NHTSA Complaint #10462236 — 2008 KIA RONDO

ON MAY 24, 2011, I REALIZED THAT MY AIR CONDITIONER NO LONGER WORKED. IT WAS BLOWING HOT AIR. MAY 27TH, I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, WHO CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID IT WAS MY CONDENSER AND THAT IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SO I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. THE SERVICEMAN TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE MANY PARTS TO AN AIR CONDITIONER THAT THE REPAIR MAY NOT BE UNDER WARRANTY. HE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT IF IT WAS HIT BY A ROCK, IT WAS NOT COVERED. WHEN I ASKED HOW THAT COULD HAPPEN HE REPLIED "THE ROCK COULD BOUNCE UP FROM THE ROAD AND HIT THE AIR CONDITIONER". WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP MY CAR, THE MECHANIC SAID A ROCK HIT MY AIR CONDITIONER. I ASKED HOW A ROCK COULD BOUNCE UP FROM THE ROAD, PASSED THE SKID PLATE AND HIT THE AIR CONDITIONER SO HARD THAT IT DAMAGED IT; HE SAID "IT HAPPENS". WHILE HE WAS EXPLAINING THIS TO ME, THERE WAS ANOTHER CUSTOMER THERE THAT ALSO HAD A ROCK BOUNCE UP FROM THE ROAD AND HIT HIS AIR CONDITIONER. WHY DOESN'T KIA JUST ADMIT THAT THEY MADE FAULTY AIR CONDITIONERS AND RECALL THEM. NOW I'M OUT $190.64 AND STILL DON'T HAVE A WORKING AIR CONDITIONER. IT WILL COST ANOTHER $736.00 TO GET A NEW AIR CONDITIONER. I'VE BEEN A KIA OWNER FOR OVER 12 YEARS AND WHEN I BUY A CAR NEXT YEAR, IT MOST LIKELY WON'T BE A KIA. *JS