The Kia Stinger is a perfect mid-size car for people searching for a luxurious and high-performance sedan at an affordable price. While the Kia Stinger has lots of good attributes, it also has lots of issues to deal with. But what are the common problems with the Kia Stinger?
Common problems with the Kia Stinger are braking issues, unpleasant odors, structural problems, fuel pump problems, bad fuel efficiency, and electrical problems. Despite Kia Stinger having many issues, it is still a reliable car. With timely maintenance and repairs, this car can last long.
What are the common problems with Kia Stinger?
Bad odors
The first issue that you may notice about the Kia Stinger is an unpleasant smell. This can be in form of smelling gas or a burning smell. Some of the things that can cause you to smell gas are a faulty or bad seal on the gas cap. As a result, the fuel vapor may escape leaving a smell of gas in your cabin.
Additionally, if you overfill the gas tank, you may smell the gas as well. In some cases, this smell may be caused by a bad fuel regulator or a fuel leakage in the fuel lines. On the contrary, a burning smell can be caused by fluid leakage, a bad alternator, a leak in the exhaust manifold, a bad blower motor, and a bad serpentine belt.
To fix the bad odors, you will have to fix the underlying issue first. So, visit the mechanic to do a checkup and pinpoint the issue.
Braking issues
Another common problem that Kia Stinger users have complained about is braking issues. One of the braking issues reported is that there tends to be noise while the driver turns the wheels. The second complaint is that the brakes tend to wear out faster. However, this issue is more rampant on the Kia Stinger GT.
If your car’s pedal is rattling and you feel a vibration when you hit the brakes, this is an indication that the brakes have worn out. Note that this issue usually takes place when the Kia Stinger reaches 24,000 miles.
Bad fuel efficiency
The Kia Stinger is not very efficient. With an EPA rating of 17 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and a combined 20 mpg, this is similar to most of its competitors. Nonetheless, if you want your Kia Stinger to be more efficient, you should maintain moderate speed, use cruise control where necessary, ensure the tires have the right pressure and avoid weighing your car down.
Fuel pump problems
Aside from having bad fuel efficiency, the Kia Stinger has had some recalls because of fuel pump issues. The fuel pump nozzle may block leading to insufficient fuel supply to the engine. As a result, this leads to a loss of drive power, thus increasing the danger of an accident. This is common on the 2020 Kia Stinger models. Nonetheless, Kia recalled the affected models.
Structural problems
Many Kia users have reported several structural issues. Most of them have reported hearing squeaking and rattling noises while they drive. Besides, most of the rattling noises have come from the sunroof and side door. Another common structural problem is the paint chipping from the car from the day you buy it. Most of the structural problems can only be fixed by Kia.
While Kia Stinger has several structural issues, it only recalled one problem. Kia recalled the 2017 to 2018 Kia Stinger models that had a rough edge in the left fender body panel. This section could damage the insulation of the front wiring harness based on the engine and passenger compartments.
The faulty rough edge could make the car to have a short circuit, which increases the danger of a fire.
Electrical problems
Kia Stinger models made between 2018 and 2019 had several electrical issues. Nevertheless, Kia recalled models with the damaged front wiring harness that could lead to short circuits and cause a fire. The electrical circuit within the hydraulic electronic control unit experienced a short circuit condition.
FAQ
Is the Kia Stinger a reliable car?
Even though the Kia Stinger is not the most reliable mid-size car on the market, it is still very reliable. This is because J.D. Power, which is one of the top reliability agencies in the market has given it a score of 81 out of 100, which is considered to be great.
Is it expensive to maintain the Kia Stinger?
Maintaining the Kia Stinger is much cheaper than most of its rivals. This is because it will cost you about $500 to maintain this car on an annual basis. On the other hand, most mainstream cars cost around $652 to maintain annually. In 10 years, you may have to spend around $6,281 to maintain and repair the car.
How long does the Kia Stinger last?
The Kia Stinger can last as long as 200,000 miles or even more. However, to reach this potential, proper care and maintenance are needed. Furthermore, the maintenance should be done on time. On top of that, good driving habits should be practiced to ensure it last long.
Who makes Kia Stinger engine?
Unfortunately, Kia does not design most of its engines. On the contrary, it’s the sister company, Hyundai that designs and manufactures them. Hyundai makes the Kia Stinger engine, which is a 2.0-liter Theta II, a 2.5-liter Smartstream FR, and a 3.3-liter Lambda II petrol engine.
Does the Kia Stinger have engine problems?
Yes, the Kia Stinger engine compartment fire issue is a major engine problem. The manufacturer says the ABS unit defects are the main cause of the fire. Nonetheless, the Kia Stinger also registers other engine problems, such as a failing oil pump, blocked engine radiators, and engine overheating. Most of these engine issues are registered as the car gets older.
Bottom line
Kia Stinger is one of the best mid-size cars on the market. It is sleek, luxurious, high-performance, spacious, practical, and affordable. However, it has several issues that users should know about. Besides, it is not fuel-efficient like most of its siblings.
To ensure that your Kia Stinger clocks over 200,000 miles, proper and timely maintenance and repair are required. All in all, this is one of the best sedans as it offers top-end features at an affordable price. The ride quality is also great.
