Transmission just blew up.

[RogerB]

My Stinger replacement has turned into a fiasco. Tomorrow will be 90 days since my cars drive train broke free and destroyed the underneath of my car. I have made it clear to Kia that I would only accept a Micro Blue Stinger GT2 with 19 inch wheels and performance tires as a replacement. A month ago there were more than 40 such cars in the US including two approximately 370 miles from my location. Kia has refused to ship any of these cars to me. They are insisting that I take a GT2 from my dealer's lot. My case person called me today and said the blue GT2 with 18 inch wheels and all season tires was "substantially" similar to my car. He also said a black one they have was also "substantially similar to mine and that I had to choose between these two cars. I was livid. I told him after all they have put me through these last 90 days this is what they offer me. They sold me a car that could have killed or inured me or my family, refuse to communicate with me, won't reimburse me for my Suntek paint protection and window tinting and now won't send me a Micro Blue GT2 with 19 inch wheels even though two are only 370 miles away. i am so disgusted with Kia. I followed the Stinger from its launch. Read all the articles, watched all the videos. Kept my car in immaculate condition. They still will not admit that my car was defective. It would cost them $500 to $600 to ship me the Stinger I am asking for and they flat out refuse to do so. I can't believe they are doing this.

 

[HerbieTheCar]

My Stinger replacement has turned into a fiasco. Tomorrow will be 90 days since my cars drive train broke free and destroyed the underneath of my car. I have made it clear to Kia that I would only accept a Micro Blue Stinger GT2 with 19 inch wheels and performance tires as a replacement. A month ago there were more than 40 such cars in the US including two approximately 370 miles from my location. Kia has refused to ship any of these cars to me. They are insisting that I take a GT2 from my dealer's lot. My case person called me today and said the blue GT2 with 18 inch wheels and all season tires was "substantially" similar to my car. He also said a black one they have was also "substantially similar to mine and that I had to choose between these two cars. I was livid. I told him after all they have put me through these last 90 days this is what they offer me. They sold me a car that could have killed or inured me or my family, refuse to communicate with me, won't reimburse me for my Suntek paint protection and window tinting and now won't send me a Micro Blue GT2 with 19 inch wheels even though two are only 370 miles away. i am so disgusted with Kia. I followed the Stinger from its launch. Read all the articles, watched all the videos. Kept my car in immaculate condition. They still will not admit that my car was defective. It would cost them $500 to $600 to ship me the Stinger I am asking for and they flat out refuse to do so. I can't believe they are doing this.

Dude, that really sucks. Although the car is "revolutionary", their customer service is still a decade behind every other luxury car brand. My brother similarly had his 2018 Kia Optima totaled and was recompensated for the vehicle and a little more by the party at fault's insurance. Kia, instead of just taking the buyout amount from the settlement decided to take the entire amount and refused to send the extra settlement amount back to us.

Your situation sounds so shitty, but when I read it, I was like "huh, sounds like Kia"; which really sucks and kills the name of the company among Kia lovers. And it's all for their benefit, they are not looking out for you and to serve you satisfactorily. They want all of the money they get and more. I hope that you get it figured out and Kia get their head out of their asses. Because unless they revamp their service department and the way they treat their loyal customers, they are never going to get rid of the "Kia" stigmatism.

 

[turboAWD]

Dang, that's hard to hear. I'm about 4 months into a 24-month lease (due to the higher lease cash for 24 months at the time). Stuff like this makes me just want to take the extra couple of $K in interested and chalk it up to "lesson learned".. Problem is - I still don't know of any other car I'd get, other than maybe a loaded Charger Scat Pack (aka SRT). And that car is BIG.

 

[LegacyGTv2.0]

At this point, you either need to talk to a lawyer or make one last attempt at getting a car shipped.

 

[The Madhouse]

Lemon law.

 

[RogerB]

Lemon law.

Kia has agreed to replace my old Stinger under the Lemon law but they say they are under no obligation to ship me a Blue GT2 with 19 inch wheels and refuse to do so. They say I must pick a black GT2 or a Blue GT2 with 18 inch wheels that are at my dealership. The case person said that a GT2 with 18 inch wheels and all season tires is the same as a GT2 with 19 inch wheels and summer tires. I wonder what Albert Biermann would think of that statement.

 

[nhcowboy28]

Kia has agreed to replace my old Stinger under the Lemon law but they say they are under no obligation to ship me a Blue GT2 with 19 inch wheels and refuse to do so. They say I must pick a black GT2 or a Blue GT2 with 18 inch wheels that are at my dealership. The case person said that a GT2 with 18 inch wheels and all season tires is the same as a GT2 with 19 inch wheels and summer tires. I wonder what Albert Biermann would think of that statement.

Just pay the transfer. Yes it sucks. But your time is worth more than $600. Or use the lemon law to just return the car (no exchange).

 

[Kamauxx]

Did they say you can only get a car from that single dealership or that they aren't willing to ship you a car from a different dealership? If you can get a car from a different dealership maybe it'll be worth it to you to just fly out to the dealership and drive the car back. I understand none of this is your fault but one-way plane tickets are cheap and may be worth the frustration it'll save you.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Kia has agreed to replace my old Stinger under the Lemon law but they say they are under no obligation to ship me a Blue GT2 with 19 inch wheels and refuse to do so. They say I must pick a black GT2 or a Blue GT2 with 18 inch wheels that are at my dealership. The case person said that a GT2 with 18 inch wheels and all season tires is the same as a GT2 with 19 inch wheels and summer tires. I wonder what Albert Biermann would think of that statement.

I think that you are making this harder on yourself. As suggested, pay the shipping cost to get the car you want: if Kia won't bend on this, let them know your displeasure, and mention this forum too. But pay the cost and move on.

Other option (more expensive) is to use the 18" wheels for winter tires and get aftermarket for summer driving; and get a tune shop to raise your top speed to 167 MPH, i.e. turn your A/S setup into a 19" Michelin setup: as far as I know, the only differences are the wheel/tires and the speed limiter setting.

Other option (far more expensive) is pursue legal action.

 

[itguy61]

I think that you are making this harder on yourself. As suggested, pay the shipping cost to get the car you want: if Kia won't bend on this, let them know your displeasure, and mention this forum too. But pay the cost and move on.

Other option (more expensive) is to use the 18" wheels for winter tires and get aftermarket for summer driving; and get a tune shop to raise your top speed to 167 MPH, i.e. turn your A/S setup into a 19" Michelin setup: as far as I know, the only differences are the wheel/tires and the speed limiter setting.

Other option (far more expensive) is pursue legal action.

Unless you are willing to put up a big fight and deal with the stress I agree with Merlin. Pick your battles.

 

[RogerB]

All good advice. I purchased winter wheels and winter tires after I bought the car so need the new one to have 19 inch wheels.

I need to do some thinking and decide if I am OK getting another Stinger and driving a car I love but from a company I detest or demand my money back and move on but then not have the Stinger that I enjoyed so much. My heart says Singer and my mind says money and move on.

 

[WildBill]

All good advice. I purchased winter wheels and winter tires after I bought the car so need the new one to have 19 inch wheels.

I need to do some thinking and decide if I am OK getting another Stinger and driving a car I love but from a company I detest or demand my money back and move on but then not have the Stinger that I enjoyed so much. My heart says Singer and my mind says money and move on.

Your call but I say go with your heart, pay a little out of pocket if needed, enjoy the new car (with 19" wheels), and try to put your resentment in the past.

Situation sucks but the Stinger is still pretty awesome.

 

[Kamauxx]

All good advice. I purchased winter wheels and winter tires after I bought the car so need the new one to have 19 inch wheels.

I need to do some thinking and decide if I am OK getting another Stinger and driving a car I love but from a company I detest or demand my money back and move on but then not have the Stinger that I enjoyed so much. My heart says Singer and my mind says money and move on.

If it's a decision between heart and mind go with your brain. It's the smartest organ you have.

 

[SteveCo]

An unfortunate situation, but it sounds like your relationship with KIA corporate has deteriorated to the point where they are sticking to the letter of the law in saying the local replacements meet the requirement to be 'identical to, or reasonably equivalent to, the nonconforming vehicle '. I'm sure their interpretation of that could be contested, but it would probably be expensive to do so.

Do you have written or email correspondence with them where you have expressed your reasons why the replacement vehicle must have the 19 inch wheels and the UHP tires that you had previously? If so, how did they respond to that?

The Utah New Motor Vehicles Warranty Act does also state that ' A comparable new motor vehicle includes any service contracts, contract options, and factory or dealer installed options that were originally included in the sale of the nonconforming vehicle'. I'd consider the 19" wheels and tires a factory installed option - did you express that to them in your correspondence?

 

[MerlintheMad]

All good advice. I purchased winter wheels and winter tires after I bought the car so need the new one to have 19 inch wheels.

I need to do some thinking and decide if I am OK getting another Stinger and driving a car I love but from a company I detest or demand my money back and move on but then not have the Stinger that I enjoyed so much. My heart says Singer and my mind says money and move on.

So there is no way that Kia will let you pay for shipping in of the exact Micro Blue with 19" wheels that you want?

If that's positively off the table, then a local vehicle has to be it. Don't involve Kia at all after you pick your car, since they won't swap wheels with you.

I bet that you can sell your winter wheels and tires (on KSL or similar), brand new, or with only one season on them: then buy aftermarket 19" for next summer (or even the end of this good driving weather; should be okay right into December if we're lucky).

If you opt for a different color, you can pick the 19" wheels and summer tires. That's what I'd do, since I like ALL the Stinger colors and the actual color I drive is probably near the bottom of any priority list: the only important thing being that there are no paint quality issues.

If you want the 167 MPH limiter, that should be the easiest part. Kia doesn't have to know; it'll never risk your warranty.

If it's a decision between heart and mind go with your brain. It's the smartest organ you have.

What is going to rankle months/years down the road? Roger loves the car, so he ought to go with that. Kia is no worse than other manufacturers. If your enjoyment of a CAR is dependent on having a good feeling toward the manufacturer then this entire ownership thing is problematic. The car you want is what matters: service is a work around issue; that would be true anywhere, because all car manufacturers piss off customers, it's inevitable.

 

[turboAWD]

The Utah New Motor Vehicles Warranty Act does also state that ' A comparable new motor vehicle includes any service contracts, contract options, and factory or dealer installed options that were originally included in the sale of the nonconforming vehicle'. I'd consider the 19" wheels and tires a factory installed option - did you express that to them in your correspondence?

They are offering him a 19" model - just not in blue, but in black, as far as I can tell. Not sure if color / interior color is a "substantial" issue for the law..

 

[NismoDPB]

I dont understand this stupid law. Your purchase agreement has a build sheet with options that affect the price. How could they provide a car that doesnt match that build yet still expect you to pay for the higher spec build?

 

[pkarandi]

Did they say you can only get a car from that single dealership or that they aren't willing to ship you a car from a different dealership? If you can get a car from a different dealership maybe it'll be worth it to you to just fly out to the dealership and drive the car back. I understand none of this is your fault but one-way plane tickets are cheap and may be worth the frustration it'll save you.

^^ Definitely this.
If you like the car and can get over Kia being a pain in the arse and can enjoy a Stinger again... then spend a little out of pocket, and travel out to the necessary dealer and get the car you REALLY want. Your stress and frustration will melt away by the end of that weekend.

But, I don't think you answered the question as to whether Kia will agree to let you do this. If so, I say spend a little bit of your time and put this behind you. (We have PM'ed eachother about this, but for the sake of other readers, I have personally experienced a lemon law issue that took over a year to resolve - which just sucked big time)

 

[RogerB]

^^ Definitely this.
If you like the car and can get over Kia being a pain in the arse and can enjoy a Stinger again... then spend a little out of pocket, and travel out to the necessary dealer and get the car you REALLY want. Your stress and frustration will melt away by the end of that weekend.

But, I don't think you answered the question as to whether Kia will agree to let you do this. If so, I say spend a little bit of your time and put this behind you. (We have PM'ed eachother about this, but for the sake of other readers, I have personally experienced a lemon law issue that took over a year to resolve - which just sucked big time)

Early last month when the case person told me they would not ship a car to me I told him I was fine with waiting until the next Stinger that matched my old one was shipped to a dealer near me and he said OK. Then 2 days ago he called me and told me I had to choose one of two Stingers on my dealer's lot. I don't know what led to the change and him no longer being OK with me waiting for a Stinger that matched my old one. I have emailed the Western Region VP to find out why the change. I have not spoken to Kia or emailed them yet about me going to get a car at a dealer out of this region.

 

[MIGULZZ]

This may be a dumb question but did you ever give the Premium number a call? I know you have a case already but did you call the stinger premium hotline to inform them of your issue?