NHTSA Complaint #10560567 — 2010 KIA SOUL

I RECENTLY CAME OUT TO GET INTO MY HUSBANDS KIA TO FIND A FLAT TIRE. WHILE THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL EVENT IT WAS EXPENSIVE. I PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, AND HAD THEM MOUNTED. THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THE UNUSUAL WEAR PATTERN ON THE BACK TIRES WHICH I HAD NOTICED AS WELL. THE TIRES WERE WEARING IN THE CENTER AND TO THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TIRES. HE SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE THE SOUL TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ALIGN THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS SPECS. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING MORNING AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO DO SO. I HEARD THE MECHANIC SAY TO THE DEPT. MANAGER THAT THE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN ALIGNED. AFTER A SHORT WAIT PERIOD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE CAME BACK TO ME AND SAID THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD SHIFTED TO THE SIDE BY APPROX. 1/2". I ASKED WHEN HE HAD SEEN THIS ON A VEHICLE, AND HE SAID AFTER AN ACCIDENT. I STATED THAT IT HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND MY HUSBAND PURCHASED IT NEW. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR FOR PARTS, LABOR, AND A NEW ALIGNMENT WAS $1090.00. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO RETURN A CALL TO ME ABOUT THE ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW SINCE THE SLIGHTEST AMOUNT OF RAIN/MOISTURE ON THE ROAD CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HANDLE VERY POORLY AT REDUCED SPEEDS OF 45 MPH. THIS DEFECT HAS NOW COST 852.00 FOR NEW TIRES, AND THEY WILL WEAR OUT IN THE SAME ODD WEAR PATTERN IF I DON'T REPLACE THE REAR AXLE, AND RE-ALIGN THE TIRES THAT I JUST PURCHASED. *TR