NHTSA Complaint #10347573 — 2010 KIA SOUL

MY 2010 KIA SOUL HAS SUCH SEVERE INTERIOR DAMAGE FROM THE SUB-STANDARD MATERIAL THEY USED THAT THE MARKET VALUE HAS DEPRECIATED FAR BEYOND THE NORM. ANY METAL, EVEN PLASTIC THAT TOUCHES THE DOORS (SEAT BELT BUCKLE) PILLARS, CENTER CONSOLE, GLOVE BOX, ETC....BECOMES DAMAGED. THE MATERIAL HAS NO PADDING UNDER IT SO THERE IS NO ABSORPTION AND IT IS "HONEY COMB" DESIGN WHICH WHEN SCRATCHED BREAKS THE "HONEY COMB" WHICH HAS A LIGHT GREY UNDER IT. MY FATHER BOUGHT THE SAME CAR AT THE SAME TIME AND HE TOO HAS THIS PROBLEM. THE CARS SHOWING THIS DAMAGE IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO WAY OF FIXING IT AND THE MANUFACTURE IS TELLING US TO WAIT FOR THEIR SOLUTION, MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER A YEAR. KIA HAS PUT OTHER 2010 SOULS ON THE LOT WITH COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MATERIAL SO THIS SHOULD BE THE SOLUTION. THEY WILL NOT SEND ME ANYTHING IN WRITING STATING THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM THOUGH THEY HAVE GIVEN OUT HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF REFERENCE # AND TELL EVERYONE THEY ARE WORKING ON THE SOLUTION. I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE WASTING TIME, LETTING TIME LAPSE SO THEY CAN EITHER CLAIM THAT IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OR THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE LEMON LAW TIME LIMITS TO EXPIRE. WHAT COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGES A DEFECT BUT WON'T PUT IT IN WRITING? I AM FURIOUS, THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR AND THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE ALSO PRESENT, LIKE CHIPPING PAINT THAT HAS STARTED TO RUST WITH 6000 MILES ON IT. WE DESERVE CONSUMER PROTECTION. PLEASE CHECK WWW.KIASOULFORUM.COM FOR EVEN GREATER AWARENESS OF THIS VERY PUBLIC ISSUE. REAR VIEW WINDOW SO SMALL AND HIGH IT IS A DANGER. *TR