Ask a mechanic which cars they would never park in their own driveway and two names come up again and again: Hyundai and Kia. The complaints are not about fussy infotainment systems or squeaky trim, but about engines that fail early, repairs that snowball, and cars that, in the words of one tech, “just keep blowing up.”
That kind of language might sound dramatic, yet it reflects a pattern that shop owners, online creators, and reliability data keep circling back to. For drivers hunting for a cheap used ride, it is a warning worth hearing before signing anything at the dealership.
Why mechanics single out Hyundai and Kia
When technicians talk about problem brands, they are not pulling names out of a hat. They see what actually breaks, how often it happens, and what it costs to put right. In that day to day grind, Hyundai and Kia have become shorthand for cars that arrive on a tow truck with catastrophic engine trouble and leave owners stunned at the repair bill. One viral breakdown of Hyundai and Kia problems captured that frustration with the blunt line that these cars “just keep blowing up,” a phrase that has since bounced around car forums and social feeds.
On social media, working mechanics have been even more explicit. One tech posting under the Tire Boss Inc account said, “I would never own a Hyundai or Kia product or basically anything KDM,” using the shorthand for Korean domestic market vehicles, before explaining that he sees them come in with major failures far earlier than rivals. Another mechanic in the same discussion added that these cars “just start falling apart,” a sentiment that has turned into a kind of unofficial shop-floor consensus about Hyundai and Kia ownership.
The engine problem that keeps coming back
Ask those same mechanics what actually fails and they tend to land on one answer: engines. In coverage that pulled together shop experiences and owner complaints, one technician put it plainly, saying, “I probably would never wanna own a Hyundai or Kia product because after 100,000 miles they just start falling apart to pieces.” That is the mileage where many buyers expect to settle into a long, boring middle age with their car, not start shopping for a replacement engine.
Other reporting on the same pattern notes that when people ask, “What is the most common problem with Hyundai or Kia cars?”, the answer keeps circling back to one recurring issue. Both brands are repeatedly linked to a single main defect: engine failure. That is not a squeak or a sensor, it is the heart of the car, and when it goes, the repair can easily cost more than the vehicle is worth.
Viral videos, “blowing up” engines, and shop-floor reality
The complaints are not confined to quiet grumbling in back bays. Short videos from working techs have turned Hyundai and Kia into cautionary tales for millions of viewers. One widely shared clip from an Accurate Automotive mechanic, highlighted in coverage of Kias and Hyundais, described how these cars arrive with severe internal damage that is wildly out of proportion to their age and mileage. Another creator, @motorcarnut, has talked about how it is not uncommon for these engines to seize or “blow up,” language that might be colorful but lines up with what shops are seeing.
On Instagram, a separate reel that has racked up views features a mechanic explaining why his shop always tells people, “never buy a Hyundai or Kia.” In his words, “the main issue that I have with them is the engine failure,” describing cars that come in with the engine “locked up” and no realistic path to a cheap fix. That clip, shared under a Hyundai and Kia tag, has become a kind of shorthand explanation for why so many techs steer friends and family away from these brands.
The same reel is also available directly on Instagram, where the mechanic walks viewers through a real world example of a locked engine and the costs that follow. For shoppers scrolling through car listings on their phone, that kind of visual evidence can be more persuasive than any spec sheet.
How this compares with broader reliability data
Mechanic horror stories are one thing, but they land differently when they line up with broader reliability trends. Independent testing groups have been tracking which brands and models generate the most headaches, and the picture is not flattering for several mainstream automakers. One analysis of cars to avoid in the current market, for example, flags the Nissan Frontier and other Nissan models for their own reliability issues, a reminder that Hyundai and Kia are not the only brands under scrutiny.
Large scale surveys add more context. Consumer Reports said it analyzed data from around 380,000 vehicles to rank the reliability of 26 different brands, then used that to build a list of the least dependable models. In a separate breakdown of the top 10 least reliable cars and SUVs for 2026, the group highlighted the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and its low reliability score, underscoring that engine and drivetrain problems are not unique to any one badge.
What this means if you are shopping used
For buyers eyeing a cheap used Hyundai or Kia, the message from the bays is simple: proceed with caution. Multiple mechanics interviewed in coverage of Mechanics Say Never cars stressed that while some owners get lucky, too many wind up facing engine replacements that wipe out any savings from the low purchase price. That is especially risky when buying older, higher mileage examples where warranty coverage has long expired.
Experts who track used car pitfalls say the safest move is to treat Hyundai and Kia as “inspect first, decide later” brands. That means paying for a pre purchase inspection, asking specifically about signs of engine failure, and being ready to walk away if the history report shows past powertrain work. Shoppers who still want to roll the dice should at least budget for the possibility of a big repair, and weigh that against alternatives from brands that do not show up as often in lists of cars mechanics secretly.
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