Owner: "I really enjoyed the Kia Stinger When It Worked, But I Had More Problems With That Car Than Anything I’ve Ever Owned, So I Picked Up a Toyota Corolla And I’m Really Happy With It.

It is truly a sad day when a car enthusiast needs to make the difficult choice to cut losses and sell a dream ride. For many, the Kia Stinger was that ride, but as I was browsing through the Kia Stinger Owners Group on Facebook, I stumbled upon a post that intrigued me for a number of reasons. You know things are dire when the owner wants to “jump ship” and replace a fun car with a more affordable, commuter vehicle. 

Apparently, Greg Pitchford is one such owner, as he decided to part ways with his 2021 Kia Stinger GT after numerous issues, and got a… Toyota Corolla? The logical pattern when changing cars is to upgrade to a car from a higher segment or one with a more powerful engine. This is neither. Here’s what the owner says: 

“I really enjoyed the Kia Stinger when it worked, but honestly I had more problems with that car than anything I’ve ever owned. I took it to the dealership nine times in eighteen months for different issues, and a few of those problems kept coming back multiple times. 

It eventually turned into a Lemon Law case, and I ended up winning. In about two months I’ll be turning the car in. They’re paying off the loan, taking the car back, and giving me a check for $25,000, so it worked out. 

I decided to go with something more reasonable and reliable, so I picked up a Toyota Corolla and I’m really happy with it. I’ll be leaving the Kia Stinger group when I finally turn the car in. Good luck to you all.”

Is the Kia Stinger really that unreliable?

There seem to be mixed feelings about the Stinger’s ownership experience and reliability. On one side, you have owners who have experienced zero issues and enjoy their Kia Stinger, but on the other, you have people like Greg, who are less fortunate with their Korean performance cars. As someone who is currently changing rod and main bearings on a Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8, I can relate on a personal level, and at some point, one simply needs to cut his/her losses. 

Related Kia Stinger story: "I Love My 2021 Kia Stinger, But I Have Had Nothing But Problems, And Now, It's Jerking Like Crazy."

Greg adds that he is the second owner, but “it appears the previous owner babied it”. Later, he also adds, “I wonder if the previous owner was abusing it, bad plugs with a JB4, wrong maps, other mods.”

This is always a valid concern when purchasing used performance cars. The Kia Stinger is a young platform compared to, let’s say, Nissan’s VQ engines, but people still love to mess with these cars in order to make more power. The reliability after mods is still questionable, although specialists are quick to point out that properly executed modifications (within acceptable parameters) do not affect reliability. 

Why a Toyota Corolla for a replacement car?

Jumping from a performance car like the Kia Stinger GT down to a humble commuter car like the Toyota Corolla may seem unusual, but I understand why Greg may have decided to go with the popular Japanese model. Toyota’s proven reliability record, combined with Corolla’s cheap maintenance, makes it the ideal commuter car, despite its obvious lack of performance. 

As someone who is freshly introduced to motorcycles, I am considering selling my sports car in favor of buying something more frugal and practical, so to me, the switch isn’t as unusual as it may seem.

The Lemon Law applies not just to new vehicles, but also to used ones. That said, the conditions vary depending on which state you are in. It seems Greg got the best of both worlds. He won a Lemon law case, which will result in $25,000 in his way, and he acquired a new, cheap-to-run vehicle, known for being one of the most dependable cars you can buy. 

I am curious to learn what you think about the Kia Stinger and this owner’s decision to switch to a more frugal mode of transportation. Would you do the same? I invite you to the comment section below for a discussion.

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Image source: Kia Stinger press, Greg Pitchford via Facebook (Kia Stinger Owners Group)

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.