Hyundai & Kia Extend Warranty Coverage

In a move I hope other automakers will adopt, Hyundai and Kia both launched a warranty extension policy for its vehicles worldwide, which includes Best Warranty for customers in the United States. The program aims to support Hyundai customers who may face difficulties in getting vehicles serviced and repaired during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hyundai Program

For Hyundai owners in the U.S. with a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty or a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty that is expiring between March and June 2020, they will have the warranty coverage extended to June 30, 2020. All eligible customers will be contacted in the coming days, with more details about the warranty extension program.

"This is another great example of how we have our customer's back and continue to reinforce America's Best Warranty," said Barry Ratzlaff, chief customer officer, Hyundai Motor America. "While most Hyundai dealers are open to provide service, we want our customers to feel comfortable visiting their dealerships for warranty work and any vehicle service."

Vehicle maintenance has been deemed an essential business in most places across the country, so most service departments have remained open. Hyundai is offering pick up and drop off for service and repairs, so owners don�t have to actually visit the service department. They won�t even have to actually sign any repair bills on the dotted line. Hyundai says its current policy allows for electronic signature authorization and digital communication (text messages, email, and social media posts) between the dealer and customer as a form of repair approval.

In service departments and showrooms that may remain open, Hyundai says its dealers are also practicing social distancing, offering online purchase and home delivery of purchased vehicles at select dealerships, allowing solo test drives, cleaning common areas and eliminating certain in-person activities to make a purchase.

The Kia Version

Kia is also offering to extend warranties during this time. It�s also launched the Kia Promise warranty coverage extension program which is effective immediately and further enhances KMA's recently announced Accelerate the Good program. Kia Promise is designed to ease some of the concerns experienced by Kia owners who may not be able to bring their vehicles to a Kia dealership for warranty repairs due to COVID-19 but have Kia vehicle warranties that are expiring.

"These are uncertain times and the Kia Promise warranty extension program will help bring peace of mind to customers affected by this pandemic by giving them one less thing to worry about," said Michael Cole, president, KMA. "The health and safety of our customers and employees are our top priority and this warranty extension program is yet another way Kia and local Kia dealerships are working to support our customers' individual needs."

Qualifying Kia Customers:

• Kia customers who experienced potentially warrantable concerns with their vehicle during the period of March 2020 through May 2020 and were not able to obtain service from a Kia dealer due to circumstances related to COVID-19; and
• Repairs must be completed by June 30, 2020.

Customers should check with their local Kia dealer regarding their current hours and available special programs, such as vehicle pickup and delivery service, loaner vehicles, and electronic or digital repair authorizations, as well as sanitizing efforts taken to protect the safety of employees and customers.