Is Kia’s Extended Warranty Worth Buying? | Autance

What IS Included

Kia owners can purchase up to 120,000 miles of coverage depending on the age and mileage of the vehicle. Dubbed the Kia Distinction Vehicle Protection Plan, the Kia warranty kicks in on the vehicle purchase date and is split into five coverage levels: Powertrain, Silver, Gold, Gold Plus, and Platinum.

The least comprehensive level of coverage is Powertrain, which covers mechanical breakdowns related to the engine, transmission, and drive axle. It also covers additional hybrid/plug-in electrical compressed natural gas components.

Next is Silver protection, which offers the same protection as Powertrain as well as coverage for steering, electrical, brakes, air conditioning, front suspension, and additional hybrid components. 

The Gold level encompasses both Powertrain and Silver protection as well as front suspension and additional electrical components. Gold Plus kicks it up a notch by covering the aforementioned components as well as the rear suspension, cooling components, fuel lines, injectors, and related components.

Platinum is the top level, and according to the automaker provides “ultimate peace of mind” protection by covering many of the vehicle’s assemblies.

Each of the five protection plans is transferable to a subsequent owner, and the cost of the plan can be included in a vehicle’s financing. Warrantable repairs are carried out at Kia dealerships or 6,000 other authorized service centers and licensed repair facilities in the United States and Canada.

When a warrantable repair is carried out, Kia will replace necessary fluids, oils, greases, lubricants, and approved air conditioner gases.

Added Perks

The five different protection plans come with towing coverage up to $75 per covered mechanical breakdown. And if you require transportation while your vehicle is being serviced, the automaker provides rental car reimbursement up to $35 per day for a maximum of 10 days. 

Also included is travel coverage that reimburses owners up to $100 per day (at a maximum of $500), for food and lodging should a vehicle break down more than 100 miles from home.

What’s NOT Included

The Platinum level of protection is exclusionary, meaning it covers everything except what is listed in the exclusions section of the warranty. This includes items such as the following: brake linings, brake drums and rotors, disc brake pads, air bags, glass, lenses, trim, tires, light bulbs, upholstery, paint, filters, exhaust system, catalytic converter, and shock absorbers.

While Kia’s extended warranty is fairly comprehensive, depending on which plan you select, it does not pay or reimburse for issues related to lack of maintenance, environmental damage, improper towing, or breakdowns due to vehicle misuse/abuse/negligence.

In addition, Kia will not pay for burnt valves, worn or carbon-fouled piston rings, or the adjustment of oil consumption.

The Good

One of the things we like about Kia’s extended warranty is the ability to choose from one of five levels of protection. The Platinum plan in particular is (mostly) comprehensive with just a few exclusions. In addition, the warranty’s transferability can increase a vehicle’s resale value.

Another benefit is that repairs are carried out at a Kia dealer, authorized facility, or licensed repair facility. This gives you a lot of options and ensures that your new vehicle is being repaired by qualified service technicians. 

The extended warranty also includes towing assistance, rental car expenses, and trip interruption benefits, which are particularly helpful if you’re a frequent traveler.

The Bad

While the Kia Distinction Vehicle Protection Plan provides a myriad of options when it comes to the type of protection you prefer, it’s not exhaustive. Even the most comprehensive plan, Platinum, excludes several items in its car warranty. The more you pay, the more coverage you receive, but you’re still not 100 percent protected.

In addition, Kia will not pay for repairs or problems related to improper towing, environmental conditions, improper maintenance, or breakdowns due to vehicle abuse or negligence.

Finally, Kia provides minimal roadside assistance through its extended warranty compared to some of its competitors, which often include help with problems such as dead batteries, fuel delivery, and flat tires. However, Kia’s basic warranty provides emergency roadside assistance for up to five years/60,000 miles. 

Takeaway Value

Before we discuss the value of Kia’s extended warranty, it’s worth noting that the automaker’s basic warranty is quite robust on its own, and it’s known for its 100,000-mile warranty program.

Specifically, the manufacturer provides five year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper protection and 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain protection on a new Kia vehicle. 

As such, an extended warranty from Kia is less valuable than one from a competing manufacturer such as Ford, which has a much shorter limited basic warranty (three year/36,000 mile bumper to bumper coverage and five year/60,000 mile powertrain coverage). 

In other words, if you buy a Kia, the powertrain components, in particular, are already protected for a long period of time. Still, it’s worth considering a service plan if you want the peace of mind that comes from comprehensive component coverage beyond the engine, transmission, and drive axle.