2018 GT Stinger AWD V6 (25K miles) needs starter replaced - over 2K! (reposted from Reddit)

[Stingery]

Posted the same thing on r/StingerGt earlier, but wanted to see if this group had any similar experiences or advice:

I've been driving my Stinger for the last 5.5 years without issue except for needing new spark plugs the first year of ownership.

City driving mostly, lots of starting/stopping, short trips milage-wise.... Only have 25K miles total on the car, but still get regular maintenance/inspections and oil changes 2-3 times each year.

Well, two days ago, my car wouldn't start. I hoped it was a battery issue, but after a couple of attempts at jumping it, I had to get it towed back to the dealership for diagnosis.

Just got off the phone with the Kia tech who says the problem is with the starter and it's only covered by the 5-year warranty (not 10-year powertrain) and I'm about 6 months too late and not covered.

The part itself isn't too expensive, but Kia dealer says it will take about 10 hours of labor since the starter is located under the engine, so basically, they need to take the drivetrain apart/replace starter/put it all back together for $2,200 not including tax.

Shouldn't the starter generally last 10 years/100K miles? Anyone else out there with the same issue?

Anyone have luck with Kia Corporate paying for an out-of-warranty repair for something like this?

As for the auto start/stop "feature", I will be disabling it EVERY time I drive the car moving forward....

 

[Snicklefritz]

When the warranty is done, look for an independent mechanic. There is no way that even this difficult starter motor replacement should cost anywhere near that much labor.

Make sure that your replacement starter motor is brand new and not a rebuilt. On a road trip many years ago, I had the starter motor go out, it was OEM. The replacement lasted c. a year, obviously a crap rebuilt, foisted on a needy traveler.

And amen, turn ISG OFF always. It's the dumbest "feature" of the entire car.

 

[Stingery]

My only hesitation to using a 3rd party for the starter motor replacement is if I run into a powertrain issue in the next 4.5 years (since that is covered for 10 years/100K miles) and KIA tells me I'm not covered because they messed it up during the starter replacement or some other excuse.

 

[Snicklefritz]

How could a starter motor cause the drivetrain to fail? Once the car is running it's just a dead weight. If the starter won't start the car, the drivetrain isn't operable to get damaged.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

in order to remove the starter, you need to support the engine and remove the engine mount. I might be missing something, since I've never done it in stinger. But 10 hours seems too extreme.

 

[Stingery]

How could a starter motor cause the drivetrain to fail? Once the car is running it's just a dead weight. If the starter won't start the car, the drivetrain isn't operable to get damaged.

Just thinking of possible ways Kia could worm-out of covering me the rest of the drivetrain warranty period since parts of the drivetrain needs to be removed in order to access/replace the starter.
EDIT: at least what the dealer told me. 10 hours including re-alignment required after the work is done.

 

[Stingery]

When the warranty is done, look for an independent mechanic. There is no way that even this difficult starter motor replacement should cost anywhere near that much labor.

Make sure that your replacement starter motor is brand new and not a rebuilt. On a road trip many years ago, I had the starter motor go out, it was OEM. The replacement lasted c. a year, obviously a crap rebuilt, foisted on a needy traveler.

And amen, turn ISG (Idle Stop and Go) OFF always. It's the dumbest "feature" of the entire car.

Beating myself up over assuming "things would just work" leaving default settings alone. 1 extra button push each start could've kept my starter in working order at least another couple of years (probably 5/10 start-stops every mile for 20K of the 25K miles on the vehicle)....

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Actually just went to stinger manual and checked. ONLY engine mount has to be removed (disconnecting steering shaft before). So unless the manual is wrong, I call all this drivetrain removal and alignment after BS. 3-4 hours job max. But sometimes those book times are really crazy. So if you can't do it yourself, have an independent shop to replace it for, probably, half that price.

 

[bfglitch]

Just thinking of possible ways Kia could worm-out of covering me the rest of the drivetrain warranty period since parts of the drivetrain needs to be removed in order to access/replace the starter.
EDIT: at least what the dealer told me. 10 hours including re-alignment required after the work is done.

Even if they would try to go that route, Kia would have to prove it was the work and/or part that caused whatever part of the drivetrain to fail. At least that's the case in the US with the Magnuson Moss act

 

[Stingery]

Actually just went to stinger manual and checked. ONLY engine mount has to be removed (disconnecting steering shaft before). So unless the manual is wrong, I call all this drivetrain removal and alignment after BS. 3-4 hours job max. But sometimes those book times are really crazy. So if you can't do it yourself, have an independent shop to replace it for, probably, half that price.

Any way you could link or take a picture for me so I can bring this up to the dealer?

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Any way you could link or take a picture for me so I can bring this up to the dealer?

https://www.kstinger.com/starter-419.html

 

[Stingery]

Even if they would try to go that route, Kia would have to prove it was the work and/or part that caused whatever part of the drivetrain to fail. At least that's the case in the US with the Magnuson Moss

Thanks, I'm just a bit sour that Kia isn't stepping up to the plate to cover this repair.

 

[rk88]

Any way you could link or take a picture for me so I can bring this up to the dealer?

You should really consider taking this to another shop. Based off the link Ohiocruiser posted the dealership is either A. Ignorant on how to properly replace the part, or B. Actively looking to screw you. Neither one of those scenario's inspires confidence. I would even be very skeptical of there diagnosis.

 

[Stingery]

https://www.kstinger.com/starter-419.html

Sending this to the dealer now.

 

[Stingery]

You should really consider taking this to another shop. Based off the link Ohiocruiser posted the dealership is either A. Ignorant on how to properly replace the part, or B. Actively looking to screw you. Neither one of those scenario's inspires confidence. I would even be very skeptical of there diagnosis.

They've treated me well the last 5 years, it's just now that I'm "out of warranty" that this becomes an issue paying 2K+ for something that you'd hope would last more than 25K miles.

 

[socalvn]

Did you utilize the start and stop feature with your car? Turns off or stop light?
Wonder how much that would shortin the life
Unfortunately I would just eat the cost with Kia so they don't call you out on something later

 

[Stingery]

Did you utilize the start and stop feature with your car? Turns off or stop light?
Wonder how much that would shortin the life
Unfortunately I would just eat the cost with Kia so they don't call you out on something later

I disabled it the first 6 months of use but got lazy and left it enabled since. It's the default setting and I thought it wouldn't be a problem. In hindsight, it was stupid and I should disable it every time I start the car.

 

[Stingery]

Actually just went to stinger manual and checked. ONLY engine mount has to be removed (disconnecting steering shaft before). So unless the manual is wrong, I call all this drivetrain removal and alignment after BS. 3-4 hours job max. But sometimes those book times are really crazy. So if you can't do it yourself, have an independent shop to replace it for, probably, half that price.

Dealer took a look at what you sent (thank you!) but said this might only be for inspecting the starter vs. fully replacing it. Either way, he said they follow a different instruction set (he mentioned the name but I don't remember) and updated the 10 hours to 7-8 hours, so you might still saved me a few bucks!

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Dealer took a look at what you sent (thank you!) but said this might only be for inspecting the starter vs. fully replacing it. Either way, he said they follow a different instruction set (he mentioned the name but I don't remember) and updated the 10 hours to 7-8 hours, so you might still saved me a few bucks!

Inspect it? Wtf is that? In order to inspect it, you still need to take it out. But, if you are comfortable with new estimate, that's all that matters.

 

[Stingery]

Inspect it? Wtf is that? In order to inspect it, you still need to take it out. But, if you are comfortable with new estimate, that's all that matters.

I don't know enough to counter over the phone, most of it sounds like jibberish to me anyways "well we need to take the flim-flam out to access the triangulation cube and the lubricating nugget" so will have to settle for 2-3 fewer labor hours you saved me. Tried calling a few local mechanics and most didn't answer; the two who did had never seen a stinger in their shop and recommended I stay the course with the dealer.