The Kia Stinger is a car I really wanted to succeed. The sleek four-door fastback model showed that the Korean brand can make a properly sorted vehicle that blends performance, style, practicality, and overall great value. However, the reality for many owners isn’t as sunny. While browsing through the Kia Stinger Owners Group on Facebook, I stumbled upon a post that caught my attention.
One owner experienced a severe engine malfunction in their 2022 Kia Stinger, necessitating an engine replacement. So far, nothing too out of the ordinary. However, it was the price he was charged that blew my mind. Here’s what he says:
“Stinger in for total engine replacement $17,898”. It’s OK”.
The post is short and relatively vague, but one thing I can clearly make out is that it is definitely not “OK”.
Many owners have come to find out that maintaining a Kia Stinger isn’t as easy on the wallet as buying one (at least compared to its rivals). I recently talked about another case, in which another Kia Stinger had to pay over $1,000 for a thermostat replacement, which seems a bit steep, considering the amount of labor required.
The owner reveals a bit more detail about his 2022 Stinger as more questions arise in the comment section of the post. He bought the car with 30,000 miles on the odometer, with no service history, and from what the comment says, two owners: “30k no service history with 2nd owner”.
This sounds like a risky purchase from the beginning, and one I would warn against doing. That said, my personal experience with my own Korean performance car suggests that even with a full service history, problems may still occur. At the end of the day, it is a used car, and a performance one at that. According to different sources, replacing an engine can cost between $2,000 to over $10,000, depending on whether the engine is new, used, refurbished, or upgraded.
That said, $17,898 seems like an awful lot of money to charge for an OEM engine replacement. At this point it is better to buy a different car. A quick glance on platforms like Cars.com reveals that there are plenty of Stingers that cost around the same price as what this owner is being charged for a mere engine replacement.
Another owner shares her own bad experience with a Kia dealer, regarding a similar incident: “They quoted me $14,000. I asked for the dealership to replace it because I've only had it for three years, and they said no, it's not covered, so I contacted Kia directly, and they wanted the paperwork, saying I needed a new engine, and somehow the dealership "misplaced" the paperwork. Needless to say, my car is fine and has been running well. Try to contact Kia directly and get them to replace it.”
The more interesting fact is that every Kia Stinger came with a 10-year / 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, which covers engine failure. While this doesn’t necessarily include a complete engine replacement, it does include changing worn-out internal parts such as crankshaft, bearings, oil pump, etc. Here is a useful article describing how you can diagnose a bad oil pump.
The V-8 elephant in the room
Many owners enjoy their Stigners, and the consensus is that major failures are caused by a lack of maintenance. But when it comes to replacing an entire engine, there is a common dilemma: why not go for a V-8 swap? There are plenty of viable alternatives in the form of crate engines or even well-maintained used ones. The GM LS-series V-8s are a popular choice due to relative simplicity, reliability, vast aftermarket support, and the fact that you get more power and a lot more torque with zero upgrades.
What are your thoughts on this? Would you part out, demand replacement or repairs under warranty, or go all in on a V-8 swap? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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 experiences in 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:
- SM Breadvan – The Fastest Road Car in the 1970s
- 1968 Corvette S/C Is a One-Off Home-Built 650 HP Masterpiece
Image source: Kia Stinger press
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