Problem with KIA Sportage 2012

larsf55

Hi,

I purchased a new KIA Sportage in 2012 (Dublin) and within 3 months, the drivers half leather developed a tear on the right hand side of the seat..

I have had this problem repaired and sadely, the same tear has re-occured...

Any other Kia Sportage owners had the same problems and how did you get on with repairs....

Emailed Kia Ireland and they suggested i return to the KIA garage were repaired....

Any suggestions gratefully accepted...

Cheers

Close shave

Kia Sportage seat PROBLEM

I bought a New Kia Sportage in June 2011 and after 6 months I noticed that the drivers seat had a tear in the leather at the side nearest to door.I contact Kia Ireland who told me to contact the Dealer. The Dealer took photos and I after about 4 weeks I got a call from the dealer saying they had a new seat for me and they said that it would take a half day to fit.
On 15th may 2013 I notice that the drivers seat had a tear in the exact same spot as the previous one. I contact Kia Ireland and again I was told to contact the Dealer. The dealer took some photos and told me that it would be covered under the warranty.The car was booked in for the whole base of the seat to be replaced once again on 31st May 2013, This time I marked under the seat with special pen and had it witnessed. When I received my car back from the dealer I checked and the marks that I made with the pen were still on the underside of the seat. I contacted the dealer on Wednesday 5th June 2013 and they said that the whole base of the seat was replaced, When I informed them about the marks that I had made they said they would have to talk to the mechnic who did the job and they would ring me back in 15 minutes. When they rang back they were still insisting that the whole base of the seat was replaced. I asked for photos of the old parts to be emailed to me as I was going to seek legal advice on this matter, At this point the dealer changed his line saying they only replaced the parts that Kia Ireland sent to them,which was the top(leather cover for the base) and insulation for the offending metal bar at the side of the seat which is causing the damage. I informed the Dealer and Kia Ireland that I now wanted a complete drivers seat replacement. I will keep you posted on out come.

PS. today I noticed that the passenger seat is starting to tear.
Have a look at the Kia owner forum it would appear that this is a worldwide problem with the kia sportage seat.

MuppetCheck

Why would you need a whole new seat for a tear in the leather? A cover would suffice, maybe the foam too but there shouldn't be any need for the frame to be replaced unless there was a problem with that.

Close shave

The problem is not the leather cover, its the metal bar in the frame of the seat that is causing the problem. This bar is razor sharp. If it is tearing the leather then what else is it going to tear!!. Or do they just keep replacing the leather until the warranty runs out.

I spoke to Kia Ireland this morning Stuart Kirwan Customer Service Manager who informed me that the only thing that they will only replace is the cover because their warranty & technical advisor Justin Gribben said that there was no need to replace the frame because they have put some cloth over the offending metal bar in the seat.

Looks like legal route

Henry Ford III

Close shave wrote: »

The problem is not the leather cover, its the metal bar in the frame of the seat that is causing the problem. This bar is razor sharp. If it is tearing the leather then what else is it going to tear!!. Or do they just keep replacing the leather until the warranty runs out.

I spoke to Kia Ireland this morning Stuart Kirwan Customer Service Manager who informed me that the only thing that they will only replace is the cover because their warranty & technical advisor Justin Gribben said that there was no need to replace the frame because they have put some cloth over the offending metal bar in the seat.

Looks like legal route

If they've replaced the torn cover, and taken steps to ensre the issue doesn't reoccur what more can they resonably do?

colm_mcm

What exactly would you like them to do? If they replace the whole seat, won't the exact same thing happen again?

Surely the repair with the insulation is worth a try?

MugMugs

colm_mcm wrote: »

What exactly would you like them to do? If they replace the whole seat, won't the exact same thing happen again?

Surely the repair with the insulation is worth a try?

Doesn't seem that they are taking steps that will adequately prevent this matter reoccurring though. Evident by the fact it happened more than once on the same spot.

colm_mcm

My reading of it is that they replaced the seat the first time. This time they replaced the covering and fitted padding over the offending bar.

Stallingrad

Not really related but I'm not sure it is real leather either, but artificial leather. Open to correction.

MidlandsM

In fairness to Kia, they are trying to resolve this, maybe if the owners worked with them to try and resolve it, they'd get to an end solution, than just citing and going "ALL LEGAL" - like if it went all legal, the owners still have to work with KIA in resolving it, no one else.....

MugMugs

I suppose we don't know if the initial replacement happened in post 2 though as the seat wasn't marked.

colm_mcm

Stallingrad wrote: »

Not really related but I'm not sure it is real leather either, but artificial leather. Open to correction.

Funny you should say that, kia got in a tiny bit of trouble when auto express took it upon themselves to contact them on a customers behalf after he saw that the brochure stated that the 'full leather' may contain imitation leather.

Everyone's at it. Genuine leather is very rare on mainstream cars. Even on most premium cars, real leather is more expensive than the regular fake stuff.

MidlandsM

....from korean cows !

Close shave

Ok Guys, The first replacement was only the leather cover and not the complete base as I was told by the dealer. And once again this time it's only the leather cover with a cloth over the offending metal bar which in my opinion will only prolong the tear happening and its my view that Kia will then say you are out of warranty. The 7 year warrant is not 7 years on everything with the car.
And yes I agree that the owners should be able to deal with Kia Ireland to resolve this problem at local level. I spoke to their customer service manager this morning and his attitude was you will take the leather cover or nothing , But in the UK Kia are offering owners a redesign seat if the leather has ripped twice. When I pointed this out to their Customer Service Manager he said he could not comment on other Kia customers or what is happening with the Kia Sportage in other countries. What happened to the sale of goods act 1980!!!!

Close shave

Up Date on Seat:I was asked to return the car to the Kia Dealer for inspection of the seat. The service manager took one look at the seat and said that the repair was not expectable.He spoke to the mechanic that fitted the leather cover and the plastic cover on offending bar,The mechanic and the service manager informed me that there are other issues with the seat.The dealer has admitted that there is a problem with the seat and that the only way to make right is to replace the base.Kia Ireland have ask the dealer to hold off ordering in the replacement parts for the seat because Kia Slovakia(assemblers of Kia Europe) are going to send out a bulletin to all Kia dealers about the sportage seat problem. Hopefully after 3 months I can get this seat sorted.

MugMugs

Why are you being asked to wait while they issue a bulletin?

The Nutty M

My old fella has one,he bought it new last year,and there is no sign of any tear coming in it.
It's not from the lack of use,it has over 40k kms on it.:D

Close shave

@MugMugs:Its the opinion of the service manager that they may be calling a recall on Kia Sportage because of the seat problem. It must be costing them a fortune replacing the leather. I am going to give them another two weeks and then its of to the Solicitors.
@The Nutty M: Your old fella is one of the lucky ones. It think its the 2011 & some 2012 that have the problem. Google Kia Sportage seat problem. its all over Europe. There was a similar problem in Aussi about two years ago and it was sorted out fairly quick.

dubjay

the problem is with certain models.it was first suspected with all leather heated seats by the way are not leather but as good as.the kia forum has some good posts about the issue and all have been resolved.i only bought a 11 d with 30k milage and no tears that i can see so you cant say its the 2011 and 2012 models with the problem because some 2014 and 2013 have the issue also.

HandsomeDan

Dog leather. Enjoying your KIA?

dubjay

loving it.enjoying your yellow bettle with the sunflower?