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Kia Motors Complaint - Customer ripoff - useless warranty - Warranty
Complaint
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA -- I bought a 2005 Kia Sedona specifically for the warranty. At 96,000 miles I carried it to the Kia dealership, where they promptly told me how important it was for me to have 2100.00 dollars in maint. work done. At this point the van was running great, with the exception of a hum in the rear axle that was repaired. ( wheel cylinder bad, 489.00 not covered by warranty).
I agreed to let them do the work, which included replacing every belt, detailed tune-up, etc. 80 days later, the motor blew up on the interstate and I was told the tension arm bolt, which holds pressure on the serpentine belt, broke, falling into the motor. At this point, I am thinking its a warranty issue. However I was told I was 314 miles over the warranty issue, and even though no one had touched this motor other than Kia, it would cost me roughly 3900.00 to fix it.
After carrying it to another repair technician, I was told the bolt had not been tightened properly and it had indeed bent some valves in the motor.
So currently, I have a 2005 Sedona, that has been to the Kia dealership twice, that cost 21000.00 new and is for sale in my front yard for 1000.00.
I have told EVERYONE that will listen how terrible Kia service is, the van is great, but the service personnel is anything but great. Their warranty is garbage, Kia does not stand behind it, and when you try to contact their corporate offices, they refer you to everyone but the janitor.
Never again will I even look at a Kia, much less purchase one, and will tell everyone I know how sorry their service is.
I agreed to let them do the work, which included replacing every belt, detailed tune-up, etc. 80 days later, the motor blew up on the interstate and I was told the tension arm bolt, which holds pressure on the serpentine belt, broke, falling into the motor. At this point, I am thinking its a warranty issue. However I was told I was 314 miles over the warranty issue, and even though no one had touched this motor other than Kia, it would cost me roughly 3900.00 to fix it.
After carrying it to another repair technician, I was told the bolt had not been tightened properly and it had indeed bent some valves in the motor.
So currently, I have a 2005 Sedona, that has been to the Kia dealership twice, that cost 21000.00 new and is for sale in my front yard for 1000.00.
I have told EVERYONE that will listen how terrible Kia service is, the van is great, but the service personnel is anything but great. Their warranty is garbage, Kia does not stand behind it, and when you try to contact their corporate offices, they refer you to everyone but the janitor.
Never again will I even look at a Kia, much less purchase one, and will tell everyone I know how sorry their service is.
Comments:
Posted by MRM on 2007-08-14:
KIA autos is best known for being Killed In Action. JEEP is the way to go:) But hey, different strokes, for different folks.
Posted by old fart on 2007-08-14:
I own a 2001 KIA and I have never had a warrantee issue with the car. I have had to replace the transmission and I had a valve cover gasket leak but in both cases the repairs were made without so much as a peep and cost not one red cent. I am fairly sure the the dealership had a lot to do with it but I made sure that the maintainance schedule was followed religiously. Any dealings I had with KIA corporate were friendly and effective. How rigidly did you do the regular mintainance ?? Did you follow the recommended schedule?
Posted by MRM on 2007-08-14:
To my fellow M3C, please see my Jeep in my profile. Emt_C, have you seen this unique red Jeep rolling in your area?
Posted by badkia on 2007-08-15:
Regular maint. was done every week. Oil changes averaged about every 7 days, tire rotation, tuneups, etc. were on a fairly tight schedule since my job basically depended on this vehicle being in good working order. Replacing a timing belt, serpentine belt, belt tension arms should not have be done with in the first 8 months of owning a vehicle. My main issue with them had nothing to do with vehicle maint., but rather after having this maint. completed, the van started falling apart. One more issue, rear wheel hub, had to be replaced within 6 months of purchase. Front break pads replaced (understandable with normal wear) however for the dealer to charge 469.00 for two pads is ludicrous. I spent 32.00 at Auto Zone and put them on myself in 25 mins. While I cant speak for other Kia owners, my experience with the Kia folks has been anything but pleasant.
Posted by Timboss on 2007-08-15:
Are you exaggerating or do you really have it for sale at $1,000? For that and a rebuilt (or salvaged) motor someone could get a 3 year old vehicle. Based on your maintenance then for under $5,000 someone could probably get a real good deal on your Sedona.
Posted by old fart on 2007-08-15:
Oil changes were done every 7 days??? The schedule requires changes every 5 months or 5000 miles.
Posted by firengine103 on 2007-08-15:
Oil changes every 7 days! Get outta here!!!Did you rotate the tires at the same schedule? No? Well now, there's your problem!
Posted by badkia on 2007-08-15:
Yes oil changes were done roughly every 7 days. With my job, I was avg'ing 2800-3000 miles per week.Whether Kia schedule dictates 3000 or 5000 miles, the oil was changed at intervals of 3000 miles. Tires were rotated approx. every other month. Speaking of tires, it currently has a brand new set on it now.
And yes, I was exxagerating to a degree....But in all seriousness, the first 3000.00 that comes this way can have it. And yes, I have a clear title to the vehicle.
And yes, I was exxagerating to a degree....But in all seriousness, the first 3000.00 that comes this way can have it. And yes, I have a clear title to the vehicle.
Posted by Slimjim on 2007-08-15:
I wonder if there is anybody that would inspect and sign off in their opinion, this was the reasoning for the failure.
Posted by badkia on 2007-08-15:
Not sure what you may be thinking caused the problem, but according to the Kia dealer (Sierra Kia) the oil change frequency and the tires had no relationship to what happened to this vehicle. When the belts were replaced, the bolt holding the tension arm on the serpentine belt broke, part of it somehow working its way into the motor, bending 3 valves. Im no mechanic, nor do I claim to be, but I did have a second independent mechanic look at it, and he verified bent valves. Bottom line, terrible workmanship from the so called certified techs, failure to stand behind their work from the dealer.
Posted by geather-c on 2007-08-16:
BUY AMERICAN the job you save might be your own.
Posted by badkia on 2007-08-16:
geather-c....any idea where an american car can be purchased? Chevy, Ford,etc..built outside the states or at least have parts built out of the country. Honda, Toyota, etc...built right here in the country....go figure huh? by the way....where is the computer you typed this message from....would be willing to bet it isnt American....that whole "buy american" value is (sadly) a thing a of the past...global economic policys and good ole american unions took care of that.
Posted by nelson71 on 2007-08-20:
I don't understand your frustration with Kia...I wonder if you handled it correctly. If you look in the warranty book there is a phone number to call for customer service. I did this when I disagreed with the dealer about a weld that popped in the back hatch. They promptly opened and gave me a case number and sent a rep to look at the car and it was fixed within a week. Even if this failed they provide you with the BBB arbitration line for each state in the book. Where are you getting 90,000K for the warranty too? its 6 years 60,000 bumper to bumper, the 90,000 is powertrain. Your issue is with the crappy dealer and poor service, not the car manufactuerer
Posted by badkia on 2007-08-20:
My frustration is with the quality of the vehicle, the dealer and yes the warranty. The warranty is 100,000 miles, 10 yr. Not 90,000 or 60,000 or whatever you are speaking of. When the number in the warranty book was called, I was told this would be forwarded to a complaint dept. I was told this twice, still have not reached them. Problems occurring with this vehicle was mechanical and occurred at low milage. As bad as the dealer service was, this was still a vehicle issue.
As far as the BBB is concerned, they are a powerless organization, that can do nothing but report complaints by the public. They have no power to force the dealer to do anything.
This little blog has produced more results than anything else I have tried however. Kia has now phoned me for information concerning the van. (4 attempts at reaching the Ala. Kia rep produced nothing)
As far as the BBB is concerned, they are a powerless organization, that can do nothing but report complaints by the public. They have no power to force the dealer to do anything.
This little blog has produced more results than anything else I have tried however. Kia has now phoned me for information concerning the van. (4 attempts at reaching the Ala. Kia rep produced nothing)
Posted by nelson71 on 2007-08-21:
First of all the BBB number is part of a binding arbitration agreement that KIA has entered into...so they have power. This is an independent board that will listen to both sides and make a decision that must be abided by by the company should you win or you if you lose. Secondly...you need to read your warranty book my friend. This is right from Kia's website...
Kia has a lot of confidence in the quality and endurance of all its new vehicles. So much confidence, in fact, we offer the industry-leading Kia 10-year/100,000-mile warranty program. The Kia 10-year/100,000-mile warranty program consists of various components including a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a five-year or 60,000 mile limited basic warranty, a five-year or 100,000 mile limited anti-perforation warranty, and a five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan, each of which provides coverage until either the yearly or total mileage figure is reached, whichever occurs first.
As it states and as I stated, the only component of the warranty that is 100k is the powertrain unless you purchased and extended basic.
Kia has a lot of confidence in the quality and endurance of all its new vehicles. So much confidence, in fact, we offer the industry-leading Kia 10-year/100,000-mile warranty program. The Kia 10-year/100,000-mile warranty program consists of various components including a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a five-year or 60,000 mile limited basic warranty, a five-year or 100,000 mile limited anti-perforation warranty, and a five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan, each of which provides coverage until either the yearly or total mileage figure is reached, whichever occurs first.
As it states and as I stated, the only component of the warranty that is 100k is the powertrain unless you purchased and extended basic.
Posted by badkia on 2007-08-21:
Well Nelson, its not my goal to argue with you on what is covered and what is not. The warranty I referred to earlier in this blog was a PARTS AND LABOR warranty, which is 12,000 mile 12 month. I was also referring to defective parts which was installed at the time this work was completed, and the dealers non willingness to stand behind it. Yes those are dealer issues and not the manufacturer. Anyway, doesnt much matter now.....I have learned my lesson...should have known better. There is a Ford F-150 in my yard now, with 402,000 miles on it so I dont suppose I am to hard on vehicles. Guess I will continue to purchase Fords and Chevys.
As far as your arbitration issues with the BBB....that is a joke and anyone who has ever reported anything to them knows this. And with my confidence level in Kia at this point, the warranty book is not worth the paper its written on.
I will say this tho Nelson.....Kia would be glad to have you in their employ....you have been the leader in standing up for their "dependability". Hope you never end up with the issues I have with them.
As far as your arbitration issues with the BBB....that is a joke and anyone who has ever reported anything to them knows this. And with my confidence level in Kia at this point, the warranty book is not worth the paper its written on.
I will say this tho Nelson.....Kia would be glad to have you in their employ....you have been the leader in standing up for their "dependability". Hope you never end up with the issues I have with them.
Posted by nelson71 on 2007-08-22:
LOL.... I'm not trying to argue with you... my point is you are bashing KIA for the dealer's failure to follow up on a parts and labor warranty.... I did have a bumper to bumper warranty issue with my dealer, called the number in the warranty book and and the issue was handled promptly. Why would you call Kia regarding dealer repair issues, its not the car manufacterer's responsibility to stand behind a dealer warranty on a non-warranty repair.
Posted by T P on 2011-11-05:
My low tire lite came on so next day I went to dealer. It took an hour and a half for them to put air in the tire! I HAD A 8'o clock appt what's wrong with this picture!
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