What a shame :( My SX is a LEMON

[metrogtiguy]

Well, it's finally come down to it. I've had to get a lawyer, and the BBB on Kia. I've only put 6,500 miles on my Sportage SX, and the engine has eaten it's own guts. I brought it into a dealer to complain about an engine rattle with less than 1500 miles on it. Then, the very first time I hooked a trailer up to it, the truck make it about 10 miles, and completely destroyed 3 of the 4 spark plugs. Electrodes were broken off, and the porcelain was smashed. Their solution? Change the spark plugs! So, I hook my 1,100lb camper up to it friday, it makes it 5 miles... The car shook, check engine light came on, and it immediately overheated. No power, wouldn't start. I call the dealer, they came and picked it up, and saw not only were all 4 spark plugs eaten, but the remaining steel on them was BLUED! And it melted one of the pistons. Kia now doesn't want to warranty it... They say the 1,100lb trailer was over capacity for it, when it's clearly listed as having a 2,000lb towing capacity. I loved my SX, but I am totally done with Kia at this point. They obviously don't care about me, my car, and will not fess up to selling me a lemon. Be warned, they'll apparently do anything to get out of warranty work... And it wasn't the dealer who denied the warranty, it was Kia Corporate! They're going to have to deal with my lawyer now .

I bought a Kia, because this is how Chrysler treated my wife and I with her Sebring convertible when it had problems. How could Kia be so low to stoop to Chrysler's level?

[twinscroll]

For that to be true, you'd be wrong about the distance travelled, and the weight of the trailer. I'm no expert on towing. Maybe get your trailer weighed&documented in case it goes to court.

AFAIK, towing too much weight can overheat the engine, and will damage the transmission. I'm trying to imagine spark plugs exploding and melting, but I can't picture it.

Blued spark plugs? I thought that was a historical motor thing that concours people did.

[metrogtiguy]

Heh, well, the first trailer I towed that burnt the plugs up was 1,700lbs, and had a trailer brake. It made it 10 miles before the engine wouldn't go anymore. It was a uhaul, and the weight is documented. The 2nd trailer is a Keystone Camplite 8ft pop-up camper. Dry, and unloaded when towing. Documented weight is 1,155lbs. The engine didn't overheat the first time, it leaned out and pre-detonated itself to death. The 2nd failure didn't overheat until the engine completely let go, and I was trying to get to the right lane to pull over.



That's about what the spark plugs looked like. I'm going to assume the 2nd distance was shorter, because whatever existing problem that they never fixed, got worse over the few weeks that I was driving it. Engines just don't pre-detonate themselves to death without some kind of underlying problem.

[ILLJIM69]

Man, you guys seem to be having some problems with cars and warranties.

Maybe there is more to the story, I don't know, but either way I hope everything gets taken care of.

[DocChaos]

Just wondering if there is an issue between the engine in the SX models and the one in the EX/LX models? The SX is a 2.0 turbo, and the EX/LX is a 2.4 if I recall correctly. Just wondering if the weight of towing just is too great for the 2.0. (I am NOT an expert, just know too little to be dangerous )

[ILLJIM69]

Originally Posted by DocChaos

Just wondering if there is an issue between the engine in the SX models and the one in the EX/LX models? The SX is a 2.0 turbo, and the EX/LX is a 2.4 if I recall correctly. Just wondering if the weight of towing just is too great for the 2.0. (I am NOT an expert, just know too little to be dangerous )

I doubt it. Whether it is F/I or N/A, the engine makes the power it does. Towing would put no more load on the turbo itself. In fact most torque monsters and towing vehicles are turbos (diesels but turbo nonetheless).

[tom93r1]

I just towed 1000 or maybe a little more from Phoenix to Colorado Springs, about 750 miles and up a couple steep mountan passes in my SX, so I would be shocked it 1155 pounds was too much. His location says MI, and I doubt there are too many mountains there to have to climb. It sounds like a defective engine then incompetent dealership mechanics that is the real issue, not so much a lemon law or towing issue... That is unless there is more to the story.

[Wry 'Cuda]

Turbo or not, IMO a 2.0 engine is simply too puny to even think about powering a medium-sized SUV, particularly with a trailer. Well over 2 tonnes!

[spongebob218]

So you say the trailer was 1700lbs dry...fine. But...how much additional weight did you have in the vehicle. The GVW is fairly low on the Sportages, 4600(?) I believe. It wouldn't be too difficult to overload the vehicle, and then you added a 1700lb trailer on the back. That sounds like too much. I highly doubt you hauled a 1700lb trailer and took nothing else with you. You should have got a bigger SUV.

[ILLJIM69]

Originally Posted by Wry 'Cuda

Turbo or not, IMO a 2.0 engine is simply too puny to even think about powering a medium-sized SUV, particularly with a trailer. Well over 2 tonnes!

You mean despite the fact that it produces more power than V6/V8 powered SUVs that were made not that long ago (and some that are currently produced)?

It isn't like the turbo has to spin faster or anything. Granted you will burn more fuel, but that is the case with any vehicle once you start adding weight and rolling resistance (plus unsprung weight).