I regret buying a used 2012 Kia Sorento from Janex in August 2021. It seemed like a good deal at…read more$10,000 with 128,000 km, but it turned out to be a lemon.
After only 28 months of mostly highway driving, it now has 184,000 km and is unfit for the road. It needs thousands of dollars worth of repairs to pass safety inspection, and two mechanics advised me to scrap it.
Here is a list of the $5,619 repairs I had to do.
- $1,517 (Oct 5, 2021): Antenna, driver's seat trim and cover, all season tires
- $700 (Oct 2021): Rust removal work
- $305 (Dec 13, 2021): New battery
- $247 (Jan 13, 2022): Repaired three rear sensors that had been glued in
- $1,051 (May 10, 2022): General repairs to brakes, and replaced front pads due to corrosion
- $500 (Feb 23, 2023): Oil leak from oil pressure sensor
- $283 (May 16, 2023): Check engine light on, large evap leak in vent circuit
- $1,026 (Oct 19, 2023): Replaced both front quick struts, rear right toe adjustor being seized
To make the SUV certified safe to sell second-hand, it would require me to spend thousands more dollars in repairs to fix:
Hole in frame on pass rear
Right rear tail light bulb
Right side headlight lens
Free up front caliper sliders
Replace park brake shoes, hold down kit and actuator lever
Replace rear brake backing plates and rear right caliper
Fix oil leaks from engine/transmission area
Rear differential is leaking
Front brake service as caliper sliders are seized
Rear brake pads, rotors, right rear caliper
Replace rear CV axle shaft seals as they are leaking
Condenser fins are gone
This experience has overall cost me a lot of money and stress.