I only had my 23 Niro EX Hybrid serviced once, at the 8,000 service level (did 22s have 10,000 mile service intervals?). I brought it to my local Kia dealership in San Diego county, not the dealership I bought it from. I was expecting the worst, but, to my surprise, they did the oil change and inspection for $92 and said nothing else. I plan to bring it to the same dealer for the 16,000 service, but only because I plan to sell it this year and want to be able to show I had it serviced properly at the dealer and they can also find all the records.

That being said, I also hate bringing any car to the dealer for service. I also think the recommended services at certain mileage levels is largely made up to get you to believe something bad will happen otherwise. What I do with all my other cars is bring them to a well regarded independent car mechanic. The one I go to now I found on Yelp and they truly had nothing but hundreds of positive reviews. My experience with them has been great. I did pay them an extra $75 to do all the things recommended at those certain mileage levels, BUT, when I don't pay them to do it, they seem to do it anyway; mostly it's just check the belts, fluids and filters. No pressure from them.

The last few cars I have bought over the last 20 years seem to be built to last. Seems like all they need proper fluid service until around 100,000 miles. Maybe I've been lucky. Good luck to you, as well.

 

The best way to avoid being taken advantage of is to go in armed and knowledgeable about your car's needs. Make and bring a copy of the maintaince schedule in your owners manual for your own consultation. If it's running fine you only need an oil change. Your mistake is getting or even listening to a dealers package. You go in with a list that has what you want, items 1, 2 and so on. You should have 1. Oil change, If you want 2. Tire rotation. Most dealers give you a free inspection ( a real quick once over) but it's good because maybe you need say a cabin air filter or so on. With your miles you very well may need a cabin air filter, the Niro engine air filter lasts a very long time. Also check the dealers web page most have coupons you can print out. Also I would check out if you have a different dealer you can go to who has regular prices and won't rip you off. But go in armed if you feel they're not treating you as a valued customer just somebody with deep pockets go elsewhere.

 

Thank you so much for the advice. That's exactly what I intend to do. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of KIA dealers in the greater Los Angeles area and they are all sharks, because people here love to spend their money and not ask questions. I called today and they quoted me an oil change w/filter replacement for $85.00. I'm just going to get that and any other issue that specifies (R or P).

 

Don't accept what a dealer says is needed for a service interval. Read your manual and see what needs to be done. Looking up the '22 Niro hybrid, I see three things that should be done: oil and filter change, engine air filter replacement, and tire rotation. Everything else listed is an inspection, which most Kia dealers do as part of the service. Oil change should be around $100, I don't know what a dealer would charge for the engine air filter, but O'Reilly lists it at $30, and a tire rotation shouldn't be a lot. I'd say if they charged more than $200 for a 24k service they are gouging. You can easily change the engine oil filter yourself in a matter of minutes, and many tire stores will do a rotation for minimal cost (some might even do them for free). If you're not a mechanical person, changing the oil yourself might not be something you want to mess with. Not that it's hard, just that it can be a bit messy and you need the proper tools to do the job.

 

Thank you so much for your reply. It's very helpful to get affirmation that all those dealer packages are somewhat of a scam ($700 for a 20K maintenance that is largely based on inspection!!?? huh?)... I called today and was quoted $85.00 for the oil change, and will ask about the filter price on arrival. Bringing my owner manual with in hand. !!

 

Print the service interval section from your owner's manual, take it to the dealer, and tell them "I want this, this, and this done. Do NOT do anything else."

I have never paid more than $200 for a routine service at a dealer, and that one included a wheel alignment @ 24,000 miles because the OEM Nexen tires were badly worn at 20,000 miles.

 

Thank you so much! That is my plan!! Jeez for people who are not naturally confrontational going to the dealer for routine maintenance can be anxiety provoking. LOL. Appreciate the advice!

 

85 bucks to fully refill the oil and replace the oil filter(with one that is rated fine for your year and vehicle) seems fair. 8)

 

My sister bought a new Kia in Washington sate and received free oil changes for life and 3 free years of Kia connect. My daughter bought a Kia from a dealer near Portland and received free oil changes for life. I bought a new Kia from a dealer in southern Oregon. First I ask for a specific Oregon plate they didn't request my plate and never apologized. I took my car in for the first check up and they charged me over 100 dollars for an oil change no mention of free oil changes and didn't offer to wash it as I am looking right at the sign that said free car wash with any service. Huge difference in dealers perks. This has soured me on that dealership and I will no longer take my car to them. I feel I can't trust them.

 

"Free oil changes for life" is bait to get you into the service area and sold more services. The service department usually makes more money for the owner than sales. Shields Up! Keep in mind that the service writer is paid on commission, and the techs are paid by the task. If they don't have tasks and don't sell service, they don't get a paycheck. The poorly performing service writers (don't sell enough services) get fired.

As noted several times above, only get the routine services shown in the owner's manual. If any expensive services are due, or anything else comes up, get the price from a good independent shop as well as the stealership.

 

"Free oil changes for life" is bait to get you into the service area and sold more services.

Two of my cars have lifetime oil changes, but of course it's only applicable at the selling dealer. Which is fine as long as I don't move out of the area (which I don't currently plan to do). The VW has been serviced twice and the Kia once, and with both dealers there was no problem just telling them to change the oil. No attempt was made to sell my anything additional, but I know that's not the case with all dealers.

 

Thanks, I do understand. I take my car to local repair shop that I can trust who does all the checks needed for the warranty. I am retired on a fixed income. I can't afford paying for things that truly don't need to be done.

 

The big secret that the Dealerships don't tell you is There Is No 10k, or 16k, 20k mileage based Service. It's not in your owner's manual at all. Instead it's a mileage and/or time based Service interval. Your oil change for instance is 7500 reg or 3500 severe service(I avg it out and change @5k). Everything is based on the mileage of the component or fluid. Yep you're getting scammed at high prices for these - mile services, and theyt all do it. Read and go by your owner's manual for maintenance!

 

I had a 'free' oil change, but only at the dealer on the vehicle... took it to that dealer, they did not flinch... ah, but the 2nd or 3rd time (don't remember exactly) they tried to upsell me, I did refuse... the next time they 'tried' to give me the run around, but I held my ground....

Lesson here is 'the dealer' will try to get you to spend more $$$.... even trying to get me to buy something I know I either did not need or could get it for less and another place...
bottom line, don't allow them to pidgen you into something you did not want. 8)