Anyone else notice if your rear spoiler is starting to come off?
I've noticed that my rear spoiler is slowly separating from the vehicle. The driver's side corner has moved a strong 1/8" or .3175cm.
Not much but enough to notice a difference when compared to the passenger's side. I can see the glue residue from where it was attached.
No, the other side is fine, no separation. The crack happened right where the spoiler is still affixed to the hatch. Nothing hit it, that I know of. It has been extremely cold here this week. Temps dropped below zero this week.
Noticed the separation started last year after warranty expired. During the summer, the separation wasn't as noticeable.
The spoiler on my 2011 Kia Shortage has cracked as well on the driver's side in a similar place to yours. My crack is nearly 2 inches long however. It happened while I was in Louisville during the frigid temps in early March. The dealership is telling me that they aren't obligated to fix it. Did you have any luck getting the dealership to fix it?
Hi gap175,
Honestly, I've been more concerned with fixing another issue. http://www.kia-forums.com/3g-2011-sportage/130305-pothole-instrument-cluster-lit-up-like.html
I'm not surprised that KIA or any dealership won't fix the spoiler. I think KIA's 60,000 mile warranty is bogus.
I think KIA has unwritten rule for their warranty and the dealerships know what KIA will honor and what they will not.
I do like my Sportage but KIA's service is questionable. KIA advertises their 5 year/60,000 mile warranty like it's a reason to buy their vehicles. When in reality I'm learning it's a bait and switch.
Mine is developing the same crack on the left side of the spoiler as well. Temperates here are no where as bad as over in Europe or US so can't see it being caused by expansion/contraction. The car has never been in a mechanical car wash as far as I know (however our KIA dealer does have it washed during regular services, but I don't think they take it off site. And it has never has a tree branch catch it in this area.
I might have a word to the dealer next time I'm in, let them know this is starting to apear on number of Sportages across the world, would be good if others mentioned on here if they too are having the same issue.
Wow, your image looks very similar to mine. I don't go through automatic car washers. My driveway and work parking lot are void of trees. My dealership offers the same service but I'm not sure if it's an automatic car wash. I'm scheduled to go back to the dealership this week. I'll mention the spoiler to them but I know they'll just pooh pooh it. I'm close to 60,000 miles so I'm OK if they just fix the mechanical issues.
While at the dealership again, I asked a mechanic if he had seen any other Sportages with the rear spoiler separating from the hatch. Before we even looked at my vehicle, the mechanic said that I should be on the look out for a bulletin concerning this issue. He said that Kia had the same problem with the spoilers on the Forte's trunk. The mechanic looked at my spoiler, he said that the spoiler is attached by 3-4 screws and double sided tape. He said it's apparent that the double sided tape was failing but I'd have a difficult time getting Kia to replace the spoiler even under warranty. He then asked his Service Manager look at my vehicle. Immediately, the SM said, oh this was hit, that's why it's cracked and separating from the hatch. I smiled and said, I knew you'd say that.
Was in upstate New York this past week when temperatures were below zero. I too have a crack and separation on the drivers side. I know for sure it is due to the low temperatures....printing this thread out and hoping the dealer will fix it for free.
The crack on top hasn't got any longer, but on trailing edge its pretty bad now, you can see how the left side of the spoiler now has a distinct rise. As mentioned previously my KIA has never been through any type of mechanical car wash, never been knocked or had anything snag it up on the spoiler.
To me it's poor construction, but getting KIA to admit it is near on impossible unless there is an overwhelming number of owners suffering the exact same problem.
I suppose it could be worse, could be both sides (wonder why it's not ?)
Very interesting that the 4 or 5 of us with this issue, have it on the drivers side, same spot...coincidence?? Nope....
Maybe more owners will see this thread and look to see if they have the same issue...especially with last week's cold. Maybe Kia will finally admit a flaw and fix it....(not holding my breath).
Replacement cost through Kia is almost $300 not painted, which sounds nuts to me. EBay has a few unpainted around $180. Has anyone replaced it and if so, how difficult was it? I see there are screws sticking out of it but how does the old one come off and the new one screw in?
I spoke too soon...supposedly if the spoiler is not painted to match the body color (my spolier is black/car is silver) it was a dealer accessory installed when car arrived from Kia. It only holds a 12 month warranty....lol.
I have the same crack, it showed up a couple months ago. At first I assumed since I have a bike rack on the roof that maybe a bike hit it but I am sure I would have remembered that happening.
I live in Phoenix, it's only been in below freezing temperatures a couple times ever, it has only been hand washed by me. I'm quite confident that it is just crappy quality on the part.
I wrote an email to Kia USA asking them if the black spoiler was truly a dealer installed item, even though my window sticker says its included in the convenience package. They actually contacted me the next business day and said they were calling the dealership to get more info. The dealership called me the next day to tell me it is now covered under warranty and will replace it for free. Not sure if I was just lucky but the service advisor seemed to be on my side from the beginning till his manager denied it. I guess it doesn't hurt to have someone there trying to do the right thing.
Just so everyone knows. What is on the window sticker is legally binding. If it is on the sticker and not on the car the manufacturer has to make it right. Its called the monroney after the senator who made it law. (Possibly USA only)
The spoiler has a window washing nozle? in it,so if its on the car,it has to be factory install. If the car doesn't have a spoiler from factory,the nozle is on the roof of the car. So there is no way it can be installed by the dealer as an accessory. I think.
I had forgotten to ask last time mine was in for a service, so yesterday lunch time I dropped into our local Kia dealer and spoke to the Warranty Clerk. Showed him the crack(s) and told him about others on this forum with the same thing. He took a couple of photos and said he'd need to contact Head Office, no real commitment from him at all. Oh well, at least I tried was my thoughts on the way home, that's probably the last I'll hear from him.
Well this morning just got a call back, Head Office said they had no problems with him making the call, and yes he believes its a warranty issue. The dealership here in Tasmania actually have a spoiler in stock (that's an even bigger surprise !) and he has sent it off to the paint shop and will call me in when they are finished to have it fitted.
Others may have had problems with their dealers in the past, but I must say ours here in Australia seem to come through more times than not on our side. I couldn't be happier with this result. For those others with the same problem, you never know if they will replace it if you don't ask and I hope you are as successful as I was.
Hi, Having same problem up here in Ipswich, Queensland. Crack started on passenger side in exactly same place as yours before warranty ran out. Showed dealer, took some photos and they phoned back and denied my claim. After seeing this Forum, I contacted the dealer again and they will re-inspect and take more photos as it has now cracked more including underneath. They will contact KIA Australia for an after warranty decision. I will let you know how I go. Photos attached. KIA Sportage Platinum - Build date December 2011.
Hey, original poster here. I'm at 75,000 miles so even if it was covered under the warranty I'm screwed. The crack has gotten worse with all this weather we're getting hit with here in New England. I do like that aftermarket wing. If and when I do replace it, I may go with that.
Just FYI, dealer wanted almost $300 just for the part. Ebay has several for $180. It can be done yourself by taking off the interior plastic trim and unscrewing the spoiler off the trunk. Instead of getting it painted professionally, I was going to PlastiDip it. You cant mess up plastidip AND it should last a long time since that area doesn't get much use.
Same issue with my 11 Sportage. Same spot, on the driver's side. We had frigid temps here and pulling out of my driveway one morning, I heard almost a snap in back, and soon realized my spoiler had become unfastened, lifted slightly and developed a small crack. Working with the dealership now to get it resolved. I printed this forum and brought it in, he said he would contact his Kia rep and get back to me and try to get it taken care of at no cost. Waiting to hear in a couple days...
Good luck with KIA, hopefully you will get it replaced under warranty like a couple of us have done already.
Where we have lived for the last 3 years our temps don't get down to sub zero's (celsius), probably 3 or 4 (37 fahrenheit) has been our lowest. We did have a couple of zeros /-2's for the couple of years before that, but I only notice the first signs of cracking about 18 months ago.
I'm wondering if it might not be a simple cold expansion/contraction issue. The crack is very near where the spoiler is bolted. What if somehow water has got into this area and it has frozen causing the plastic to be pushed away from the glass.
This would explain why it doesn't happen to every Sportage, there needs to be some source of water in the first place, somewhere/how for this water to be trapped and then the freezing overnight temperature. I'd guess that the two sided tape that holds the end part of the spolier is put on manually, so each spoiler is slightly different, maybe the tape could be placed in such a way to trap this elusive water ? Then there is how the car is parked over night, i.e. maybe on an angle that traps this suspect water. To have all these variables come together at the same time would be quite rare, I think this explains why there are very few vehicles with the cracks.
Well that's my conspiracy theory on cracking KIA spoliers
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