anyone else had a charge flap crack in freezing conditions

[Grace_Holloway]

I recently discovered a 2-inch vertical crack in my Kia Niro EV charge flap after a cold snap when the flap froze shut. The dealer admitted the release mechanism was stiff and has since adjusted it, but when I tried opening it, the flap cracked under normal pressure.

Kia is offering only $150 toward the $455 repair, blaming it on “outside influences.” I refused to pay since I believe the stiff release and frozen flap caused the issue, not misuse.

Has anyone else had a cracked charge flap in cold weather? Did Kia cover your repair under warranty, or did you have to pay? Would a third-party repair (like ChipsAway) be a good alternative?

My lease is up in October, so I’m weighing my options.

 

[Halfton1877]

If you haven’t yet, escalate to Kia or get a second opinion from another dealer. ChipsAway might be a cheaper fix, but check if Kia will penalize a non-OEM repair. With your lease up in October, you might also consider a temporary DIY fix if the crack isn’t causing functional issues.

 

[Watan]

You’re right to push back, others have had similar issues, your best option will be to escalate with Kia