NHTSA Complaint #10689875 — 2011 KIA OPTIMA

THE SPARK PLUGS IN THE CAR WERE REPLACED AT 44,298 MILES (JUST PRIOR TO THE 45,000 RECOMMENDATION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL). AT 48,269 MILES MY CAR WAS IDLING SLIGHTLY OFF. I GAVE THE CAR PART THROTTLE IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY WORK AND THE CAR MISFIRES AND CEL COMES ON. GIVING IT MORE GAS, IT GOES AWAY. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP (KIA OF CHERRY HILL, NJ) TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. AT THIS POINT THE CAR WAS IDLING REALLY BAD. I GOT A CALL FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER ASKING ABOUT THE SPARK PLUGS AND HOW I NOTED THEY WERE DONE AT 44K MILES. HE SAYS ALL 4 ARE FOULED. I THEN GET A CALL BACK SAYING THAT THE PLUGS IN MY CAR WERE NEVER DONE AT 45K LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND THAT THEY NEED TO BE CHANGED. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THEY WERE DONE, HIS RESPONSE WAS, "I DON'T BUY IT." I THEN SAID THAT I HAVE THE RECEIPT FROM THE PARTS DEPARTMENT FROM HIS DEALERSHIP FOR THE PLUGS, AND THAT I HAVE PICTURES OF THEM BEING CHANGED AND THAT I EVEN HAVE THE OLD PLUGS IN THE NEW BOXES. NO RESPONSE TO THAT EXCEPT QUIET. I SAID IF THE PLUGS WERE DONE 4K MILES AGO, THEN WHY DO THEY NEED TO BE DONE AGAIN? WHY WOULD THEY ALL GO BAD? NO RESPONSE EXCEPT THAT HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS THE SPARK PLUGS ARE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ARE FOULED. ALL 4 PLUGS WERE BAD DUE TO LEAN CONDITION IN THE MOTOR (POSSIBLE FUELING PROBLEM). ONE OF THE PLUGS WAS MISSING THE PORCELAIN FROM CYLINDER #2, WHICH WAS ALSO MISSING ON THE ORIGINAL FROM CYLINDER #2 PULLED AT 44,298 MILES. DEALERSHIP AND KIA CORPORATE WAS NOT WILLING TO LOOK AT THE FUELING OR THE CAR FURTHER UNLESS THE PLUGS WENT BAD AGAIN. ALSO WOULDN'T OFFER ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE BAD PLUGS. *TR