Kia Repair in Dubai, from Picanto to Telluride
A flashing engine light, a gearbox that judders in traffic, AC that gives up in July, or just a service you want done properly at a fair price. We repair every Kia in Al Quoz, and we tell you straight when a job should go to the dealer instead.
Kia at a glance
- New UAE dealer
- Al Tayer Motors since 1 September 2026.
- Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
- Premier Motors.
- Old warranties
- Still honoured by the new dealers.
- Our focus
- Faults, servicing, AC, brakes.
Kia changed hands in September 2026
After 38 years with the Juma Al Majid Group, Kia's UAE business moved to Al Tayer Motors and Premier Motors. If your Kia is still under warranty, nothing is lost, but your first booking with the new dealer goes smoother with the right papers.
Juma Al Majid Group
Kia's UAE distributor since 1988, for sales, service and parts across the country.
Two new dealers
- Al Tayer Motors
- Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain.
- Premier Motors
- Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
Take these to your first booking with the new dealer
- VIN
- Mulkiya
- Service booklet or digital history
- Prepaid maintenance invoice
- Previous job cards
Dealer change, areas and documents from YallaMotor and Al Tayer Motors, checked 14 October 2026. Booking number for the dealer: 800 MOTORS.
What is your Kia trying to tell you?
Pick what you are noticing. You get the likely causes, how urgent it is and what to do next, in plain English. It is a guide, not a diagnosis, and the free inspection confirms it.
Flashing engine light with low power or a knock from the engine: stop driving hard and get it checked straight away. Judder pulling away in traffic: often clutch wear in a dual clutch gearbox. Warm AC at idle: gas, condenser fan or compressor. No start after a hot day: usually the 12V battery. Clunk over speed bumps: suspension links or bushes.
- What it can mean
- What to do
The engine fault worth knowing about
Some 2.0 and 2.4 litre Theta II engines fitted to Kia Sportage, Sorento and Optima models from 2011 to 2019 can wear their crankshaft bearings early. In the worst cases the engine seizes, so the warning signs matter.
Kia's fix included free inspections and a knock sensor software update that puts the car into a protection mode when it detects bearing wear. If your Kia is imported or non GCC spec, or was never updated, it is worth a check. Ask the UAE dealer to check your VIN.
Stop and get it checked if you see
- The engine light flashing non stop
- The car stuck in low power with the revs held down
- A knock from the engine that rises with the revs
Affected engines, cause and warning signs from Rick's Free Auto Repair Advice and the manufacturer service bulletin, checked 14 October 2026. If your Kia is still under UAE warranty, take it to the dealer first.
Judder in traffic? It is often the clutch, not the gearbox
Kia's 7 speed dual clutch gearbox uses dry clutches, a lot like a manual car's, worked by a computer. Owners report judder and hesitation when pulling away slowly, often worse after a long crawl in stop and go traffic.
In one well documented Seltos case at about 65,000 km, the scan showed no fault codes at all, yet the clutches were worn. That is why we road test and inspect, not just plug in a scanner.
Helps the clutch last
- Hold the car on the brake in traffic, not on the throttle
- Use Park at long lights and in queues
- Pull away firmly rather than creeping
Wears it faster
- Holding the car on a slope with the throttle
- Inching forward in long queues
- Ignoring a judder that gets worse
Owner case from Team-BHP, checked 14 October 2026. One owner's report, not proof that every Kia DCT fails. Driving tips are our workshop advice.
Get your Kia ready before the heat does the damage
Most Kia breakdowns we see in summer are not dramatic. They are an AC that slowly loses gas, a battery that was already tired, and tyres running hot. A check before the worst months saves a roadside wait.
Our workshop advice for Dubai summers.
Every Kia on UAE roads, one workshop
Kia sells one of the widest line-ups in the country, from the small Picanto and Pegas to the Telluride and the electric EV9. We work on all of them, and on the older models still running every day.
Electric
- EV3
- EV5
- EV6
- EV9
Older Kias too: Optima, Cerato, Rio, Cadenza, Mohave, Soul, Stinger and Quoris.
Current UAE line-up from Al Tayer Motors, checked 14 October 2026.
Dealer or Mechanics? Three questions decide it
We would rather send you to the dealer for a free fix than charge you for it. Work down the questions and stop at the first yes.
Is it a fault and is the car under UAE warranty?Engine, gearbox or electrical faults on a covered car.
Yes: dealerIs there an open recall or campaign on your VIN?The dealer can check this, and recall work is free.
Yes: dealerIs it servicing, wear parts, AC, an accident or an out of warranty fault?Brakes, tyres, batteries, AC, suspension, body and older cars.
Yes: MechanicsWhat decides the price of a Kia job
Kia covers small cars to big SUVs, so one price list would mislead you. Here is what moves the price, and every job is quoted in writing after a free inspection.
| Job | Price | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Minor or major service | Quoted by model | Engine size, oil grade and the filters due. |
| AC repair or regas | Quoted after test | Gas only, or a leak, fan or compressor. |
| Brake pads and discs | Quoted by model | Front or rear, and pads only or discs too. |
| DCT clutch repair | Quoted after road test | Clutch pack, actuator or a software reset. |
| Engine diagnosis | Quoted after inspection | Scan, oil pressure test and the noise found. |
| Suspension and steering | Quoted by model | Links, bushes, shocks and the alignment. |
We found no reliable published Dubai price list for Kia repairs, checked 14 October 2026, so we do not show guessed numbers. Your quote lists parts and labour line by line.
Get the exact price for your Kia
Send the model, year, mileage and the job. You get a written, itemised quote before any work starts.
Eight checks before you pay
Used Kias are good value in Dubai, but some have had a hard life in rental or fleet use. These checks show you what you are really buying.
Service history
Old dealer stamps or digital records.
Engine noise
Cold start, and knock under load.
Gearbox
Judder or slips pulling away.
Fault codes
A full scan of every system.
AC output
Vent temperature at idle.
Past use
Signs of rental or taxi life.
Body and paint
Repairs and panel gaps.
Tyres and brakes
Wear, age and uneven edges.
Booking your Kia with us
Four simple steps, and nothing is done without your yes.
You see photos of what we find and a written quote before you decide. If a job should be free at the dealer, we tell you first.
Message us
Model, year, mileage and what you notice.
Free inspection
Road test, full scan and photos. Recovery is arranged if needed.
Written quote
Parts and labour, line by line.
Repair and test
The work, a road test and the old parts shown.
More Kia service pages
Each page explains the job on a Kia and how we price it.
Kia questions answered
The new dealer, engines, gearboxes and servicing.
Ask on WhatsAppWho is the Kia dealer in the UAE now?
Since 1 September 2026, Al Tayer Motors handles Kia in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, and Premier Motors handles Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The Juma Al Majid Group was the distributor before that, from 1988.
Is my Kia warranty still valid after the dealer change?
Yes. The new dealers say existing Kia warranties, service plans and after-sales support continue without a break. Take your VIN, Mulkiya, service history and any prepaid maintenance invoice to your first booking.
Why is my Kia engine light flashing and the car has no power?
A flashing engine light with limited power can be a misfire or, on some 2.0 and 2.4 litre Theta II engines, a protection mode after bearing wear is detected. Do not keep driving hard. Have it inspected straight away.
Why does my Kia judder when pulling away in traffic?
On Kias with the 7 speed dual clutch gearbox, judder when pulling away slowly is often clutch wear, and it can show no fault codes. A road test and inspection find the cause before any parts are changed.
Can you service my Kia instead of the dealer?
Yes, for cars out of warranty, imported cars, or work the warranty does not cover. If your car is under UAE warranty, check your booklet on where servicing must be done.
Do you repair the Kia Pegas and Picanto?
Yes. We service and repair every Kia, from the Picanto and Pegas to the Sorento, Carnival and Telluride, and older models like the Optima, Cerato and Rio.
Can you inspect a used Kia before I buy it?
Yes. We check the service history, engine, gearbox, fault codes, AC, signs of rental or taxi use, body, tyres and brakes, then send a report with photos.
Book your Kia in this week
Send the model, year, mileage and the problem. We inspect free of charge and give you a written quote before any work starts.