the cause of the "bad" oil leak? Pregnant pauses drive me wild/mad......

3.3TT - Oil Leak

 

[MerlintheMad]

3.3TT - Oil Leak

Oh! Good heavens yes! I remember that now. (Short memory for disturbing stories, that's my excuse.) The oil leak was subsumed in the subsequent "adventures" that you listed. I hope, hope, hope that you are free and clear of these "incidents" now?

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

Oh everything is great now... I just went over 11000 miles on this beast.

 

[Gleis25]

Have you escalated to corporate yet and received a case number?

If not, I’d go ahead and do so and be specific when speaking to the representative so they can document the exact days you called the dealership.

I’d then go ahead and start exerting pressure on the dealership, not to rush to fix your car — you don’t want anyone rushing when working on your car, but rather to put you in a nicer loaner than the hamster mobile. They may not be able to put you in another Stinger as a loaner, they should but I don’t know their policies, but they have to do better than a Soul.

Why do so many people think we are entitled to a Stinger as a loaner car, or anything really nice for that matter? It’s a loaner car. I’d be happy they provided me with one at all. I had warranty work on a new 370z and Nissan refused to give me one. I was told it was a courtesy, not a requirement. After going back and forth and footing the bill for the rental for a week, they agreed to cover half the cost of the rental. Cars break. It sucks, but that’s why warranties exist.

 

[ecko04]

Why do so many people think we are entitled to a Stinger as a loaner car, or anything really nice for that matter? It’s a loaner car. I’d be happy they provided me with one at all. I had warranty work on a new 370z and Nissan refused to give me one. I was told it was a courtesy, not a requirement. After going back and forth and footing the bill for the rental for a week, they agreed to cover half the cost of the rental. Cars break. It sucks, but that’s why warranties exist.

Why are you quoting me? I stated what you said.

Also, depending on the purchasing dealership some have policies that guarantee a loaner for service expected to take longer than a few hours. When you purchase a “luxury” car, the experience doesn’t stop with the initial purchase.

The OP ahead been out of his car for a month. Any reasonable person can see the issue with that.

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

The Stinger is not a luxury car.