The Kia Stinger is a very interesting car, especially in GT form. Sadly, as of April 2023, the model is discontinued, due to poor sales. Still, the model showed there is a proper alternative to the likes of Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. The Kia Stinger is no German premium model (although it competes with them), but some dealers charge just as much for repairs and maintenance.
Recently, I stumbled upon something that raised an eyebrow, in the Kia Stinger Owners Group, on Facebook. One owner shared his experience after having its thermostat replaced, for a staggering amount - $1,066. What he says isn’t so much a complaint, but more of a warning towards other owners that may need to have the same repair done.
“2022 GT1. Just got the thermostat replaced. Cost: 1,066$ just a heads up. 64000 miles.”
What makes an impression on me is the mileage, which isn’t particularly high, but there are owners reporting thermostat malfunction at even lower mileage.
Another owner says, “The dealer just replaced mine two days ago. 34,000 miles with warranty. Also a 2022 GT1.”
Clearly, a thermostat can fail early on in the car’s life. But not all is bad, as Kia did some clever engineering. The Stinger features an electronically-operated thermostat, which is designed to fail in an open position. This is a fail-safe in the case of a malfunction. By remaining in an open position, this activates the larger cooling circle, allowing coolant to constantly circulate through the radiator. The most obvious symptom is that the car takes forever to get to operating temperature.
This is a much better scenario. When a thermostat fails in a closed position, it stops the coolant from circulating through the radiator, potentially causing rapid engine overheating. It pays to check your temperature gauge if your car has one. Many modern vehicles no longer include it in the driver's instrument cluster. Instead, they have a warning light, but by the time it comes on, it may already be too late. The Kia Stinger, being a more performance-oriented car, has a classic engine-temperature gauge into the analog gauge cluster.
The owner confirmed that the car took forever to get up to operating temperature, which was accompanied by “everyone’s favorite” check-engine light, confirming the thermostat was stuck in an open position.
How much should you actually pay for a thermostat change?
The Kia Stinger GT’s thermostat is located at the back of the 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine, right next to the firewall. Wrenching Ryan has a good video on how to change the thermostat on a Kia Stinger GT. Replacing it is usually a one-to-two-hour job. On the video, we see the replacement being closer to the one-hour mark.
The average price for replacing a thermostat is generally between $200 and $500. It really depends on where the thermostat is located and whether you have to change the whole unit, along with the housing. Charge rates for automotive mechanics typically range from $75 to $175 on average.
A quick surf on the internet reveals that a thermostat for the Stinger’s 3.3-liter V-6 costs anywhere between $27.43 to $390.69, depending on whether you are chasing the whole unit with the housing. All of a sudden, that $1,066 bill seems a bit steep.
Some members in the discussion are outraged by the repair bill and claim it is a straight rip-off. Many owners have replaced the thermostat themselves and claim it is an easy job.
One owner says, “Bro, I replaced mine. Easy too, it’s below where the catch can go, easy swap. This guy got screwed.”
I would recommend always getting a quote first and/or trying multiple shops, if you can afford to spend the time. What are your thoughts on the matter? Do you think the repair bill was justified, or is it a rip-off? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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Image source: Kia Stinger
About the author
Dimitar Angelov has been an automotive journalist since 2014. His passion for cars and motorcycles led him to take up classic car restoration at the Classic Car Museum in Malta. While living there, he also graduated with a Master's in Media and Communications. Aside from Torquenews, his work can also be seen on Topspeed.com, HotCars.com, Motorheads.com, Jalopnik.com, and his own website, Ridereverie.com, where he also includes motorcycle content.
Other relevant experience to the automotive scene include working at a Toyota dealership, professional driving, and automotive insurance. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
Experience
- 2012-2017 and 2025-Present: Insurance Advisor - ANG Univers and Generali Insurance Group
- 2016-2016: Car salesman at Toyota dealership
- 2014-Present: Automotive journalist, blogger, vlogger, test driver
Education
- Bachelor's degree in International Economic Relations
- Master's degree in Marketing
- Master's degree in Media and Communications
Dimitar Angelov has been quoted in the following publications:
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