Kia Sportage Hybrid Prestige Bumper Sensor
Thought it would be helpful to post my experience with a collision avoidance sensor.
My new Kia Sportage had 2,000 miles on it when every time we slowed down to less than 10 mph the collision avoidance system activated which results in the front camera showing the front view and an annoying tone came on. We lived with this for 2500 miles as two dealers said we would have to wait a month and a half to be seen. Those dealers were Charleston KIA and Myrtle Beach KIA. Can’t be good that so many KIA’s are having to be serviced creating long wait times.
I have a second home in SC which is why they were contacted. Came home to the Atlanta area and was able to make an appointment with Carriage KIA in Woodstock, GA. They only made us wait several days to be seen and said warranty should cover it and said they needed the car 1 or 2 days. It actually took to day 4 of them having the car for them to look at it. They called and said there would be $179 charge for them to remove the bumper to see whether it qualified for warranty. If it did there would be no charge. We said go ahead assuming it would be covered as I actually went under the car removed the engine shield and could see the sensor. There was no damage to it but the bracket holding it had what I thought was glue marks. I assumed the glue they used in manufacturing failed. Unfortunately the clearance did not allow me to reattach. The bumper has to come off.
We received a call from the service department and we’re told it would not be covered as something broke the bracket and it would have to be epoxied back together. The cost to repair would be $700. They said they also had pictures showing the damage. I said to do nothing we would come to the dealer to discuss.
At the dealer they only had one picture and it didn’t show a broken bracket to me. The service tech went to the service manager who held firm, no warranty $700. Also they didn’t actually remove the bumper just slid a scope in to view and take a picture.
I had seen a you tube video about removing the bumper and have years of experience working on cars so told them no thank you I would work on it. I told them this should be covered under warranty and would send them pictures.
Got home and had the bumper off in 30 minutes.
The sensor did detach from the bumper and there was no sign of the sensor being hit. KIA must use some form of heat to melt the bracket onto the bumper, you’ll see from the pictures I attach.
Called the dealer and now they want to make it right. Bring it in and they will do a warranty claim. Right, I take the bumper off and now will put it back on and bring it to them so they can do a warranty claim. They say they will put on a new sensor. There is nothing wrong with the sensor, the bracket holding it separated from the bumper.
Anyway here are a bunch of pictures. I suspect it will happen again to other KIA’s. Don’t let them con you into paying money and say it is not covered under warranty. If you are handy, there is a great video of how to remove the bumper on you tube, just a few screws and push tabs.
My new Kia Sportage had 2,000 miles on it when every time we slowed down to less than 10 mph the collision avoidance system activated which results in the front camera showing the front view and an annoying tone came on. We lived with this for 2500 miles as two dealers said we would have to wait a month and a half to be seen. Those dealers were Charleston KIA and Myrtle Beach KIA. Can’t be good that so many KIA’s are having to be serviced creating long wait times.
I have a second home in SC which is why they were contacted. Came home to the Atlanta area and was able to make an appointment with Carriage KIA in Woodstock, GA. They only made us wait several days to be seen and said warranty should cover it and said they needed the car 1 or 2 days. It actually took to day 4 of them having the car for them to look at it. They called and said there would be $179 charge for them to remove the bumper to see whether it qualified for warranty. If it did there would be no charge. We said go ahead assuming it would be covered as I actually went under the car removed the engine shield and could see the sensor. There was no damage to it but the bracket holding it had what I thought was glue marks. I assumed the glue they used in manufacturing failed. Unfortunately the clearance did not allow me to reattach. The bumper has to come off.
We received a call from the service department and we’re told it would not be covered as something broke the bracket and it would have to be epoxied back together. The cost to repair would be $700. They said they also had pictures showing the damage. I said to do nothing we would come to the dealer to discuss.
At the dealer they only had one picture and it didn’t show a broken bracket to me. The service tech went to the service manager who held firm, no warranty $700. Also they didn’t actually remove the bumper just slid a scope in to view and take a picture.
I had seen a you tube video about removing the bumper and have years of experience working on cars so told them no thank you I would work on it. I told them this should be covered under warranty and would send them pictures.
Got home and had the bumper off in 30 minutes.
The sensor did detach from the bumper and there was no sign of the sensor being hit. KIA must use some form of heat to melt the bracket onto the bumper, you’ll see from the pictures I attach.
Called the dealer and now they want to make it right. Bring it in and they will do a warranty claim. Right, I take the bumper off and now will put it back on and bring it to them so they can do a warranty claim. They say they will put on a new sensor. There is nothing wrong with the sensor, the bracket holding it separated from the bumper.
Anyway here are a bunch of pictures. I suspect it will happen again to other KIA’s. Don’t let them con you into paying money and say it is not covered under warranty. If you are handy, there is a great video of how to remove the bumper on you tube, just a few screws and push tabs.