You can get your entire motor replaced for free even if you've done 200,000 miles - but there's a major restriction
Charlotte Adams
Published Sep 08, 2026
DRIVERS have just realized that a prominent automaker will replace an engine as long as key maintenance can be proved.
Even after 200,000 miles, an entire engine can be replaced at no cost to the driver if oil changes are kept up.
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Dwayne Saunders, owner and technician at Genuine Automotive & Diesel in Austin, Texas, told the U.S. Sun that he's had some wonderful luck with a little-known warranty from Kia and Hyundai.
Having come across a lot of Kia and Hyundai vehicles in his shop, he's seen a lot of oil consumption issues from a specific engine.
"Most techs don't like Kias because they have a tendency to burn oil, and they have had a lot of engine issues, particularly the 2.4," he said.
Despite that, though, Saunders said that Kia or Hyundai are some of his favorite cars, due to their reliability, low maintenance costs, and customer-friendly factory warranties.
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He likes them so much, he has a few at his shop as loaner vehicles when customers have to leave their vehicles for repairs.
"I actually like them a lot, we use them as loaner cars if their vehicle needs to stay a day or two, and I have five either Kia or Hyundai cars," he said.
As a shop owner maintenance is easy and cheap, but once they start being plagued by oil consumption issues, there's a secret that Saunders says many people don't know.
"A lot of people don't know that as long as you keep them up and get oil changes, they'll replace the motors for free, no matter the mileage," said Saunders.
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He's taken advantage of this fact many times, with some vehicles having over 200,000 miles on the clock - well past the normal 100,000-mile factory warranty.
"I've had two [engines] replaced at 211,000 miles," Saunders added.
Before Kia or Hyundai will replace a customer's engine, though, there's a crucial piece of evidence they ask for.
"As long as you can prove you've changed the oil the last five times, they will give you an engine when they can prove that it is burning oil," Saunders said.
Kia and Hyundai recently settled a class-action lawsuit against them for excessive oil consumption issues from the 2.4-liter engine, as nearly 2 million owners were affected by the engine defect that caused consumption.
Depending on where the owner lived, exact parameters are different - like owners in California can have their vehicle bought back per lemon law regulations, and have their entire loan paid off.
If you own a Kia from 2010 to 2020 with a 2.4-liter engine, keep up those oil changes and keep the receipts - because if it fails or starts consuming oil, you'll have the proof necessary to argue for a new engine.
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