My 2025 Kia K4 Started Smoking and Leaking Oil After Service, And the Way the Dealer’s Responding Makes Me Think They’re Hiding Serious Damage

Imagine your car starts smoking after a routine oil change, and the dealer’s first request is to not fill out the service survey. Here’s why that one request might reveal more than they intended.

There are a few things in car ownership that make your stomach drop. It could be an engine light coming on, a sudden breakdown, or worse yet, watching your brand-new car puff out smoke right after a routine service. But what if the real issue isn’t just under the hood, but in the way the dealership responds? That’s what one Kia K4 owner is grappling with after a simple oil change turned into something far more concerning. This morning, I encountered Amy's story through the “KIA K4 2025” group on Facebook. She had just gotten an oil change at a Kia dealership, but within the hour, her brand-new 2025 Kia K4 was leaking oil, smoking, and making loud metallic clanks. The dealership’s response? A vague reassurance that the engine was fine, and a suspicious request to avoid completing the service survey. 

Here's what she wrote in full: “I need some advice please. I got an oil change at a KIA dealership, drove off, and about an hour later heard a metal clunk under the car. Then it started smoking. I pulled over and a bunch of oil was on the ground. I Immediately called KIA for a tow. They filled the oil and inspected the engine and said it was all good. Then the manager asked me to not fill out the survey I was going to get! Odd, right? Then I got the ‘I'm really sorry.’ I asked about the engine blowing and metal fragments and they told me that I have a 10 yr/100,000 mile warranty so if the engine goes out, it will be replaced and if it was going to happen, it would wait for 10/100,000 to go bad. This entire situation is not sitting well with me and everyone I ask says I should request a new engine or a lifetime any KIA dealership warranty. Oh, and free oil changes for the life of the car. People also told me to contact a lawyer because this can cause serious damage. What do you all think?”

Red Flags and Rolling Smoke

What makes this situation so disconcerting isn’t just the mechanical failure itself, though that alone is alarming on a new vehicle. It's really how the dealership seemed more concerned with its service survey than transparency. When a dealership asks you not to complete a survey after a botched service, that signals a red flag.

Some group members wasted no time cutting to the core of the issue. Mandy Cobb didn’t mince words, saying, “I would contact a lawyer.” That single sentence reflects a growing sentiment among customers who feel dealerships aren’t always honest or forthcoming when they know they’ve messed up. Legal representation isn’t just a threat, but a necessary line of defense sometimes.

Oliver G. Hardley took a more proactive stance: “Demand a new motor for your car and report this to Kia corporate.” His comment underscores something many new Kia owners are starting to feel: if your dealership won’t protect you, escalate it to the manufacturer. Document everything, file a claim, and go to the top if you must.

Danny Goncalves added another layer: “I just keep hearing horror story after horror story with Kia. Man, I should have stuck with Honda.” That comparison reflects the growing tension between Kia’s recent gains in value and performance versus lingering doubts about long-term reliability. Many owners, including some who originally traded in their Civics or Corollas, are beginning to wonder if they gambled on the wrong bet.

To that point, it’s worth noting how strongly the 2025 Kia K4 has been praised for its performance and value. One reviewer even said it rivaled the Honda Civic at its price point. But as we’re seeing here, a stellar test drive doesn’t always guarantee worry-free ownership.

A Deeper Problem?

Steve Spicer added a dose of realism: “Too early for lemon law. It takes 3 repairs on the same issue getting the manufacturer involved at each step. Insure it well and drive it like a rental and see what happens next.” His advice is pragmatic but also frustrating. It implies that the only way to see if your brand-new car is a dud is to wait and hope it breaks again. That’s a bitter pill for anyone who just made their first or second car purchase.

There’s also the larger issue of how warranty safety nets are now being used as corporate shields. Kia service centers may technically fix the issue under warranty if the engine fails, but what if the damage isn’t immediate? What if a lack of oil caused premature internal wear that doesn’t show up until after the powertrain coverage ends? In those cases, the customer might be left holding the bag years later, especially if the dealership didn’t document the issue honestly in the service records.

That exact anxiety is what many owners are beginning to express online. While the 2025 Kia K4 has been described as the kind of car automakers once built their reputations on, those reputations can crumble quickly when trust is violated. If a basic oil change can lead to potential engine failure, and the service staff tries to keep it quiet, allegedly of course, then it taints everything that car might have represented.

When the Warranty Isn’t Enough

Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile warranty has always been a major selling point. It reassures buyers that even if something goes wrong, they’re covered. But in this case, the warranty became part of the deflection. Instead of focusing on fixing the immediate problem, the staff allegedly leaned on the warranty as a safety blanket instead. 

That doesn’t sit right for most people as most engines don’t smoke and leak oil because they’re healthy, but that does seem to be the extent of what one would expect until the car breaks down once more.

It’s even more upsetting considering that many buyers chose the K4 for its refinement and upgraded features. Some owners praised the K4 for its smooth ride, independent rear suspension, and premium feel for the price. But again, none of that matters if the dealership doesn’t take ownership seriously when something breaks.

This also isn’t the first Kia K4 owner to encounter an unsettling post-service surprise. We recently covered another case where a 2025 Kia K4 suffered wiring damage from rodents, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage. The dealership said it wasn’t covered under warranty, since most of those damages aren't typically covered. That too felt like another example of shifting responsibility onto the customer though.

So I think stories like this do make one thing clear: no matter how good a car looks on paper, the real ownership experience is defined by what happens with who you trust with your vehicle. Plus, if brands are going to offer a class-leading warranty like Kia, then you need a network that stands by it honestly and not one that dances around accountability, hoping issues get swept under the rug. 

Key Takeaways

• If something goes wrong right after a service, document everything. Photos, tow records, dealership notes, and time of day records could save you later.
• Don’t let vague reassurances substitute for real answers. If your engine clanked and smoked, demand a full write-up of what happened and why.
• Use your warranty strategically, but don’t let it become a crutch that allows poor service to slide.
• Push for written confirmation that your engine was properly inspected and is not damaged, or better yet, get a second opinion.
• Reach out to corporate when dealership behavior raises flags. Pressure from above can get results you won’t see at the service desk.

Time For Your Opinion

Have you ever experienced something going wrong right after a dealer service? Did they take responsibility or try to downplay it?

And what’s your take on the K4 so far? Do you think it has the potential to truly compete with long-standing favorites like the Civic, or are there still too many concerns to overlook? 

Let me know what you think in the comments below. 

Aram Krajekian is a young automotive journalist bringing a fresh perspective to his coverage of the evolving automotive landscape. Follow Aram on X and LinkedIn for daily news coverage about cars.

Image Sources: Kia Gallery