Kia Warranty Explained: What’s Covered and for How Long

Kia’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty includes a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty, plus a 5-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance, whichever comes first for each. This structure gives Kia owners some of the longest warranty protection in the industry, though each piece covers different parts of the vehicle, and understanding the difference matters when you’re deciding whether a repair should be covered.

Kia Warranty Coverage at a Glance

What Does the Basic Warranty Cover?

The 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty is Kia’s bumper-to-bumper coverage, protecting most vehicle components and systems against factory defects, with the exception of normal wear-and-tear items like brake pads, tires, and wiper blades. This is the broadest piece of Kia’s warranty package and covers things like electrical systems, infotainment components, and most mechanical parts that aren’t specifically covered under the longer powertrain warranty.

What Does the Powertrain Warranty Cover?

The 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty covers the engine, transmission, transaxle, axle, driveshaft, and differential against manufacturer defects. It begins for the original owner once the basic warranty period ends and is the coverage most people mean when they refer to Kia’s “10-year warranty” — it’s the headline number, but it’s important to understand it applies specifically to these major drivetrain components rather than the entire vehicle.

Does the Powertrain Warranty Transfer to a Second Owner?

When a Kia is sold to a second owner, the remaining powertrain coverage typically converts to a 5-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain warranty measured from the original in-service date, rather than staying at the full 10-year/100,000-mile term. This is an important detail for anyone shopping a used, non-CPO Kia — the warranty math resets differently than it would for the original owner, so it’s worth confirming exactly how much coverage remains before buying.

What’s Covered on Kia EVs Specifically?

Kia’s EV System Warranty covers the electric motor, high-voltage battery, electric power control unit, and onboard charger for 10 years or 100,000 miles from the date of first service, giving EV buyers protection on the most expensive components of the vehicle — the parts that would be by far the costliest to replace out of pocket if something went wrong outside of warranty.

What Isn’t Covered Under Kia’s Warranty?

Scheduled maintenance items like oil changes, brake pads, tires, and wiper blades are not covered under Kia’s warranty, since these are considered normal wear-and-tear rather than manufacturer defects. Warranty coverage also generally requires that the vehicle has been maintained according to the factory schedule — skipping required maintenance can be grounds for denying a claim if the resulting damage is traced back to that neglect.

What About Kia’s Trip Interruption and Roadside Assistance?

Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan provides 24/7 help for common issues like flat tires, dead batteries, and lockouts. If a warranty-related breakdown happens more than 150 miles from home and takes more than 24 hours to repair, Kia’s Trip Interruption Policy provides reasonable reimbursement for meals, lodging, or rental car expenses, up to a per-day limit for a few days per incident.

Kia Warranty FAQ

Is Kia’s warranty really 10 years?
The 10-year figure applies specifically to the limited powertrain warranty, covering the engine, transmission, and related drivetrain components — not every part of the vehicle for a full 10 years.

Does Kia’s warranty cover normal wear items like brake pads?
No. Wear items like brake pads, tires, and wiper blades are excluded from warranty coverage and are considered routine maintenance responsibilities.

Does the warranty transfer if I sell my Kia?
The basic warranty transfers for its remaining term; the powertrain warranty converts to a 5-year/60,000-mile term for a second owner rather than staying at the full original term.

Do Kia EVs have a different warranty than gas models?
EVs share the same basic and powertrain warranty structure but add a dedicated EV System Warranty covering the battery, motor, and related components for 10 years/100,000 miles.

Does skipping an oil change void my warranty?
It can, if a related failure is traced back to lack of maintenance. Keeping documented service records protects you if a warranty claim is ever questioned.

Questions About Your Kia’s Warranty?

Contact Walser Kia’s service team in Minnetonka, MN for details specific to your vehicle, or ask our sales team when you’re shopping for a new or Certified Pre-Owned Kia.