Kia regret

[carsrmilife]

Beginning to wonder if I regret buying my Stinger. From my experience of only several weeks and all of the nightmares I read about on here, it seems Kia’s provide ‘value’ by providing cheap ‘value’ customer service. I’m not sure I can even drive the car without them saying any problem is cause of something I did. Such a damn pathetic joke! Dealer service manager tried telling me my 22 door grab handle that broke after week, was because I got the windows tinted. Which was done after the handle was found to be broken. Disheartening because I really do love my car.

 

[MerlintheMad]

That's the winner for a stealership blame game. Tint? Because it goes up and down next to the grab handle? Have you shopped around for a good Kia dealership? Mine is a good one. I'm sure that two out of three service centers are decent to good ones.

 

[ChaneRZ]

So much for a 10 year warranty right. They can even say 20 year warranty for all I care. Kia service is trash. Just pray that your car won’t ever breakdown.

 

[RM7]

Beginning to wonder if I regret buying my Stinger. From my experience of only several weeks and all of the nightmares I read about on here, it seems Kia’s provide ‘value’ by providing cheap ‘value’ customer service. I’m not sure I can even drive the car without them saying any problem is cause of something I did. Such a damn pathetic joke! Dealer service manager tried telling me my 22 door grab handle that broke after week, was because I got the windows tinted. Which was done after the handle was found to be broken. Disheartening because I really do love my car.

Ok. This is when you full-stop do not talk to them over the phone or in person anymore. The biggest mistake that people make here is they continue to talk to the people or hope out of the goodness of their hearts that they'll do the right thing. You send them a registered return-receipt letter, to the service manager or overall-manager, stating what happened, stating what they said (the ridiculous accusation, who said it and on what day), and asking them how they will fix the issue. Take pictures and include them. Since it's in writing and return-receipted, they cannot claim they didn't know about it. You'll probably get quick service after they get this letter. If not, take them to small claims court, but it's highly unlikely that will be necessary. If it is, you already have your case built.

 

[chattanoogastinger]

It always makes me sad to read these stories about people who are so easily discouraged when it comes to being told "no", or that they are to blame for a failure that is completely unrelated to the concern at hand.

Whether you are talking about cars or not it doesn't matter, if you are in the right, you are in the right. Stand up, stick up for yourself, and don't back down.

Now with that being said, I would wager 25% of all dealers in this country conduct themselves in a reputable manner and are generally interested in helping their customers. I have worked in the auto/performance car industry for the past 20+ years, owned 54 vehicles of several different makes and models in that time, and it is extremely rare I come across a quality dealer. They exist to turn huge profits, just like most major businesses. I've been treated like family at lower brands like Ford, then turned around and treated like trash by a high end BMW dealer that I had just purchased a $90k M car from. The dealer experience is a total crapshoot and Kia is no different.

As others have stated, shopping around is key, and it is not impossible to find a reputable shop if you are willing to do some research.

 

[General_Vodka]

I mean, can you really expect good service from the same people that sell the Kia soul to unsuspecting unqualified buyers with predatory apr? Yeah

 

[cncBilly]

That's the winner for a stealership blame game. Tint? Because it goes up and down next to the grab handle? Have you shopped around for a good Kia dealership? Mine is a good one. I'm sure that two out of three service centers are decent to good ones.

Two out of three good. I highly doubt that.

 

[nhcowboy28]

I mean, can you really expect good service from the same people that sell the Kia soul to unsuspecting unqualified buyers with predatory apr? Yeah

Hey… my premium Soul has alcantera. It’s a luxury vehicle buddy.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Two out of three good. I highly doubt that.

Just going by that Consumer Reports owners satisfaction survey (this is a couple of years ago); the Kia customers satisfied with the dealership experience was actually closer to three out of four: memory says it was 735 points on a 1,000 point scale.

 

[Legendsk]

It isn't really Kia's fault that one business owns 21 dealerships in the surrounding 200 mile radius, including all 3 Kia's. That one owner has apparently made the business decision to have terrible service. As previously said, they are in the business to make money. And whatever research, study and decision process they used, decided not to invest $0.02 more in service than absolutely necessary to keep a dealership. You might not think it possible, but each of their dealerships, Kia(3), Mazda, Cadillac, Ford, Mercedes, Honda, etc., has a worse service reputation than any of their other dealerships. I'm still trying to find out who really owns the Kia dealership in Mexico and how it rates. In the meantime, bad service is a problem my dealer has and I don't care to make it my problem. I can and will work around it, because the car is worth the effort.

 

[stoopid]

As others have indicated, never take "No" for an answer when it's clearly the wrong answer.

Calling Kia corporate customer service right in front of the service tech/manager will usually yield good results (speaking from experience with past car issues). Make sure to stand right there in a public space and don't get shuffled off, tell them the issue isn't settled until Kia's customer service has the final word on the matter. Not saying be a dick, but be a dick. At least in their eyes. They weren't doing you any favors, you owe them nothing.

 

[AWDGT2]

I can't wrap my head around these issues. My dealer in So. Pines, NC has been nothing but stellar. With all my mods, they still take my car with a smile and do maintenance and annual inspections without a hiccup. I don't even pull the JB, meth, ect, ect off anymore when I go there.

 

[GenesisG70]

Don't blame Kia for some rotten apples my stealer has been stellar clean courteous they do what I tell them to do. Is like me blaming porsche corporation cuz the stealer I go damaged my leader interior during an oil change.

 

[carsrmilife]

Ok. This is when you full-stop do not talk to them over the phone or in person anymore. The biggest mistake that people make here is they continue to talk to the people or hope out of the goodness of their hearts that they'll do the right thing. You send them a registered return-receipt letter, to the service manager or overall-manager, stating what happened, stating what they said (the ridiculous accusation, who said it and on what day), and asking them how they will fix the issue. Take pictures and include them. Since it's in writing and return-receipted, they cannot claim they didn't know about it. You'll probably get quick service after they get this letter. If not, take them to small claims court, but it's highly unlikely that will be necessary. If it is, you already have your case built.

Yes, I saw you comment on a similar problem on another thread (or someone with the same solution lol) and I think it’s really sound advice!

I didn’t take no for an answer and they are fixing it on a “one time courtesy” fix.

This is a dealership who also owns many other brands. There are many of those here in SE Michigan. I don’t plan on going back to this dealer as they’re not the closest. There were problems from the very start so I took it back there to get fixed. I will be going to the one that is closest to me after this; hoping that they will be a better service provider.

I don’t blame Kia entirely. But it does seem that many claims get denied from them. Time will tell how it continues to go.

 

[Aarvix]

“one time courtesy” is just their way of admitting defeat without saying they're wrong. I bet it's still written up as a warranty repair on their books.

 

[hummus]

I don’t blame Kia entirely. But it does seem that many claims get denied from them. Time will tell how it continues to go.

My question is: do Kia dealers actually deny claims at a higher rate, or can it appear that way because Stinger owners are freely reporting their bad experiences here, having a reasonable expectation to gain help, insight, or at least empathy?

 

[carsrmilife]

My question is: do Kia dealers actually deny claims at a higher rate, or can it appear that way because Stinger owners are freely reporting their bad experiences here, having a reasonable expectation to gain help, insight, or at least empathy?

I don’t think it’s because we are on here reporting our problems on the forum, that makes it seem that way. Possibly in the Stinger realm itself, since there aren’t many out there comparatively. I have been on MANY forums, and have never seen this many problems over so many seemingly small repairs.

I think the big problem, for me, is it seems that they treat a customer who drives a 20K ‘appliance’ to get them from point a to b, the same as a customer who buys the most expensive vehicle Kia makes (made?) and who truly care about their vehicles, as enthusiasts. That’s my .02 anyway.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

So much for a 10 year warranty right. They can even say 20 year warranty for all I care. Kia service is trash. Just pray that your car won’t ever breakdown.

^ this x100000

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

I don’t think it’s because we are on here reporting our problems on the forum, that makes it seem that way. Possibly in the Stinger realm itself, since there aren’t many out there comparatively. I have been on MANY forums, and have never seen this many problems over so many seemingly small repairs.

I think the big problem, for me, is it seems that they treat a customer who drives a 20K ‘appliance’ to get them from point a to b, the same as a customer who buys the most expensive vehicle Kia makes (made?) and who truly care about their vehicles, as enthusiasts. That’s my .02 anyway.

Exactly!

I've been saying this for over a year. Kia is used to working with people who just want the "lowest monthly payment possible idk what apr means I just need a car right now dude!" and therefore when someone who comes and drops anywhere from $35k-$55k on a car... they don't give them the service to match the price...

 

[carsrmilife]

Exactly!

I've been saying this for over a year. Kia is used to working with people who just want the "lowest monthly payment possible idk what apr means I just need a car right now dude!" and therefore when someone who comes and drops anywhere from $35k-$55k on a car... they don't give them the service to match the price...

You got it! I know when I drop damn near 60K on a vehicle, I expect service to match. The dealer didn’t even have loaner cars. That was a first for me. This was and is one reason I wont get a Genesis, even though I really like them. I refuse to have to deal with a Hyundai dealer network, when I’m supposed to be getting luxury level service.

On a positive note, I LOOOOVE that I can take 360 degree pics of my car and get valet mode alerts when it’s driven and such. Ive had to lock my car every damn time they’ve moved it, since they don’t lock it.