Are Kias expensive to maintain?
The annual cost to maintain a Kia is around $474 per year on average, according to RepairPal. In comparison, the average annual maintenance cost across brands is around $652 per year on average.
Kias also have above-average reliability ratings with RepairPal and J.D. Power. RepairPal rated Kia 4 out of 5 stars for reliability, which is an above-average score, and J.D. Power gave it a score of 196 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in its 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, which is better than the study average of 202 PP100.
How Kia compares with other automakers
The table below shows how Kia’s average maintenance costs compare to other automakers’ average costs.
| Make | Average maintenance and repair cost |
|---|---|
| Kia | $474 per year |
| BMW | $968 per year |
| Honda | $428 per year |
| Nissan | $500 per year |
| Toyota | $441 per year |
Kia maintenance and repair costs by model
Average annual costs can depend on what Kia model you drive. The table below shows specific maintenance estimates for different Kia models.
| Model | Average maintenance and repair cost |
|---|---|
| Kia Sorento | $533 per year |
| Kia Soul | $437 per year |
| Kia Forte | $451 per year |
» MORE: Average Car Maintenance Costs
Kia maintenance cost and schedule
Maintenance costs and services generally vary depending on your vehicle, what exactly you need done and where you live.
Kia maintenance costs
Once you figure out what your mechanic charges for certain tasks, you can generally plan out your estimated maintenance costs for as long as you plan to own your Kia.
Example: 2024 Kia Sorento
The table below shows some common maintenance tasks and estimated costs for a 2024 Kia Sorento. All quotes are for Tulsa, Oklahoma.
| Service | Cost estimate |
|---|---|
| Tire rotation | $49 to $72 |
| Oil and filter change | $245 to $341 |
| Spark plug replacement | $267 to $341 |
Kia maintenance schedule
You can find the recommended maintenance schedule for your Kia by referring to your owner’s manual or calling a local dealership. Note that the schedules for gas-powered cars will look pretty consistent between models, but electric vehicle (EV) maintenance will look a little different.
Example: 2024 Kia Sorento
The table below shows selected maintenance items for a 2024 Kia Sorento.
| Service | Standard schedule |
|---|---|
| Tire rotation | Every 8,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first |
| Change oil and filter | Every 8,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first |
| Inspect brake discs, pads, lines, hoses and connections | Every year |
| Inspect cooling system | Every year |
| Replace climate control air filter | Every 2 years or 16,000 miles, whichever comes first |
| Replace spark plugs | Every 48,000 to 96,000 miles, depending on the engine type |
| Replace engine coolant | First at 120,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first, then replace every 24,000 miles or 2 years |
Scheduled maintenance for severe driving conditions
If you're hard on your Kia or you drive in severe conditions, you may need to perform some maintenance services more often than what your regular schedule recommends.
According to Kia, severe conditions include:
- Repeatedly driving short distances of less than five miles
- Extensive engine idling
- Low-speed driving for long distances
- Driving on rough, dusty, muddy, unpaved, graveled or salt-spread roads
- Driving on uphill, downhill or mountain roads repeatedly
- Frequently driving in stop-and-go conditions
For example, Kia recommends changing the oil and filter every 5,000 miles or six months, whichever comes first, if you routinely drive a 2024 Kia Sorento in severe conditions.
Kia repair costs
Most repairs are likely to be covered under Kia’s manufacturer’s warranty. Kia offers:
- A 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty
However, your Kia will eventually run out of warranty coverage, meaning you’ll be paying for repairs out of pocket unless you have an extended warranty. Luckily, Kia vehicles tend to make unplanned trips to the mechanic half as frequently as the average car, according to RepairPal.
Example: 2024 Kia Sorento EX
The table below shows some typical repair costs for a 2024 Kia Sorento EX. All quotes are for Tulsa, Oklahoma.
| Service | Cost estimate |
|---|---|
| Front brake pad replacement, both sides | $343 to $394 |
| Alternator replacement | $918 to $1,010 |
| Fuel pump replacement | $1,431 to $1,494 |
| Starter replacement | $578 to $670 |
Consumer repair experience
Some ConsumerAffairs reviewers have reported issues with getting their Kias repaired under warranty or at dealerships. Warranty repairs can still be a headache since you’ll lose access to your car until repairs are finished, and many of our readers have complained about poor service and wait times at Kia dealers.
For instance, Ashley, a reviewer in California, said: “My car is a 2021 Sportage, and my AC has randomly stopped working (no cooling whatsoever). Every dealership in my county has zero diagnostics appointments available and the one I found told me I need to leave my car there for 3-5 days with zero loaner cars and if my car isn’t covered under warranty there’s a $400.00 diagnostics fee [and a] fee to fix it[.]”
Cora, a reviewer in Nevada, said: “We had a drive train issue on our Kia Telluride that is a year and a half old. The Kia warranty is 10 year[s] [and] [10,000] miles supposedly. We were out of town when this happened and were told it would take 2-3 weeks to fix with no rental or car replacement. The dealership doesn’t get reimbursed by Kia and so they wouldn’t cover it.”
How can an extended warranty help?
After your factory warranty expires, you can save money on maintenance and repairs for your Kia with an extended warranty or prepaid maintenance plan from Kia or from a third-party extended warranty company. Extended warranties can effectively mimic your factory warranty coverage and protect you from paying to fix covered components once your factory warranty runs out.
Kia extended warranties and prepaid maintenance plans
Kia has extended warranty plans for its certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles, which are available in three tier levels. It also offers a Term Care Select Platinum Plus plan, which offers coverage for some additional items not under the factory warranty, such as one battery replacement and up to $200 for each tire or wheel replacement (up to a maximum of $1,200).
For prepaid maintenance plans, Kia offers two levels of its Road Hazard Tire & Wheel Protection Plan. Both options are available in three-, four- or five-year plans.
Third-party extended warranties
A third-party extended auto warranty allows you to get repairs done at any eligible mechanic instead of at a Kia dealership. It’s a good idea to get and compare quotes from multiple companies before pursuing this option.
FAQ
Are Kias reliable?
Yes, new Kias are considered to be reliable vehicles. RepairPal ranked Kia No. 3 out of 32 car brands for reliability, while J.D. Power gave Kia an above-average rating for dependability, ranking it No. 11 out of 30 car brands.
Can you transfer a Kia warranty?
Kia’s factory warranty can be transferred to a new owner since factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. Extended warranties are also typically transferable to a new owner, depending on the company and plan.
What is the average lifespan of a Kia?
Kias can typically last up to 200,000 or 250,000 miles with proper maintenance and care.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Dependability Still Suffering Due to Pandemic Aftershocks, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed Jan. 21, 2026.
- RepairPal, “Kia Repair & Maintenance Costs.” Accessed Jan. 21, 2026.
- RepairPal, “Kia Reliability Rating.” Accessed Jan. 21, 2026.
- RepairPal, “Kia Sorento Repair & Maintenance Costs.” Accessed Jan. 21, 2026.
- RepairPal, “Kia Soul Repair & Maintenance Costs.” Accessed Jan. 21, 2026.
- RepairPal, “Kia Forte Repair & Maintenance Costs.” Accessed Jan. 21, 2026.
- RepairPal, “BMW Repair & Maintenance Costs.” Accessed Jan. 21, 2026.
- RepairPal, “Honda Repair & Maintenance Costs.” Accessed Jan. 21, 2026.
- RepairPal, “Nissan Repair & Maintenance Costs.” Accessed Jan. 21, 2026.
- RepairPal, “Toyota Repair & Maintenance Costs.” Accessed Jan. 21, 2026.
