Oil pressure switch leak - dealership fraud caught on camera

[D.J.]

On April 10th, 2023...

My car went into the dealership for 3 warranty issues.

1. Starter motor intermittent no start (solenoid) ($1,454.91)

2. Driver sidemirror folding motor not folding ($2,136.62)

3. Passenger side headlight dynamic bending light DBL swivel motor not swiveling correctly (desiccant pack expanded)($3,876.89)

During this visit, the "expert" factory trained technician discovered a leaking oil pressure switch.... ALLEGEDLY.


On my drive home, after picking up my freshly diagnosed car... (Warranty claim submitted, awaiting approval). I heard an unusual noise from the engine bay... A sort of jangling/rattle that wasn't there before. The noise was rather quiet, but noticeable.

When I got home, I popped the hood to inspect, and within seconds after touching the cosmetic plastic engine-cover, I noticed that it was the source of the rattling.

One of the 4 rubber isolator mounts was missing from the cosmetic engine-cover. This is really not a big deal, and an easy fix. But through sheer curiosity, since no engine work was being performed, I decided to take a glance at my dashcam to see what might have happened. Why would they have removed the engine-cover? No repairs had been performed on my car, only diagnostics of my three complaints.

It was only due to the sloppy workmanship that I even glanced at my dashcam footage.

And this is what I saw...

0:43 - ripped foam NVH padding
1:16 - deploy fraudulent fake oil leak
1:47 - photograph fake fraud oil leak for insurance purposes.
2:12 - drop rubber mounting isolator on ground, and just leave it there, pathetic sloppy workmanship.


Of course I scheduled a meeting with the service manager, and I requested that the dealership principal be present as well.
I brought my work laptop, and showed them the raw unredacted version of this video (but I left the music + sound effects)

We came to a gentleman's agreement, where I wouldn't blast them on social media dragging their dealership name through the mud. (I was probably too nice).


Edit/additional
My dashcam (A119 V2 from 2016) is basically invisible from the driver's seat... It looks like this, basically completely invisible to the driver, settings for no sounds, and no lights while in operation.

 

[Kodiack]

Ummmm.....shocking isnt even a word strong enough for this.
I dont know how you came to this agreement with the dealership or what they gave you but this is worthy of a shit storm to KIA Canada with all the evidence.
Also a report to the better business bureau and whatever media outlets are in your area.......
Im sure if KIA Canada found out this dealership was planting fraudulent issues for warranty work or ripping off customers they wouldnt be a KIA dealership for long.
Im at a loss for words.....

 

[Buzzman12]

Agree with Kodiack.
Report it to Kia Canada.
Also, the local dealership employees should be forced to watch this to send a message to everyone that works there that they have been outed.
Lastly, fire the tech that did this.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Also, the local dealership employees should be forced to watch this to send a message to everyone that works there that they [need to remember to turn off the customer's dashcam].

I jest. But unless legal fallout derives from this, they will just get sneakier. ^^^

 

[Buzzman12]

I jest. But unless legal fallout derives from this, they will just get sneakier. ^^^

Haha. I've heard this one too.
Have seen a lot of posts on social media that dealers are insisting on disabling any cameras before they work on a car.
They don't want to get caught.
I don't have a dashcam yet, but plan on getting one.
My grandaughter was in a fender bender in a parking lot, and fortunately, my son (her father) had equipped her car with a camera.
As soon as the person that hit her realized the whole thing was on video, they changed their tune.
It was entirely the other persons fault. The other driver's insurance company paid 100% of the repairs.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Haha. I've heard this one too.
Have seen a lot of posts on social media that dealers are insisting on disabling any cameras before they work on a car.
They don't want to get caught.
I don't have a dashcam yet, but plan on getting one.
My grandaughter was in a fender bender in a parking lot, and fortunately, my son (her father) had equipped her car with a camera.
As soon as the person that hit her realized the whole thing was on video, they changed their tune.
It was entirely the other persons fault. The other driver's insurance company paid 100% of the repairs.

We complain about increased surveillance in our high tech world, but when it works for you that's okay. My neighbor's Tribute got backed into the LR door by a pickup truck, that then drove away. This was at a golf course, and of course the driver of the pickup wanted to keep patronizing the golf course and returned later with a story of feigned ignorance. Then he was shown the security cam footage and was busted.

 

[D.J.]

I jest. But unless legal fallout derives from this, they will just get sneakier. ^^^

Yeah, unfortunately, this video probably taught the service manager, that they need to come up with a better policy to ensure that dash cams are fully disabled prior to touching the customer's vehicle.

It helps that mine is stealthily mounted, with settings to be silent, and settings to keep all power LEDs and screen off when recording, but they easily could have pulled out the power cable.

The thing is, I never would have reviewed the dash cam footage, if the fool didn't drop the rubber grommet that holds on the engine cover.

 

[Grump]

WTF?!


You were too nice. I know the dealership, can I name it? lol


I get the dashcam thing on both sides. They aren't agreeing to audio recording, dont know if its enabled, and we need single party consent. Also lets people get video of their shop and tools. I wouldnt want my customers recording me while I worked either. But we gotta protect our shit from dumbasses like this.


Just appalling. Unless your gentleman's agreement is in the 5 figure range, you should be reporting this to Kia Canada.

 

[Snicklefritz]

^^^What is your price? Is that what this is about? To me fraud should be exposed even for free.

 

[Licorice]

Wow ... just wow.

Just out of curiousity - this happened in April 2023, and you're exposing it now ... why the delay?

 

[D.J.]

When I got home, I popped the hood to inspect, and within seconds after touching the cosmetic plastic engine-cover, I noticed that it was the source of the rattling.

One of the 4 rubber isolator mounts was missing from the cosmetic engine-cover. This is really not a big deal, and an easy fix. But through sheer curiosity, since no engine work was being performed, I decided to take a glance at my dashcam to see what might have happened.

Not that this needs any supporting evidence.... But I was a rolling through some old pics and found this vid I took on April 10th at 10:22pm..... (Just after watching the fraud video)... I should have merged this video with the original video...

Watch April 10th 2023 Kia grommet | Streamable

Watch "April 10th 2023 Kia grommet" on Streamable.

streamable.com