So about the time the first recall for the K5 came out, the door covering the fuel spout stuck closed, making it impossible to open the door. Online it is apparent that this is a pretty common problem. They recommended pushing on the lock/unlock button repeatedly to free up the actuator. After many tries it opened and we were able to put gas in the tank. While getting the recall fixed, we had the dealership check, and of course they couldn't find anything wrong. That was when the car was fairly new and still on warranty. Another instance or two that resolved itself by the above method were okay. The dealership knows the problem is common. Finally (after the car was no longer on warranty) the door stuck again. This time the solution didn't work. The dealer jimmied the door open by prying it somehow... but we were advised not to close the door.
The next week they had the part and we took it in. It was $190 "fee" to check to see what the problem was. The parts and labor then brought the fee up to $630. The dealership people were nice enough, but it is a stupid design. There is no emergency button or cable to open the door. The problem is on all models of Kia cars that use the same actuator... and so now, after paying for it so the car isn't an immobile lawn ornament, we get to look forward to it happening again and again, as long as we own the car. Maybe Kia makes a ton of cash off of this stupid design... who knows. But the stupidity of the design, and knowing it is a problem, yet not finding a permanent fix is really irritating.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
So about the time the first recall for the K5 came out, the door covering the fuel spout stuck closed, making it impossible to open the door. Online it is apparent that this is a pretty common problem. They recommended pushing on the lock/unlock button repeatedly to free up the actuator. After many tries it opened and we were able to put gas in the tank. While getting the recall fixed, we had the dealership check, and of course they couldn't find anything wrong. That was when the car was fairly new and still on warranty. Another instance or two that resolved itself by the above method were okay. The dealership knows the problem is common. Finally (after the car was no longer on warranty) the door stuck again. This time the solution didn't work. The dealer jimmied the door open by prying it somehow... but we were advised not to close the door.
The next week they had the part and we took it in. It was $190 "fee" to check to see what the problem was. The parts and labor then brought the fee up to $630. The dealership people were nice enough, but it is a stupid design. There is no emergency button or cable to open the door. The problem is on all models of Kia cars that use the same actuator... and so now, after paying for it so the car isn't an immobile lawn ornament, we get to look forward to it happening again and again, as long as we own the car. Maybe Kia makes a ton of cash off of this stupid design... who knows. But the stupidity of the design, and knowing it is a problem, yet not finding a permanent fix is really irritating.
- D C., Springville, US