NHTSA Complaint #10208023 — 2001 KIA OPTIMA

ON NOVEMBER 3, 2007 MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER BROUGHT OUR 2001 KIA OPTIMA TO ATLANTIC KIA IN LINDENHURST NY FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL HOURS, MY WIFE WAS TOLD THAT THE ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE ON THE CAR DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES, AND TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED. THE TIRES ARE 4 MONTHS OLD. SHE THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO PEP BOYS IN PATCHOGUE, NY. THEY SAID THEY WOULD INSPECT THE TIRES AND OFFERED TO DO THE ALIGNMENT. AFTER SEVERAL MORE HOURS, A TECHNICIAN BROUGHT MY WIFE TO THE LIFT WHERE THE CAR WAS AND SHOWED HER WHY THE CAR COULD NOT BE ALIGNED. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY WAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR, BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR UP WAS THE TIRE. THE TECH THEN TOLD HER THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND ASKED WHERE THE DEALER WAS LOCATED. SINCE THE DEALER IS LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES FROM THAT SHOP, MY WIFE WAS TOLD THAT SHE COULD NOT DRIVE IT THERE, THE CAR WAS VERY UNSAFE. ATLANTIC KIA WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH. SHE WAS TOLD TO CALL BACK ON MONDAY THE 5TH. SHE DID, AND WAS GIVEN RUDE AND UNACCEPTABLE TREATMENT FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER. SHE WAS ALLOWED TO DRIVE A HAZARDOUS VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AND THEN IN TURN WAS TREATED VERY BADLY. ATLANTIC KIA WANTS TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR OTHER PROBLEMS IN THE PAST. *TR