3.3TT Electrical issues?

[Nick Wellington]

Has anyone experienced any electrical issues with their Stingers? I am running into a problem where occasionally when I wash my car it seems as if water is getting into a place it shouldn’t be. The physical headlights won’t change but within the inside of the vehicle the instrument cluster will change from auto, on, DRL off/on, etc. sporadically and the ambient lighting goes on and off randomly. This will go away after a couple days or less depending on how warm it is outside. Another instance where this happened i wasn’t able to unlock or lock my vehicle, and when I finally got my car to lock it only folded in one mirror and the hazard/blinker lights remained on. So weird and quite annoying. Hesitant on bringing my car to the dealership because of all the mods on it.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Not a single electrical issue in over a year of ownership. I haven't touched a thing. Bone stock running gear and therefore no chance to muck up the electrics. Luddites are already freaked out by the complexity of modern vehicles and don't want to risk bringing on troubles by fiddling around.

 

[washguy]

I read a post just the other day where a member found some of water under the hood after going thru a touchless carwash.....and that kinda bothered him Wash

 

[SamOrlando]

Mine is at the dealership now and has been for more than two weeks due to similar electrical issues. Including the heads up display fading in and out, the lower lumbar support in the driver's seat expanding on its own at random times, and the exact issues the OP posted. Dealership is waiting on a KIA Rep to show up and help with diagnostics.

 

[Steven P Cameron]

Hi
Mine had a similar problem had warning lights on dash for just about every electrical item in the car. Problem was with the interior mirror camera. This has been replaced now seems ok. Still coming up on dash automatic lights are on then off though.

Stevie

 

[General_Vodka]

my dash did not work properly and the shifter was not lit up until I plugged in the front end harness that connects to the cruise control and the front horns. You would think that it should have zero effect on the dash but oh man it does.

 

[SMCI]

The battery on my 2018 keeps going dead even though it has been replaced. I live in Sothern Ontario, the car was purchased about a month ago from the west coast and shipped. I contacted the Kia dealer listed on the Car Fax and they told me the car was in their shop for 3 months trying to fix similar problems. None of the problems were listed on the Car Fax just regular maintenance. Maybe I got stuck with a lemon?? Has anyone had similar problems with a draw on the battery of their Stinger when off?

 

[SMCI]

My Stinger has spent all winter at the dealership trying to figure out the parasitic battery draw. They called me yesterday and told me that they changed the battery and it is all fixed now. They also said that if I have any further problems to deal directly with Kia Canada. I said to the manager that he is just trying to get rid of me. They changed several modules over the winter but every time I would pick it up and it would die within a couple of days. The last time it was in they changed the battery after it was in for a couple of weeks with the reasoning that the battery was probably worn out from all of the recharges. They watched it for 3 days after the battery change to make sure it was ok. The morning I was to pick it up it would not start so they called and cancelled the pickup. They watched it for another 2 weeks then decided the the battery they put in was defective and changed it again, hence the battery change at the beginning of my ramble. I asked if they checked the supposed defective battery, no. They put it back into the managers demonstrator. Their reasoning was that since they could not find a problem with the Stinger the battery (replacement) had to be defective. With that kind of logic why would you bother to check the battery you suspect to be the problem, This car has spent 3 months at a Kia dealership in Calgary trying to figure out the battery draw problem until the original owner got rid of it. I then purchased it and had it shipped to Ontario where it has been in the dealership in Niagara Falls Ontario 6 times for a total of more than 4 months since October 2020. I had been warning them that they were going to have to deal with my lawyer and that time is now. My lawyer is filing against Kia next week. Very aggravating. I am going to drag Kia through every hoop I can just for pissing me off so much.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Unfreakingbelievable. Keep us informed on how that goes, please.

My Stinger has spent all winter at the dealership trying to figure out the parasitic battery draw. They called me yesterday and told me that they changed the battery and it is all fixed now. They also said that if I have any further problems to deal directly with Kia Canada. I said to the manager that he is just trying to get rid of me. They changed several modules over the winter but every time I would pick it up and it would die within a couple of days. The last time it was in they changed the battery after it was in for a couple of weeks with the reasoning that the battery was probably worn out from all of the recharges. They watched it for 3 days after the battery change to make sure it was ok. The morning I was to pick it up it would not start so they called and cancelled the pickup. They watched it for another 2 weeks then decided the the battery they put in was defective and changed it again, hence the battery change at the beginning of my ramble. I asked if they checked the supposed defective battery, no. They put it back into the managers demonstrator. Their reasoning was that since they could not find a problem with the Stinger the battery (replacement) had to be defective. With that kind of logic why would you bother to check the battery you suspect to be the problem, This car has spent 3 months at a Kia dealership in Calgary trying to figure out the battery draw problem until the original owner got rid of it. I then purchased it and had it shipped to Ontario where it has been in the dealership in Niagara Falls Ontario 6 times for a total of more than 4 months since October 2020. I had been warning them that they were going to have to deal with my lawyer and that time is now. My lawyer is filing against Kia next week. Very aggravating. I am going to drag Kia through every hoop I can just for pissing me off so much.

 

[SMCI]

I am keeping every thing documented and looking forward to some payback after all of the aggravation. The worst part is that the car is actually my sons. I financed it for him so I have to deal with it since it is in my name. He wanted a Stinger but every time we found one close to home it got sold out from under us. That is why we purchased one in Alberta and had it shipped. They probably sold it "out of province" on purpose just to get rid of it. We actually had so much trouble trying to find one that last fall I purchased another one from Alberta to resell. It is sitting in my driveway with no problems. I start it every few days with no problem. It is on Kijiji. I will update as the legal action progresses.

 

[Steven P Cameron]

Mine has been back to dealership 3 times. Finally found the fault. It was a module inside the steering wheel. Replaced and all seems OK.

 

[SMCI]

I would have to read through my documentation to see how many modules they changed and told me they found the problem. I think the longest it went since October was 2 weeks before the battery died and it went back. I remember a few times it only lasted 2 days before it went back to the dealer. They claim it is ok and they are going to drop it off and pickup the loaner car Monday when my son gets home from work. I am going to leave it in the driveway and see how many days it takes to die. I will give my son something else to drive to work. It was so bad I got my son a 1500 amp jumper for his Xmas present.

 

[SMCI]

My Stinger was returned Monday April 19 at 3:30 pm and the loaner car was taken. I had the delivery person park it and it was not started after he dropped it off. At 3:00 pm Tuesday April 20 I was going to check it to see if there was any draw on the battery. The hatch would not open, it was dead as a doornail. I asked my lawyer what I should do. He told me today to call Kia and have it towed to Cardinal Kia in Niagara Falls. The same dealership that dropped it off and told me it was fixed. I called Kia road service to pick it up. They told me that they would have it towed to Cardinal Kia. The tow truck picked it up in an hour. CAA called me in about 40 minutes and told me that Cardinal Kia refused to accept the car and the tow truck was bringing it back to my house. How can a dealership refuse to fix a car that is under warrantee? Call my lawyer back, another letter to Kia.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

That's such nonsense.

 

[SMCI]

Does anyone have a current name and email of someone in a position of authority at Kia Canada that I can inform about this situation?

 

[SMCI]

Kia sent a letter to my lawyer and offered a free extended warrantee worth $3500, meanwhile the Stinger sits in the driveway as dead as a doornail. I bet my lawyer bill is up to $3500 by now. They also said that they want to pickup the Stinger and analyze it in Mississauga. They have offered a courtesy car. My lawyer has given permission for them to pick it up but he wants them to drop off a Stinger for a courtesy car when they come to pick it up. He also told them that we would prefer not to get it back.

 

[SMCI]

Kia picked up the Stinger 3 weeks ago and left a K5 as a loaner. I have not heard a word out of them since they picked it up. I was told that they were taking it to Kia Canada in Mississauga (Toronto) and 2 factory techs were going to work on it full time. My lawyer called me a couple of days ago and told me that he was going to send another letter to Kia to advise them that enough is enough and it is time for them to own the lemon and give me my money (and legal expenses) back. Time will tell. The longer it takes the more it is going to cost Kia.

 

[ChaneRZ]

They offered an extended warranty because they know it’s going to break again. Lol. F that car and lemon that shhhhheeesh.

 

[SMCI]

Last winter they took it for 3 months, when they gave it back to me it died within 2 weeks. They took three more times and it died 1 - 4 days after return. I didn't have it all winter. The last time it died the dealer refused to accept it and forced Kia Canada to take over. It doesn't look like they are doing any better. Even if they claim it is repaired I will not believe them. Every time I am told it is repaired it dies. If I sell the car it will be worth nothing because I have to disclose the history. Any one want to buy a 2018 Stinger ltd, red leather with 20,000 km (12,000 miles) on it?

 

[JSolo]

Sorry for your troubles. Any updates since the last post?