jlsoul

Will adding a hitch and bike carrier void a kia soul warranty?

sweeks

Ask the Kia dealer.

prathmann

To deny a warranty claim under US law the manufacturer would have to show that adding the hitch and bike carrier directly led to the failure of the car part that is the subject of the claim.

alcjphil

Considering that a trailer hitch is an accessory offered by Kia dealers, adding a hitch won't be a problem

rumrunn6

have the dealer install it, then it's a non-issue no matter what

Bmach

No and do not have the dealer install it, they charge way to much. Go to etrailer buy it there while there look at their vids on how to install it. Might be an easy diy project. Mine was.

Retro Grouch 

Did you buy the car so that you could get free repairs or did you buy the car to use?

jlsoul

Just bought the car, plan to use it alot. It comes with a good warranty. Many choices for carrying my bike. Prefer not to void the warranty. Get vague answers from the dealer.

prathmann

The dealer has a clear profit motive in misleading you to think that you need to buy any accessories and labor from the dealership to maintain the warranty. That's not true in the US under the Magnuson-Moss Act of 1975.

From Edmunds.com:
"Aftermarket parts or modifications:

Although many dealers would have you think otherwise, simply having an aftermarket part or modifying your vehicle cannot void your warranty.
Some dealerships may say, for example, that just because you have a performance part such as a cold air intake on the car that the whole vehicle warranty is void, says Loren Wong, a car enthusiast and a former warranty administrator for BMW and Acura. "That's not true," he says.
The saving grace for consumers is the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975. The act states that a dealer must prove that aftermarket equipment caused the need for repairs before it can deny warranty coverage.
However, if the reason for a parts failure is unclear, a dealer will usually charge you to diagnose the vehicle. If the aftermarket part was not properly installed or a modification led to a component failure, it is within the dealer's right to void the warranty for that part, and you will have to pay for the repairs out of pocket. If the aftermarket parts had nothing to do with the repairs in question, you will be refunded the fee for the diagnosis."

alcjphil

The hitch that Kia sells is described as an accessory hitch, not a trailer hitch. Most cars like the Soul are not recommended for towing a trailer. If you were to install a wiring harness for a trailer they might say something, but a hitch that is only used to transport something like a bicycle would not affect warranty

jlsoul

This was my first attempt at asking a question on a forum. Many, many helpful answers and information! TY!

bikecrate

I've added a hitch to two Hondas and did not have a problem with warranty. You will save a ton of money by doing it yourself.

Wanderer

KIA is really proud of their hitch --- 250 bucks for a hunnert dollar item!

northtexasbiker

Do this, or if you are not a DIY kind of guy go by a uhaul and they'll put one on for a better price than your dealer. It's not going to void your warranty.

cyclintom

Geez what a grouch.

RidingMatthew

I think that is probably the tricky part. I added a hitch mount to my Mazda 6 wagon. I never towed anything with it but I am sure that people could think that I might have. I just put it on so I could put my bike rack on it when I was having car troubles with my other car. I did not run any wires or anything.


That could be the reason for the dealership giving you vague answers. I have installed the hitch on my Mazda myself and saved money. I helped my dad install a hitch on his Town and Country. It is definitely doable and increase the functionality of your vehicle.


best of luck

Chuck Naill

My son added a hitch on their Nissan. The hole were predrilled so all that was necessary was to bolt it on. You might check YouTube. That's where I learn everything.

Bmach

Same with the soul it is predrilled also.