NHTSA Complaint #10575749 — 2014 KIA FORTE

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I INADVERTENTLY HIT A POTHOLE. IT WAS THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR, -20 DEGREES. HITTING THE POTHOLE KNOCKED THE BEAD OF MY TIRE OFF THE RIM. I WENT INTO THE TRUNK TO GET THE SPARE TIRE OUT, AND TO MY SURPRISE. THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE!!!! THERE WAS A "TIRE MOBILITY KIT". I ATTEMPTED TO USE THIS, BUT IT WAS TO ABSOLUTELY NO AVAIL. I CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER, AFTER WALKING ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO GET CELL PHONE SERVICE (STILL -20 OUTSIDE), I FOUND OUT THAT THE ESTIMATED TIME FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS AT LEAST 90 MINUTES. I DECIDED TO INSTEAD CALL MY MOM, WHO WAS 45 MINUTES AWAY, SO SHE COULD BRING HER CAR, AND I COULD USE HER SPARE TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE IN 10 MINUTES AND GET BACK ON THE ROAD WITH MY MOM'S SPARE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR DOES NOT COME STANDARD WITH A SPARE TIRE. I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE A SPARE TIRE IF I WANTED ONE!!! THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS! WHAT IF MY CAR HAD RUN OUT OF GAS IN THE -20 WEATHER WHILE WAITING? IF MY MOM COULD NOT HAVE COME, I WOULD HAVE BEEN WAITING AT LEAST 90 MINUTES! INSTEAD OF THE 10 IT TAKES TO PUT A SPARE TIRE ON. THAT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NOTIFIED KIA, AND I WANT A SPARE TIRE WITH MY CAR AT NO COST. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. OTHER THAN THAT, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE CAR... *TR