Extended Warranty - Deal, or No Deal?

[stbentoak]

What do you mean by KIA branded? Fidelity prints KIA in big letters on the policy? What does KIA the manufacturer have to do with it? Nothing, they accept payment from Fidelity just like they would if you were in an accident and State Farm payed all but your deductible to the dealer. Fidelity decides what they will pay not KIA.

KIA decided to pay for broken windshields because they determined the ones they used were not holding up for their customers. Who’s to say they won’t do the same thing if they determine the electronics were not giving their customers good service.

I think too much is made of the possibility that electronics are apt to fail. Self driving cars are already on the road and any manufacturer who doesn’t believe the electronics will hold up are going to be sued out of business by lawyers.

I would disagree that most manufacture warranties are covered by third party insurance companies. They sell the warranty and make all the decisions on what’s covered.

You are correct, 3rd party warranties are a crap shoot. I have always lived by the mantra that if you can't buy a factory backed warranty, run away. It seems they are always smart enough one way or the other about not covering some of the most common and insidious things that go wrong. I had a factory backed FCA warranty on my JEEP and it truly DID cover even sensors and emissions items, some thing that most all 3rd party ones will always dissallow.... Like others have said on here, you can buy the warranty at any dealer and any other dealer will honor it no problem..... Just make sure its factory backed and you will have a lot less finger pointing when it is truly needed....

 

[Lith_SXPN]

Everyone should make their own decision based on information that is readily out there. I wasn't trying to argue any decision was good or bad. I just wanted put my reasoning behind why I purchased one. Just an opinion, hoping someone will benefit from reading both sides of the view.

If Fidelity denies any of my claims, they better have a damn good reason why. Fidelity may have a bad rep, but they do not automatically deny 100% of the claims. And since Kia decided Fidelity was good enough company to plaster all of their logo on it and put it on their site as their own, Kia will have to share some of the blame as well. If it does come down to that, it will be my fight and won't blame anyone for my decision. As I said before, I don't ever want to exercise my EW, but for now, I am happy with having something to "fall back" on.

 

[John_Henry]

I respect your decision on not purchasing, but who is they? Fidelity may not have the information readily available but contract information is out there if you look around. Here is a link to the terms pdf. I am sure your dealer will provide the same information if you asked. Personally speaking, I bought the EW for peace of mind. I expect electronics these days are reliable enough that I will never use the warranty. If something breaks and Fidelity denies a claim, I will cancel and get a prorated refund and call it a good day. 1. I agree and everyone should read the terms, 2. Kia Distinction Platinum is 10y/100k/$0 deductible, 3) I hope I never have to use the warranty.

Thank you for the link. I will review it tonight

 

[maddmike]

On a Kia with high reliability ratings and relatively inexpensive parts? No thank you.

My other car is a Alfa Romeo Gulia Quadrifoglio. That thing is a beast full of high-performance, and temperamental Italian parts. I did get an extended warranty on that. Family SUVs in this price point are supposed to be reliable and I trust them to get me from point A to point B. Once you start getting into European brands with expensive, high-performance parts it makes more sense.

My GX is about to roll over 100k miles with only oil changes, tires, and brakes.