April 24, 2017—Kia Motors America has issued a position statement addressing the quality of its parts.
The auto manufacturer said its parts are carefully designed and constructed of high-quality materials for the exact application in each model. Kia said its parts are thoroughly tested by its workers and suppliers to ensure that each vehicle delivers top safety. The manufacturer also said its original and replacement parts meet or exceed all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, including compliance with FMVSS testing.
Kia noted that it disclaims any responsibility for inferior aftermarket parts. The manufacturer said its customers should be aware that inferior aftermarket parts cannot be constructed to Kia’s exact design standards, and thus can result in a lack of proper fit and attachment connections, which in turn can prevent compliance with the repair procedures detailed in the Kia repair manuals, leading to inferior durability. For all those reasons, Kia said, it does not recommend the use of questionable aftermarket parts.
"Aftermarket parts, whether created new, remanufactured or rebuilt are not designed or constructed using the original Kia specifications and materials, and they may not perform up to Kia’s carefully designed, developed and tested safety, performance and dependability standards. Kia specifically disclaims any responsibility for of such aftermarket parts," the statement read. Customers should be aware that such aftermarket parts cannot be constructed to Kia’s exacting design standards, and thus can result in a lack of proper fit and attachment connections; this in turn can prevent compliance with the repair procedures detailed in the Kia repair manuals, leading to poor performance and limited durability."
Kia said the use of diminished quality aftermarket, remanufactured and rebuilt parts, as well as recycled ones can also diminish a vehicle’s value. Kia Motors America said it is not responsible for any repair costs, vehicle damage, property damage, injury or death associated with aftermarket parts, whether new, remanufactured or rebuilt.
Additionally, the vehicle manufacturer said it cannot endorse the use of any repair or replacement safety restraint component, including airbags, seatbelts or pre-tensioners, that are not authorized Kia parts. Kia also warned against using remanufactured parts that don’t meet its specifications.
The manufacturer said in a statement, “parts obtained outside of Kia’s engineering process have no assurance that they have the crash protection afforded by Genuine Kia parts, regardless of their nominal appearance, and thus their use can increase the risk of injury or death in a crash.”
